Have answering system 1717 shuts down on its own not taking messages

Replace the machine.

You need to reset the unit. There should be instructions on how to do so on the bottom.

I hope this helps you:

Recording Your Announcement

Before using this answering system, you

should record the announcement (up to

one minute long) that callers will hear

when the system answers a call. If you

choose not to record an announcement,

the system answers with a prerecorded

announcement: "Hello. Please leave a

message after the tone."

1 Press and hold annc/skip. The system

beeps. Speak toward the microphone

normally, from about nine inches away.

While you are recording, the Message

Window displays -.

2 To stop recording, release .annc/skip

The system automatically plays back

your announcement.

To review your announcement, press
and release .annc/skip

You can get a copy of your 1717 manual at this web site:
http://www.retrevo.com/samples/AT%26T-page-2-manuals.html

Hope this helps. Good Luck, Barb

On the link below scrool down to product detail then cilck on product manual. On page 2 of the manual will tell you how to record message.

http://www.amazon.com/AT-1717-Digital-Answering-Refurbished/dp/B00000J3MT

Good Luck please rate 4 thumbs up and please leave a testimonial

Use Ring Select to choose how many times
the line will ring before the system
answers a call. Set for 2, 4 or Toll Saver.
When you set the system for Toll Saver, it
answers after four rings when you have no
new messages, and after two rings when
you have new messages.
1. Press and hold "set up" for about two
seconds. The system announces the
current ring selection.
2 Press and release "ANNC/SKIP" or "MEMO/REPEAT"
until the system announces your ring
selection.
3 Press and release "Play/Stop" to exit

I am also trying to change the number of rings before the answering machines toll saver activates.

http://telephones.att.com/docMgt/public/art/162/1717_manual.pdf


Deleting Messages
Delete All Messages
After you have listened to all messages and
heard the two beeps, press 3 ,3.
Delete Selected Messages
Press and release 3 while the message you
want to delete is playing.

Most manuals are just a Google search away. "att 1717" returned the following result.

http://telephones.att.com/telephones_ui/support/dsp_manual.cfm?manualID=162

Here is a link to your owner's manual: http://telephones.att.com/docMgt/public/art/162/1717_ATT.pdf It says: Recording Your Announcement Before using this answering system, you should record the announcement (up to one minute long) that callers will hear when the system answers a call. If you choose not to record an announcement, the system answers with a prerecorded announcement: ?Hello. Please leave a message after the tone.? 1. Press and hold ANNC/SKIP. The system beeps. Speak toward the microphone normally, from about nine inches away. While you are recording, the Message Window displays ?. 2 To stop recording, release ANNC/SKIP. The system automatically plays back your announcement. To review your announcement, press and release ANNC/SKIP.

It maybe hardware issue. Make sure the recording DTAM chip is working. You can try to record your personal annoucement, to see if the chip still record message.