IE8 and BioProtection
- posted by Michael Walsh on May 7th, 2009
- (20)
I’m writing this piece as there have been many, many requests both here and on the forum about IE8 and BioProtection. Many many thanks to Simone for helping me understand the “technical” side of it.
A lot of you have downloaded IE8 from Microsoft and now the BioProtection software you used while surfing the web no longer works.
Here’s the deal:
IE8 has been officially launched for XP and Vista, so the situation is:
IE8 and BioProtection with XP and Vista
IE8 and BioProtection on computers running XP and Vista do not work together, just as BioProtection doesn’t work with Firefox / Opera / Chrome / Safari etc.. More precisely, it’s PasswordBank that doesn’t work and this is the part that manages the accounts for Live / Gmail and so on.
Right now it’s compatible only with IE7 – the BIOS protection part and WindowsLogon part continue to work with XP and Vista.
IE8 was released AFTER BioProtection, therefore it’s going to take a little time to bridge the gap between the two versions. Right now Acer’s in the middle of this “gap” but we’re working on it. We shouldn’t be far off considering what Simone’s seen to date.
IE8 with Windows 7
Here the situation is much more complicated, given the fact that even Microsoft says that IE8 for Windows 7 isn’t “exactly” the same as the version already released for XP/Vista.
Adding to the confusion, the Operating System is still in what’s called “RC” or Release Candidate stage. This is one step behind “RTM” or Release To Manufacturer, which is when you’ll see it on general release.
Two points:
a) “RC” software is “officially” available only to software developers and partners, not to the general public, who should be able to download it in the next few weeks.
b) OEMs such as Acer don’t start developing drivers the moment Win7 goes public. In actual fact, Acer doesn’t develop the drivers at all for the devices in its computers, it simply uses those developed by the device manufacturers (maybe with some customization). But when they do they don’t exactly start from scratch…
In a nutshell, then, until Win 7 becomes “RTM”, it’s not in Acer’s (or all the other PC manufacturers’) interest to release a finished product (notebook / desktop) as it would come without the complete support of all functions.
And until it reaches “RTM”, it’ll be difficult if not impossible to find all the drivers, simply because Win7 or the driver itself is still evolving…
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dobby wrote, on May 11th, 2009:
get me a acer aspire one 8.9′ mini laptop for free!
el angel mal herido wrote, on May 22nd, 2009:
hello (I am Spanish. I speak little English)
this the solution Protector Suite 2009 is OK in windows 7 IE8 and Firefox.
bye
Donal wrote, on May 26th, 2009:
Protector Suite 2009 worked perfectly for me – thanks el angel!
Mike Gardner wrote, on June 18th, 2009:
Hey ive been having a problem with Acer Bio Protection AAV, where a blue question mark is coming up above the finger print symbol when ever im trying to use it (Either on the login page or when trying to get in to the settings)It no longer seems to recgonise any finger prints. It also thinks im trying to scan my finger at random times. Any suggestions to fix this problem?
kat wrote, on July 22nd, 2009:
Im having the similar problem, my acer bio protection, is showing a blue ‘?’, and will not respond to any fingers being swiped,
help?
Brandon Toole wrote, on September 3rd, 2009:
Is there any update on the status of the IE8 and Bio Protection?
Ludovic-Stefan Kocsis wrote, on September 11th, 2009:
I had this problem and I wrote about it. Now it’s fixed! I re-installed the latest driver on the ACER site and the new release of IE8 on windows update now and it works with fingerprint! Thank you ACER, thank you MSFT (updated release).
ghiath wrote, on September 30th, 2009:
Hello
Ludovic (above) tells us that he installed the latest driver from Acer…driver for what??? And where can that be found? Could you please clarify? I have the same problem with bio-protection and ie8 and am told I have the latest version of the browser.
Thanks a lot!
ghiath
aryzal wrote, on September 30th, 2009:
Ludovic-Stefan Kocsis..
Can you please share the link for the latest Acer driver that you told..?? Where to get ??
NJ wrote, on October 1st, 2009:
i wish to thank Ludovic-Stefan Kocsis for the first step…
as for others, who wish to try… here are the steps that i’ve done…
1. Download the latest driver frm Acer’s website… dated – 2009/08/11 (ver. 6.2.39 – 106.2MB)
1a. I skipped this part but you all might try to do the backup for all the accounts and try to restore later… it was too late for me so i had to start frm scratch…
2. Uninstall the old driver… as for me, i uninstalled Acer Bio-Protection and Validity Sensor Software in Control Panel/Programs and Features
3. Install the new downloaded driver…
4. Either restore the backup OR re-scan the fingerprints…
5. Try with any password protected site to make sure it works… You might need to re-register each sites incase the backup didn’t work…
6. Download OR install IE8…
7. Try again with all the password protected sites…
8. IF everything should be fine… yippieee…
thanks Michael Walsh for this page and others for the inputs… there’s still hope…
Mehul Mehta wrote, on October 4th, 2009:
after installing acer bio protection,,when i start my window xp, my taskbar pop-ups very late,,,and when i uninstall the acer bio protection program its normal,,can any body help me in solving this issue.
Starnamer wrote, on October 9th, 2009:
If you look for the Fingerprint driver for the 8920G, it offers version 6.0.00.08, which doesn’t work with IE8. The solution is to download the driver for the 8930G, which uses the same sensor, and you’ll get the 6.2.39 version.
craig wrote, on November 1st, 2009:
thanks guys!
ive really missed the fingerprint bio not working with ie8.
after downloading the 8930g v6.2.39 zip file, as suggested, and installing on my 6920g it works perfectly.
the interface is slightly different than the original one on my pc, but i actually prefer the new one. main thing is it works.
shame the acer site doesnt list the 8930g version for the 6920g, as im sure there are loads of people missing out on this “fix”.
LYLE GARRETT wrote, on December 4th, 2009:
shame on Acer – trying to sell me “out of warranty”-”pay by the minute” tech support for this problem – which they would never have been able to solve! maybe when the 3 Acer notebooks I own need replacement, I’ll have to switch to Mac (which my son told me to do before I bought the Acers!
not nice, Acer
aj4martin wrote, on December 22nd, 2009:
While installing the Win 7 upgrade from Vista Business 32 to my TravelMate 5730 I received the message stating that a version of Bio-Protection was already running and that I would have to uninstall it before installing the newer version. When I tried to uninstall the existing version it tells me that it can’t find the setup.bin file.
I contacted Acer support ( had to pay $60 for them to take over my laptop via Internet !!!! ) After 45 minutes they also had no luck removing the existing version… and refused to refund my money!!!! Everything else works fine after the upgrade and I love the operation of Win 7. If anyone can offer suggestions as to how I can get the Fingerprint reader/Bio Protection to work, I’d be a happy person ( for a while anyway! )
ACER 6930g wrote, on March 20th, 2010:
biometric reader issue, I decided to reluctantly put my acer 6930g on the internet , I was hesitant after reading all the grief regarding the biometric reader being broken if IE8 was installed , mp pc runs vista premium , one of ms updates states IE8 is needed for better security , install it and it breaks , tried new driver still broken , revert to factory reset ALL WORKS! I decide to try windows 7 all went fine until I tried playing a dvd then the subwoofer which worked just fine in vista buzzed and distorted, so whichever os I used I had issues acer where no help at all but it seems Im not alone with both bio protection issues and sound woes on this model anyone else had same
Michael Walsh wrote, on March 22nd, 2010:
@ACER 6930g
This just in from Acer tech support:
-1-
To fix the IE8 and Biometric application issue you need to use the latest BIOProtection suite, once you have defined which fingerprint reader is installed into your notebook (check the vendor from driver properties under Device Manager) you can download the new application (also from another notebooks), the application is the same, just be sure to download the package with the right driver inside.
-2-
By “default” Windows7 installs the audio codec driver with STEREO features ONLY!! so you don’t have any multi-speaker features right now
Download latest driver from Realtek or check the Win7 driver page for AS6930, the audio driver version is 6.0.1.5888
Rockie wrote, on August 27th, 2010:
Hi.
I am getting an error when installing Avast Internet security,so i contacted their support .They asked me to update my fingerprint reader.
Thus,i would be very much thankful if someone help me to update my Acer Bio-Protection. I m using it on Vista 64 bit and it came with my laptop as one of the pre-installed programs.
Thanks.
Rockie wrote, on August 27th, 2010:
Want to add that i m using Acer 6920 and i m not very good in tech,so if possible then tell the simple steps. I want o update it without losing my passwords etc.
mariane christine t bucay wrote, on June 15th, 2011:
good day!
somebody pls hepl!!
i lost my finger print protection device (travelmate 5730) Pls help!!!