Avast Internet Security disabled my DigitalPersona Fingerprint Software login

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I won Avast Internet Security from Facebook for one year. I installed the key earlier today and Avast FREE 5.0 (I think) updated to Avast Internet Security. Since the update, I can no longer log in to Windows using my fingerprint reader. I tried to reinstall the fingerprint software with no success.

Dell Studio 1737
Vista Home Premium 64-bit (SP2)

I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed on a separate partition with Avast FREE Edition 5.0 installed and the fingerprint reader does work on the Windows 7 partition, so I contributed the problem to installing Avast Internet Security.

Is there a setting somewhere I need to change to allow my fingerprint reader to work?

Thanks,

Rick

2

Indeed, avast shouldn’t interfere.
If you uninstall AIS and install the free version on Vista, will the software work?

3

Tech,

I cheated and used system restore and when back to when I had the old version installed. Fingerprint reader is working with FREE edition, just not with the Avast Internet Security.

Rick

4

If you’re using System Restore to a point before avast 5.1 installation you’ll get a messed computer.
I suggest an installation from scratch:

  1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
  2. Download the latest avast! version and save it.
  3. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
  4. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1. If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after you’ve run it.
  5. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
  6. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro.
  7. Check and post the results.
5

Tech,

First, the system restore point took me back to when I had Avast FREE Edition 5.1 installed.

Second, I downloaded the needed files.

Uninstalled in the control panel. Restart needed.

Ran the Avast Uninstall Utility. Restart needed.

Installed Avast Pro. Restart needed. (Fingerprint reader did not work)

Inserted the product key and got the updates. Restart needed. (Fingerprint reader did not work)

Restarted one more time and then the finger print reader started working like normal.

I thank you for the help. I thought I’d tell you that many restarts were needed to get the finger print reader to work but removing Avast with the removal tool was the key.

Thanks again,

Rick

6

System restore is very defective and does not restore all kind of files. Generally, avast installation is messed.

It’s strange. Running a full avast scanning, does it reveal anything strange?

7

Tech,

Ran a FULL scan with Avast nothing found.

Ran a quick scan with Malwarebytes nothing found.

Computer working normally, so I don’t suspect any issues.

Rick

8

Does Dell offer an update of that hardware driver?

9

Tech,

I have the latest drivers.

Authen Tec Inc. AES2810

I used Windows to update the drivers online and it said I am using the latest drivers. It really shows up as…

Digital Persona Personal
Version 3.1.0.3255
Fingerprint recognition Engine Version 4.1.4.743

My Studio 1737 came with Vista Home Premium 32-bit. I went with Vista 64-bit over a year ago and had no problems. I have installed Windows 7 Home Premium on a separate partition and have no problems with the fingerprint reader working with any operating systems. I noticed the issue after I opened Avast FREE and entered the product key. It updated and after restarting, the fingerprint reader stopped working. It did not work until I uninstalled Avast, restarted, then used the cleanup tool, restarted and then inserted the product key, restarted two more time and everything worked. Avast is working great as well as the rest of my programs, printers, etc…

I think Dell may offer the drivers but they’re usually not up to date, that’s why I used the device manager, update drivers function.

Rick

10

PudgyOne, I’m empty. Hope that someone more technical than me could help.

11

Tech,

You have everything working GREAT. As far as I’m concerned, following your instructions has goten the fingerprint reader to work with Avast Pro, that’s all that matters.

Take care and have a GREAT Holiday!

Rick

12

You’re welcome. Feel free to come back any time you need help or just to change experiences 8)

13

Tech,

I help many people with their Dell Inkjet Printers, so I know how helpful forums are for asking for help.

Thanks again and have a GREAT Holiday!

Rick

14

Tech,

May I ask you a question?

As you know, using more that one firewall can be a conflict.

I noticed that Avast has a firewall and it’s activated. I also noticed that Window Firewall is still activated, so in all theory, I have two firewalls in use.

Should I disable Windows Vista Firewall?

Rick

15

In theory, two antivirus conflict. Two firewalls, not all the times.
Windows firewall protects to ipv6 connections (very rare) and avast doesn’t.
Windows firewall is just inbound by default and you need to be “advanced” to manage the outbound connections.
They won’t conflict, but for sure, you can rely only on avast firewall (inbound and outbound).

16

Tech,

I have Windows Vista Home Premium, so Windows Firewall works both ways. It only works one way in Windows XP and earlier versions.

I do NOT have any issue but if I do, then I will know about where to look when the issues, if any arises.

Thank you for your input.

Rick

17

I know that. So I’ve wrote you need to be “advanced” to configure it. Have you already tried? It’s awful.

18

Tech,

No, I didn’t know that. I thought it worked both ways by default. :cry:

Rick

19

It is “allow all” for outbound, i.e., disabled.

20

It is.

You could try Windows 7 Firewall Control that works on Vista:
http://www.sphinx-soft.com/Vista/order.html

Do not purchase the Plus version.