Windows 7: No USB at POST after BIOS update

I would use AHCI. I'm not sure how that would effect USB support in bios.

I agree on both counts. I'm grasping at straws here. Logically, since the only thing I changed was the BIOS, the problem lies there.
Isn't it problematic to switch to AHCI from a windows install that has booted into IDE though? I sure don't want to reinstall windows.

Yes changing from IDE to AHCI can be problematic.
I have done it on Asus motherboards without problems.

If at last resorts you want to try a tutorial by Bare Foot Kid might be helpful.

AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

In the past I have used the PS/2 connection via either an older mouse and KB or PS/2 to USB connectors to set the BIOS and I have also done drivers for this and that for that matter including chipset and USB drivers - then no problem.

But if the problem is fixed all well and good

These are the defaults listed in my manual;

But they don't all appear in the BIOS

Perhaps try resetting bios settings to the default.

Just an update on this in case someone else follows this breadcrumb;

I contacted Gigabyte e-support and after many painful exchanges with some drone who did not seem to be actually reading my questions at all, I was eventually rewarded with a newer BIOS that does not appear on the product support page for my mobo. This BIOS - F10e - instantly resolved the issue.

I had several exchanges with a 'tech' who suggested I try going back to the old BIOS, which Gigabyte explicitly states does not support my processor. Like that was going to end well!

So while I have to give Gigabyte creds for supporting a board that I bought quite a few years ago (i.e. very long out of wty) it's also fair to ding them a couple of points for a process that (needlessly) took weeks to resolve. And if the latest BIOS was simply on the product support page I would not have gone through this at all. Thankfully, it was a non-critical issue.

Well maybe they fixed a few things with the newer version.

Yes Roger had several "drone" interactions with not only Gigabyte but Asus drones too always suggesting something that I have tried already after advice from other members and usually the answer starts with mucking around in the BIOS - something I really am not a great fan of unless I am dealing with EUFI and the board has a back up BIOS chip in case I make a mess of it.

I wonder why manufacturers aren't updating their downloads section on their website but can update about new products.