Accidentally Uninstalled Biometric using Device Manager and its not coming back

Anonymous
2019-01-10T04:37:08+00:00

Hello,

I seem to have permanently deleted the "biometric devices" category in the Device Manger. Windows Hello using a biometric device no longer works. 

I have a home built desktop with a Mouse Cm-01a Window Hello camera. It was working very well for about a year. Some combination of the 1809 update and new AMD Graphics Card Drivers stopped it from working consistently.

I began trying to roll back graphics card drivers and do other troubleshooting. I even performed a recovery and it did not solve the issue. I read that I could uninstall the camera and have Windows reinstall the drivers. When this didn't work, I attempted to uninstall biometric devices and have it reinstall the divers. Unfortunately this category has never returned.

Now my Window Hello setting in Sign-in options says "Face and fingerprint recognition are not available on this device".

I have tried a lot of the steps you would see from other troubleshooting sites (edit group policy settings, restart the Windows Biometric Service), but no luck. 

I'm at my wits end here. I would rather not have to do another restore (that state wasn't working perfectly well as it was). Perhaps I have to do a Repair Install. Let me know if I have any other options (or if I just need to bite the bullet). Thanks!

Here are some system stats:

Processor: Intel i5-4690

RAM 16 GB

OS: Windows 10 Pro

Version: 1809

Build: 17763.253 (I am in the release preview track)

GPU: Radeon RX 580 Series (XFX brand)

Radeon Software Version: 18.40.21.06

Edit: Some of the responses have asked that I contact the manufacturer. Unfortunately, that would be me since this is a home-built desktop. I will see if I can find anything through Intel or ASRock (motherboard manufacturer).

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-22T07:25:07+00:00

    Hello LoganAiport, I will be able to help you with this problem you are facing. First of all, Open File Explorer and go to the following path, C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugins\FaceDriver. Then right click HelloFace.inf and click install. Then if needed, after install reboot your computer and see if it works.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-01-20T21:36:39+00:00

    Thank you! This finally worked! I have automatic updates turned on, so I didn't have to download the newest update, as it did it (I assume) on restart.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-01-06T06:13:03+00:00

    Thank you - this is a quick and easy fix!  Just uninstalled my last Windows update (I think a November 2020 update) and immediately downloaded the Windows 10 update as described.  Biometrics Devices was automatically reinstalled and Windows Hello Face immediately worked on restart.

    I have Surface Pro laptop.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-06T19:40:47+00:00

    This works! Thanks a lot!

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-11-17T05:17:22+00:00

    I followed what DenizSelcok said but when I got to the folder FaceDrive there was no HelloFace.inf but only HelloFace without the extension" .inf." I right clicked and it installed. I ran the search for new hardware and the DebiceBiometric showed up.  

    Thank you for your work,

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