[ringadeal]

okay, I have tried your suggested steps but error still persists.

I suppose I will resort to a new fax modem. Any specific type is recommended?

[Administrator]

When replacing a fax modem, I’d recommend a controller based fax modem, (external serial modems) (not USB external) , or a controller-less based modem. In some cases where you cannot use an external modem (don’t have a serial port, or would rather have an internal device), your 2nd choice should be a controller-less based internal modem.

Avoid softmodems if you can. Although softmodems do work with WinFax, they are the most problematic due to window drivers and they heavily depend on the computer’s CPU.

here is more info describing the different type of fax modems available:
http://www.usr.com/education/modem2.asp

[ringadeal]

is a U.S. Robotics 56K Modem 5686E – Fax / modem – external an example of a controller-base modem?

How do I know if I have the required port for this modem?

[Administrator]

Most computers manufactured in the last 10 years will have a 9 pin male port that looks that this:

Some newer computers may have NO serial port.

Yes, all EXTERNAL Modems (with the exception of “USB Port” models) are controller based modems.

Make sure you also get the proper cable, usually it isn’t included with the modem.

Edited By Moderator on 1242925973

[ringadeal]

Hi

thansk for all your help and sorry to be a nudge. I already purchased the modem. Is this female to female cable the one that is required:

[url=http://cgi.ebay.com/6FT-NULL-MODEM-SERIAL-CABLE-DB9-FEMALE-to-FEMALE-RS232_W0QQitemZ350168637942QQcmdZViewItem
QQptZPCA_Cables_Adapters?hash=item5187ad61f6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50#ebayphotohosting]http://cgi.ebay.com/6FT-NUL….hosting[/url]

[Administrator]

The link didn’t work for me, but you DON’T want a null modem cable for connecting to an external modem.

the type of cable depends on the modem you’re buying. It has to be a RS-232 Serial Modem Cable. I believe that U.S. Robotics has 25 pins female connector on the modem side, so you’d need DB25 Male to DB9 Female that looks something like this:

(DB25 Male plugs into the modem, DB9 Female end plugs into the back of computer)

http://www.monoprice.com/product….geimage

Here is a picture of the back of the U.S. Robotics USR5686E Modem

http://www.usr.com/images….ge=back

Edited By Moderator on 1242937599

[ringadeal]

If you have access to a new (different model) modem, you can try uninstalling any modem in Windows, turn off the PC and then physically remove the fax modem from the PC. Boot the new PC without the fax modem, so it initializes Windows again without the fax modem, now shut down the PC and install the new modem according the the directions of the manufacturer.

Okay, I have all my new modem equipment. Must I first uninstall the old modem and physically remove it from my computer?
If yes, can you please elaborate on how this is done? My existing modem is a Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc and OS is XP Pro.

thanks!

[ringadeal]

okay,

I opened the modem options in the control panel.

I see that I can “remove the modem” in the modems tab of the “phone and modem options” dialogue box or I can “disable” the device in the general tab of the modem properties dialogue box.

Are any of these methods what you have suggested for removing the existing modem prior to installing the new one?

If yes, which one of the above methods is recommended and do i still physically remove the modem chip from the interior of my computer?

If yes, how is this done – I have never operated on my computer before but am daring enough to do so

thanks so much

[JohnD]

I’d recommend you “Disable” it first.
Control Panel. Modems, select the modem, click Properties.
At the bottom, you should see “Device Usage”
with two options : Use this device (enable) , and Do not Use this device (disable)
Select “Do not use this device (disable)”

What does this do? it keeps your internal modem installed, but tells the computer to not load the drivers for it – it just ignores it.

Once you’ve done that, reboot the computer and make sure when it boots up again that the modem still shows “Not functional” or “Disabled”.

You can then go ahead and install the external modem following the directions of the manufacturer.

Once you’ve determined the new modem is working you can then start the process to physically remove the old one by first going to the DEVICE MANAGER. To do this click START, RUN and then type:

devmgmt.msc

and press OK.

Now find the old Modem in the list of hardware, it will be under Modems. Select the modem you want to remove and then right-click and select “Uninstall” Once you’ve done that, the modem should be gone and now you shut the computer down, and physically open the computer and remove the modem from the PCI slot. When you boot up again, the modem should no longer appear as a device and only the external modem is detected as an available modem.

[Administrator]

Your last message didn’t make the forums board conversion to the new software, but I did read that you still are having the same problem after switching the modem.

If you are still getting this error, then I’d like to know what the numbers are displayed when you do the following:

Start WinFax Tools.
Click on Logs & Phonebooks
Click on Check Send/Rec Limits, click Yes to continue.

What are the numbers reported ?

[ringadeal]

Received Fax (*.FXR files) slots available (Maximum of 10,000) : 9575
Send Fax slots (.FXD Files) available (Maximum of 10,000) : 8678

Cover Page Text files (*.CVR files) total count is : 183

[Administrator]

@ringadeal wrote:

Received Fax (*.FXR files) slots available (Maximum of 10,000) : 9575
Send Fax slots (.FXD Files) available (Maximum of 10,000) : 8678

Cover Page Text files (*.CVR files) total count is : 183

Those counts are fairly normal, but they don’t indicate any possibility of data corruption.

To determine if the problem is related with corrupt data files in your “Data” folder, you can reset WinFax to a temporary state where you have a blank phonebook, and blank send and receive logs. You can do this temporarily for testing purposes, so you don’t lose your actual WinFax data.

1. Start WinFax Tools.
Click on WinFax Info.
Take note of the Data/Fax default path, usually its set to C:Program FilesWinFaxData for version 10.02 or higher, and C:Program FilesSymantecWinFaxData for older versions.
Click No to exit this dialog box.

NOTE: I recommend making a backup copy of this entire folder if you do not already have a working backup. Before making a copy make sure that WinFax is closed (you can do End all WinFax Tasks in WinFax Tools to close WinFax)

2. Click on End All WinFax Tasks.
If already open, this will close WinFax, the controller, and background WinFax tasks. Click Yes on any options it asks to close such as the Port Starter, and Wfxswtch.exe.

3. Now in Windows XP, go to the folder where you determined is the default Data/Fax path in step 1.
Rename the “Data” folder, to “DataOriginal”. Make sure you do not delete it! This is why I recommend having a backup.

4. In WinFax Tools, click Start Controller. If the WinFax Controller does not appear, you may need to restart the computer and try it again. Once WinFax Controller appears, go to step 5.

5. In Windows XP, locate the default WinFax folder again you determined in step 1. You should see a new folder called “Data” along with the folder you renamed, “DataOriginal”. WinFax created another new Data folder and is now using this folder instead of “DataOriginal” (where all your data is)

6. Start WinFax Message Manager. You’ll notice that your logs are empty. Your phonebook is also empty. This is because the Data folder is now reset, as if WinFax was just installed.

7. Now try sending faxes to see if the problem continues. You can send test faxes to 1-707-220-4498 and you can test send and receive with 1-888-473-2963 (1-888-HPFAX-ME) this will receive and then send you a fax after it has been received.

To go back to your original setup, you need to perform steps 2-4, but in step 3 you need to rename “Data” to “DataTest”, and then “DataOriginal” back to its original name “Data”. After renaming, you’ll have two folders, “Data” and “DataTest”. Always make sure WinFax is closed before renaming folders

[ringadeal]

i thank you for your patience with this issue.

Unfortunately the error still persists.

Since you have mentioned that this error can be caused by various reasons, do you suggest that a technician can resolve this issue by surveying my system as a whole?

any other suggestions?????

[Administrator]

Try the following:

Temporarily disable start up applications to determine if any conflicts exist with WinFax. Start Windows by holding down the SHIFT key, this disables all start up programs temporarily (during this one boot up only)

Disabling Startup Programs by Using the SHIFT Key
One way to simplify your configuration is to disable startup programs. Hold down the SHIFT key during the logon process to prevent the operating system from running startup programs or shortcuts in the following folders:

systemdriveDocuments and Settings^Username^Start MenuProgramsStartup

systemdriveDocuments and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsStartup

To disable the programs or shortcuts in the preceding folders, you must hold down the SHIFT key until the desktop icons appear. Holding down the SHIFT key is a better alternative than temporarily deleting or moving programs and shortcuts because this procedure affects only the current user session.

To use the SHIFT key to disable programs and shortcuts in startup folders

Log off the computer.
In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your user name and password and then click OK.
Immediately hold down the SHIFT key. The mouse cursor changes shape from a plain pointer to a pointer with an hourglass. (It might do this several times.)
Continue to hold down the SHIFT key until the Windows XP Professional desktop icons appear and the mouse cursor stops changing shape.

or:

reboot the computer
hold SHIFT key during the Windows XP boot up process.

Once you’ve done this, run WinFax Tools. Click “Start Controller”. You must start WinFax this method, or WinFax will not operate. Clicking Start Controller also starts the appropriate startup programs for WinFax that were not started because you temporarily disabled them.

Now try the same sending tests with WinFax. If no errors appear, the problem is somewhere in your startup a program is loading that conflicts with the operation of WinFax.

[ringadeal]

how can I verify that the startup programs have been disabled? Even though I held down shift during my computer’s reboot, my security software has loaded properly. Shouldn’t my security software be a member of the startup group?

[Author]

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