GE model #2-9831 A

Since you declined to specify the model of your answering machine, select it from the list at
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/user-manuals.asp
to get the manual.

Press and hold the STOP/SET button for two seconds to change the settings. Full details are in the "Changing the Settings" section in the third column on the first page of the manual at
http://www.home-electronics.net/USER-GUIDES/29888_DOM_EN_AN_IB.pdf

Press and hold the SETUP/ENTER button for two seconds to access the setup mode. Following the language and time/day you can set the rings to answer.

Full details are in the "Changing the Settings" section of the manual (page 10 in my copy). If you need a manual, you can download one at
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/29871GE3_IB.pdf

SETTING THE RINGS TO ANSWER

The unit announces the rings to answer. To change,
press NEXT or PREVIOUS. To set and go on to the next
item, press SET.
1. Press and release NEXT or PREVIOUS until the unit
announces and displays the correct number of rings
for the answerer to pick up.
2. Once the rings to answer is set, press SET to enter
the incoming message length menu.

Hi kcee
I think I did find the manual here :
http://157.254.235.130/public/347A8329-0001 (Rev. 1 E&S).pdf
and here :
http://phone.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/ge_appliances/29827.html

you can find more types here :
http://phone.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/ge_appliances/ge_appliances_answering_machine_product_list.html


You can find General Electric home page here:
http://www.geappliances.com/electronics/

I suggest you contact GE on the link to get the manual and understanding your answer machine with a reply :
http://www.geappliances.com/service_and_support/contact/form_operating.htm

FOR Thomson Consumer Electronics :
you get there homepage here :
http://www.home-electronics.net/

I did try to find the manual for your specific phone, but could only find these answer machines here (previous and next model number) :
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/29871GE3_IB.pdf

http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/29869GE2_IB.pdf

source :
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/user-manuals.asp

on the second manual here on page 9 you find the settings to answer. I think they have used the same shortcuts for these models. They write ;

### This feature is used to set the unit to answer a call after
a specific number of rings.
The unit announces the rings to answer. To change,
press NEXT or PREVIOUS. To set and go on to the next
item, press SET.
1. Press and release NEXT or PREVIOUS until the unit
announces and displays the correct number of rings
for the answerer to pick up.
2. Once the rings to answer is set, press SET. The unit
announces the rings to answer, then enters the
incoming message length menu.
TOLL SAVER
The toll saver is the final setting in the Rings to Answer..........####

For the GE model you find these features on page 17

One last thing, you can contact Thomson Consumer Electronics for more specific answer or get the manual here :
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/contact.asp
they have also a phone :
"For customer service assistance, dial 1.800.448.0329. Our hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 7pm Eastern."

Hope that helps
IF NOT then try to return here
Have a nice time over there
Please rate my answer

I changed the message, but now the phone rings and rings and does not pick up message, and displays "minus sign" not zero. Pls help.

http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/27851GE1_IB.pdf

GE Digital Messaging System ~ Voice/Time/Day stamp
1a] press and hold down STOP/set button and wait for promps.....
ie. press NEXT to change Day stamp and then SET to pick.
ie. press NEXT to change Hour and SET to pick.
ie. press NEXT to change Minute and SET to pick.
1b] press NEXT to pick 1minute allowance recording for recieving messages coming in, or 2 minutes or 3 minutes or 4 minutes. This machine only has 1/2 hour of recording time, so maybe you can 'tell' -record- that and let incoming callers know they have only minutes and machine will automatically shut off and cut them off [hang-up] on them.
2] press and hold down Greeting button and follow promps to change the answering machine voice promps to your own voice. Machine will automatically PLAY BACK your voice, if you don't like what you hear, press and hold down Greeting button again and try again.
~ hope all above helps.

how do i change the anwering machine from spanish to english?

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