Fingerprint reader stopped working with Surface Pro 3 after anniversary update

Anonymous
2016-08-25T13:25:38+00:00

I am using a Surface Pro 4 typepad cover on a Surface Pro 3. Ever since the Windows 10 anniversary update, the fingerprint reader does not work when I turn on the Surface, unless I detach and reattach the typepad cover. The keyboard and mouse work fine - the only problem is with the fingerprint reader.

I tried checking drivers, but the Windows says they are up to date.

Surface
Surface

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-05T19:47:31+00:00

    I have a freshly-reimaged SP3 with the Anniversary Update and the newer fingerprint keyboard that does the same thing.  For me, it appears to be every time I shutdown and when the machine resumes from sleep.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-13T00:41:09+00:00

    I have exact same problem as bassoprofundo.  I too have SP3 with the SP4 black keyboard with fingerprint reader.  It happened before the update but would "fix" itself if I waited about 30 seconds to a minute.   AFTER the anniversary update it happens often and the only way to fix it is to take my SP3 out of the docking pad (if it's in) and take the keyboard off.  After the keyboard is reattached and put back into the docking station everything works great. 

    I can't remember if it happens if I come back 8 hours later (I never turn my SP3 off.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-17T15:56:25+00:00

    The more I think about this the more I think this is going to be a VERY small population that has this problem.  It appears the problem is people with SP3's and using an SP4 black keyboard with a fingerprint reader running Windows 10.....  I haven't seen any posts with users that aren't using the fingerprint reader which was (last I can remember) only available in black color.  Can't be that large a community.  It doesn't appear to be SP4 users with an SP4 black keyboard. *  The reason I like the black keyboard is it was the only one with an "Ins" insert key.  That's extremely useful for the UNIX servers I administer.  They fingerprint reader was bonus.

    So, some things I've noticed since my last post.

    1. This only happens when my laptop is rebooted or shutdown.  Never when it has been in the docking station for a while.
    2. It is significantly improved since Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB3189866).  I have only experienced it once in the past two days.  But .... that could be that I'm not moving my SP3 around much in the past 2 days.  I'm getting old and my 40 years of experience since the 1970's in the computing field... might be impacting my memory.  Since I didn't keep a record, it could be zero since the update.

    I hope my comments help at least one other person, but not holding my breath here...... probably only 12 of us on the planet. :-)

    * Imagine someone walking up to the Microsoft store and saying..."Humm.... I don't want the latest technology, after all, nothing changes in the computing industry.  Do you have an original Surface?  No?  OK, Surface 2?  No?  Okay, how about Surface 2 Pro?  No?  Surface Pro 3?  Yes?  Good you had it hidden behind the X-Box display there with all the dust.  Thanks for the free dust cloth!  And this nice keyboard... well, I really like the color black for my keyboard because these blue and other flashy nice colors will stand out, I want to look old school, kinda 1990's.  I was HIP back then."

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-25T00:12:51+00:00

    Another one:  Surface Pro 3 with (the black) Fingerprint Typecover for Surface Pro 4.  I've had this issue for a while now, and thought it was my imagination or that it might "fix itself."  However, I thought I would search to see if others are experiencing the same issue.  BINGO--ME TOO!  There may be other users out there too, like me, who have experienced the issue, but have not searched to see if there is a resolution.  IMHO, the facial recognition on the SP4/SB is *AWESOME*!  So, if you have a Surface Pro 4 -- which already has the Windows Hello facial recognition --  would you spend "more money" to buy the Fingerprint Typecover?  Maybe *NOT*?  *IF* you believe that, then this suggests that:  THE BUYERS OF THE FINGERPRINT TYPECOVER ARE THE SURFACE PRO ***3*** USERS WHO WANT A ("cheap") "BIOMETRIC" WINDOWS HELLO LOGIN without purchasing the SP4/SB!!!  So, the problem may be more widespread!  The box of the Fingerprint Typecover *CLEARLY* states that the Fingerprint Typecover is compatible with the SP3 and SP4!  This reattach step is a little annoying, so I do hope that it will get fixed.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-03-02T22:51:58+00:00

    This is an issue I'm seeing as well. I can't imagine that this will ever be fixed, to be honest. I hold out a tiny little bit of hope that the Creators Update will help, but if this issue has persisted since October 2015, the chances seem small.

    Love the keyboard, hate the fingerprint reader's flakiness.

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