This really doesn't have anything to do with windows--
A Fax machine hooks up to the normal POTS phone line, and may have a socket
to plug in the regular phone(s)
There are several methods to distinguish between voice and fax calls.
Simplest- set the fax to answer after about 5 rings.
More complex - selective ring (if the fax machine and the phone company
support it.
There are units that can be attached to the phone line ahead of the Fax and
the phone, and can decide which way to switch the call.
Things get more complex when a telephone answering machine is also involved.
Some Fax machines are starting to have this feature built in.
Generally, I've had more reliable results with a stand alone fax and printer
combo than using a fax modem.
For light use, since my old fax printer just quit, I'm currently using a
brother MFC 420CN, mainly because it can be used as a network send fax as
well as a network printer. At the office we use an HP laser printer/fax
combo that can send the fax as an email as well as by conventional fax.
