Maximum PC

I have assembled my PC hardware and when I boot up for the first time with the Windows 7 cd in my DVD rom, I get "windows is loading files" and then the blue windows splash screen with the windows flag. The DVD seems to stop spinning at this point and the computer waits about 2 or 3 minutes and then reboots, and repeats the above. I am hoping to install Win7 on the SSD drive, but I never get to the Windows set up screen that allows me to chose where to install the OS. The BOIS is Asus UEFI. When i press del to go into the BIOS, I see that the BIOS recognizes my SSD and HD as well and my DVD ROM, because they are identified in the boot sequence area. I have tried rebooting with just the DVD Rom and SSD connected, and also with the DVD ROM and the HD connected. same result. I have the SSD, HD and DVD rom all connected to the Intel SATA3 connectors. Any help is appreciated.


Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Intel Core 5 2500K
Corsair 8GB 2x4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24
Gigabyte Radeon HD6850
Muskin Chronos 120GB SATA3 Sandforce SF-2281 SSD
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green SATA3
Antec HCG-620M 620W ATX12V
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Just a couple of questions concerning your build: First, have you run memTest86 on your memory modules to ensure that you have no faulty memory addresses in the modules themselves? Second, are there any firmware updates available for your Mushkin SSD?

Try loading Windows with only 4 gigs of ram. Run memtest86+ on the 4 gigs as pcstudent suggested above before loading windows. If you get even one error, check each stick until you find the bad guy and rma it.

Nasty

Thanks guys. OK, i removed one 4GB memory module and ram memtest86 on the one remaining - it passed with no errors. Funny though, when I removed one ram module, it would allow the install of Win7 instead of stalling at the splash screen. So I installed to the SSD. Once installed, looking at device manager, the onboard ethernet controller, PCI Simple Communicatiosn Controller, SM BUS controller, 2 USB controlers and 1 unkown device were not recognized. I used the mobo cd to install the ethernet drivers with no probs and device manager showed the ethernet controller as OK, so I was able to connect to the net. when I ran windows update it would download the updates, but on the reboot freeze and shut down windows again at the startup. when I reboot I get " Windows error recovery - recent hardware or software changes might be the cause", but the windows troubleshooter can't identify / repair them. so I reboot and the new install of windows seems to be there, but then it locks up at the splashscreen and the computer shuts down - again. I have tried numerous combinations now. removed the Gigabyte Radeon vid card and used the onboard video only. Tried by removing the SSD and installing the OS only to the HD. The only periferals attached would be my samsung lcd, and standard keyboard and mouse, which the OS seemed to acknowledge ok. I think it is suspicious that when I first can install win7, that device manager cannot configure / recognize the onboard ethernet etc. I think this mobo is defective. Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Right after you install windows, install the motherboard chipset drivers!

Nasty

Just follow Nasty's advice, your motherboard is much newer than Windows 7, as such, much of the hardware will require additional drivers to work correctly / fully, including your onboard ethernet.

What mode do you have the SSD and HDD in AHCI or Legacy IDE? I would also put the optical drive on something other then the SATA III ports.

OK, thanks for all your suggestions guys. I have tried them all including getting a new replacement motherboard (same model - ASUS P8Z68-V Pro/Gen3) via RMA. And the problem still remains, so it appears to be something else besides the mobo. This has been so damn frustating! Have probably spent 20hrs troubleshooting so far. Here's what I have done, all to no avail:
- replaced Antec 620 power supply with the one on my current PC (Seasonic).
- installed all drivers including getting the most current chipset drivers from Intel's website.
- Ran Memtest86+ (version 4.20). Pass - No errors identified.
- Left only one DIMM module in and alternated, trying the other one. Tried using 2 different DIMM slots with each stick, one at a time.
- Tried to install the OS using the 64 bit Win7 OEM disk from my previous build.
- Created a bootable USB stick and copied my new Win7 DVD to it and booted from the USB stick.
- removed all unnecessary hardware and tried to install Win7 from both OEM DVD and USB to the SSD, then subbed in the HDD.
- Installed the SSD on my existing computer and it was operative. Reformatted it using NTFS (not quick format).
- Tried using just the onboard video (disabled the Gigabyte Radeon HD6850).
- unhooked all chassis fans.
- unhooked front audio panel connector (AAFP).
- unhooked USB3 onboard connector
- reset CMOS.
- Updated BIOS using ASUS EZ Flash utility from version 3202 to 3304.
- tried using different SATA 3.0 connections for SSD/HDD and DVD Rom.
- tried SSD & HDD in the Intel Z68 SATA 6 connectors.
- Performed MemOK test using feature built into motherboard (memory passed).
So far I have suceeded in installing Win7 to my SSD, but when I reboot, it is hit and miss as to whether it allows the OS to fully boot to the desktop or (more often) hang at the Windows 7 splash screen (the 4 color flag). When I do make it to the Win7 desktop, and use Windows Update to download only critical updates (all just security related) I can successfully download them, but on the reboot to install, the computer will always fail on the reboot to install the updates (again stall, at the Win7 splash screen, and then reboot).
I now have an RMA to return my CPU (Intel Core i5 2500K). Once I get the new one, I will give it a go, I am not confident that it is the CPU, as I hear the defect rates are so small.

Before you send the CPU in I would try installing win 7 to a mechanical hard drive and not the SSD. I think it is the SSD and not the CPU that is causing your issue.

Have you updated the firmware on the SSD to the latest version? Some SSDs have this problem with win 7 until the drives firmware is updated.

Is the RAM on the QVL list in the motherboard manual?

If the above suggestions don't work....go to basics. Take the motherboard out of the pc and place it on an insulated surface with the video card, hard drive and optical drive installed. Hook up all the power connectors including the power button, boot the machine and try loading windows. If it loads and runs fine you had a short to the case somewhere in the installation when you assembled the machine.

Nasty

If you just copied the DVD to a bootable USB stick, that may not work, but Microsoft has a free utility to setup a USB installation. http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/mss ... vd_dwnTool
Although the instructions talk about purchasing a Windows 7 ISO from the Microsoft Store, you just need to make your own ISO from your original DVD using Nero or similar. I used this utility to install Windows 7 Home Premium on my mom's new PC, as well as both of the Windows 8 installations I've done.