The best I could find is reset the mouse as follows:
1. Remove dongle/receiver from the USB port
2. Remove battery from the mouse
3. After a short pause, reinsert the battery
4. Reinsert dongle/receiver
Mouse should work but if not:
5. Press and hold the connect button on the mouse until it flashes
Mouse should work but if not:
6. Try another USB port
From what I found on the Internet, the setup you describe is quite old (?) and that could be part of the problem. Given enough time everything dies.
