Troubleshooting GlobalFax 2.6.8

Last time, we noted that Global Village's GlobalFax 2.6.8 update was posted, then temporarily removed, and then reposted. We still have no official word as to why the file was removed and whether the reposted file is different from the original posting (although it appears to be the same). [Stephen Hart suspects that the only difference is that the new version now correctly mounts as a disk image; the previous version opened as folder and prevented the installation from proceeding in certain cases.]

Y2K glitch fixed The Read Me file that comes with the software describes "what's new" in the new version. Of particular interest: "The Send At feature for scheduling faxes in a calendar year past the current calendar year has been fixed to enable scheduling past the year 1999."

Readers have provided several troubleshooting tips:

PPP vanishes? Several readers claimed that, after running the 2.6.8 Update, the TCP/IP control panel no longer included PPP (and/or FreePPP) as an option. This prevented the use of the modem. This happened to me as well! However, I was able to easily fix it by selecting the Modem control panel. An alert message appeared saying something to the effect that my setting would be changed. I said OK. Then, when I returned to the TCP/IP control panel, PPP had returned as well. [Of note: one reader linked this symptom to QuickTime 4.0 installation, which I also ran on the same day; so I cannot be 100% certain which Installer triggered the symptom.]

"Unknown modem" Keith Heiser cautions that the Installer may not work with all TelePort Platinum modems: "I've got a 6300CD with the original GV Platinum 28.8 modem installed, but GlobalFax 2.6.8 is not compatible with this unit. Seems it's a "B" model according to GV." The new GlobalFax Controls control panel listed it as an "unknown modem." Update: The likely explanation here, as pointed out by Nick Chin, is that "GlobalFax 2.6.8 cannot be used with...the Teleport Platinum Internal Comm Slot."

One reader found that OT/PPP claimed that the modem was in use by another application. The Global Village Address Book Engine extension appeared to be the cause of the problem. If he disabled the extension, the symptom went away.

Install glitch? Cary Wolfson found that the Installer would not work if he trashed the copy of SimpleText that was included in the "Teleport Installer Disc" folder. Indeed, the Read Me file warns against doing this.

Slow down? A couple of readers reported that their modems connected at a significantly slower bps after running the updater. However, this has not happened to me.