Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex – ThinkFinger Fingerprint Reader

Upon upgrading to Ubuntu Linux 8.10 Intrepid Ibex on my Lenovo Thinkpad T61, ThinkFinger and my fingerprint reader appear to have stopping working. After further investigating, I discovered that I needed to hit “Enter” every time after sweeping my finger. So here’s the solution to getting it working without the carriage-return:

Jon Oberheide wrote an update which can be found here:
https://launchpad.net/~jon-oberheide/+archive

Add the PPA repositories to your source.list (/etc/apt/sources.list):

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/jon-oberheide/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/jon-oberheide/ubuntu intrepid main

Update installer:

$ sudo apt-get update

And install:

$ sudo apt-get install thinkfinger-tools

Related posts:

15 Responses to “Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex – ThinkFinger Fingerprint Reader”


  • Hey,
    Thanks a lot for your solution! It solved my problem, now the fingerprint reader works without hitting enter under intrepid… And I don’t have any problem with the up arrow or volume keys. I’m using a Dell XPS m1330…

  • You’re welcome, glad I could help! Yeah looks like the up arrow issue is only happening with my T61… :(

  • The same is happening on my T61. I think it probably has to do with the keyboard layout. My xorg.conf does have pc105 as the model as opposed to the generic-evdev, but the issues are exactly the same.

  • Got it working without having to uncomment the sections in xorg.conf. This site helps a lot:
    http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_enable_the_fingerprint_reader_with_ThinkFinger

    there are a few different config files that need editing, so make sure you read all the way down.

  • Curt,

    So you manged to get ThinkFinger working fully without the “up arrow” issue?

    Could you post the exact solution… or point out which section you’re referring to from ThinkWiki?

    Thanks!

  • Hi Eastwood,

    I think curtHendzell is makeing reference to this link : https://launchpad.net/~jon-oberheide/+archive

    You should add this repository to your sources.list. Then you shall issue a sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade.

    And that you shall be the fixing you dreamt of ! It was for me (I started with a working config but the enter issue)

    Cya

  • Thanks, penkoad! I’ll give it a try sometime and see how it goes.

  • Thanks penkoad! That new package resolved the issue for me too :)

  • You’re most welcome fellows !

    We should be thankfull to Jon Oberheide, the one behind the fix !
    ;)

  • Thanks penkoad (and Jon Oberheide)! Updated post accordingly.

  • Thanks, that worked.

  • I have a problem:)
    When i type tf-tool –acquire it tells me that USB not found..BUT when I type lsusb it is showed! What should i do?

    mozes@inside:~$ tf-tool –acquire

    ThinkFinger 0.3 (http://thinkfinger.sourceforge.net/)
    Copyright (C) 2006, 2007 Timo Hoenig

    Initializing…USB device not found.
    mozes@inside:~$ lsusb
    Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0a5c:2101 Broadcom Corp. A-Link BlueUsbA2 Bluetooth
    Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 004 Device 002: ID 09da:000a A4 Tech Co., Ltd Port Mouse
    Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 002 Device 003: ID 08ff:2580 AuthenTec, Inc. AES2501 Fingerprint Sensor
    Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

    • Oh, I think I’ve had this issue also.

      Try following through the steps — and if you encounter the “usb not found” error again reboot the computer — then run tf-tool again to see if it recognizes the usb device now.

  • I restart my system, and the problem is there again. I try many “solutions” but nothing works. 10x for the reply anyway

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