1st build keeps freezing up

[colincolincolin]

This is my first build and everything seemed fine until the freezing started. Thus, I'm not sure if I have a compatibility issue between the parts or if it's a software issue or if it's something else entirely. By freezing I mean no input at all requiring a reboot with the power switch. It boots and installs the OS fine except Vista totally freezes up all the time at apparently random intervals. Sometimes it will freeze up within seconds of (or sometime minutes or even hours after) startup, other times while running a program (or none at all), it even freezes occasionally during shutdown.

Here are the guts:

CPU: AMD|A64 X2 6000 3.0G AM2 2x1M R
MEM: 1Gx4|Kingston DII800 KVR800D2K2/2GR
VGA: ASUS EN8600GT SILENT/HTDP/512M (running 2)
CASE: ANTEC|P180 SIL RT
MB: ASUS M2N32-SLI DLX WIFI AM2
OS: WIN VISTA 32BT Home Premium
HD: 250G|ST 7K 16M SATA2 ST3250410AS Seagate (running 2 in striped RAID)
PSU: OCZ|OCZ600SXS 600W RT
OD: DVD_BURN LITE-ON|LH-20A1H-185

Here is what I've done so far to troubleshoot:

Temp- I've checked the CPU and GPU temperatures, to include maxing them with the stress-test utility included with the VGA and they were always around 30-50C; this had no effect on freeze one way or another. I've tried it with all three case fans on high and all three off and it still freezes.

VGA- I have two identical VGAs linked so I tried it with just one and then the other and it still freezes. I thought it might be the VGA drivers but it froze before I even installed the drivers AND I had the VGA disabled in the device manager. It also froze when the most recent drivers from the ASUS website were installed.

Memory- I have 4x 1 gig sticks and I've tried it with multiple combinations of just the min of 2 gigs and it still locks up. I've run memtest on all four sticks with no problems.

Hard Drive- I had 2x running in striped RAID so I took one out and installed Vista it without RAID and then tried it without RAID with the other and it still froze both times.

Drivers- I originally thought it was the drivers that came with the parts so I installed Vista from scratch and downloaded all the latest drivers (Audio, MB chipset, VGA, BIOS) for the components from the makers' websites and it still freezes. I thought maybe I had a virus or so I downloaded the drivers to disk from another computer, reformatted the drives, reinstalled Vista, installed the drivers from disk and did NOT connect it to the internet and it still froze. It froze before I patched Vista online and after.

I don't have a spare PSU so I haven't swapped that out yet.

I also don't have a spare MB so I haven't swapped that out.

Here's the kicker: The ONLY time it has yet to ever freeze up is while Vista is running in SAFE MODE. Regardless of the configuration it NEVER freezes in safe mode. This makes me think it's still a driver or compatibility issue.

Please help if you are able. With the amount of time I've spent troubleshooting this beast I could have taken a second job to earn money to buy all new parts... I've learned a lot so far but it's starting to get ridiculous... Thanks.

[shadowpr]

Have you tried running seatools on the hard drives yet?

[flanzig1]

Would check to see if there is a BIOS up-date that may be affected by your particular set of parts.

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 Would check to see if there is a BIOS up-date that may be affected by your particular set of parts.

I totaly agree.
It also could be a defective Motherboard. Did you call Asus? I had the same problem with a much cheaper M2N-SE where it never froze in safe mode yet no matter what I did it froze in regular boot. I would call Asus and ask them what they think. They told me to RMA mine.

[colincolincolin]

Thanks.

I checked the hard drives with Seatools and they look OK. I also updated the BIOS to the most recent version (released just a week or two ago). Amazingly, it no longer freezes... BUT... now whenever I install a patch from Windows Update it won't boot and I get the BSOD. I have to run the Windows repair from the installation disk and revert to the last best configuration. Every time.
Could this still be caused by a bad MB?

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by colincolincolin Thanks. I checked the hard drives with Seatools and they look OK. I also updated the BIOS to the most recent version (released just a week or two ago). Amazingly, it no longer freezes... BUT... now whenever I install a patch from Windows Update it won't boot and I get the BSOD. I have to run the Windows repair from the installation disk and revert to the last best configuration. Every time. Could this still be caused by a bad MB?

I doubt it, looks like the board issue was taken care of with the bios upgrade. It sounds to me like your OS might be corrupt.
You might want to consider backing up your stuff and re-installing windows. Is your windows XP a full version or an upgrade? Do you have the COA and Install CD?