Thinkpads Forum

I am unable to fax on my T500: when, for example, I try to fax via windows 7 "Windows Fax and Scan", I am asked to select a fax server or fax hardware to use, and when I select my own fax hardware, since the t500 has a built-in fax, an error is thrown.

Does anyone know how to fax via the internet using the T500?

Thanks!

... and MS WORD tells me to sign up with a fax service provider...

What do you mean by, "my own fax hardware?" What fax hardware do you have?

I have the built-in fax modem that comes with the T500.

... do I plug in the phone line into the t500, and will Windows7 allow the fax?? I have found no step by step instructions online for this: in the past (other Thinkpads) I was able to fax online wth no physical connection to a phone line.

What is the complete error message you are getting?

I don't have a modem so I can't give you a step-by-step procedure. These Microsoft articles may help:

Set up your computer to send and receive faxes: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/wind ... eive-faxes

Send a fax: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... send-a-fax

How to Send and Receive a Fax in Windows 7: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/h ... ows-7.html

If that doesn't get you what you are looking for, then you'll probably have to look for a third party free/paid faxing program.

Thanks for the great links!

Yes, I already had checked the Windows information, which reads "If your computer has a built-in fax modem, Windows will automatically detect it during the setup process," so I expected it to pick up the T500s internal modem, and that would be that. But after selecting Fax and Scan, there are two options displayed, one for It is also asking for a fax service to have been set up, which is not mentioned in the Windows instructions and which I did npt need when I faxed from my older Thinkpad...

Specifically, Windows fax and Scan ---> Choose a Faz modem or Server --> (I click "Connect to a Fax Modem", altho as I do so I wonder why this is necessary: shouldn;t Windows detect my internal modem automatically, per the instrctions? --> "An error occurred, please try the operation later or contact your Administrator"


This last message is after 3 series of upgrades to Thinkpad Utilities. The original message instructed me to get a Fax Service set up (... as does the "dummies" link you site above, but again, I thought that the T500 did this automatically without needing a service!

Have you actual;y faxed from your T500?

Oh, and I have checked with the device manager and the modem is working...

I guess I will try another Windows driver upgrade... (I have been doing that too)

But, liek I say, I have never faxed with this T500, only my older Thinkpad, which did not require that I physically connect the phone line to the computer. And, as also mentioned, the TP Utilites sw results in null on a search of "fax" or "modem"

Under Devices, Modems --->

"F3507 mobile Broadband modem Port" (which I do not even know what this is so do not want to mess with it)
"Thinkpad Modem Adapter" --> "Properties" ---> "This device is working properly."
"Wait for dial tone before dialing "is CHECKED as default - should this be DESELECTED?
I "Queried the modem" and got "Success"

So, again, it would be really great if you have actually done this before yourself on ypt T500 to let m eknow if ther eis some switch I should activate that may be deactivated, etc...(????)


Thanks again!!!!!

As I stated in my last post:

nikki605 wrote:I don't have a modem so I can't give you a step-by-step procedure.

Maybe someone else here has some experience with fax modems. I rarely have a need to fax anything. I usually attach the document to an email.

Good luck!

LisaKali wrote:... in the past (other Thinkpads) I was able to fax online wth no physical connection to a phone line.

Perhaps, but you were not using the fax modem in the Thinkpad to do so. You are "recalling" something that never was the case! Faxing is an activity that takes place over a voice telephone line. Either you, or a "fax service" to which you send your document via the Internet, must "dial" the receiving fax's telephone number and transmit the fax image over the resulting voice telephone connection.

Yes, you do have a fax modem in your Thinkpad. However, the only way to use that fax modem, for any purpose, is to connect it with a wire to a voice telephone line -- and it has been that way always. There is no setting, no switch, no "magic" by which you can use the fax modem in the Thinkpad without a physical connection to a telephone line.

I don't think I can really add anything that hasn't already been covered in this thread. All the responses so far have been fairly complete and accurate. What I would really like to know is how you were able to do this:

LisaKali wrote:in the past (other Thinkpads) I was able to fax online wth no physical connection to a phone line.

If you could give us a detailed explaination of how you used to do this, maybe we could show you what is different about your new T500. I'm guessing it's not really the T500 hardware that is different, rather a different OS that you are trying to figure out. Or, maybe a different kind of internet connection than you used to use...or something similar.

That said, here is my answer to your original question:

LisaKali wrote:Does anyone know how to fax via the internet using the T500?

Sure...it would be done the same way as with any computer, whether ThinkPad, other laptop, or desktop. Here is a nice How-To link:

http://www.savetz.com/fax/