In message <[log in to unmask]>, Brice Yokem 
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:38:49 +0000, Roy Brown
><[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>>Software modem?

>Don't know what you mean.  'Soft Fax Modem' is one that uses the
>computers resources (memory, processor, hard drive) to operate
>the modem, rather than have most of that hardwired in the modem
>itself.

<URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softmodem>

We're talking about the same thing, I think. This Toshiba laptop 
identifies its modem, in Device Manager, as a 'Toshiba Software Modem', 
which I why I used the term.

Except that I do recall that hardware modems wouldn't fax unless they 
were advertised as having fax capability. hence the name 'fax modem', 
whereas I would imagine that any soft modem could be used as a fax 
modem, by a suitable driver; it's just a case of putting the right beeps 
out, and interpreting the beeps that come back...

>>>> I bought a plug-in fax modem thinking that was the problem, but
>>>> no help so I returned it.

>>Now that is weird. If it was sold as 'Vista-compatible' it should have
>>come with a driver disk, or at least a URL from which you could download
>>same and get it working.

>No, it worked just fine, it is just the problem was not the modem, it
>was that VHP did not have the capability of sending documents to
>a fax machine as if it were a printer.

No, that doesn't quite compute.  See below.

>>Like you, I have VHP, but my fax is my HP2710 all-in-one, so I've never
>>looked any deeper. I guess it means I can't fax when on the move though.
>>OTOH, the 2710 receives as well, which I don't think PC fax software can
>>do, for some reason.

>I presume HP2710 does the work of faxing documents, in that it is a printer
>with fax capability.  So you can send printout there and it does the faxing.

Well, yes, but I think it has a dedicated fax driver, quite separate 
from the printer driver. Certainly, I see two separate printers in 
WinWord's printers list, and in my printers folder, for HP Photosmart 
2700 Series and HP Photosmart 2700 Series Fax, and they have different 
Properties, even though they use the same hardware device, reflecting 
that one outputs on paper, and the other in squawks and beeps.

So I think that VHP *does* have the capability (in the absolute sense) 
of sending documents to a fax machine as if it were a printer; it's just 
that it needs a third-party driver to do this, as there isn't one built 
in to VHP to do this.

I know this perhaps sound a bit like splitting hairs; but it goes back 
to my observation that anyone offering a hardware fax modem, like the 
one you bought and then had to return, ought to be supplying such a 
driver if they are claiming any sort of Vista compatibility for their 
device - and certainly VHB or VHP compatibility. And if they did supply 
such a driver, there's no reason their device should not work just as 
well on VHP, and in very much the same way, as my 2710 does.

>PC Faxes CAN receive.  I have done that on my WinXP desktop, rarely.
>but I do not have a dedicated fax line, so it is set up to receive only
>when manually enabled.

Yes, that seems logical. I guess it's just trickier to control than a 
paper one...

>>>> The VHP machine has what is called a soft fax, the Geek Squad guy
>>>> said that was no problem, just get the free upgrade from MSN.

>>Did he give you a more detailed URL?

>Did not mention a URL at all.  Just told me it could be done for free
>from MSN.  I assumed it would be easy to find as many people would
>have griped.

MSN reveals a large number of people who are griping, and who have found 
one or two $$$ solutions, and even a possible free one (as below). But 
no sudden outburst of generosity from MS making Windows Fax & Scan 
available to VHP users :-(.

>>>> MS help says to go to Start>Windows Fax and Printing but that does
>>>> not exist.  That really cheesed me off, they have instuctions which
>>>> cannot be followed so you waste a bunch of time trying to do the
>>>> impossible.

It says that in the VHP Help? Where?

>>>> I might try the USR link I have, hoping it will work with a 'soft'
>>>>fax,  but apparently the geek squad guy was off base, or there is a
>>>>'secret' upgrade I cannot find.

The former, I think.

Is the USR link the one referenced in:

<URL:http://solarplusev.blogspot.com/2008/10/free-fax-software-vista-home-premium.html>

That's worth chasing, I think.
-- 
Roy Brown        'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be
Kelmscott Ltd     useful, or believe to be beautiful'  William Morris

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