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Question

Configuring the USB fax modem in Win7 Ult 32bit

Sep 5, 2015 4:04AM PDT

Although I had some trouble getting the USB fax modem installed when I ran the drivers supplied with it, Device Manager revealed the modem model number, and that allowed me to search for drivers on the Net, resulting in Device Manager showing the modem and as non-problematical. Using the method outlined at http://www.thewindowsclub.com/set-up-your-windows-7-computer-to-send-and-receive-faxes, I can get only as far as the fax-set-up Window, because the mouse turns into an hour-glass after selecting 'fax modem' and clicking on NEXT; and when I abandon the attempt, an error window tells me : "MS Windows Fax & Scan is not responding". I have no guidance whether to have the modem connected to the phone line during the rest of the setup, and whether the line can be a spur from that going to the broadband modem, or has to have a filtered line, like that which goes to the phones. Can anyone help me make progress with this ?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
From the way this is worded
Sep 5, 2015 5:20AM PDT

It sounds as though the internet might be DSL. If that is the case, it has to be a phone line, as though you were connecting another phone.

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Answer from 42Sebastian
Sep 6, 2015 5:28AM PDT

Dear Lacsr,

My broadband modem is indeed DSL [or ADSL – I’m not sure].
And I have taken your advice
and arranged to connect the model to a filtered phone line.

Post was last edited on September 8, 2015 9:59 AM PDT

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Answer
splitter
Sep 6, 2015 12:37AM PDT
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Answer from 42Sebastian
Sep 6, 2015 5:30AM PDT

Dear James Denison

It so happens that I had already used a very similar item to the one pictured,
to create a spur phone line for the modem connection.

Post was last edited on September 8, 2015 9:59 AM PDT

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Answer
Additional information from 42Sebastian
Sep 6, 2015 5:31AM PDT

I have spent much effort labouring over the project
since I placed my post in the forum.
I consider the phone line connection now ‘solved’.

But a much more serious issue has arisen :
in that I can not proceed past ‘Modem Setup’,
as the modem (fax account) configuration keeps ‘not responding’,
despite all my best efforts in Registry and Services.
I can not change the status of ‘No fax account configured’.

Also
Although Device Manager shows the modem installed as a non-problematical entry,
it does NOT appear in Windows Explorer as an entry in Computer,
and I do not know whether it should.

Joe

Post was last edited on September 8, 2015 9:59 AM PDT

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Re: fax
Sep 6, 2015 11:34AM PDT
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Answer from Joe
Sep 8, 2015 10:52AM PDT

it is in configuring the modem that I get blocked by an unresponsive window for Fax SetUp .

At the bottom of the window for Windows Fax and Scan I can not change the status of "No fax accounts are configured".

As for testing the fax – it has to present as functional, before it can be tested.

Joe

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usb fax modem requires software be loaded
Sep 6, 2015 12:32PM PDT

Any dialup device that comes through USB will require it's own software be loaded. Did you install the software for it?

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Answer from Joe
Sep 8, 2015 10:51AM PDT

The CD that came with the fax, had much software on it but no clear indication as to which had to be installed.

Trying various options on that CD did NOT achieve an install that ‘satisfied’ Device Manager, but it did reveal a model number, which I used to look for drivers on the net,
resulting in Device Manager now listing the modem as satisfactorily installed.
However, it does NOT show in Window Explorer amongst the entries for Computer.
I feel it should, but do not know if that is so.

In the modem setup window from ‘Windows Fax & Scan’ I can not change the status of "No fax accounts are configured"

Joe

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why would the dialup modem show up there?
Sep 8, 2015 3:45PM PDT

Have you found it's program in the Start Menu yet and run that? Also may need to do a setting in the software to allow not just data but also fax. It may also come with it's own fax software you can use. Most of the older "card" type dialup modems did.

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Configuring the USB fax modem in Win7 Ult 32bit (cont)
Sep 8, 2015 5:51PM PDT

James - I found 'Windows Fax and Scan' at the outset - that is NOT dependent on having a fax installed. But once I have opened that 'program', I get stalled by 'not responding' from the Fax Setup.

As for 'why would a dialup modem show there' - I do not know if it is a DialUp modem - I know it is a fax modem; It's connected by USB, and USB storage sticks, and USB dongles show in Windows Explorer (in Computer), so possibly a USB connected fax modem would too.

I do not get the chance to add a destination contact - the process hangs at the stage of setting up the Fax modem.

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Did you yet create a dialup connection for it?
Sep 8, 2015 6:34PM PDT

Go into networking and create a dialup connection. Do you remember using dialup modems in past or is this new to you? You first need to create the dialup connection, and then make the connection, and THEN the fax or data program can be used and should recognize there's a dialup connection. I can't be there and see everything like the software for the usb/rj11 adapter, nor all requirements, and it's been a few years since I even played with the USB/RJ11 cable I have here since it's all VOIP at my home now anyway. (Oh, for future knowledge, even VOIP can use dialup modems, but some have problems doing the fax over them, but you have POTS service still)

I just realized you may need to go to Control Panel and Add/Remove Programs, the windows section and add the capability for Dial Up Networking. I suspect it's not loaded as a default program anymore for windows. I don't remember seeing it load on an install after XP.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00828848

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvjnckINIcA

If all else fails, there's always e-fax.

I found efax easy to use years ago, haven't used it recently.

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Dial Up Modem
Sep 9, 2015 10:05PM PDT

I did NOT create a dial up connection - I woulkd expect that yto be part of the instructions, if it were needed. In Control panel, Add/Remove Windows features lists : Games
Indexing Service
Internet Explorer 11
Internet Information Services
Internet Information Services Hostable Web Core
Media Features
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1
Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server
Print and Document Services
RAS Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK)
Remote Differential Compression
RIP Listener
Services for NFS
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
Simple TCPIP services (i.e. echo, daytime etc)
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications
Tablet PC Components
Telnet Client
Telnet Server
TFTP Client
Windows Gadget Platform
Windows Process Activation Service
Windows Search
Windows TIFF IFilter
Windows Virtual PC
XPS Services
XPS Viewer
Where the entries were expandable, I have looked at them also.
None of those look to me like 'Dial Up networking', so I appear not to have the option you suggest.

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Networking area.
Sep 10, 2015 1:25PM PDT
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Dial Up modem
Sep 10, 2015 8:21PM PDT

Thank you James.
Those instructions could be followed more or less exactly (some differences between listed steps and options open to me) to the point where something tried to dial out, but complained of 'no dial tone'. So I replaced the modem with a phone, and could distinctly hear a dial tone. In retracing my steps I found an entry in Control Panel for 'phones and modems ' - it offered a view of the call log at the bottom of which I found the following :
"Timed out waiting for response from modem
The modem failed to respond to the initialization command, Retrying one more time
115200,8,N,1, ctsfl=1, rtsctl=2
DSR is low while initializing the modem. Verify modem is turned on.
CTS is low while initializing modem.
Send: ATZ<cr>
Timed out waiting for response from modem
Session Statistics:
Reads : 0 bytes
Writes: 0 bytes"

It appears to be blaming the modem for non-functionality. The modem was new - recently received from Ebay.

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addition to previous post
Sep 10, 2015 8:26PM PDT

I discovered a 'Querry Modem' button, and when I clicked on that, got the following error message the last line of which offers something to check on - if I knew what the correct interrupt was for the port. "The modem failed to respond. Make sure it is properly connected and turned on. If it is an internal modem or is connected, verify that the interrupt for the port is properly set."

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Hmm, need to check the AT command set
Sep 11, 2015 7:37AM PDT

I remember ATH was to "hangup" can't recall ATZ. Looking at Haye's command set I see that's a reset command. The one to dial out is ATD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_command_set

http://www.activexperts.com/mobile-messaging-component/at/basic/

Most of this should have been automated when you installed the software so would interface with windows and not need to send manual commands to the modem, although even then "initialization strings" had to match what the modem needed, and any "S" registers too.

The most commonly used;

ATA for answering a fax
ATD followed by phone number to connect to provider
ATZ to reset the modem to take new commands
ATH was to hang up

Every modem used the standard ones in initialization string but each also had it's peculiar ones too.

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OH, I just remembered something
Sep 11, 2015 7:42AM PDT

there's also a setting to not check for a dialtone, just to dialout anyway, and another where you can dial the number and the modem won't check for the dialtone, only for the handshake signal. Your problem though seems to be not access the modem. Your settings "115200,8,N,1, ctsfl=1, rtsctl=2" above were correct. Do you have the USB port being used turned on in the BIOS? When you check in Device Manager, do you see the modem there?

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Interrupt for the port properly set
Sep 11, 2015 4:06PM PDT

Not all of my post 'took', What was left out, was that I have no idea where to start with setting port interrupts. Which means that your advice about ATA, ATD, ATZ & ATH left me bewildered. Device Manager changed from showing a problematical modem, to NOT it being problematical, after I tried an driver update from the web. I infer that the port is turned on in the BIOS from the fact that Device Manager displays the modem.

As far as this forum is concerned, comments are being added 'in the middle' rather than at the end of the thread; can that be corrected ?

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comments
Sep 11, 2015 8:47PM PDT

this forum uses tree format instead of flat format, and recent change in that made it a bit more difficult to locate the replies, hopefully they will continue development of the software used and fix that problem in future.

If it's OK in the device manager now, no need to worry about IRQ settings. Should be able to do it all from networking now. Also check that you have TCP/IP and a Client setup in networking. If you've ever used the computer for broadband with a router that should already be installed. The USB modem you bought should have come with read me files about all this and installed most drivers you'd have needed, but the TCP/IP protocol and the Client program parts is from windows.

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a trip back in time
Sep 8, 2015 7:17PM PDT
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(NT) Hey, I've got one of those.
Sep 8, 2015 7:22PM PDT
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(NT) Mine's been lying on the floor unused for at least 7 years.
Sep 8, 2015 7:23PM PDT
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I have several
Sep 8, 2015 7:26PM PDT

Diamond supramax USB dialup modems sitting in a big box of computer stuff. Those came along as most dialup in USA was dying off. They do work though.

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fax accounts
Sep 8, 2015 3:52PM PDT
"Windows Fax & Scan’ I can not change the status of "No fax accounts are configured"

Have you added a contact like a person you want to send a fax to?
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Answer
Final answer from Joe, includes solution.
Sep 12, 2015 7:03AM PDT

My initial concern about enabling a fax-modem in Win7, has turned into a tour-de-force, which I need not pursue any longer, because I have found that the installation of the modem and the configuring of a fax account happened effortlessly in Win10.

So why pursue an impossible dream ?

I am withdrawing – defeated - from the attempt to install the fax modem in Win7, as Win10 makes it dead easy.

Joe