Help! Non-functional/missing mouse after epson printer install

Hello and thanks for any help. Tried to install software
for an epson R300 printer last night. Instructions were to
wait until a specified time during the software install
before connecting USB cable from printer. When the printer
cable was plugged in, the program hung and the mouse
became non-responsive. Forced to reboot, and since then
the mouse cursor has been non-responsive. Mouse properties
in control panel, under the driver tab, doesn't list a
mouse driver present. Tried to roll back under system
restore to 1 or 2 points back, no luck. Booted into safe
mode, no mouse. Booted into last known good configuration,
no mouse. Tried to "add new hardware" in hopes the mouse
would be recognized and installed, no luck. All USB cables
have been unplugged, mouse (ps/2) cable checked and
plugged in correctly. Any ideas how I can restore the
mouse to a functioning state? Cursor is present, but no
movement with the mouse. Epson support was of little help.
PC is a p4 1.7 ghz, 512 mg ram, win xp home, ps/2 mouse,
espon stylus color 600 printer on parallel port, epson
scanner on 1 usb port (previously working fine) and the
new printer (epson R300) that I attempted to install on
another usb port.
If you could email any reply to eric.plumley@hitchcock.org
in addition to posting, it would be of great help as my
access on-line is limited...
Once again, many thanks for any suggestions/help.....