Intel WiDi Stops Lync 2013 from Recognizing Audio Devices

We have used Lync 2013 for a while the company I work for and overall with little issues (amazingly). However the other day I attempted to join a conference call and utilize my built in webcam/mic but found that Lync couldn't see any audio device at all. This was strange considering it was showing up in the computer management console, and in recording devices. I could even use the microphone and record with windows built in recorder so that was odd too.

I attempted first a repair of Lync 2013, but no dice. Then I re-installed my Dell audio drivers, but no luck there either. A bit of Google searching lead me to just a few articles stating that Intel's WiDi application caused some problems with audio devices. Sure enough one of the posts in particular was on Lync specifically so I decided to give it a shot and uninstall. After a quick reboot Lync was perfect again and I was without one more useless program (to me at least). Dell (from whom we buy our laptops) has components in most of their laptops which include this application, however I have never used it. Uninstalling it did not show any unknown devices in computer management or prompt for driver installation every time the machine booted up so I'll be making sure to uninstall this from all new deployments of laptops within the company.

I never could figure out the "why"behind the failure for the applications to not play nice, but what's fixed is fixed.

Latitude E6430s and its Biometrics

I received a brand new Latitude E6430s yesterday and found it great! Except for one thing....(there's always one thing isn't there?)...the fingerprint reader!

It wouldn't work and for the life of me I could not find out why.

I decided to call Dell Early Life Support (ELS for short) to resolve the issue. Being the first I imagine with this online hopefully Google will pickup on this and help someone else with the issue as well. Since we call can't wait on a phone for ELS to pickup....the on hold music was good though (*cough*)

The Fingerprint reader used to be access by a thing called Dell Control Vault...well thats been replaced (just in time too, I was getting used to making sure Control Vault was installed during Windows Deployments to get rid of unknown devices in the Device Manager)

You will now use software called Access. Yes just Access, sure its under the Dell folder called Dell Data Proection but if you search through the start menu just type in Access.

Follow the on screen prompts and register your finger prints (I would suggest more than one, you never know when a rabbid chipmunk might take off your finger). Configure your login options after that and you are good to go!

Now to make sure I install Control Vault....I mean Access from now on. This is just as bad as trying to remember a new password.