Synaptics Fingerprint Reader WBMI USB102 - re-occiurring issue - driver failing to load.

[PeteB-UK]

I have the same issue as documented in this thread: 

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Fingerprint-scanner-no-longer-...

in that the Synaptics Fingerprint reader keeps failing to load.   (Device Manager says "Windows could not load driver").   The driver hasn't been updated since March 2019 and has worked until recently, so probably related to a Windows 10 update.  

BOTH HP Assistant and Windows Updates are FULLY up-to-date.

Temporary solution (as per thread above) :  Go to device manager.   Uninstall Hardware (but leave drive in place).   Re-Scan for new hardware.   Everything works and I can use fingerprint login on next couple of boot-ups.

However, this is NOT SOLVED (as the linked thread is marked) as this is re-occurring within a couple of re-boots (it's definitely not on every re-boot, as I've been able to log in with fingerprints for a short while, then the option disappears again and you find the same situation to fix in Device Manager). 

I've just checked the HP Support Drivers page for the PC.  The latest one available for is the one installed (5.5.16.1102), though slightly oddly it's marked as a release date of Dec 2019 (the driver manager info has it as March 2019 which presumably is a difference between manufacturers release date and HP testing/release?).  

[TEJ1602]

@PeteB-UK, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Due to the current global COVID-19 situation, we're seeing an influx of customers coming in for support. We appreciate your patience.

I appreciate your efforts in trying to resolve the issue. I'd further recommend you perform a system reset. Refer to the document HP PCs - Resetting Your Computer (Windows 10) for instructions.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[PeteB-UK]

That looks like a disproportionate solution.....reset an entire PC and all my installs due to an intermittent driver issue?   Maybe if I had no sound, but this is a fingerprint driver. 

Can you confirm what is in the scope of "Apps".... if it's going to uninstall all of my applications in the Apps list in settings this is a "nuclear option" I wouldn't want to take   I would then have to re-install Office, LightRoom, 2-3 complex coding environment installations, and a whole host of device managers for cameras, speakerphone etc which may be disruptive during the lockdown

Isn't there a more focussed answer?  Users can't be resetting everything due to relatively minor issues. 

[HappyLuck]

Hi Pete,

I suffered a very similar fate to you earlier this year (in March) and I posted a warning to fellow users to not allow your fingerprint driver to update to version 5.5.16.1102. I did manage to find a way to resolve my problem by rolling back the driver. Unfortunately, that post somehow was marked as spam and now is no longer visible to anyone - so now I'll have to re-post the general steps here that fixed it for me.

In Device Manager, find the "Synaptics WBDI Fingerprint Reader" device (assuming it's not working like mine wasn't, then it will have a little yellow icon next to it)

- Double-click on the "Synaptics WBDI Fingerprint Reader - USB 102" device, and go to the "Driver" tab

- Click on the "Rollback Driver" button and let it rollback the driver

Rolling back to the previous version allowed my fingerprint sensor to work again. The previous version that worked for me (and still works today): Version 5.5.15.102; Driver date: 28/01/2019

Hope this helps you.