Dell Controlvault

[Poimetheus]

Restored client's system to factory (Dell Precision M6600 mobile workstation) due to OS corruption. The only driver that wouldn't install was for the biometric scanner. Regardless of the order, version, or medium of the install, it simply won't accept it. Any ideas?

 

[F5ing]

How did you perform the initial OS restore?

Will it install in Safe Mode?

 

[Poimetheus]

I believe the problem existed somewhere in the order of which the drivers were installed. What drivers does Safe Mode typically restrain? If the drivers that were dependent on the resources provided by the driver package installed after it were restrained, it would be as though they were virtually non existent, and potentially allowing for the effective implementation of the driver in question. However, this is an old issue at this point, yet I'd still like an answer for future reference... How sound is my theory?

 

[F5ing]

I believe the problem existed somewhere in the order of which the drivers were installed. What drivers does Safe Mode typically restrain? If the drivers that were dependent on the resources provided by the driver package installed after it were restrained, it would be as though they were virtually non existent, and potentially allowing for the effective implementation of the driver in question. However, this is an old issue at this point, yet I'd still like an answer for future reference... How sound is my theory?

I would've thought more along the lines that if a driver would not install it would be due to dependency on another that has not been installed yet, rather than being due to one that's already installed (unless it's a conflict, you need either one or the other, not both). You would have to know, I guess, everything required to get that device working, uninstalling/reinstalling components until you get them all loaded.

Safe mode won't try to load stuff that isn't required for the basic functionality of the machine; meaning in this case, I think, it wouldn't try loading anything to do with the biometric scanner. Hard to say if it would work.

Is the scanner working? Did you maybe get an alternate driver via Windows Update?

 

[Poimetheus]

We never got it working. I had the correct drivers according to dell. My thoughts were that it was dependent on another driver fo functionality, but was installed prior to that in which it was dependent. There are even warnings about driver order installation upon reload

 

[F5ing]

So what kind of initial reinstall was done to begin with? Dell OEM discs, recovery partition, retail disc?

 

[Poimetheus]

OEM; even used the driver install disk.

 

[F5ing]

Tough issue it seems. Seems as though you should've been able to get it back to 100% working condition via its own install media, all without an internet connection and no interference with Windows/third party updates.

You know there has got to be a way to get it done as it was manufactured and delivered that way to begin with.

This is where a prior clone or image would've come in handy.

 

[Poimetheus]

I did image the drive prior to the wipe; but it was corrupted, hence the wipe. I can't even say that it ever worked in the first place.

 

[F5ing]

I can't even say that it ever worked in the first place.

You know, I was thinking about asking you about that a week ago, but thought, nah you've probably already thought that through.

Makes me wonder exactly how it appeared in Device Manager...

 

[Poimetheus]

There wasn't an individual bio-metric driver. "control vault" is a driver suite that includes it. This is probably a Dell rep question. I've got a contact there; I just didn't think enough of it at this point to heckle them. I'm going to shoot an email over and see if I can get a response.

I'll post back if/when I get a response.

 

[Poimetheus]

It seems my previous reply didn't confirm... I have contact with a Dell rep who's pretty handy. I had lost interest in this subject, but the conversation pushed me to email him and get his thoughts on the matter.