Windows 7 Faxing

If your computer has a fax-capable modem installed, you can use it to send and receive faxes. All Windows 7 editions come with fax software built in.

Create a document using your favorite application, click Print, and select Fax as the printer. Windows will ask you for the fax phone number and make the call-no paper is involved. The fax service can even add a cover sheet to your document on the way out. To receive faxes, your modem can be set to answer calls. When a fax arrives, you can view its image onscreen or print it, or even have it printed automatically.

Third-party fax software has more bells and whistles, and can provide fax services for the whole network, but the basic version that comes with Windows will take care of most home and small office users' needs. Windows 7 faxing can't be shared among a number of users on the LAN the same way you can share regular printers, though. If you want to provide a shared fax modem for your LAN, you should look for a third-party product.