GE Telephone answering machine will not work

It seems that your messages are full. This will happen if you dont delete all messages. Try that first. Then try the answer button. Sometimes we turn it on but forget to actually have it answer calls. Make sure your rings are set to 4 rings then you will know if it will answer after 4 rings. If it still won't answer after 4 rings then junk it. They are so cheap to buy a new one. They are not worth fixing these days. it is sad i know.
Good Luck

For more details on how to setup your Lexmark X4650 printer for faxing, please refer to the User's Guide found on the Lexmark website.
Additional info:If you have an answering on the same line as your fax:

To make sure the printer picks up incoming faxes, set Auto Answer to On, and then set the printer to pick up after a greater number of rings than the answering machine. For example, if the answering machine picks up calls after four rings, then set the printer to pick up after six rings. This way, the answering machine picks up calls first and your voice calls are received. If the call is a fax, then the printer detects the fax signal on the line and takes over the call.

If you have a voicemail feature associated in the same line as your fax:

Voice mail and fax can share the same telephone line if you subscribe to a distinctive ring service offered by your telephone company. This feature allows you to have multiple telephone numbers on one telephone line. Each telephone number has a designated ring pattern (single ring, double ring, triple ring, or double and triple ring). The different ring patterns let you know which telephone number was dialed, and which device you should use to answer the call.

If you do not have distinctive ring service, then set the printer to receive faxes manually (Auto Answer Off). This setting lets you receive both voice calls and fax calls, but works best if you use voice mail more often. You need to turn off voice mail whenever you are expecting a fax.

If you have an answering machine connected to the same line as your fax:

To make sure the printer picks up incoming faxes, set Auto Answer to On, and then set the printer to pick up after a greater number of rings than the answering machine. For example, if the answering machine picks up calls after four rings, then set the printer to pick up after six rings. This way, the answering machine picks up calls first and your voice calls are received. If the call is a fax, then the printer detects the fax signal on the line and takes over the call.

If you have a voicemail feature associated to the same line as your fax:

Voice mail and fax can share the same telephone line if you subscribe to a distinctive ring service offered by your telephone company. This feature allows you to have multiple telephone numbers on one telephone line. Each telephone number has a designated ring pattern (single ring, double ring, triple ring, or double and triple ring). The different ring patterns let you know which telephone number was dialed, and which device you should use to answer the call.

If you do not have distinctive ring service, then set the printer to receive faxes manually (Auto Answer Off). This setting lets you receive both voice calls and fax calls, but works best if you use voice mail more often. You need to turn off voice mail whenever you are expecting a fax.

I hope this helps.

Should you need further assistance, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center.

You need to check the setup ..

The telephone line which is coming from out should be connected to the line 1 of the printer and Telephone answering machine should be connected to Line 2 .

2. You also need to check that after how many rings the Telephone answering machine answers the call you have to keep the "Rings to answer" 2 less than that of Telephone answering machine.

Lets assume that your Telephone Answering Machine answers the call after 4 rings then keep the rings to answer in All in One to 2

How to set Rings to Answer

1. Press the Setup button on the Front panel of the printer

2. Scroll Down and go to Basic Fax Setup - Select it

3. Scroll down and got to - Rings to Answer - Select it

4. Set the Rings here and then try Fax

it will fix the problem :)

Check to see if the battery needs to be changed. I did, and it worked for me.

Receive Mode Settings Select from the following receive mode options to suit your needs. Once you've decided on which receive mode to use, follow the below instructions to set the receive mode using the operation panel. Receive Mode Setting

1. Press the <FAX> button to enter Fax mode.
   
2. Press <Menu>.
   
3. Press the right or left arrow button to select [Receive mode settings], then press the <OK> button.
   
4. Press the up or down arrow to select the receive mode that best suits your needs, then press <OK>.
   
   

Types of receive mode
Select the receive mode according to your needs.
Receive mode
Purpose
FAX/TEL AUTO SW When you want to receive faxes automatically as well as voice calls. FAX ONLY MODE When you want to receive only faxes automatically with your machine, or have a dedicated telephone line for FAX use only. DRPD When you have subscribed to a DRPD service with your telephone company. MANUAL MODE When you receive mainly voice calls and sometimes faxes, or want to receive faxes manually. ANS.MACHINE MODE When you want to receive voice messages on your answering machine and receive faxes automatically. FAX/TEL auto switch
FAX :
The machine does not ring but will receive the fax automatically. Voice call :
The phone attached to the machine will ring. Pick up the handset to answer the call. Note:

• Ring start timing and Telephone ring length can be specified in FAX/TEL auto switch in the Receive mode settings.
  
• If you want the telephone to ring when it receives a fax, connect a telephone to your machine and enable the Incoming ring settings in RX settings.
  
• The phone attached to the machine may not ring depending on the telephone type you are using.

FAX only
FAX * :
The telephone does not ring. The machine will receive the fax automatically. Voice call :
You will not be able to answer the call. * If you want the telephone to ring, connect the telephone to your machine and enable the Incoming ring settings in RX settings menu.


DRPD
FAX :
Your telephone line will ring according to the ring pattern you have chosen and receive the fax automatically. Voice call :
Your telephone line will ring according to the ring pattern you have chosen. Pick up the handset to answer the call. Note: Specify the FAX pattern in the DRPD: Set FAX ring pat. in RX settings menu.

Manual RX
FAX :
The telephone attached to the machine will ring. Pick up the handset and if you hear a beep tone, press the <Color> or <Black> button on the machine to receive the fax. Voice call :
The telephone attached to the machine will ring. Pick up the handset to answer the call. Note: If you are far from your machine, you can use the remote receiving function to receive faxes. Pick up the handset of the telephone connected to the machine and press 25 (the remote receiving ID).

Ans. machine connect
FAX :
First the answering machine connected to your machine will respond to an incoming call, and then the machine will receive faxes automatically. Voice call :
The answering machine connected to your machine will respond to an incoming call. Note:

• Set the answering machine to answer on the first or second ring.
  
• The entire message should be no longer than 15
  

when the phone rings just pick up the hand set and answer
if that doesn't work press the talk/answer button and answer

Telephone wire goes to fax, out to answer machine, Important to set fax on answer machine mode and set the ring count to pick up AFTER the telephone answer machine. Set fax ring count to 5 rings, and answering machine to 3 or 4. When some one calls answer machine or you pick up first, then if no one will leave a msg. fax tones are different than voice tones, they are called CNG tones. Most new fax machine will sense this and if a fax will go to fax only. Ring count is the key. Also you could set fax up for maual mode and would not jump to anser machine or fax till you want.....good luck

Check to make sure you do not have distinctive ring option turned on.

change how many rings your voicemail picks up in or cancel it.
set your answering machine to less rings than your voicemail.