Mouse/touchpad first behaving erratic and then not working

[luc1234]

My Sony VGN-FW31J notebook used to work fine. Now the external mouse and/or touchpad do not work when any type of external cable is connected to it (power, mouse, headphones etc.). However, if there are no such external cables attached the touchpad works perfectly. What can be the cause of this and how to solve it?

[Blencogo]

It sounds like a electrical hardware issue and I think you will need a repairer to take a look at it.  If you are still within warranty, contact Vaio Support.

It is unlikely to be a software issue as it is not just the USB sockets alone but includes the headphones.

You could try discharging any static electricity build-up by unplugging the Power Adapter, removing the Battery and holding down the Power Button for 30 seconds.  Then try running on the Power Adapter alone before inserting the battery.