By gene starwind: How do I repair a computer that starts the Fax wizard instead of Printing?
I have a HP windows XP Media center computer that does not print. When I attempt to Print, the fax setup wizard starts. I can’t print any type of file from any location. How do I repair this problem?

Good Answer:

Answer by kbugiell
Go into Control Panel, Printers & Faxes and verify that you have an actual printer installed, and that it is set as your Default printer.

Answer by youngboy1606
kb is right. Just to add, to set a new default printer, right click on the printer icon you want as a default printer and select ‘set as default’

Answer by Master Joe
An important thing to note is that the printer installed correctly. In fact, as a rule of thumb, going to the Device Manager to verify taht there are no devices under the Other Devices category is a good idea. Sometimes, when installing a printer that is capable of printing, but also other features, such as scanning, copying, faxing, etc., only a partial install may occur. This is either due to security settings, the installation wizard not completing successfully, or using the Found New Hardware wizard, rather than the installation CD’s built-in wizard to install the device. To access the Device Manager, right-click My Computer, and clickProperties. Since you are on Windows XP, click the Hardware tab at the top. Click the Device Manager button. If no devices are under the Other Devices category, the category will nto even show in the list. If this is the case, simply close the windows you opened to get here. If there is a device under the Other Devices section, you will need to update the driver. If it is associated with the HP printer, simply use the included CD-ROM to reinstall the software and drivers, and that should solve the issue. If the category is empty, go to Start and click Control Panel. Click Printers & Faxes, and verify that the HP printer is listed there. To make the Control Panel more accessible, I suggest clicking the Switch to Classic View link in the upper left. This is just a personal preference, and is not a mandatory step. In the Printers & Faxes screen, right-click the HP printer, if it is there, and click Set as Default Printer. If this option is already checked, verify that the PC is recognizing it by opening a word processer, such as Microsoft Word, typing a few lines, and clicking File and then Print. Look at the print dialog box, and see if the HP printer is there by default. If it is not, clicking the dropdown arrow will allow you to verify if the HP printer is recognized as a printer at all, and this will allow you to verify if the installation went according to plan.

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