Thinkpads Forum

I have spent hours trying to register my fingerprints with no success. Is there a trick to using this device? I have reviewed the doc, watched the demo video and still after literally hundreds of attemps, I have had only minor success. It appears to see my swipe most of the time because it displays the red X. Sometimes it doesn't respond at all. Anyone have any suggestions?

Have you tried updating the readers software?

I did that, but unfortunately I can't remember if I did it before or after I got a finally set of prints into it.... but I know it took me a hell of a long time to create a set of prints, too... days of trying ... on and off..... so maybe a software upgrade was what did the trick.

I can say, in my experience, Once I did get the prints to register, it works well.... MUCH Better recognition than the T43p I had.....

With the T43.... it was easier and faster to type a 10 character password than rub my finger(s) across the reader over, and over, and over and over....

Now (in the T60p) my fingerprint reader works fine.... almost always recognizes the first finger swipe..... It moved from "basically useless gadget" to "very cool time saving security feature"

sorapp wrote:I have spent hours trying to register my fingerprints with no success. Is there a trick to using this device? I have reviewed the doc, watched the demo video and still after literally hundreds of attemps, I have had only minor success. It appears to see my swipe most of the time because it displays the red X. Sometimes it doesn't respond at all. Anyone have any suggestions?

Perhaps it is in how you are doing it?

1) I suggest that you start with the second knuckle from the fingertip over the reader. Starting at the same place on the finger seems important. As does touching both metal strips with the finger.

2) Apply pressure downwards with the finger, do NOT lift the part of the finger that has been scanned off the case.

3) Pull at a slow and steady rate.

4) Use a finger that covers the width of the scanner.

Hope that helps.

Try this thread...good luck.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

I find that dry skin makes the reader unreliable.

Use some hand lotion before setting up the software. Then if you have trouble logging in later, simply lick your finger, tap it dry on your clothes or something, then swipe.

Works great for me.

Kawaidon may have the right idea. This fingerprint reader won't work if you have dry skin. If I am dehydrated I can't use mine. Since it is not healthy to be dehydrated maybe it is a good thing as this can act as a warning. But for people who normally have very skin all the time, this seems to be an annoying limitation of this technology.

DAH wrote:

sorapp wrote:I have spent hours trying to register my fingerprints with no success. Is there a trick to using this device? I have reviewed the doc, watched the demo video and still after literally hundreds of attemps, I have had only minor success. It appears to see my swipe most of the time because it displays the red X. Sometimes it doesn't respond at all. Anyone have any suggestions?

Perhaps it is in how you are doing it?

1) I suggest that you start with the second knuckle from the fingertip over the reader. Starting at the same place on the finger seems important. As does touching both metal strips with the finger.

2) Apply pressure downwards with the finger, do NOT lift the part of the finger that has been scanned off the case.

3) Pull at a slow and steady rate.

4) Use a finger that covers the width of the scanner.

Hope that helps.

You watch the video tutorial and it's not that way at all. The guy puts the pad of the tip of his finger in the tiny depression just above the reader. The finger itself is far from flat - it's at a 15-20 degree angle and he pulls the finger back rather quickly. Then they show it from above and then display a way not to do it, which has the finger at about a 45 degree angle. Doesn't matter what I do, when I do the practice scans in the tutorial it says they are "bad," one and all! Maybe I need new software. I bought my T60 on 11/20/2006 and it shipped on 11/25/2006 from Hong Kong.

I've been having intermitant problems getting the machine to allow me access. Today, it's been worse than ever, sometimes taking me over 15 minutes to get in. I'm tempted to disable the feature entirely. I suppose I should rescan my fingers.

I just deleted my right index finger and after much shenanigans and misfortunes managed to register a new set for the finger (3 scans that the software accepted). I went into suspend and scanned the finger once and was let in. We'll see. What I had to do to get the software to accept my imprints was lick the finger prior to registering. So, I'll probably have to lick to get in. Back Cerberus, back you mongrel!

Muse wrote:I just deleted my right index finger...

ouch!

jeffm wrote:

Muse wrote:I just deleted my right index finger...

ouch!

That's a giggle. I actually did cut that finger rather badly almost a month ago, but far from a severing and it's about healed (except for the nerve, which is still somewhat sensitive, but it is getting steadily better). The little mini-Buck knife I've had nearly 20 years has a poorly function locking mechanism. You are supposed to have to hit the release before the [censored] thing buckles, but in fact if you put enough pressure on the blade it buckles regardless. I knew this, but I'd forgotten it when using the knife almost 4 weeks ago and thwap! I sent in the knife finally for a warranty replacement, and I was gratified that the replacement seemed OK... until I put sufficient force on it for it to again release without hitting the release! I should maybe toss that knife....

Indeed, I think it wise to scan all 10 fingers.

Muse wrote:What I had to do to get the software to accept my imprints was lick the finger prior to registering.

I believe you have the problem licked!

[Sorry, I just can't resist a pun. ]