Sony F Series VPCF1 - Keyboard/Mouse/Special Keys not working in Windows 7

Help!

Well, it's not often that I get stumped, but this one is really confusing me. I have a Sony Vaio F series model VPCF1 and neither the keyboard, mouse, or special function keys (top row keys for CD control and the Vaio support button) work inside of Windows 7. I am able to use the keyboard and mouse when entering a pre-windows environment like the Windows 7 setup DVD or if I enter BIOS. Once the OS loads I no longer have access to these devices. Currently I have an external mouse and keyboard plugged in, but obviously it's a temporary work around.

Here is some supporting information to help me find a fix:
- there are no bluetooth wireless keyboards and mice vying for control
- the owner said that nothing special was installed before these settings stopped working
- the backlights and everything works perfectly until Windows 7 starts to load, then backlights turn off
- Both the mouse and keyboard control panel icons do not detect an internal keyboard or mouse. The Synaptics options normally present under touchpad mice in the Mouse panel are missing

My next step is going to be to disable all Sony startup services and programs and see if there is some off-the-wall setting in place. Other than that, I'm kind of drawing a blank. This is an odd one.

 

Update: Out of the blue the assist keys on the top row started to work. The only thing I have done is go into Sony Care and try to resolve the keyboard issue through the Input and Output assistant. I'm not sure if that brought the top row back, but the keyboard still does not work.

 

Update : System Restore to before the issue (several Windows updates were applied after the date I restored to) has still not solved it. No other USB or Bluetooth input devices are installed. This one is a boggler.