USB optical wireless mouse not working

Running Win 7 64 bit on a Dell laptop. Previously had an older MS wireless mouse that worked fine. Went to upgrade to IE 9, and the mouse quit working. After repeated tries at un-connecting/re-connecting the USB, restarting computer, all met with failure. The system still does not recognize the device in the USB port. Have tried other ports as well with same result.

Being an older wireless mouse, went and purchased a newer HP optical wireless mouse. No driver included to install (no software at all). Same results in each port tried (3 in total) as the previous mouse. Device not recognized and not installed. Plug and play is on per what I can find in the system. New batteries were tried for both devices. Placing the mouse and receiver in different distances between while hitting the 'connect' buttons did no change. verified the new mouse is on the compatibility list for Win 7 64bit. Tried running the troubleshooter but it takes me continuously to the device page telling me the device is not recognized and not installed.

Tried a system restore to yesterday, before I did the IE 9 upgrade/install (via online). Noticed System Restore said 2 windows updates were done at the time I did the IE upgrade. Completed system restore - no change for either mouse after trying all the above again, with system restarts as well.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Sardonicus -- stumbled onto this old post and wanted to say thanks! I was about to toss an optical mouse I resurrected from my garage and Just get a new one! (I even registered just so I could post this).