Thinkpads Forum

Does anyone have experience with the XP Fax service? Mine just won't work and I don't know how to fix this.

Here is the situation.
When I first tried to start up the service via "set up fax button" within "Printers and Faxes" pane, every file it required kept refusing to install even though the file needed was plainly in the i386 directory. I also tried an XP disk with no more success. Finally, I tried skipping the files requested.

Now, it doesn't ask me for the files anymore but it just won't install the service. The progress bar moves forward and in the "Printers and Faxes" pane I briefly see the fax icon...it disappears then the install dialog disappears with no "success" confirmation.

I've also tried seeing if it could be fixed through the "Add and Remove Programs" task pane. It isn't checked. And when I try to, it seems to install WITH a success message, but the box is still not checked. Also, no fax console etc buttons show up in Accessories menus.

Thoughy maybe. I'm stumped and I need the fax.

Maybe it's silly to post a reply to yourself but hopefully this will help others that may run into the same glitch.

The issue may be several fold and I just applied all the work-arounds so you may or may not need to do all.

ISSUE When attempting to install Fax Service, the installer will find the said file but will erroneously report file as not found instead of reporting that it cannot yet open zipped files.
CAUSE Service installer cannot open compressed DLL (*.dl_) files that usually come with PC manufacturer imaged pre-installs.
FIX You must turn on Zip Folder Support so that Win32 Cabinet Self-Extractor can have the necessary resource.
You must conscript the service manually then restart XP.
DO Start > Run > regsvr32 zipfldr.dll
Note: If your system can see zipped files as if they were directories, you many not need to do this step.
Read: http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/FAQFAX.htm#_Toc88835132
Read: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=57985

ISSUE Zip Folder support is fine but you cannot add a Windows component in Windows XP.
CAUSE As I have read, this means the security database has been corrupted and needs to be rebuilt.
FIX Because this step deletes all Group Policy settings, those of you with many networked resource should ask your administrator for help. Those at home can use this last resort...you must "recover" the security database.
DO There is a hotfix available at Microsoft Support site. See
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=884018 for details.
For the intrepid,
Start > Run > esentutl /p %windir%\security\database\secedit.sdb
Add or Remove Programs > Add Remove Windows Components > IIS (check on)
Fax Services (check on)
Read: http://groups.google.com/group/microsof ... or&rnum=20

I'm not entirely sure why IIS needs to be turned on but I didn't question the instructions found and simply removed it after Fax Services ran.