Question: I am trying to fax out using Delrina Winfax Pro7.0 (for Windows 95). Ninety-five per cent of my faxesconnect with no problems.

However, two friends have fax machines that don't connectwith me. The program starts up, connects (a connectionspeed is shown) and the "training" begins (which I later foundout is a test protocol). It's during this training that theconnection fails and no fax is sent.

I have a feeling it is because my setup is Class 1 and theirsare Class 2 machines.

So what the heck is the difference between the classes andhow would I go about changing this? I am running a Pentium100 with 16Mb of RAM with Windows 95.

Answer: The difference is a matter of hardware data flowcontrol versus software data flow control.

That might sound kind of complicated, but it's not really.Once you know which data flow control you're using, you'llknow what controls the way in which data is poured throughthe phone lines.

In one case, a piece of software (or a program like Winfax)calls the shots on how data is sent. On the other handhardware handles the push and pull of information. Chancesare your friends' fax machines are using hardware data flowcontrols.

I checked with Delrina's Shelly Sofer: "When you use aClass 1 machine, more of the fax transmission is handled bysoftware. In a Class 2 model, most of transmission ishandled by the hardware."

To solve the problem, try playing with some softwaresettings in Winfax on your end. Go to "Setup" then "Modem"and click the "Properties" button. Under one of the tabs is acheck-mark next to "hardware flow control."

"Play with that," said Sofer. "Check it on. Or failing that turnit off. Also try turning error correction mode off."

It may take a bit of testing, but that should solve yourproblem on the more troublesome connections. The issuehere is that there are fax machines that are not standardizedand fax cards can't always determine the best way ofcommunicating with them.

"We're cognizant of that," said Sofer. "In the next release ofDelrina Winfax (version 8.0) we'll be shipping drivers thattalk to fax machines more effectively, so the user doesn'thave to worry about that."

One other tidbit on the next version of Winfax: it will includeTalkWorks, software that allows you to set up yourcomputer to receive phone messages. It will also have afax-on-demand capability and have features that supportCaller ID and a hands-free mode.

More information on Winfax Pro can be obtain by calling1-800-441-7234. There's also information available atwww.symantec.com.

CYBERWALKER NOTES:

In the coming weeks I'm going to venture into the dark sideof the computer world to the realm of computer shop techbenches and see what it's like to be at the end of a dailystream of computer problems.

If you troubleshoot computers and software for the public ora company and have an unusual or outrageous story about aproblem, a solution or a strange troubleshooting experience,then write me and fill me in.

If this column still doesn't fully help you with your tech problems or answer questions that you may have, you should see our Emergency Help page for personalized help.