Asrock Z77 Extreme4 Front Panel USB Issue

We don't know what USB 3.0 drivers you have, which are required for Windows 7.

That driver may not be your problem, but is worth a try since installing it is simple.

You should also check Device Manager in Windows, the USB entries are at the bottom of the device list. Double click on any entry that has a yellow '!' next to it, indicating a problem. Even if you don't see any, opening the USB 3.0 entries allow you to check the driver and might provide some other information.

I wonder if Windows update slipped in some strange change, that happened recently on an unrelated situation.

You can try installing the Intel USB 3.0 driver yourself. You have two main choices. One is the Intel USB 3.0 driver from your board's download page:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme4/?cat=Download&os=Win764

Or you can use the latest version Intel provides for your boards Z77 chipset, here:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/21129/USB-3-0-Driver-Intel-USB-3-0-eXtensible-Host-Controller-Driver-for-Intel-7-Series-C216-Chipset-Family

The file from Intel's website is a newer version.

How do you know the cable is good, from a visual inspection? The connector for USB 3.0 headers on a mother board aren't the greatest design, and can easily become loose. I literally tape them in place.

The front USB 3.0 ports are provided by the Intel Z77 chipset, so normally are the best for use than the add on USB 3.0 chip.

What OS are you using, and any idea what the updates were about? Strange the restore point did not fix both sets of USB 3.0 ports. Checking the cable to the front panel and trying a USB 2.0 flash drive or mouse or keyboard in those ports to see if they work at all is a good test.