MSI Z68A-GD80 Freezes up @ 'Starting Windows' screen.

[Piknik1012]

MSI Z68A-GD80 (oc genie off, with corsair h60 cpu cooler, around 46 degrees celcius, as it reads in the bios. reset the cmos many times, tried a different cmos battery, also flashed to the newest BIOS version. )
8GB DDR3 g.Skill turbulence 2200mhz RAM (tried with 1 stick in DIMM 1 slot @1333 @1.6v, ect)
GTX480 x 2 (tried with and without a video card, tried on board via dvi, same result)
i7 2600k default values across the board
OCZ MX 1250W PSU
Tried with no HDD even, when installing windows, would get to the Starting Windows screen and freeze, or give me a BSOD: IRQL IS NOT LESS OR EQUAL TO
But I have also tried with hard drives, 120gb revodrive, 64gb ssd from corsair, and 640gb 6gb/s from western digital.

Everything I have tested on a different system working, including the processor. Am I missing something? The RAM might not be compatible? I unfortulately do not have another stick to test on the mobo.

Edit: Also, tried with both 32 bit and 64 bit w7 disks.

 

[HU16E]

Our mainboards can react different even with exact components, this is not a blanket endorsement for a specific brand or model, but I have had '0' issue with the Corsair GT models or the GTX model on B2, B3, & now a Z68. Drawback is they are 'far' from inexpensive. They did initially set to correct default RAM speed at Intel's published native supported specifications as well. Only the GT 4GB sticks set differently, but no bootup issue was encountered. The 4GB sticks had 1066 chips, as the others were all 1333 chipped.

 

[JeremyP]

This is probably not your issue at all, but seeing as you've exhausted almost every other avenue aside from different RAM I don't think it could hurt to try.

I had a similar situation, but only AFTER installing windows and changing the SATA mode in BIOS (Advanced>Integrated Peripherals>SATA Mode). It would BSOD right at the "Starting Windows" logo. Like I said, wouldn't hurt to try changing between the options here.

 

[Piknik1012]

RMAing the board. Tried a set of OCZ from my dad, ddr3 1600 obsidian series. Same. Exact. Problem. Sigh. I had my expectations set on at least seeing windows once, but so such luck. Thanks guys, going to try maximus IV probably, already went through a gigabyte ud-7 and it burned out after three weeks. Having really terrible luck with generation of 1155 boards. 

 

[MarkedOne]

Have you try with a fresh formatted drive ?

If I was you I will take the WD 640 put it on another build and delete the partions and reformat  ntfs
When you install Windows on an old drive , it will look at the existing OS on it ,to  know if you can upgrade,  if the install detect an install who was made on ACHI ( a ssd as example) and your BIOS is set to IDE, I wonder if it will not create the problem you have as the install thing you are on ACHI when you are not.

 

[Piknik1012]

Have you try with a fresh formatted drive ?

If I was you I will take the WD 640 put it on another build and delete the partions and reformat  ntfs
When you install Windows on an old drive , it will look at the existing OS on it ,to  know if you can upgrade,  if the install detect an install who was made on ACHI ( a ssd as example) and your BIOS is set to IDE, I wonder if it will not create the problem you have as the install thing you are on ACHI when you are not.

I tried it with no hard drive at all. Booted from disk, and before the installation got to the point where it needed a hard drive, it froze up on the 'Starting Windows' screen after loading windows setup files.