locked
Problems reading outgoing faxes RRS feed

  • Question

  • We are unable to see any fax except those initiated by ourselves.  Even i log as Administrator or i read faxes with API from an external application.
    Changed all properties of fax and check all user option.
    First trace of this problem July 2008 and no response.

    Any solution ?

    Client  : Vista Sp1 32bit Or Windows XP or Terminal
    Server : Windows Server 2008 64 bit SP1

    Thanks
    Monday, March 23, 2009 8:18 AM

Answers

  •  

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for the update.

     

    Based on my further research and local test result, I think that this is an expected behavior of the new Fax Server role in Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2008 and Vista improves the security mechanism for Windows Fax Console so that the sent fax won’t be mixed up with each other. Each account can only view his/her own sent faxes.

    I understand that it may be a little inconvenient if an administrator sometimes wants to check all the sent faxes. It would be better if we have an option to enable administrators to view all the sent faxes in the Fax console. I will forward your feedback to our product group. Please be assured that user experience is vital for us to improve our product. On the other hand, since the Operating System is an integrated system, some feature modification has to consider the requirement and dependencies of other component and products. We may not be able to meet the requirements of all customers.

     

    Anyway, thank you for your feedback.

    • Marked as answer by Miles Zhang Friday, April 3, 2009 9:00 AM
    Friday, March 27, 2009 9:23 AM
  • Hi,

    Just for your information, it is possible via APIs to accomplish this feature. Administrator can write a small tool to traverse through all accounts and enumerate all messages.

     

    If this is just for some quick administrative purpose, Administrator can also turn on Activity Logging and browse Outbox.log and get this information.

     

    Hope it helps.

     

     

     

    • Marked as answer by Miles Zhang Wednesday, April 15, 2009 2:14 AM
    Wednesday, April 15, 2009 2:14 AM

All replies

  •  

     

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for your post.

     

    From your description, I understand that no fax can be seen except those initiated by yourselves. You have tried to change all properties of fax and checked all user options.

     

    Before going any further, I would like to confirm the following questions:

     

    1. Whether the fax server is installed in this domain environment?

    2. Whether this issue occurs on all client machines?

    3.  Whether you can access these faxes from the fax server console?

     

    If you use a fax server, faxes that you send and receive are stored on the server and not on your computer. If you can't see faxes in your Windows Fax and Scan folders, please check if the settings for fax server are correct.

     

    Please also check the fax permission:

     

    1) Open the Microsoft Fax manager on the server that installs the fax locally.

    2) Right click Fax(Local) and select Properties.

    3) On the Security Tab give “Manage Fax Documents” and “Manage fax Configuration” properties to Everyone.

     

    For your reference, I have included some useful information below:

     

    Troubleshooting Your Fax Server

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731424.aspx

     

    Hope this will help you with this issue.

     

    Best Regards,

     

    Miles Zhang

    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:26 AM
  • Miles Zhang said:

    .......... 


    Before going any further, I would like to confirm the following questions:

     

    1. Whether the fax server is installed in this domain environment?

    YES, Fax Server is installed on th W2k8 server and works fine.


    2. Whether this issue occurs on all client machines?

    We work in a terminal server environment, but if i connect to fax server from my xp client machine i see all the received faxes, and only my sent faxes.


    3.  Whether you can access these faxes from the fax server console?

    Same as previous point

     

    If you use a fax server, faxes that you send and receive are stored on the server and not on your computer. If you can't see faxes in your Windows Fax and Scan folders, please check if the settings for fax server are correct.

    In C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows NT\MSFax\SentItems i can seel all faxes' files. In the fax server console only  mine.

     

    Please also check the fax permission:

     

    1) Open the Microsoft Fax manager on the server that installs the fax locally.

    2) Right click Fax(Local) and select Properties.

    3) On the Security Tab give “Manage Fax Documents” and “Manage fax Configuration” properties to Everyone.

    Done, i have checked all available options in the Security Tab.

    Remember that i am working as Administrator.

     

    For your reference, I have included some useful information below:

     

    Troubleshooting Your Fax Server

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731424.aspx

     

    Hope this will help you with this issue.

     

    Best Regards,

     

    Miles Zhang



    I thinks this is a serious problem and i am not the only one with it. Is there someone that has not this error ? Someone that can see all faxes sent from itself or from other users ? I am in doubt to reinstall the OS, but i have more doubts to reinstall W2K8 OS. With W2K3 i had no problems. I don't know if the problem is present also in 32 bit version.
    Another problem is that this is the biggest problem not the only one. For example if i install two modems (one for ingoing and the other for oiutgoing activity) i can see only one. Not always. I see two modems or alternatively one, but random. I can see modem1 then modem2 or all two together. Now i have installed one modem. Is better to not talk about printer server and pronlems with printers server. I have begun with the first problem and after two months i am also here and i am very thoughtful. But the very problem is that we don't receive info from MS about this problem.


    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 4:18 PM
  •  

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for the update.

     

    From your description, Windows Fax Server is installed on Windows Server 2008 and works fine. If you connect to fax server from Windows XP client machine, all the received faxes and your sent faxes can be seen. In C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows NT\MSFax\SentItems you can see all fax files. In the Fax Server console there are only yours. In addition, all options in the Security tab have been checked.

     

    To isolate the root cause, please perform the following tests:

     

    1.    Logon to the Windows Server 2008 fax server as a user with Administrator right, such as Admin1.

    2.    Use Microsoft Fax console to send a fax. Can you see the fax sent by Admin1?

    3.    Logoff.

    4.    Logon to the Windows Server 2008 fax server as another user with Administrator right, such as Admin2. Can you see the faxes sent by Admin1?

    Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:05 AM
  • Created user Admin1 member of Administrators, created fax account and connected to fax server sent  a fa. I can see all received faxes and only my sent fax.
    Created user Admin2 member of Administrators, created fax account and connected to fax server.I can see all received faxes and no sent faxes.

    I repeat that i work in a terminal server environment. The fax server is the same machine as terminal server. So i logon in the terminal machine and also the fax server. When i create the fax server account i have to select from two options ( connect to a modem or connect to a fax server) i select the second option even if this is the machine where is installed the modem i use to send faxes and when windows asks me the fax server name i insert \\servername where servername is the name of the server where i have logged on. When i confirm i see all the received faxes. Before i see nothing.
    Wednesday, March 25, 2009 2:08 PM
  •  

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for the update.

     

    Based on my further research and local test result, I think that this is an expected behavior of the new Fax Server role in Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2008 and Vista improves the security mechanism for Windows Fax Console so that the sent fax won’t be mixed up with each other. Each account can only view his/her own sent faxes.

    I understand that it may be a little inconvenient if an administrator sometimes wants to check all the sent faxes. It would be better if we have an option to enable administrators to view all the sent faxes in the Fax console. I will forward your feedback to our product group. Please be assured that user experience is vital for us to improve our product. On the other hand, since the Operating System is an integrated system, some feature modification has to consider the requirement and dependencies of other component and products. We may not be able to meet the requirements of all customers.

     

    Anyway, thank you for your feedback.

    • Marked as answer by Miles Zhang Friday, April 3, 2009 9:00 AM
    Friday, March 27, 2009 9:23 AM
  • Thanks Miles, but i am not the first a sent a post about this problem. The first i read is on 28 july 2008. Microsoft cannot tell me that an Administrator cannot read all faxes sent in his O.S. The check must be for not see the faxes, but by default i have to see all i want. We have to call this with its name. THIS IS A BUG. A VERY BUG BUG. This is a problem for us with our customer. I printed what you have written because this is what i'll say to my customers when i 'll tell you that we have to install Windows Server 2003 instead of WIndows Server 2008. For me Windows Server 2008 is a joke like a joke is WIndows Vista. These are not OS for professionists. It is not possible that we have a OS that doesn't permits to see all faxes that my server sent. And you call this "a little incovenient" Now i cut & paste all the thread and i 'll sent it to all forums where i have explained my problem searching a solution and i have to explain to all other users that we have to hope that MS add something to repair this problem. It's 2 months that i am searching answers to this problem. Now i am too furious to tell something other. I have to plain my roll back to Windows Server 2003 on my lan. I expect that other users add a post to mine to explain our disappoint for this BUG.
    Have a good weekend.
    Saturday, March 28, 2009 5:22 PM
  • Hi,

     

    I completely understand the inconvenience and frustration caused by this issue. As I said, I have forwarded your feedback to our product group. Please be assured that user experience is vital for us to improve our product.

    Thursday, April 2, 2009 1:07 AM
  • Today i have installed W2k3 in place of W2k8 in my company's server farm and i have planned with our techincs the substitution of all our customers' W2k8.

    USER EXPERIENCE IS NOT MICROSOFT DEBUG.
    Tuesday, April 7, 2009 7:21 AM
  • Hi,

    Just for your information, it is possible via APIs to accomplish this feature. Administrator can write a small tool to traverse through all accounts and enumerate all messages.

     

    If this is just for some quick administrative purpose, Administrator can also turn on Activity Logging and browse Outbox.log and get this information.

     

    Hope it helps.

     

     

     

    • Marked as answer by Miles Zhang Wednesday, April 15, 2009 2:14 AM
    Wednesday, April 15, 2009 2:14 AM
  • I already use API in my ERP to read faxes and import them into my activity database and i link to contacts that send them, i can't modify my app to read each account and read faxes for each account instead of to read all faxes with administrative rights like i have always done. I am very pleased, but at the moment i continue to install w2k3 and i hope the problem will be reasolved asap in w2k8. I hope also that MSFT understands that this is a bug.
    Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:40 AM
  • I just want to add myself to the list of users than thinks this issue is more than:
    "a little inconvenient"
    All fax server applications, including past microsoft versions of fax server, have some ability to view the outbound queue or outbox.
    It becomes VERY difficult to troubleshoot outbound fax issues when there is not a view of the queue length or view which outbound fax is causing an issue.
    So without sharing all of my thoughts on this subject.... PLEASE get this "expected behavior" corrected to work like all other fax servers!
    Thank you!
    Friday, April 24, 2009 6:31 PM
  • Also in case this helps anyone:

    I'm not sure this is "expected behavior"
    This page:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc231826(PROT.10).aspx
    Which applies to Windows Server 2008 (and other products)
    States this:
    <103> Section 5.1: The following access control entries are used by the fax service:
    ...
    7. View fax jobs: This privilege allows the user to view all outgoing jobs, including the jobs submitted by other users.
    By default, this privilege is given to the administrator's group.

    8. Manage fax jobs: This privilege allows the user to manage all outgoing jobs, including the jobs submitted by other users
    By default, this privilege is given to the administrator's group.

    I've set these permissions as seen here:
    http://castema.com/images/faxpermissions.jpg

    And no luck viewing other user's outbound faxes.
    • Proposed as answer by savein Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:39 PM
    Friday, April 24, 2009 6:43 PM
  • We too have experienced problems with the fax server BUT only with Vista 64 bit machines using SB server 2003. All workstations 32/64 bit Vista can view all sent items but the 64 bit Vista machines cannot view ANY received faxes. When you click on the inbox; you can momentarily see all of the faxes listed and then they scroll up and off the screen. MS thought that it was possibly due to a corrupt fax causing a problem with the 64 bit driver but we have done numerous tests to disprove this theory. It's as if when the inbox has more than 25 or so messages, it will not display BUT the 32 bit Vista machines do not exhibit the same behavior.

    Obviously this anomoly is directly associated with the 64 bit Vista and sbs server 2003. It is a big problem moving forward with 64 bit machines if MS cannot identify that there is a problem and fix it.
    Sunday, May 3, 2009 3:57 PM
  • The problem is with Windows Server 2008. I have stopped all installation of new W2K8 and i have substituted those i have already installed with W2K3. For my company at the moment W2K8 does not exist. Like Vista........Good Job M$FT.
    Tuesday, May 5, 2009 1:57 PM
  • I also would like to add myself to the list of people who are finding this 'feature' very inconvenient... hopefully this will be changed to work similarly to how windows fax server always has in the past, and sooner rather than later.
    Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:18 AM
  • I also am having this issue and need to be able to manage outgoing fax jobs from other users. I have followed all the steps related to permissions.

    I am using Server 2008 R2 and the same issue occurs.

    I suggest the OP change the title to "Problems reading / managing all users outgoing faxes"


    MCTS 70-620 Certified
    Tuesday, December 1, 2009 7:23 PM
  • Please add me to the list of those wanting this decision revisited.  With Server 2003 an admin could manage/monitor all of the outgoing faxes.  This lack of feature has crippled the fax feature in Server 2008.
    Monday, January 18, 2010 7:36 PM
  • OMGosh!
    Microsoft Software "Designers" are more concerned with the ICON images in Windows 2008 than in the practical use of the fax server role.

    Quit wasting time on frills and devote brain power to more practical matters . . . Sigh.

    It would be nice if Microsoft would work on a solution to regain the full functionality the lost in Windows 2008.

    BTW Microsoft:  -- Windows 7 user profile copy to default is yet another major hassle -- OMGosh! what were you thinking.

    Time to look more to MAC machines and OS.

    Wednesday, February 3, 2010 7:50 AM
  • Obviously what Microsoft designers and programs conceive as "expected behavior" and what the rest of us out here in the field see as "expected behavior" are worlds apart.

    It's not possible for all administrators to have the level of training to write our own applets to interface with an API each time we need answers when troubleshooting problems.  Power scripting is fine if you have the time to learn it which most of us Road Warriors don't have.

    We're trying to make a living out here plus make Microsoft look good to the customer.  I would think that it is in Microsoft's best interest to provide us with the tools (without having to do our own programming) to support their products.

    I too have four customers right now that have fax server problems and it is impossible to tell which account and which fax is clogging up the system.  On Windows 2003 server it was great as I could centralize the support since we could RDP to the server and find out who the culpret was.

    Now, I have to send a tech on-site to go around to each PC to see which user has a hung fax.  The user's are clueless once they send the fax into the queue so its impossible to call them and ask them to have all 100 of their employees check their fax queues.

    Frankly, this is getting to be quite expensive to the end user (my customers) and they are getting a bit pissed about it.  If Microsoft doesn't resolve this fax server Outbound queue issue soon we're going to be forced to go to an alternative vendor to provide the level of service our customers demand.
    Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:15 PM
  • Please add me to the list of those wanting this decision revisited.  With Server 2003 an admin could manage/monitor all of the outgoing faxes & one of my clients used this feature daily.

    They still communicate heavily with Fax, as their clients request it.  My client is extremely frustrated, especially having handed over huge $$ for replacing their old server & upgrading to SBS2008.  

    Come on Microsoft lets get this sorted ASAP to keep your clients happy!  I'm sure you could fix this in no time if you tried!!!!

    Wednesday, April 28, 2010 4:52 AM
  • Please add me to the list of those wanting this decision revisited. 

    I can't believe that nobody in Microsoft think this could be an issue and I can't understand how it's possible that one year is passed and we are still waiting a solution.

    How Fox Mulder told... : "I want to believe...", but not too much... :-(

    Bill... where are you ??? Please, come back and explain to your great developer mind what is the real world....

    Bye

    Tuesday, June 1, 2010 1:03 PM
  • I cannot receive faxes through client fax console .. an I have ALL your other problem told here ... sad ... I'm starting to find another server OS ... 
    Sunday, June 6, 2010 8:15 PM
  • Please add me to this list as well.

    Tuesday, July 13, 2010 2:38 PM
  • Add me too. I as an administrator can't see what is clogging up the outbox??? Come on...

    By the way sometimes not even the user that sent it can see it.

    Friday, July 23, 2010 4:05 PM
  • This is a major problem that makes the fax service completely unusable for my situation. Please fix this microsoft!
    Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:54 PM
  • Hot off the support site

    This QFE is for 2008 R2

    The "FaxEnumJobs" function does not enumerate all fax jobs in Windows Server 2008 R2 or in Windows 7

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2217044


    Alan Morris Windows Printing Team; Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here: http://support.microsoft.com/search/Default.aspx?adv=1
    Saturday, August 14, 2010 1:02 AM
    Answerer
  • As fantastic as this is, sadly, I'm running Server 2008 (non-R2)  The patch doesn't apply...

    Now what???

    Monday, August 16, 2010 3:31 PM
  • Contact support and reference the 2008 R2 QFE.  Request a 2008 QFE.  The customer who initially requested the QFE specifically wanted a fix for 2008 R2.  The group that determines development resources, will not prioritize the need for this QFE in another operating system if they are not aware or there is not a large number of requests for such.

    PS I don't count.


    Alan Morris Windows Printing Team; Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here: http://support.microsoft.com/search/Default.aspx?adv=1
    Tuesday, August 17, 2010 1:50 AM
    Answerer
  • Thank you!!

     


    MCTS 70-620 Certified
    Tuesday, August 17, 2010 1:09 PM
  • Please add me to the list of those wanting this decision revisited.

    I am using SBS 2008 and experience same problem about outgoing faxes.

    I am realy thinking  downgrade back to SBS 2003.

    Is somting new about this issue?

    Thanks all

    Saturday, October 2, 2010 4:31 PM
  • Hello,

     

    the Hotfix in KB2217044 will not be installed on by 2008 R2 with Fax Server Role. "is not suitable"

     

    I have teh same Problem that I can not see outgoing faxes from other Users than me.

    Monday, January 31, 2011 7:01 AM
  • am seeing same problem - wish list too

    ...additionally in SBS 2003/Win 2k3 the Fax Monitor located on the server also worked such that you could actively see anything being sent out or in.  As an administrator this is especially critical if you are say considering the moment to reboot the box.  ...would like to see this critical feature fixed or else moving to GFI Faxmaker is the only rational solution.


    Dale Unroe
    Thursday, February 17, 2011 6:16 PM
  • Finally was able to install this patch on a 2008 R2 server.  I now have the options in Fax Properties > Security > Advanced > Edit for:

    View outgoing fax jobs
    Manage outgoing fax jobs

    I assigned these permissions to Domain Admins, however I still can't see the list of outgoing or sent faxes unless I log in as the user who sent them.

    Is there a setting that I missed??

    Friday, March 25, 2011 2:36 PM
  • Add me to the list of very unhappy users of the Windows Fax setup with Windows Server 2008 and (R2). Andy, I have also applied this "hotfix" but it didn't seem to affect anything.

    Is there ANYONE who has this actually working? Microsoft? Anyone?

    Please.

    Wednesday, March 30, 2011 5:58 PM
  • Add me to the list of unhappy users with not being able to see all users Sent items.  It is impossible to manage/troubleshoot faxes without this funcionality.  Using SBS 2008 Standard FE SP2 so hotfix is not compatible.  Microsoft, please fix this.
    Monday, April 11, 2011 2:26 PM
  • Same over here.

    Regarding KB2217044 Hotfix in 2008 R2 in get "not suitable" message.

    Via Fax Service Manager (right click on root -> Properties -> Permissions) I managed to add all the permissions i could on "Authenticated Users" group, and still no go.

     

    I need all of my users to be able to see the sent items.


    I can understand MS's security concerns in 2008, but we must be able to use the fax server the same way we did until now in 2003.

    The OS upgrades must help us. Not make our lives difficult.

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011 10:57 AM
  • Hi Alex...

    welcome in the Microsoft forgotten users.... :-)

    My opinion is that there is no intention to modify this.

    There are tons of peoples asking this feature but nobody anwer.

    Maybe because in Microsoft there are some interested to GFI fax solutions or other thirdy party software ?

    Bye

     

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011 11:22 AM
  • Also having problems wanting to do this on SBS 2011 Fax Server !

     

    Customer used to be able to monitor all outgoing faxes on SBS 2003, expected to be able to do the same with SBS 2011..not so it seems..

     

    Anyone ?

     

     

    Wednesday, June 1, 2011 4:08 PM
  • Wow... this is a good news... :-((

    Ok... now I think it's clear : Microsoft wants to help thirdy party fax software developer to sell their products.

    Very very admirable.....

     

    Thursday, June 2, 2011 10:30 AM
  • Hi Alan,

    is there any way to request a fix for SBS 2011 without paying for a support call? (i do not want to pay for support as it is a bug and not a configuration or management issue).

    Thank you for your answer.

    Stéphane

    Wednesday, March 28, 2012 8:40 PM
  • Since I am not in support I'm not the right person to ask.  If there is a fix already and you are looking for a QFE I do not think you get charged.  I'd say there have not been enough requests for the 2008R2 fix on Server 2008 (I'm assuming SBS is based off this release). 

    If SBS 2011 is based on 2008R2, then the binaries in the 2217044 KB should work.


    Alan Morris Windows Printing Team

    Thursday, March 29, 2012 12:24 AM
    Answerer
  • SBS 2008 is based on Server 2008, SBS 2011 is based on Server 2008 R2 ...as such there is no 'fix' provided for SBS 2008/Server 2008 ...why didn't a fix get made if the same Fax Server functionality problem existed on it as with Server 2008 R2?  ...many SBS 2008 business owners using the fax server would appreciate this even now

    Dale Unroe

    Thursday, March 29, 2012 1:31 AM
  • Alan, thank you for your answers.

    SBS 2011 is based on 2008R2 but... the fix can not be installed (I get a message indicating that the update can not be installed on my server). It should no be exactly a 2008R2 version...

    On the Microsoft support web site, there is no solution to submit an issue without paying even if it is a true Microsoft issue (that we can affirm because there is a fix for 2008R2).

    So I have two solutions:

    - extract files from the fix (*.msu file),

    - ask you a contact in the microsft support.

    Best regards.

    Stéphane

    Saturday, March 31, 2012 1:49 PM
  • THIS IS REDICULOUS.  Why is this not fixed?  Just installed SBS 2011 and the fax server is useless. One fax gets stuck, and there is no way to find it without going around to 50 different machines.  FIX THIS NOW MICROSOFT.
    Thursday, July 19, 2012 7:59 PM
  • We're like many other IT groups.  We have stopped all 2008 installs and reverted back to 2003.  Obviously, MS has no desire to fix the Outbound fax queue visability.  They are hoping we'll forget about it and move on.  WRONG.  Look at the dates on this thread and you can see this problem dates a long way back; longer than any other MS problem and MS still won't respond to it.

    The bigest problem in fixing this situation is that there is no longer a profile called All User in windows 2008 server.  In 2003 Server the fax queue used to be in the All User profile.  

    Personally, I don't believe that MS is smart enough to fix this nor do I believe that MS considers it a problem.  All they have done so fare is say "Up Yours IT pros, Accept it and move on". 

    Tuesday, September 25, 2012 4:04 AM
  • Ditto.  Very disappointing news.  Looks like MS is expecting FAX to go the way of the typewriter because everyone should use email instead.  FAX is HIPAA compliant.  Without encryption, email is not.  What are they thinking?  This is a big PITA for the managers in the offices we service that need this feature - especially those that are used to the 2003 edition.  Unfortunately, many are also not willing to keep a standalone system in operation just for the convenience.  Bend over and take it like a man one more time.  Wait until you see what Server 2012 is going to make us do...  We're doomed.
    • Edited by OneTech-CSI Wednesday, October 10, 2012 3:52 PM
    Wednesday, October 10, 2012 3:51 PM
  • Stumbled across this as am having the same problem in Server 2008 R2. Very disappointing that MS still has done nothing about it despite the hotfix not actually fixing the problem.

    If it's of any help for anyone in the same boat a less than ideal workaround is to share out the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows NT\MSFax\SentItems folder on the fax server and give your fax users read only permissions to this folder to allow them to read the sent items stored there as TIFF's. 

    Monday, July 1, 2013 2:30 PM