Windows 7 - problem installing geforce 8800gt

Hi
Hopefully this is the right place to post this message. I've been struggling to install my graphics card on 64 bit Windows 7 Ultimate edition. Here's my spec:

Asus P5Q-VM motherboard G45
600W bequiet! PSU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU
4GB RAM
160gb hard drive
DVD writer
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT

Here's what I've tried:
Formatted the hard drive, fresh installation of 64bit Windows 7 without the graphics card connected, performed all updates and then connected the graphics card. Upon booting the resolution is low, the system auto detects the hardware and installs the drivers for the PCI express chipset and the graphics card. Everything seems fine at this point..
But when I reboot Windows never finishes loading!
So I used system repair to revert back to a previous configuration (before installation of the drivers), and rebooted in safe mode, downloaded the drivers from the nvidia website (197.45) and installed them, rebooted in normal mode and the same thing happens, windows fails to finish loading. It reaches the screen with the windows logo on the black background, but doesn't get to the login screen.

Just to note - I've also tried this with a second card - NVIDIA geforce 9600gt, exactly the same thing happens. So I don't think the cards are at fault.

Any help with this would be massively appreciated, thanks in advance!

Gib

Why are you installing Windows without the graphics card installed? Never mind "how" you're installing Windows without a graphics card. If you're using your 9800 just to install Windows, again, why, since you're just going to swap it out anyway?

See p. 2-27 of the downloadable manual for your motherboard (e3807_p5q-vm.pdf, the English version). In the BIOS setup, is the Advanced tab, North Bridge Configuration, Initiate Graphics Adapter setting.

It looks like the default BIOS setting is to boot from the PCI-E graphics card first. If you've somehow changed that setting, it could explain your problem.

I have the 8800GT running on Win 7 Ultimate (64) in a Asus P5K Deluxe Box with no issues. Must be something in your startup settings or Bios. I don't think it is a Windows 7 issue.

thanks all for your comments, very kind of you to offer help!

Fumz: Sorry if I wasn't clear, installing windows with the the graphics card connected results in the system hanging after the first reboot during the installation. So I just used onboard graphics to install the OS hoping I could install the card later on. I only mentioned the 9600GT because I borrowed it to test if my 8800GT was broken. But the same results suggest it is not.

bobkn: I checked the BIOS and the graphics order looks to be correct, it's loading from the PCI-e slot.

So I've restored the BIOS to default settings anyway, but the behaviour is the same. If the card works in safe mode and has VGA output, but only finishes loading windows when the drivers aren't yet installed, what could be the cause of this?

Is this an actual nVidia Geoforce 8800GT or is it one made by a partner, i.e. XFX, MSI etc? If it is a partner made card you may have to get the drivers from the partner's website.

This is a strange issue. If you can, try disabling the onboard graphics entirely, and install with your graphics card properly installed (Graphics Card - Install New Card).

~Lordbob

If it works in safe mode, I would normally expect a driver issue.

However, you say that your BIOS settings are correct. You can begin, but not complete, a clean Windows 7 installation with the graphics card in place. That sounds more like a hardware issue.

All that I can suggest is a memory test (Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool). If your 4GB of RAM is in the form of two identical 2GB sticks, a simple compatibility issue would be less likely.

go through your BIOS and triple check everything. make sure to disable the onboard graphics and make sure PCI-e is set to 16x.

on reboot if you check your BIOS again and settings have changed, you may need to swap out the battery on your mobo.

Thanks for the comments.
I formatted the hard drive again and gave it another shot, following the advice with BIOS settings and such, but I'm getting the same problem. I'm going to try to find a different motherboard and rebuild on that. I'll let you know what happens!