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
    2020-05-04T21:27:53+00:00

    Same here it says installed then nothing happens

    Here is not working too

    I Tried to install the inf file and restart 

    did not worked

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  2. 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.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-05-05T11:26:48+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!

    what do you mean by open the plgin and install the biometric device?

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-05-05T16:09:26+00:00

    Some of you still can't get Windows Hello to work even after installing from the .inf file.

    If you are positive you are on the latest version of Windows 1909 Build 18363.815, I suggest checking your Windows Image and System files.

    Open Powershell or CMD.exe in Admin mode. Run;

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

    If errors are found, your Windows Image is corrupted and you need to run;

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

    Assuming the local Image file is healthy, run;

    SFC /Scannow

    This will check crucial system files in case they are corrupted or has a wrong version due to botched Windows Update or driver install.

    Beyond that, only way I think is to Restore to an earlier checkpoint or as a last resort, Reset your  system.

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