UPEK Fingerprint-sensor stops responding after some time!?

I've been having this annoying problem for a few months now - after some time (I'm actually not sure whether it is time or usage dependent or even has something to do with hibernating/sleeping), the UPEK fingerprint sensor just stops responding. It appears as enabled and properly functioning in device manager.... but it just doesn't work. Only restarting fixes it.

This happens every other day. I really can't determine what causes that as it is sporadic. Have the feeling it has something to do with usage, but I'm not sure. I use it quite a lot as my computer is set to auto-lock when idle and I unlock with the fingerprint-sensor.

I updated to the latest driver I could find (1.4.0.275) but it didn't help. I am not yet willing to completely reinstall the system just because of that, but it is annoying!

Anyone had that problem?

 

I have exactly the same thing happen to me on a Vaio VPC Z1. I haven't worked out what causes it. I'm also using 1.4.0.275.

 

I've had troubles logging in with a fingerprint while booting with a device attached to a USB port - e.g. pen drive.

 

I almost always have a USB HDD attached but doubt the problem has anything to do with that, as I never have problems logging in after a restart (with or without USB device connected).

The problem occurs sporadically but never after a fresh (re)start.

I first thought it only occurs some time after a hibernation/sleep.... but I am still not sure this has anything to do with it either.
I am just unable to work out a pattern. It might not happen for a few days... but it might also happen 2-3 times a day.....

 

Have you loaded any software recently to could have caused an compatability problem?
The problem could be the USB HDD connected.
As a test.... disconnect the USB HDD for a couple days and see if the problem occurs....
Does the problem occur with anything else connected to the USB port?

 

I have this problem for the past 6 or more months... no clue if any software was just installed when it started but I don't think so.
The USB drive is not always connected, but I will try to determine if this happens only when it is connected or also when it is not. I never really paid attention to that and I rarely have anything else connected to the USB port (apart from a mouse), so I can't really tell...

What I am sure of though is that there is no other recovery than restarting. It never starts working again on its own.
Unfortunately it is so sporadic that I was never able to suspect any other event that could be causing it.... it works fine, I come back to the pc, try to unlock it and realize it doesn't work and I need to log in using a password.

 

this only happened to me once or twice but its only when its waking up from sleep, otherwise no issues

 

then it is probably a different issue - I never had it directly after waking up I think

 

Just happened again and there was no USB device attached apart from a mouse.
I doubt the USB periphery has anything to do with it...

 

I have exactly the same issue with my Z12. Every few days the fingerprint-logon won't work anymore until the next restart.

 

yeppp... What is your driver version?

 

In device manager, I tried turning off "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" for the fingerprint sensor.

I haven't had the problem since, but as sometimes it doesn't happen for a number of days, that could mean nothing.

 

I'm using the driver that was originally installed. Did not update it yet.
Version 1.3.0.214
Date 26.10.2009

 

This was the first thing I looked at when it started happening. It is turned off but did not help at all :-/
HOWEVER - every now and then when I check (just like right now) I find the option selected again!!

Maybe it somehow switches itself on again!? Is there a way to disable it on another level using the registry or something?

Maybe it is still this causing problems...

 

I couldn't find any option to disable the power control of the device so that Windows would not even think of enabling the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option

Anyone

 

Device manager> biometric devices> TouchStrip Fingerprint sensor: properties> power management.

 

You misunderstood. What I am trying to do is disable this option from a higher level! It seems that it activates itself for some reason every now and then. So I want to disable the option to switch - it has to be off at all times.

There should be a way to do that using the registry...

 

Ah! Sorry. Is this what you were looking for?

 

No.

I am looking for an option (through registry modification or else) to switch off the ability to check or uncheck the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option of the fingerprint device. It needs to be unchecked by default and no user or service should be able to enable that feature!

The option needs to be unavailable so that it can never be enabled!

Don't know how to explain it better... I want this feature grayed out!

 

Strange - mine is still off, so I don't know why it is turning itself back on on your PC. Perhaps, as you say, that is the problem. There will be a registry setting associated with it, but I doubt changing that will force it to stay off. No fingerprint problems since I made the change, but still early days yet...

 

Well this is what I thought too when I turned it off the first time many months ago... but after some time it started again, that's why I suspect this option as I found it on a few times already...

Maybe something does switch it on and off occasionally and this causes problems... just a theory that is worth investigating.

 

Do you change drivers often? For instance, the nVidia driver installer gives you the option to do a clean install, resetting all the settings to defaults - Lord knows what other settings it might be messing around with. I always go into power management settings every time I change drivers, restore plan defaults for each plan, and then redo the settings the way I like them. Ok, bit of a pain, but that's a habit I carry over from BIOS upgrades, where I used to reset all BIOS settings to defaults and make them afresh.

 

Anyone with a solution?

It keeps happening to me every now and then

 

Happens to my Z2 as well, with a totally different fingerprint reader.

i'm guessing it's the old common USB bus reset issue that has plagued windows since vista. I'd have to google the old registry fix.

When it's not working you'll notice it has vanished from device manager as well.

 

No, the above is not true in my case. It JUST stopped working again and...:

 

I have an SA & exact same problem where 'fingerprint reader' just stops responding & I have to use 'password' to login.

So, anyone found a solution to this ?

(Ps, I lso have a Z laptop & never had tis problem - but with SA it happens mostly on resume from sleep)

 

Funnily I have never had it on resume from sleep. Or maybe it is then when you realize it is off but doesn't mean it JUST stopped?

My PC locks on screensaver so I use the fingerprint to unlock like 10-20 times a day. And I still find no pattern how and why it stops responding

What is the driver version you are using?? Is it still an UPEK thing the SA is equipped with!?

 

I noticed you using WPF advanced mode, i think this mode is unstable with that device. I am using the standard driver pack as recommended by UPEK.

 

I'm using the WPF advanced mode too, and I've never had a problem.

However, I allow the drivers to load before trying to use the fingerprint reader, i.e. after the HDD activity LED goes out, and not as soon as the login screen appears. Seems there might be an issue there.

 

I must say I have not had the problem since I downgraded to an older version of UPEK!! (a few weeks)

The only thing that still keeps happening is it not working on battery. Once I reconnect the power it starts working again.

 

I´ve also running in that problems a few weeks ago on my new z21 machine - for me installing the latest driver package from authentec resolved the problems.

You can find the newest driver only packages here in the driver section, also newest software suite with included drivers also:

Authentec Download Manager

Hope this will help

 

Which driver should I use for a Z1?

 

The latest WBF driver works fine on the Z1

 

Z13 here, just using the driver that came through Windows Update, and I have the same problem from time to time, but only when I am waking the laptop out of standby. I then log in with my password, afterwards the fingerprint sensor works fine again.

Weird, but not that bad. It's still a pretty good fingerprint sensor, one of the only reliable and relatively secure ones.

 

For some reason the new drivers don't install on my Z2. I end up with the old driver release numbers.

 

Try downgrading to 1.2.0.183.
Since I did that approximately a month ago, I haven't had the problem.

Apart from that small issue - I am also really satisfied with it. I am using it quite intensively and it does a great job!