There is no reason to freak out because you don't understand how the fingerprint reader works and where the fingerprints are stored
I'm sure it can be fixed pretty easy.
You could go into the fingerprint application and choose to delete all fingerprints or you can choose to delete the fingerprints from BIOS. The fingerprints are not stored on the HDD so when you replaced the HDD the registered fingerprint will still be there. There is also a setting in the fingerprint application where you can choose that none administrators are required to logon using the fingerprint reader. If you reinstalled Windows on the new HDD the fingerprints are linked to another account that no longer exist and that might be the reason why you have some problems. When you reinstall Windows and recreate the account using the same login ID it will still be considered as another account. You also have the option in the fingerprint application to link the already registered fingerprints with a new account you created during the reinstall if i remember correctly.
So you could either delete all fingerprints from BIOS or from the application or link the already registered fingerprints with the new account. You can also disable the fingerprint reader from BIOS of course if you don't want to use it at all.
You said that you can no longer do anything with the computer to i assume you have a lot of other issues as well. I believe everything is a bit more than the fingerprint issue? What other issues do you have after you reinstalled Windows on the new HDD?
Did that fix the fingerprint problem?
-gan
zoltanthegypsy wrote:Hey,
I'm just lurking here, but I'd like to understand the situation a little better if you (both) don't mind.
@gan: the biometrics are stored in BIOS/on the mobo/in some magic place not on the HD? Since the Lenovo Vista saw that fingerprint login was already configured on the mobo, it insisted on that?
Well i don't mind
The fingerprints are stored in the fingerprint reader so the fingerprint reader got a small amount of flash or a chip....not sure about the exact details. Actually the fingerprint image is not stored. Only a mathematical representation called an encrypted template is stored. So when you replace the HD the fingerprints are still there, but not the account (when not member of a domain). In that case if you try to register the same fingerprint it won't work since it's already registered for another account. If member of a domain the account still exits (unless deleted from AD) so i assume fingerprint logon should work in that case with the new HD without having to re-register the fingerprints. I never tried to register fingerprints for a domain account, replace HD, join domain and try to logon using fingerprints, but i guess that should work. The settings for the fingerprint software might have changed though which might explain why the user suddenly where forced to use fingerprint logon. I guess the fingerprint software where back to default settings which i believe is that non administrators are forced to use fingerprint logon when the fingerprint reader are enabled for windows login.
The harddisk password is stored on the harddisk, but not the platter (some kind of flash/chip on the HDD) so to protect the data a harddisk password should be used. If using a harddisk password in additon to fingerprint at pre-boot the fingerprint actually just enter the harddisk password for you. The first time you have to enter the harddisk password manually after swiping the finger.
-gan
