New win7 system hangs at "starting windows" screen

[gielamonster]

Howdy everyone. I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me diagnose a problem with a system I just put together:

System Details
===========
Motherboard - Foxconn A79A-S
Motherboard BIOS - reflashed to latest version (782F1P09)
CPU - Athlon II X2 250
CPU Overclock Speed - stock 3.0GHz
CPU Heatsink - OEM HSF
CPU Idle Temp - 30-40 C
CPU Load Temp - 50-60 C
Memory - 4x 1GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 dual ch. - 1066MHz (OCZ2N10662GK)
Memory Voltage - 1.9, 2.0, 2.1 (tried a few values)
Video Card - Sapphire Radeon HD 4550 (updated driver)
Video Card Speed - stock
Sound Card - onboard
PSU - NSpire 550P4DL-XEON
Hard Drive(s) - Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 32MBcache 7200rpm
Operating System - Win 7 x64 Ultimate

Ok, now for the problem. I assembled this system and loaded the OS without a hitch. The system ran great for about a month or two. Used primarily as an HTPC, so streaming video. Also did some photoshop stuff on big pictures, it was running great. So after that honeymoon, occasionally the system would "auto-reset". Frustrating, but it wasn't bad at first. Eventually it would hang during boot up at the "starting windows" screen. It would POST and show HDD activity, then the HDD light would go out and the system just sits indefinitely at that screen (before the win logo shows up, just the text). I was able to get it to boot once or twice after and found if I shut down into sleep mode it would wake back up without issue. But eventually it reset itself and would not boot again. I tried inserting my win7 install DVD and doing a repair/recovery. It hangs in exactly the same manner during one of the progress bar screens. I googled it a bit and found it could potentially be a memory issue. I tried pulling 2 of the 4 1GB sticks I had installed and it fired right up! Ran fine for a while until exactly the same symptoms came up. I have been unable to get it to boot for about 2 weeks now.

I have been through the BIOS setup screens. I've tried auto settings for the memory, as well as manual settings to 5-5-5-18 per the OCZ website. I've opened a ticket with OCZ, potentially for an RMA. I thought I'd post here in case anyone had some ideas on what to try. Thanks!

 

[gielamonster]

Swapped in some old DDR2 sticks from another system, it booted up on the first try. Its definitely the memory, or memory settings. Any tips? Hopefully OCZ will warranty it.

 

[gielamonster]

Also, I was reporting my passively cooled GFX card temperatures. The CPU temp is only in the 30C range.

 

[gielamonster]

The symptoms returned on that second batch of memory. What could be causing it to get worse over time? It seems really strange that it would boot reliably with the new memory, only for the symptoms to return shortly after.

 

[Athadeus]

You should really try using memory testing software such as memtest86+. If you get any errors with all the sticks, then try 2 tests each with 2 sticks, and if one or both of those tests produces errors, test the individual sticks. Post the results of those tests and someone can offer more advice.