Fingerprint not recognised very first time I try to load Vista

I bought a destop and a laptop, both with Vista Home Premium preinstalled,
nearly 2 weeks ago. I've only turned on the laptop so far, and that only 2
or 3 times, because of the problem - if it's because I made a mistake I'd
rather know what I'm doing before letting myself loose on the desktop too!

When I turn on the laptop, Vista starts loading, then presents me with a log
on authentication and tells me to swipe my finger. I've tried numerous
times, but it's always 'not recognised'.

I don't know whether it's because I didn't swipe it correctly, or because
it's captured something and expects it to be repeated (it's possible that any
part of my hands might have got unintentionally swiped, when the request
first appeared and I was looking for the sensor - I didn't know there was one
until then).
I couldn't find how to temporarily bypass the logon authentication, and had
conflicting advice about whether it's possible (I think I saw somewhere on
this site that it's not possible with the first one).

Any ideas? Has anyone here turned on preinstalled Vista?
This forum seems the easiest way forward.
I had a saga of emails with the hardware manufacturer's help team (they're
both Packard Bell). They were impressively speedy, but emails flew to and
from lots of different people and things got muddled. They tried to help,
but it was help beyond the call of duty - they told me at a later stage that
I was entitled to help with hardware but not software (I opted not to buy an
extended warranty).
On the other hand, I saw somewhere on the Microsoft site that if it's
preinstalled I should contact the manufacturer. I searched here (and
elsewhere in the MS site), and couldn't find a reference to the problem, or
any step-by-step guide to that very first logon authentication (that is,
before I've been able to get far enough into Vista to access any settings).

With the PB tech team guidance I tried a Startup Restore. I told them the
reults and they suggested reinstalling Vista, but I haven't done that because
I'm not sure if it's appropriate.
Any similarities there might be with XP wouldn't mean anything to me, as
I've never used it (or seen it used - people are scattered where I live).
I'm typing this on my trusty 7-year old 98SE machine; by the time I had the
money for a new one, computers big enough to take Vista all had it
preinstalled (I'll buy XP later).

Any ideas?

Hilary;539580 Wrote:
> I bought a destop and a laptop, both with Vista Home Premium
> preinstalled,
> nearly 2 weeks ago. I've only turned on the laptop so far, and that
> only 2
> or 3 times, because of the problem - if it's because I made a mistake
> I'd
> rather know what I'm doing before letting myself loose on the desktop
> too!
>
> When I turn on the laptop, Vista starts loading, then presents me with
> a log
> on authentication and tells me to swipe my finger. I've tried numerous
> times, but it's always 'not recognised'.
>
> I don't know whether it's because I didn't swipe it correctly, or
> because
> it's captured something and expects it to be repeated (it's possible
> that any
> part of my hands might have got unintentionally swiped, when the
> request
> first appeared and I was looking for the sensor - I didn't know there
> was one
> until then).
> I couldn't find how to temporarily bypass the logon authentication, and
> had
> conflicting advice about whether it's possible (I think I saw somewhere
> on
> this site that it's not possible with the first one).
>
> Any ideas? Has anyone here turned on preinstalled Vista?
> This forum seems the easiest way forward.
> I had a saga of emails with the hardware manufacturer's help team
> (they're
> both Packard Bell). They were impressively speedy, but emails flew to
> and
> from lots of different people and things got muddled. They tried to
> help,
> but it was help beyond the call of duty - they told me at a later stage
> that
> I was entitled to help with hardware but not software (I opted not to
> buy an
> extended warranty).
> On the other hand, I saw somewhere on the Microsoft site that if it's
> preinstalled I should contact the manufacturer. I searched here (and
> elsewhere in the MS site), and couldn't find a reference to the
> problem, or
> any step-by-step guide to that very first logon authentication (that
> is,
> before I've been able to get far enough into Vista to access any
> settings).
>
> With the PB tech team guidance I tried a Startup Restore. I told them
> the
> reults and they suggested reinstalling Vista, but I haven't done that
> because
> I'm not sure if it's appropriate.
> Any similarities there might be with XP wouldn't mean anything to me,
> as
> I've never used it (or seen it used - people are scattered where I
> live).
> I'm typing this on my trusty 7-year old 98SE machine; by the time I had
> the
> money for a new one, computers big enough to take Vista all had it
> preinstalled (I'll buy XP later).
>
> Any ideas?

Hi Hilary,

I'm not familiar with fingerprint readers, but perhaps something here
will be able to help you.

'Search The Knowledge Base'
(http://support.microsoft.com/search/...bal&range=1-28)

Shawn


--
brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
OM\")
*Please post feedback to help others.*