Problems with fingerprint logon

[PDADoc]

No matter how many times I set it, as soon as I restart the computer I have to use my password to logon instead.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[krma-thkpds]

Yes I have experienced the problem and been playing with the CSS policy for some time but with no effect. It is very annoying!

[PDADoc]

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. I was beginning to think that, due to the lack of response from anyone else, that this was a problem only I seemed to share.

Thanks for validating my problem. Maybe one day we'll even be able to resolve it.

[krma-thkpds]

Hope so, thought I posted this maybe a month ago and neither got any real responce. Guess people don't like CSS pretty much.

[alant]

Hi PDADoc

Sorry for the late reply.

I've had some problems with the fingerprint software. Mine stemmed from a Software Installer update that could not install correctly. Lenovo have recently shipped a new version 4.6.0 that, when successfully installed, managed to fix a bunch of problems for me.

Also, there is some confusion about where you set the 'login' preferences. If I go Start -> ThinkVantage -> ThinkVantage Fingerprint Software -> Settings -> Logon Settings I see a screen that tells me I am in the wrong place! I need to be in Start ->ThinkVantage -> Client Security -> Advanced -> Change Logon.

If I want to use the Client Security to encrypt my backups, provide passwords for websites or deliver a secure virtual drive then I run into another issue. Using Client Security requires that I *type* in a passphrase as part of a cold boot in addition to using a fingerprint. However, this is not required as part of a resume from hibernation or standby. I can live with this because I rarely do a complete shutdown.


I've got hooked on fingerprint scanners and bought a couple of the IBM/Lenovo fingerprint scanning external keyboards, one for school and one for home. When combined with docking stations, I don't have to type passwords anymore, which means that it is more convenient for me to have a higher level of security. Unfortunately, the keyboards do not provide access to an FN key but I've learned to live with that by balancing it against the benefit of not having to open the laptop.


In switching to fingerprints, it took me a week before I got the exact scanning process correct but I now get a 99.7% accurate read every time.


Regards - Alan.

[PDADoc]

Alan,

Thanks for the heads-up! I ran the ThinkVantage software updater and it reinstalled an updated version of the fingerprint software, so now after several test reboots and a cold boot, it's working perfectly!

Thanks, you've helped me out a great deal!

Now for those other troublesome problems, LOL! It sure hurts to be on the bleeding edge sometimes!

UPDATE: Oops! Looks like I spoke too soon; I started up my tablet this morning and had to reconfigure the security to use fingerprint authentication again!!!! AAAARRRRGGGHH!!!!

[beq]

Sorry to hear about your problem PDADoc. My fingerprint Windows logon has worked fine up to now (knock on wood)...

Have you considered to try using the fingerprint logon at the power-on password stage (set from the BIOS) instead of the Windows logon stage? If set correctly, it should then bypass the Windows fingerprint logon too. My hope is that even if Windows logon reverts back to regular password instead of fingerprint, that it would still be bypassed after you logon with your fingerprint at the power-on stage -- but I'm probably wrong about this.

If I want to use the Client Security to encrypt my backups, provide passwords for websites or deliver a secure virtual drive then I run into another issue. Using Client Security requires that I *type* in a passphrase as part of a cold boot in addition to using a fingerprint. However, this is not required as part of a resume from hibernation or standby. I can live with this because I rarely do a complete shutdown.

I was wondering about this too, it would seem that they could've integrated the fingerprint and CSS more fully?

In switching to fingerprints, it took me a week before I got the exact scanning process correct but I now get a 99.7% accurate read every time.

Just cruious, do you mean you had to re-do the fingerprint training over and over again to try to better match how you would normally swipe your finger day to day?

P.S. I earlier posted a new thread with some fingerprint reader questions too...

[PDADoc]

beq:

Actually, I had altered the BIOS to use the fingerprint reader as you had suggested; I tried that two weeks ago, but it will still sometimes "forget" and ask for a typed-in password.

And, what I meant was this: the fingerprint enrollment is fine, it simply doesn't ask for a fingerprint reading, only a typed-in password. No matter how many times I set it up that way, it sometimes reverts to asking for the password.

With the problems I'm having with my hard drive, I'm starting to think that maybe I have a lemon!