fax machine recieving as a document?

[pruettdj]

Hope i'm in the right forum-

I'm trying to set up an a fax machine for the inlaws, and they are hoping I can make it receive faxes as a text document and not as a piece of paper (going green and such).

I can hook up their computer to receive faxes, but then it always has to be on and I'd have to run a separate line to the computer. They have an HP C309, and while I see nothing about that on the box or literature they seem sure it SHOULD be able to receive faxes as a document.

Anyone know of an easy way to do this?

 

[johnb35]

There should have been software with the fax/printer. And you should be able to set it up to where it displays the fax on the computer itself instead of printing it on paper. Is this a standalone fax or a multifunction printer, scanner, copier and fax machine? If its a stand alone fax there is no way to do it. However, you can setup your computer to receive faxes. What operating system is on it? Windows XP has its own fax program. Just go to add/remove programs and go into windows components and check fax services and that will install the software.

 

[pruettdj]

this is a "multifunction printer, scanner, copier and fax machine" and there seems to be almost no info on the fax machine part of it in the manual. its plugged into the computer through USB - B. I've poked through the "HP solution center" software with with little luck at a solution.

It is an XP machine with the 'fax center' but the fax center seems to want you to leave it open and waiting for a receipt. The owners run a business out of their home, so they want to be able to receive faxes without leaving their computer on all the time, but also not to have to waste paper with all the documents they just need to look at and not have handy.

 

[johnb35]

I guess this goes along with the saying of can't have your cake and eat it too. You will either need to use paper or have to leave the computer on all the time to receive faxes, unless there was software included to actually view the fax on the computer. What printer/fax is this? Make and model please.

 

[DCIScouts]

Just to add to what JohnB said above, the fax would need to be able to save faxes in a buffer of some type and then transmit the faxes to the computer when it turns on. This overall function is called "PC Faxing", see if that is listed anywhere in the manual. The other thing you can look for is "Fax Forwarding", this should allow them to forward any incoming faxes to an e-mail account of their choosing.