Sony VAIO USB problems

OK.
All of a sudden my USB mouse stopped working.
I tried a different port but Windows would still give me "USB device not recognized" message.
I Googled the issue and it appears that this problem is known and there's a fix that involves removing a couple of INF files/etc.
(http://kenno.wordpress.com/2008/01/2...ize-usb-drive/ for instance).
That did not help.
At the same time, my USB hard drive works fine.
Windows also registers the action of inserting the mouse.

I tried booting Windows (Vista 64) installation from DVD and the mouse didn't work there as well, although it always works once you're presented with a menu.
I then formatted my parition, did a clean install...
and...
same thing.
USB ports don't recognize my 2 mice (Microsoft and Logitech).


Moreover, after installing all drivers/etc., my bult-in webcam and fingerprint reader don't work.
The latter asks to connect the device to USB.
Odd, since it's built-in It says "biometric device" is not detected.


This is the weirdest problem I've ever seen.
Definitely not a problem with my devices nor is it a Windows problem.
It appears that USB ports are, uhm, "half dead".
How's that possible?

Someone posted a similar story here: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...80-laptop.html

But no solution.

Searching the web further, I see that a number of such issues come up.
Is this a VAIO technical problem?

I also tried loading Acrois True Image (disk imaging program akin to Norton Ghost) from a bootable CD (it uses a stripped down Linux system) where my mouse always works but to no avail.

VGN-AW190.

Resetting BIOS did not help.