If you have a modem connected to your Windows XP computer and a phone line, you can send and recieve faxes. The fax service is not installed by default, though, so you'll have to install it yourself. Here's how:

1. Click Start and then open the Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, open the Add or Remove Programs applet.
3. In the Add or Remove Programs window, click on the Add/Remove Windows Components button.
4. In the Windows Components dialog box, put a check in the FAX SERVICEs checkbox. Click Next.
5. During setup you'll be asked for your Windows XP CD. Make sure you have it! If your computer vendor didn't give you a Windows XP CD, they've got a lot of 'splaining to do! Put the CD in and point it to the CD drive. Click OK to continue the installation.
6. Click Finish on the Completing the Windows Components Wizard page.
7. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, point to Fax and then click on Fax Console.
8. In the Location Information dialog box, type in your Area code. If you need to specify a carrier code or number of an outside line, type those in this dialog box, as well. Click OK.
9. Click OK in the Phone and Modem Options dialog box.
10. Click Next in the Welcome to Fax Configuration page.
11. On the Send Information page, enter your identifying information, such as name, fax number, email address, address, billing code, etc. Click Next after entering this information.
12. Your modem will show up on the Select Device for Sending or Receiving Faxes page. The Enable Send option is selected by default. If you want your Windows XP computer to receive faxes, put a checkmark in the Enable Receive checkbox. If you use this phone for voice calls too, you might want to configure a higher number for number of rings before Windows XP answers the phone. The default value is 2. Click Next after making your selections.
13. On the Transmitting Subscriber Identification (TSID) page, enter your FAX phone number; you can also enter your Business name if you like. Click Next.
14. Do the same on the Called Subscriber Identification (CSID) page by entering your FAX number and optionally your business name. Click Next.
15. The Routing Options page has settings that determine how incoming FAXES will be handled. You can automatically print out the FAX by selecting the Print it on option and then selecting your printer. You also have the option of saving the FAX to a file on your hard disk. Select the Store a copy in a folder option and then click the Browse button to select a folder in which to store the faxes. You have the option to create a new folder. Click Next after making your selections.
16. Review your selections and click Finish on the Completing the Fax Configuration Wizard page.

Now you can send any document or graphic as a FAX. If you have scanned in paper documents, you can save the scanned documents as TIF or GIF files and print those out to your FAX printer.