Windows 95 gets the blame for notebook fax problems

Windows 95 is being blamed for the growing number of compatibility problems reported between notebook PCs and PC card fax/modems.

Resellers and distributors are being contacted by users complaining that their notebooks are hanging up.

One card distributor confirmed that this problem accounts for the bulk of support calls it receives.

Dave Fuller, managing director of distribution company ETG, said: ?It appears that there?s a conflict between the card and the notebook?s infra-red port. You end up having to remove the parallel port drivers of the card. We have had a large number of support calls on this subject.

?It has been suggested that the Windows 95 developers didn?t even stick to their own guidelines when working on this,? Fuller added.

PC card manufacturer TDK Systems has also encountered the problem and has said it is now having to work around it.

According to US reports, notebooks using PC cards are most likely to freeze when inserted into docking stations.

Guy Tweedale, TDK marketing manager, said: ?The problem is that Windows 95 may not take into account the fact that the IR port may be occupied. We?re now working with Microsoft to make sure we can build around this problem in future.?

As PC Dealer went to press no one was available to comment from Microsoft.