Simple Pass disappeared

[MightyD]

Help!  After upgrading to Windows 8.1, my Simple Pass no longer let me use my finger to sign into Windows- I still had to type in my password, too.   However, everything else worked fine.  I could use my finger to get into all of my websites/passwords and the little light would blink white.

Last night I realized that my Norton was not working.  I had to go online with Norton to have a tech remove old Norton software and re-install new Norton.  

Now my Simple Pass is NOT working at all.  😞  The little light is not blinking any color(s).  My finger will not make anything work.  I tried to go in and delete my finger and re-do it, but the Simple Pass screen is not even showing my hand.  (it does show all of my websites that are saved).  When I sign into Windows, it is no longer even showing a fingerprint icon as an option either.  ???

I am not very tech saavy, so I really need help to fix this problem, but I need simple directions.  lol

Thanks in advance!!!!!  🙂

[Dragon-Fur]

@MightyD

I can offer the following...

No product number offered -- some model of the "dv6" computer

Very Basic Instructions

These instructions assume:

1. You were previously running HP SimplePass, any version Series 6 (version 6.x) or Series 8 (version 8.x)
2. You have installed HP Drivers and Software after the migration to Windows 8.1
3. Windows Updates are installed and up-to-date
4. There is a viable / usable fingerprint driver for your dv6 computer that is compatible with Windows 8.1.

Reinstall / update the fingerprint driver

Check to see if the (newer?) driver is available in your Website Support Driver page.

Start here:

Support Home

Category: Driver - Keyboard, Mouse and Input Devices

• Find, Download, Save, and Install the Driver
• Restart the computer and log in

(Re)install HP SimplePass

• Create a Restore Point
• Uninstall SimplePass from Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features 
• Restart the computer and log in>
• Download, save, and install the latest version of SimplePass >
• Restart the computer and log in

If using / switching to Series 8 (any version 8.x of the HP SimplePass program),

Use the Latest version of HP SimplePass (at this writing):

sp76923 HP SimplePass V8.01.62A W7-W10 32/64bit

About Versions...

If you were previously running Series 6 HP SimplePass, that is, any version of HP SimplePass version 6.x written by AuthenTec, know that HP SimplePass series 6 and HP SimplePass series 8 are NOT compatible.  Series 8 is NOT an "upgrade" of Series 6.

You can switch versions --

If you switch from HP SimplePass (any) version 6.x to HP SimplePass (any) version 8.x, you will lose your Series 6 backup of your websites / passwords database (.tsd backup / export file).  You must recreate website and password entries from scratch and by hand (manually).  There is NO conversion for .tsd to .opi database files.

If you were previously running Series 6, you can try to stay with that series.  The essential instructions remain the same, EXCEPT you should instead download and install the latest Series 6 version of HP SimplePass:  

sp63224 HP SimplePass V6.0.100.276 Win7-8

Series 6 HP SimplePass is not supported -- it may (still) work in Windows 8.1

If Series 6 does not work, you can decide whether to switch to the newest version / series of the program.

Import Vault database

IF you were previously running any "Series 8" version of SimplePass (version 8.x)

AND

IF you have (already / previously) EXPORTED the Vault (passwords / websites database) to a .tsd file,

THEN

If necessary, you can IMPORT the .tsd file after SimplePass is installed

It is possible, still assuming you were previously running HP SimplePass version 8.x, that the Vault database will "recover" on its own (and not need to be "Imported").

Reference:

Dragon Document - Help, suggestions, and examples:

Instructions to Upgrade HP SimplePass

Read section: Dragon Document Guidelines

See Section: Procedure - Update / (Re) Install HP SimplePass

NOTES:  

• Ignore the setup instructions for Windows 10 fingerprint logon -- these do not apply to Windows 8.1
• No fingerprint Driver for your mystery computer "dv6"?  See Section Bits and Drivers
• "Swtiching" from Series 6 to Series 8? See Section Switch HP SimplePass Series

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You!

Answered? Click my post "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.

[MightyD]

Thanks so much for your help...I am getting closer, but have still not had total success.

The product # is C8B37UA#ABA for my Envy dv6 laptop.

I re-installed the HP SimplePass series 6 because I remember it being written by AuthenTec.  

I cannot get the fingerprint reader/sensor to "come back to life."  I know it works...I just don't know how to revive it.  There is an icon on my screen that reads Lenovo Fingerprint Manager.  I tried to open it, but it says the fingerprint scanner is not configured.  ??  Is this what powers my fingerprint sensor?

Am I missing a driver?  I tried to follow the first part of your response about locating a driver, but I could not find any to update to.  Did I miss something?

Any additional help/insight would be GREATLY appreciated!!!  🙂

Thank you!!!

[MightyD]

Hello again, 

Okay---I read a few more posts and things and I located a program via the Control Panel entitled

Validity WBF DDK.  I right clicked on it and I had a choice to uninstall or to repair.  I hit repair and voila!!  my sensor started blinking with the glorious white light!!  🙂

Thanks again for all of your help!!!  

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@MightyD

Excellent News. 

It is indeed easier to find information with the Product Number.  Smiling.

HP ENVY dv6-7258nr Notebook PC

The fingerprint software listed for your computer under the Windows 8  OS:

sp58900 Validity Sensor V4.4.234.0 W8-W8.1

In most cases, a Driver that is "good for Windows 8" (or Windows 8.1) will also work for Windows 10.

Frequently, it is only necessary to reinstall the existing fingerprint Driver.  In those cases where an updated Driver is available, the new(er) driver should be installed.

Flexibility is a "good thing" in that Device 0018 is common (built into many systems) and yet (at writing) the device lacks a Windows 10 Driver update.

I have updated the Bits and Drivers section in the Dragon document to clarify the need to know the device Hardware ID in order to determine which driver is supported for that device (fingerprint reader hardware).    Bits and Drivers includes some model names with the Driver and Device information -- the Hardware ID is the best method.

The Biometrics DDK / Validity Software (may be called Synaptics WBF in W10) that is located in Programs and Features is the Windows fingerprint logon software and Driver.  If that software becomes corrupted, it can indeed interfere with HP SimplePass (and / or the Windows fingerprint logon when used as a standalone login method).  I am glad you selected Repair as opposed to "Uninstall".  

Dragon document has been updated to clarify the role of the Biometrics DDK / Validity software.

the Old versus the New

Know that if you ever move to Windows 10, either on your current hardware or through the purchase of a new computer, HP SimplePass Series 6 is NOT supported in the newer OS.

Note that Series 6 HP Simplepass, while it is still "available" for download and use, is NOT supported.  It may continue to work -- or it may die. 

Regardless of "why", it may be necessary to move to a Supported version of the SimplePass software.

The (newer) supported Softex version of the Software is supported on Windows 7 through Windows 10.

If a computer lacks a fingerprint reader, or if the fingerprint reader hardware on the hardware cannot be sufficiently updated to support the HP SimplePass software, the user has (at this writing) the option to PURCHASE a stand-alone USB Mini-Fingerprint reader that can be used with the supported version(s) of the HP SimplePass Software. 

What to do if you want to move to HP SimplePass (newer series):

The Series 6 HP SimplePass webcard Export to .tsd is useless in that:

1.  Webcard Export .tsd file only works with Series 6 HP SimplePass

2.  There is no conversion program to convert the .tsd database to the Vault .opi database 

Solution:

Manually create a temporary file, perhaps even an image file, in which you hand-text websites and passwords information.  Store the file away from your computer on a USB Drive that you keep in a safe location (where you can find the file but it is not obvious to every thief).

After you "switch" to the supported version, use the temporary file to help you recreate your Vault entries.  At last check, it was possible to add 16 websites to the Vault.  Once the Vault in populated, create an Export to the .opi database and save the file in a safe location.

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