Track pad on Sony VAIO not working

I recently installed a new HDD (Seagate ST9500424AS; p/n 9RW143-567) in my Sony VAIO VPCEH11FX and installed the OS using the Sony VAIO Recovery Media Kit (VPCE_10FX Series 989203008). During the installation, I selected the default or normal settings.

A short while (1-2 weeks) after the installation was complete, I noticed that the track pad was not working after enabling it using Fn+F1. (The pointing device dialog box DOES appear when I press Fn+F1 and shows that it will toggle between enable & disable). I took the computer into Fry's (where I bought it) and they booted a different OS (I think it was Windows XP) using a CD. Using this OS, the track pad worked. So it was confirmed it wasn't a hardware issue.

I proceeded to contact Sony. They had me do the following:
1) download the latest drivers & driver updates and install both. This didn't fix the problem.
2) uninstall 'Alps Pointing-device for VAIO' and run the .exe files for the driver & update. This didn't fix the problem.
3) boot the computer to recovery mode (press F10 when it starts); I noticed that the track pad was working in this mode.
4) Confirm that the other ALT keys functioned properly. (they do function properly)

The Sony rep asked me to confirm the type of HDD I installed (I forget what specifically he was interested in), but upon my reading him the part number, he confirmed the HDD was compatible.

The Sony rep then suggested I either recover the system to a previous version/date and see if the track pad is working. (he seems to think some software I installed might have prevented the track pad from working) He also suggested I could reformat the HDD and reinstall the entire OS. I've balked at doing either, as I'm guessing there is an issue with the registry.

Does anyone know what the issue might be?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi, I have the same problem with sony vaio VPCSB2 series.
The Sony support doesn't fix the problem yet.
I founded that the problem is related with the multitouch feature and due to an elettrostatic issue.
anyway in order to use the mouse under windows is possible to disable, in the vaio contro center, the multitouch option and the palm option.
In this way the touch lost the multiouch features but work correctly or almost correctly in my case.
Anyway I'm waiting from the vaio support a complete solution. In my opinion a device substitution.

Peppe said:

Hi, I have the same problem with sony vaio VPCSB2 series.
The Sony support doesn't fix the problem yet.
I founded that the problem is related with the multitouch feature and due to an elettrostatic issue.
anyway in order to use the mouse under windows is possible to disable, in the vaio contro center, the multitouch option and the palm option.
In this way the touch lost the multiouch features but work correctly or almost correctly in my case.
Anyway I'm waiting from the vaio support a complete solution. In my opinion a device substitution.

Does your trackpad work in recovery or diagnostics modes?

I'm thinking there must be a registry key which inadvertently got deleted or changed.

Control Panel/Mouse settings show that it should be working. It doesn't show that it's disabled.

I was just browsing when I read this, & the replies.
The pad had/has been down quite some time I see

Just a few thoughts:

The recovery disk set? If you got it in the mail, I'm wondering if it was for another similar model with a different version pad.
Recovery media is suppose to be made by the user when they get the system new, and it's created by a hidden partition and Blank disks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwFRCp3DABU


The motherboards Chipset drivers should always be updated to the most recent version.
I Always make sure the Chipset driver is up to date first before installing ANY other drivers. The chipset is basically a device that provides the Avenue of communication between the systems peripherals & CPU.

Driver downloads:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=VPCEH11FX&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docTypeID=DT_KNOWLEDGEARTICLES_1_1&docType=kc&externalId=C1021099
----------------------------

Touch pad problems :
Setting the system to DEFAULT settings.
VAIO® - Troubleshooting the touchpad on your Laptop - YouTube
--------------------------------------------------------------------

http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=VPCEH11FX&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=tutorials#/tutorialsTab

lilome said:

I was just browsing when I read this, & the replies.
The pad had/has been down quite some time I see

Just a few thoughts:

The recovery disk set? If you got it in the mail, I'm wondering if it was for another similar model with a different version pad.
Recovery media is suppose to be made by the user when they get the system new, and it's created by a hidden partition and Blank disks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwFRCp3DABU


The motherboards Chipset drivers should always be updated to the most recent version.
I Always make sure the Chipset driver is up to date first before installing ANY other drivers. The chipset is basically a device that provides the Avenue of communication between the systems peripherals & CPU.

Driver downloads:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=VPCEH11FX&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docTypeID=DT_KNOWLEDGEARTICLES_1_1&docType=kc&externalId=C1021099
----------------------------

Touch pad problems :
Setting the system to DEFAULT settings.
VAIO® - Troubleshooting the touchpad on your Laptop - YouTube
--------------------------------------------------------------------

http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=VPCEH11FX&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=tutorials#/tutorialsTab

I tried what is shown at the Sony video and that didn't do anything.

I'll try the chip set drivers. If that doesn't work, I'm then convinced it's got to be something in the registry. Sony is 100% convinced there is no problem with the installation disks. And we know it's not a hardware issue, as the track pad works fine in recovery mode.

I'm wondering if tech support at Microsoft could help with this. What do they charge per case? $50?

I was never able to resolve this issue. I'm wondering if anyone else might have any ideas and/or suggestions.

Thanks!

Here is an interesting update.

This problem has been sitting dormant for a long time, as I almost never have a desire to use the track pad.

I had an opportunity to go into safe mode. I couldn't remember if the track pad worked in safe mode, so I checked it in safe mode and it worked. So I restarted my computer. Upon initial boot up in Windows 7, the track pad worked. Then sometime shortly after Windows 7 had fully booted, the track pad stopped working. The only thing I had done was checked some display settings without changing anything.

This is getting very strange.