[SOLVED] Touchpad stopped working- Need assistance

[cyde_ePhex]

I am trying to resolve an issue with a Sony Vaio (vpcee32fx) where the touchpad no longer works.

Backstory...I'm weird in the fact that I sometimes prefer to use a mouse with a laptop. Since this was the case, I disabled the touchpad via the device manager. However, the touchpad still worked in Ubuntu (dualboot) and Mint Live CD. After some time, it stopped working in Linux, no big deal. So just recently, I decided to a fresh install of Windows 7 to upgrade to W8. (Used the Vaio recovery CD to do the install.)

Now, touchpad still does not work and the option to Disable via the Device Manager is greyed out. Doesn't work in Linux either.

What I have tried:

Pre-install:
Re-downloaded the touchpad drivers from Sony
Rollback the driver
Update the driver
Tried Linux live cd

Post re-install:
Update the drivers from Sony
Rollback the driver
Linux live cd
Teardown and physical inspection of cables (no damage and cable is secure)
External mouse works just fine

Question(s):

Why would it stop all of a sudden in Linux when working before?
Why would the Disable button be greyed out in the Device Manager?
Should I replace the touchpad/keyboard panel? (I found one online for about $24)

Recap of system:
Sony Vaio vpcee32fx
Windows 7

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[wavey]

Can you disable it in the BIOS, save & enable?

 

[cyde_ePhex]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that there is no option in the BIOS to disable or enable.

 

[NYJimbo]

Does it have a touchpad enable/disable key ? I thought it was f12 or something.

Not sure why you disabled the touch pad in the first place, you could just have connected a mouse, I do that all day with every laptop I work on.

 

[cyde_ePhex]

@Jimbo, no there is no F(unction) key for it. I disabled it, because some part of my hand/wrist was always laying on it or touching it somehow and it got irritating with the cursor jumping all over the place.

 

[NYJimbo]

@Jimbo, no there is no F(unction) key for it. I disabled it, because some part of my hand/wrist was always laying on it or touching it somehow and it got irritating with the cursor jumping all over the place.

Is there anything printed on the F12 key besides F12 ?

 

[cyde_ePhex]

It's the hard driver power saver button (F12)

 

[wavey]

Got 2 old sonys on the junk pile here, F12 on each is for battery, neither has a symbol for touchpad.

 

[NYJimbo]

It's the hard driver power saver button (F12)

Ok, I was just checking a keyboard on ebay and saw what looked like a mousepad on that key.

 

[cyde_ePhex]

The only other F key options are Mute, Volume+/-, Screen Brightness+/- and Display (external), that's it.

 

[NYJimbo]

Is there "Vaio Control Center" software on this machine ? might be in programs or in the control panel. If so see if you can control it from there.

 

[cyde_ePhex]

[solved]

@Jimbo, I did check that earlier and it said the device was Enabled

[SOLVED] Here is what I just did though. Since the Enable Device button was already checked, I unchecked it, clicked Apply. Then re-check the Enable button. That worked.

Thanks Jimbo