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
    2020-04-21T03:55:59+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!

    I went and installed it a couple of times but nothing changed. I've also restarted my laptop as well. Hope you can help with other ways to fix the issue.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-03-25T08:25:56+00:00

    I tried every solutions here but nothing works.

    Luckily I suddenly remembered the good old fashioned Windows Recovery.. and it was fixed!  :D

    Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Recovery

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-10T19:27:26+00:00

    For weeks, I have been trying to fix the problem with "Face and fingerprint recognition are not available on this device"!   Nothing worked until now.   Thank you for your suggestion to install the HelloFace.inf file.   It worked!

    THANK YOU!

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-04-05T18:17:29+00:00

    Did you do that in the Device Manager not the Control Panel?

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-01-10T04:48:01+00:00

    Hi, Logan,

    Biometric devices is an integrated component of Windows 10.

    Contact the computer manufacturer's Customer Service. for assistance in replacing (if possible) the component.

    FWIW- years ago I uninstalled a major component on the system not realizing it could not be restored.

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