A Fake WinFax PRO 10.03 CD ROM in a paper sleeve

If you purchased WinFax software and have a questions regarding if it is fake or not, let us know and we can check it out for you.  If you purchased a download of  Symantec WinFax PRO, it is an illegal copy and  could contain malware.   

WinFax PRO is no longer being sold & distributed by Symantec and the only way to purchase a legitimate version is 2nd hand (used) or New Old Stock (NOS) from a retailer. 

There are also counterfeit CDs in existance, and they are poor quality copies of the original.  Don’t get ripped off by purchasing a WinFax PRO CD!  The picture above is an image of an actual FAKE / COUNTERFEIT WinFax PRO CD. If in doubt, ask the seller to send you a picture of the actual CD they are selling.  Compare it with the picture here. It is difficult to determine the fake from a real CD if you have never seen an authentic CD, but once you compare the two, the differences are easy to spot. 

The first clue is if your CD contains the version of WinFax PRO. All official CDs will only list version 10.0 on the CD.  Authentic CDs do not include version identifiers 10.02 or 10.03. This is not listed on the CD anywhere.    Official CDs are on silver “shiney” surface where “WinFax PRO” is printed.  A dull matte-finish is a fake CD. 

 

• Fax from any application by clicking Print and selecting the FaxTalk printer driver.
• Scan pages directly from your scanner.
• Supports Super G3 Fax speeds with compatible Class 2.1 hardware.
• Import WinFax PRO faxes and contacts/phonebooks (See Notes below) (*does not import WinFax cover pages)
• Produce professional looking faxes with full preview and annotation.
• Cover Sheet Designer with 9 included pre-designed cover sheets.
• Access Microsoft Outlook (Outlook 2010 32 bit edition) contacts directly when sending faxes.
• Forward received faxes by email. (as PDF, TIFF or proprietary .FAX format)
• Operates as a network fax client for FaxTalk Multiline Server (for FaxTalk FaxCenter Pro or FaxTalk Messenger Pro)
• Broadcast faxes to fax numbers and email addresses.
• Fax Merge (personalize multiple faxes automatically) with Microsoft Word using optional FaxTalk Fax Merge software add-on.
• Fax Merge compatibility with ACT! 2008, ACT! 2009, ACT! 2010 and ACT! 2011 using optional add-on called FaxAdmin.
• Block the reception of unwanted junk faxes.
• Developer Fax SDK to integrate FaxTalk with your custom software application. (Programming experience required)
• Voice mail and Fax back capability with a compatible voice modem using FaxTalk Messenger Pro or FaxTalk Multiline Server software.

Importing WinFax data into FaxTalk

One of the nice features of FaxTalk is the ability to import existing WinFax PRO logs and phonebooks/contacts into FaxTalk.  Logs (the Send Log, Receive Log and any other message stores/sub folders you created in WinFax PRO) can be imported into FaxTalk and the fax images are automatically converted to a format that can be used in FaxTalk.  Logs that are imported are stored in a folder in FaxTalk called the File Cabinet.  The File Cabinet works like the Attachments folder in WinFax.   FaxTalk cannot import WinFax archive (.WFA) backups, so to be able to import you need to have WinFax PRO on the same system and it must be installed before you can perform the import in FaxTalk.  This can pose a problem if your old computer has WinFax, and your new computer is Windows 7 (or another operating system) with FaxTalk installed.  Fortunately, there is a workaround for this.   You can install a trial version of FaxTalk on the older computer, and then perform the import into the trial version of FaxTalk.  Once the import is completed, you can then save a backup using the FaxTalk Backup option.  Performing a backup creates an archive file with a .FTA extension.  You can then copy this .FTA file created from the trial version to the new computer.  At the new computer, you perform a restore (using the FaxTalk Backup Tool) and point to the .FTA file.  to restore the phonebooks and logs. 

Fax Blast using FaxTalk Fax Merge for Microsoft Word

If you need to send multiple faxes with personalized information on each fax, you need the FaxTalk Fax Merge for Microsoft Word. This allows you to use your contact database to send personalized faxes easily. Automate your faxing from Microsoft Word™ and FaxTalk FaxCenter Pro, FaxTalk Messenger Pro or FaxTalk Multiline Server. Fax broadcast from your Windows desktop by using the power of FaxTalk Fax Messenger and the FaxTalk Merge Macro for Microsoft Word. You can send faxes directly from Microsoft Word by clicking an icon. Select your prepared mail merge document with a data source, click on Send a Fax merge, select your recipients & optional cover sheet and click Merge. Send a few faxes or thousands of faxes, directly from Microsoft Word.

The FaxTalk Fax Merge is available separately as an add-on, or can be bundled together with the FaxTalk product of your choice at a discounted price.

Bundle with the FaxTalk Fax Merge for Microsoft Word

Compatible with Microsoft Word 2010 (32 bit edition only), Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Word 2003 and Microsoft Word XP

Below you can view a video that shows the basics of sending a “fax blast” fax merge using Microsoft Word 2010 (32 bit edition) and FaxTalk Multiline Server (the operation is exactly the same with FaxTalk FaxCenter Pro or FaxTalk Messenger Pro, and Microsoft Word 2007)

You can order or download a trial version here http://www.getfaxing.com/faxtalk

Requirements for FaxTalk software:

• Compatible Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000)
• Compatible Class 1, 1.0, 2, 2.0, 2.1 fax modem. (Internal or External models)
• Compatible Voice/Fax Modem for voice features of FaxTalk Messenger Pro or FaxTalk Multiline Server 
• Compatible version of Microsoft Word for the FaxTalk Fax Merge option. (Word XP/2003/2007/Word 2010 32 bit edition)
• Microsoft Word 2010 Starter Edition is not compatible. 64 bit version of Office 2010 is not compatible.

If you are experiencing errors installing the WinFax printer driver, such as Error Code ->1797 or Error Code->126 you may have problems with the WinFax driver files.

Symantec has a list of troubleshooting steps here, but we’ve found these are usually not always effective in solving this problem (and is very time consuming, a reinstall is usually not required). 

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/faxprod.nsf/docid/2002012814193804

Subscribers to our forums and download access to WinFax Tools can automatically check for these files and repair any errors automatically.

This error can be fixed in WinFax Tools by clicking on “Install & Setup Tools” and then, “Install Printer Driver”

Click here for more information on subscribing to WinFax Tools.

WinFax printer add failed. Error code ->1930

WinFax PRO and TalkWorks PRO requires a Windows compatible operating system such as Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP (32 bit only) that will support Kernel Mode (Type 2) printer drivers. Microsoft VISTA and Windows 7 do not support Kernel Mode printer drivers.  While Windows 2003 does support kernel mode printers, they are blocked by default. Windows 2003 requires a policy change to allow for Kernel mode printer driver installation. You must disallow Kernel Mode blocking in Windows 2003 before you can install the WinFax printer drivers.

Incompatible = any 64 bit operating system, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and later operating systems.

Compatible  = Windows XP (32 bit), Windows 2003, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.1, Windows 9x, Me

Our initial testing confirms that you can run WinFax PRO in Windows XP mode, but you cannot “share” the WinFax PRO printer driver with Windows 7 applications.  We successfully shared the fax modem, (and it was a software based modem!) but not the fax printer. This prevents any access from Windows 7 programs to the WinFax printer. Only the applications that are installed within the Windows XP Virtual machine can be used with WinFax to send faxes, you cannot create faxes from within Windows 7 applications. 

This limits the usability of WinFax in Windows 7.  if you require to fax from a Windows 7 application, it will not work.  Although, having Windows XP within your Windows 7 operating system saves you the expensive of having another separate computer just to run legacy Windows XP applications such as WinFax.

An alternative to WinFax PRO is FaxTalk FaxCenter Pro,  more details here

 More on Windows XP Mode with Windows 7.

Windows XP Mode is a feature that is optional on Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows 7. Windows XP Mode is not available in the Home Premium or Starter Editions of Windows 7. Windows XP Mode option can be downloaded at no additional charge with a qualified version of Windows 7 directly from Microsoft’s Web site here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

In addition to the downloads, you’ll need a compatible processor and motherboard that supports hardware virtualization (AMD-V or Intel VT , also code named Vanderpool technology) . Microsoft has released a tool which you can download to test to see if your processor can support the AMD-V or Intel VT mode.  See Microsoft’s link above for more details.

More info on some compatible CPU’s in this post: http://www.getfaxing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=718

Information regarding use of WinFax with Microsoft Vista and Microsoft Windows 7 from the WinFax Forums:  http://www.getfaxing.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=718

Technical article on Microsoft Vista and WinFax PRO: http://www.getfaxing.com/winfax/2008/11/29/winfax-pro-and-microsoft-vista-compatibility/

Technical article on Microsoft Windows 7 and WinFax PRO: http://www.getfaxing.com/winfax/2009/06/03/symantec-winfax-pro-and-microsoft-windows-7-compatibility/

Alternative to WinFax PRO is FaxTalk FaxCenter Pro, it is compatible with Windows 7 & VISTA. More details here: http://www.getfaxing.com/faxtalk

UPDATE: Microsoft has released an update for Windows XP Mode to allow for compatibility with processors without hardware virtualization.  For best performance, Microsoft recommended a hardware virtualization CPU.  

From Microsoft:

Although OEMs have been shipping hardware virtualization in PCs for three years, hardware virtualization is not available in all PCs — so even if your PC is new, it may not have hardware virtualization. Additionally, those PCs with hardware virtualization have it turned off by default, so you will need to turn on the hardware virtualization capability before you can use it.

More info on Microsoft’s site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/configure-bios.aspx

A download tool is available to test your processor for both Intel and AMD. Please see Microsoft’s site for download links.

Tom’s Hardware has a good article on this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-xp-mode-virtualization-intel,7709.html

Ed Bott’s compiled a list of processors with the VT support.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=946

Desktop CPUS
Core 2 Duo

Core 2 Extreme

Core 2 Quad
Q6600/6700 YES
Q8200/8200S/8300/8400/8400S NO
Q9300/9400/9400S YES
Q9450/9550/9550S/9650 YES

Core i7/Core i7 Extreme
I7-920/940 YES
I7-965 YES

Pentium D/Pentium EE
805/820/830/840 NO
915/925/935/945 NO
920/930/940/950/960 YES
955/965 YES

Pentium for Desktop
E2140/2160/2180/2200/2220 NO
E5200/5300/5400 NO

Mobile CPU products

Core 2 Duo Mobile
L7200/7300/7400/7500 YES
P7350/7450 NO
P7370 YES
P8400/8600/8700/9500/9600 YES
SL9300/9400/9600 YES
SP9300/9400/9600 YES
SU9300/9400/9600 YES
T5200/5250/5270/5300/5450/5470 NO
T5500/5600 YES
T5550/5670/5750/5800/5850/5870/5900 NO
T6400/6570 NO
T7100/7200/7250/7300/7400 YES
T7500/7600/7700/7800 YES
T8100/8300 YES
T9300/9400/9500/9550/9600/9800 YES
U7500/U7600 YES

Core 2 Extreme Mobile
QX9300 YES
X7800/7900 YES
X9000/9100 YES

Core 2 Quad Mobile
Q9000 YES
Q9100 NO

Core 2 Solo
SU3300/3500 YES
U2100/2200 YES

Core Duo
L2300/2400/2500 YES
T2050/2250 NO
T2300/2400/2500/2600/2700 YES
T2300E/2350/2450 NO
U2400/2500 YES

Core Solo
T1300/1400 YES
T1350 NO
U1300/1400/1500 YES

Many of you held off upgrading from XP to Vista are considering the upgrade to Microsoft’s latest operating system Windows 7, but are wondering if many of your existing applications such as WinFax PRO will work.

WinFax PRO and TalkWorks PRO (the fax/voice version of Symantec’s popular fax software) still have a strong user base and many of you don’t want to give up this powerful and easy to use desktop faxing software.

Unfortunately, Windows 7, doesn’t change the compatibility issues with WinFax PRO that were introduced with Microsoft Vista.  As expected, the same compatibility issues with WinFax PRO and TalkWorks PRO also exist with Windows 7.

We ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser, this is a tool offered by Microsoft that scans your computer to determine if it can be upgraded to Windows 7. The program also scans all the existing software installed, and determines if there are any known compatibility problems with Windows 7.  The Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser, incorrectly  indicates that WinFax PRO / TalkWorks PRO has some minor issues, and to contact the publisher’s web site. . The link to Symantec’s Web site is no help as Symantec chooses to ignore the existence of WinFax or TalkWorks since they’ve discontinued the software.

Minor issues they are not. You may be able to install WinFax or TalkWorks with Windows 7, but the required WinFax printer driver will not install.  This will prevent you from accessing WinFax from any application you want to fax from, it also prevents you from adding attachmentssuch as PDFs, Word documents, Text files, images, etc. for faxing.

Windows 7  Professional and Ultimate will include the not so impressive fax utility called Windows Fax & Scan, a feature that was previously included in the Vista Ultimate and Vista Business Editions. If you’d rather update your software to a much more professional package that is compatible with both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows 7, Vista, Windows Server 2003 & 2008, Windows XP and 2000, then we recommend FaxTalk FaxCenter Pro 8 or FaxTalk Messenger Pro 8.  For more details, see our Web page at http://www.getfaxing.com/faxtalk

Windows 7 is not compatible  with WinFax PRO. There is no upgrade path available from Symantec for Windows 7 compatibility.  The WinFax PRO 10 software was discontinued by Symantec in June 2006, and no plans for future versions exist.   For information on moving to another software package that can import your WinFax data, please see http://www.getfaxing.com/faxtalk