Comments

1. doorbellring

   
   Posted on: January 10, 2009 at 8:52PM  

   Thanks for the great links regarding the authentec x64 drivers for windows 7!

   I'm just installing them on my fujitsu tablet, although I should note that Kaspersky detected a false positive with regards to the drivers, just though I'd throw that out their.... I should really send an email to the kaspersky team though....
2. robert3892

   
   Posted on: January 11, 2009 at 7:47AM  

   I have to agree with Gumpster, Microsoft needs to set the example and write 64 bit software for its own fingerprint reader first. Never adding Vista 64 bit software support for Microsoft's own fingerprint reader was absolutely poor. Time to make amends and correct this for Windows 7.
3. rev23dev

   
   Posted on: January 11, 2009 at 10:55AM  

   My assumption is that since they've removed that product from microsoft.com/hardware, the likelihood of us seeing x64 drivers is low. maybe they've got another model in the works. i've had my ms fingerprint reader for years and years and would upgrade to a new one. i just want SOMETHING that works on x64.
4. ymhuang

   
   Posted on: January 11, 2009 at 12:07PM  

   Validity had been built-in several HP and ACER laptop last year.  

   Here you can download their Windows 7 software -

   www.validityinc.com/post.aspx

   www.validityinc.com/.../validitydpenrollment3736.zip

   and read their announcement -

   www.validityinc.com/post.aspx
5. fergff

   
   Posted on: January 12, 2009 at 9:31AM  

   rev23, Upek (named Eikon) makes a very nice biometric device that works very well in Vista x64 as well as Win7 x64. I have been using it for the last year, and it does a fantastic job.
6. Badboy8813

   
   Posted on: January 13, 2009 at 9:41AM  

   After installing the latest drivers from UPEK for my Dell Latitude D820 laptop, i had a hard time getting it to work. Every time i tried to configure the scanner it would connect and disconnect from my machine which would result in an error message.

   I was able to fix this problem by disabling the option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in driver properties.
7. rev23dev

   
   Posted on: January 13, 2009 at 2:45PM  

   thanks fergff. i'll try it out.

   looks like the microsoft fingerprint reader is officially NOT going to be supported for 7. Thanks Microsoft! This is why I'm hesitant to buy a Home Server. I feel like I'll buy one, then the platform will be abandoned.

   www.microsoft.com/.../support.mspx

   Fingerprint Reader

   No beta software is available. Fingerprint Reader is not supported on Windows 7.
8. Gary Gechlik

   
   Posted on: January 14, 2009 at 12:57PM  

   I have years of experience using fingerprint biometrics at work. All I can say is that it is a great idea but a social challenge. Almost everyone complains about the biometric device. Most of the time at work, one person logs in a few other people.

   Of course, if you work at a computer company like Google that never happens. But the majority of these devices are installed at non-mission critical, non-security applications, non-computer based organizations because of a need to comply with the security and privacy laws.

   My recommendation for improving the biometric experience is social. Windows 7 needs to allow settings that transport across enterprise services. For instance, hospital employee one needs to have access to an EKG system, a charting system, an email system, and web based email. The OS based biometric software should allow (1) recognition of the employee (2) customization of the account (3) portability of the user account (4) scalability across the organization (5) password saving for third party software (6) automatic boot sequences of regularly used programs. Thus, Doctor A logs in using biometrics, the programs are all loaded and Doctor A's user experience is that system "works" meaning it is scalable, portable, and seemless.

   Employee two is a janitor and only needs access to hospital email. For this person, the clinical services are unimportant. The janitor never sees the more advanced structures of the hospital IS system. The experience of the Janitor is that the system "works". Meaning, it does some basic stuff, but who really uses it.

   With biometrics, there is always a balancing act in organizations which is the role of oversite versus free speech.

   Personally, I am of the opinion that rewards of freedom clearly outweigh the threats of security. I think this is because sophisticated players that seek to penetrate security will use far superior means. This leads to most biometric devices being implemented to prevent web based surfing.
9. 7flavor

   
   Posted on: January 14, 2009 at 4:54PM  

   Do Authentec's drivers currently use WDM or WDF (UMDF/KMDF)?
10. john g

    
    Posted on: January 14, 2009 at 5:53PM  

    UPEK makes a great fingerprint reader peripheral that's fairly cheap.  You can get it at:

    www.upek.com/.../eikon