New 5.8 fingerprint software not working on T43p

[mattster]

Has anyone tried this new version? I had the 5.6 version on my system and it worked perfectly. Single Sign-on even worked. After updating to the latest when I was prompted by System Update, Single Sign-on no longer works. Instead, it stops at the Welcome screen. Same behavior coming out of hibernate.

Is it me or is the quality of the software releases starting to slip some?

Matt

P.S. -- I used to test this & CSS for them and this release never would have gone out with this kind of bug. Is someone asleep at the wheel?

[jdhurst]

<snip>
Is it me or is the quality of the software releases starting to slip some?
<snip>

Definitely not you, and yes, the quality of software releases (most vendors) is slipping. Apparently Vista has lowered the bar for a number of packages that I paid money for Vista upgrades.

Adobe Acrobat until V9 came out
Mighty Fax
Snappy Fax
Lenovo Access Connections
Lenovo Power Manager
Lenovo HDA Modem
Perfect Disk
Windows Explorer
Windows Briefcase
Mobility Pass Extend 360
and the list grinds on.

... JDH

[USSS]

Yes, the latest version of Fingerprint Software did not work correctly on my T43-2687, hanging after the "Checking the status of the security chip" routine completed. The prompt for a fingerprint never appeared.

What is more worrisome is that System Update pushed this new version to my machine. Yet, when I checked the driver/software matrix about 10 days ago for my T43, the latest version of Fingerprint Software is not listed as an update. However, it is now.

Sticking with v5.6.2.3650 for now.

[mattster]

I've figured out the issue with the software, at least in my case. Apparently, there is now an extra checkbox that must be filled in order for the Single Sign-On to work properly.

To find this extra checkbox, go into the FP Control Panel --> Settings --> System Settings. Click on the Logon tab. Notice there is now a new checkbox in the middle of that page:

Allow power-on security single sign-on

I checked that box and then everything started working fine once again. This was pushed out to me as it was to others with the FP software already installed, so I bet this is not an isolated incident.

Matt

[USSS]

Thanks for the update and for pointing out this new "feature."

After checking the changelog for FPS 5.8 one more time, I may go ahead and upgrade (again) and see if checking that extra box fixes my issue as well.

[E.Xh.]

The problem is not only Vista related; it is the same for XP.

[mgo]

Has anyone tried this new version?

The latest version worked OK for me, but like others, one needs to be careful about which checkboxes are marked.

On a slightly off topic note, I just finished messing with my T60 fingerprint feature and going thru HECK to get fingerprint recognition up and running again.

Like a complete dummy, I cleared my TPM a few weeks ago, and after trying to re-register my fingerprints I got nowhere.

Finally, after messing with TPM.msc, and gpedit.msc (what a confusing menu jungle that is!) I finally have fingerprint recognition working again both on predesktop and in other areas.

I have one T60 that likes my left handed prints better than the right, the second T60 is fine with either. (maybe the assembler at the factory was left handed or something!)

Thank goodness for Google because I was able to get some useful info to help me get things running again.

[davidspalding]

I have been flamed and scolded in the past for reviling the Lenovo updates to software that worked fine under IBM ... admittedly, some of my posts were sophomoric ... but I stand by my assertion based on real experiences. SOMEONE is NOT taking the time to ensure that updates which don't include fixes for older models aren't pushed to those older models. The logic seems to be, "new version, old model ?= supported, IF yes, then push new version."

YES, in the last couple of years, I've found that "recommended"[1] updates broke functionality, and crippled a previously operative function on my T43. I recall that CSS and FPR software were the first to be reported here to break things upon upgrade. (I'm still on CSS 6.01.0037 and FPR control center 5.6.1.)

If you're shaking your head and wondering, "Jeez, how is this happening," I can all but guarantee that they're not regression testing updates for all previous supported models. It's expensive and time consuming to perform such testing, but really recommended when you want to hang on to loyal customers.

I started long ago to diligently look at the Change Log in the release notes, which has carried over from the IBM days (when I was testing software at IBM, I was impressed with the depth of detail in their release notes). The Change Log will clearly indicate for every version what has changed. Pay particular notice to your model number ... some time in the version history, there may've been a "FIX" for your model, but more likely, subsequent (and recent) changes have been only to provide support for newer ThinkPad models. If you look at 5.8, I'd bet good money that there's no FIX for a T43, and there hasn't been for several versions.

So, on updates, I urge T4x owners to take the time to review the release notes for each "recommended" update, and de-select those which don't provide fixes over your current version. (Yes, it's a PITA and takes time.) The last year or so, I've de-selected every single "recommended update" based on these criteria. It makes sense, my T43 just turned 3 years old, so most software utility issues have been addressed.



[1] As asserted by the System Update utility.