WinFax PRO crashes or closes when entering a fax number, CSID, or when attempting to edit a phonebook.

Situation: Using Windows XP you find that WinFax will now shut down prematurely while entering or editing a phonebook or any other number entry in WinFax PRO. 

Known products affected: WinFax PRO 10 (all releases), TalkWorks PRO 3.

Operating Systems affected: Windows XP (all releases)

You may have also encountered similar problems such as dialog boxes disappearing, unexpected Windows closing during the installation and shutdown when entering the CSID (Caller Station Identifer) during the installation of WinFax PRO. WinFax PRO may also close, hang or freeze when entering an IP address for fax sharing, a fax sharing password, an area code, or any other numerical entry field within the application.

We first discovered this problem with the introduction of Windows XP Service Pack 2, although some reports of this problem may have existed since as early as 2003.  

This is a known problem that may occur during some installations of WinFax PRO that are operating under the Windows XP operating system. While it is unknown what combination triggers this problem in the operating system, we believe a change in security settings and a combination of other settings within Windows XP triggers the problem in WinFax PRO. This problem often occurs after upgrading to a new service pack in Windows XP, and/or applying security updates to Windows XP or Internet Explorer.  

GetFaxing.com provides an application called WinFax Tools that automatically optimizes WinFax PRO to use the best settings for use with Windows XP.  While Symantec released WinFax PRO to be compatible with Windows XP, there are known incompatibilies that we have since discovered and documented. 

Optimizing WinFax PRO for use with Windows XP

WinFax PRO was discontinued in 2006 and no new updates to the software have been released since 2005. We recommend you follow these steps to ensure compatibility and security with WinFax PRO and Windows XP:

• We recommend updating your Windows XP to the latest security updates including Service Pack 3. The latest Windows XP security updates fix many security holes, including a specific security issue related to the WinFax PRO Viewer application. As of April, 2014, Microsoft is no longer providing updates for Windows XP but you will be able to continue to install existing and available updates for Windows XP.
• If you do not update the latest security pack and updates, or your Windows XP computer is not actively connected to the Internet, ensure you have applied the Security Update specific for WinFax PRO by downloading “WinFax Tools” and applying the free “Fix Viewer Security DLL” update. This will close the specific security hole related to the WinFax PRO Viewer.  Please note that WinFax Tools does require an internet connection to verify an active subscription to the service.
• Download and install the WinFax PRO compatibility update we have developed and released for Windows XP (available from within WinFax Tools)

Subscribe to WinFax Tools & Premium Support Forums

1. Subscribe to WinFax Tools here with your Paypal account : http://www.getfaxing.com/services.htm#forums  This is a service automatically billed each year. You can cancel automatic billing anytime.
2. Download the trial version of WinFax Tools from the link above, and save the Winfax Tools application to your desktop or other location.
3. Start WinFax Tools. Click “Check for Updates” to update WinFax Tools to the latest version (enter your provided user id and password when you subscribed to access the download)
4. Click WinFax No Pages Fix. Click Yes to start the check. Click Yes to check compatibility settings. This option checks to ensure all the settings for WinFax are configured for Windows XP.
5. Click OK to the “Done processing” message.
6. Click Fix Viewer DLL Security button. Click OK to continue. (NOTE: A Windows XP security update from April 2010 makes this option obsolete, but you should not skip this step. WinFax Tools will verify if the security patch has been applied.)
7. Click “Fix Entry Problem” button. Follow the on-screen instructions.
8. Reboot computer.
   NOTE: A reboot is necessary for the changes to be applied by Windows XP.
9. If you continue to experience problems, visit our forums at http://www.getfaxing.com/forums and post a message to the premium forums section. A technician can provide you additional assistance. (forums based support is included with your active subscription)

The post WinFax PRO crashes or closes when entering a fax number, CSID, or when attempting to edit a phonebook. appeared first on FaxTalk.