WD97: Unable to Fax When You Start Word the First Time

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

If you have Outlook 97 and Word 97 installed on your computer and you try to fax to an Outlook Contact without starting Word 97 at least once, Word will appear to hang during the faxing process.

CAUSE

The first time you start Word (or any Office 97 program), you will be prompted for the user name and initials. If Word is started for the first time from a fax request, the dialog box requesting user information will appear. However, Word will not have the focus, so Word will appear to hang (in actuality, Word is waiting for the user information).

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, switch to Word 97, type the user information and click OK in the dialog box. The fax will continue to be sent.

Future faxing will not have this problem because Word only needs the user information to be entered the first time it is started.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

For more information about faxing, click the Office Assistant, type "faxing," click Search, and then click "Create and send a fax with the fax wizard."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

     ARTICLE ID: Q137161
     TITLE: Isolating Fax Problems in Word

     ARTICLE ID: Q162197
     TITLE: Article List: Microsoft Word 97 Printing, Faxing, and Mail
            Merge