1. Be sure that you connected your computer to a phone line, and then choose Start➪All Programs➪Windows Fax and Scan.

2. In the Windows Fax and Scan window that appears, click the New Fax button. If you haven’t set up the Fax feature, the Fax Setup Wizard appears. Click Connect to a Fax Modem and then follow instructions to set up the connection.

3. When you finish the setup wizard, a new fax cover page form is displayed.

4. Enter the recipient’s information (this must be a contact you have saved with a fax number) and subject, as well as any message you want to include. Click Insert to add a file or pages from a scanner in your message.

5. Click Send to send the fax.

These days there are several alternatives to faxing. If you have a scanner you can scan images into your computer and then send them as attachments to e-mail.

You can also use a document reader program such as Adobe to save a document as a PDF file. Anybody who has Adobe, which is free, can open that file and view the document without having to have the originating software available to them. If the person you’re trying to communicate with can’t receive a fax, consider these two options.