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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

114 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2020-05-04T22:15:48+00:00

    Trying to install that .inf file never worked for me either, and I tried every trick I know including trying it in safe mode.  "Biometric Devices" and the Hello Face Device only came back for me after a Windows 10 update late last year, so you might try Windows Update to see if you're missing an update that might help.

    That being said,  I still can't get Hello Face to work.  I do the setup and get to the "center your face" screen but the camera doesn't come on.  Hello Face worked fine for me for about 9 months after I bought the PC, and the PC's camera works fine for everything else.  All latest drivers, etc., etc.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-21T06:07:01+00:00

    Yes, Several times.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-02-18T23:24:54+00:00

    FWIW, after the last major Windows 10 update, back in November, 2019, or thereabout, my Biometric Devices folder reappeared in Device Manager.  Before that, nothing short of a Windows reinstall would return the Biometric Devices folder, and doing a Windows reinstall just wasn't worth it to me just to get Hello Face back.

    However, even though the Biometric Devices folder is back and I again have the Windows Hello Face setup available in Sign-in Options, I still have the original problem where the camera doesn't turn on in the setup screen.  Note that all my drivers are up-to-date, and Hello Face worked fine at one time.  The camera works fine with everything except Hello Face.  Maybe it will work on my next computer. :)

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2020-02-18T22:46:48+00:00

    Did you go to the top in Device Manager and Scan for hardware changes?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2020-02-18T22:39:27+00:00

    Hello everyone,

    I did a lot of things for fix this problem. It's all about Windows Biometrics Plugin.

    C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugIns\FaceDriver. Go to this folder and right click the HelloFace.inf file and click install. WHen you do this, Wİndows opening the plugin and install the Windows Hello Biometrics device.

    I hope this fix your issue!

    My file only reads .dll instead of .inf

    Any suggestions how to solve this issue? It is driving me crazy that I can't seem to fix this problem with biometrics.

    Many thanks in advance for any response.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments