Thinkpad fingerprint security
Thread Starter
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,498
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From: Witnesham, Suffolk
Thinkpad fingerprint security
I recently bought a "new to me" Thinkpad T43 on Ebay. It's not arrived yet - I keep getting conflicting stories as to why not. I suspect the seller had activated the "fingerprint recognition" and doesn't know how to turn it off.
Sooner or later, he'll ship it, I'm sure. Then I wonder if I'll be trying to bypass his fingers.
Short of wiping the machine and reinstalling everything (which I assume will do the job), is there another way to knock out the fingerprint kit? If he set a master password, will that bypass and enable switching-off the fingerprint stuff (which I'd never use - my iPaq had it: it was a complete pain)?
Sooner or later, he'll ship it, I'm sure. Then I wonder if I'll be trying to bypass his fingers.
Short of wiping the machine and reinstalling everything (which I assume will do the job), is there another way to knock out the fingerprint kit? If he set a master password, will that bypass and enable switching-off the fingerprint stuff (which I'd never use - my iPaq had it: it was a complete pain)?

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 594
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From: UK
Fingerprint recognition works in parallel with the normal password.
i.e. you can choose to unlock the laptop with either.
As an example I use the fingerprint method when working with my T series laptop keyboard itself, but the password method when working with a wireless keyboard such as at home because the fingerprint sensor is then shut away.
Having logged on with password it is easy to re-swipe a different (your) set of fingerprints.
i.e. you can choose to unlock the laptop with either.
As an example I use the fingerprint method when working with my T series laptop keyboard itself, but the password method when working with a wireless keyboard such as at home because the fingerprint sensor is then shut away.
Having logged on with password it is easy to re-swipe a different (your) set of fingerprints.
Thread Starter
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 0
From: Witnesham, Suffolk
Excellent - thanks! As I'd hoped, so nothing to worry about.
I just hope the seller has got round to taking it to the post office - when I chased he apologised for having forgotten to do so.
I just hope the seller has got round to taking it to the post office - when I chased he apologised for having forgotten to do so.




