Hello jakkusto,

You have more of less discribed the exact same problem I have.
I just build a new computer, also with gaming in mind. Specs can be read below:

Windows Vista Home Premium home edition SP1
Core 2 Duo Intel processor E8400 (LGA775)
Asus P5Q mobo
7900GT 256 Mb graphics card (single)
2 Gb DDR2 pc2-8500 Ram - Kit (2 one gig sticks)
WD 250 GB HDD
500W PSU
CD/DVD burner/player

The ram and gfx-card is components I've gotten from a friend for usage till I get the things I really ordered.
Anyway...
I build the computer, installed Vista and handfull of preformancedemanding games. (Crysis etc.)
I did some gaming (some hours) and when I went to sleep, I wanted the computer to stay on so it could download some torrents while I slept. Therefor, I put the computer in the state, where it's neither on nor off (can't remember the English word for it).. But I soon realized that all the fancy blue LEDs from my gaming chase would drive me insane, so I just pressed the powerbutton 5 secs till it turned off.
Next day, I wanted to stream some southpark from the internet while I woke up, but during that, my computer suddenly froze and my speakers began to make a lot of nasty noise.
I thought it sounded really unhealthy so I rebooted it right away, only to see it freeze a few secs after vista start up.
I then did ALOT of different things, including formating my hard drive and reinstalling vista 3 or 4 times.
Nothing seemed to work, except when I asked my PC to boot in safe mode.

I have no alternative components with which I can test if that should be the problem, so I'm kind if out of ideas at the moment.

I have three theories, knowing that I have an absolute minimum of experience on this area.

1. The gfx-card does somehow not like my mobo

2. One of the cores in my CPU has become defect. This would make sense since my computer freezes right after vista starts (vista uses both the cores in my CPU - the bios etc. does not.)

3. My mobo is bugged, since its a fairly new product on the marked and you've got the same as I have.

All inputs are more than welcome, and especially if you solve the problem yourself jakkusto.

And finally I want to apologize for my limited English.

Thanks.


(EDIT)
It's not the DRIVERS since the mobo is very new.
I also experienced it freeze trying to install drivers, but I've also succeeded installing them.
Its seems like there is no patton to the freezing, but its always within 5 mins of start up (usally right after start up)

/bump

I've read a lot of people with similar problems, blaming Vista. Dunno if Vista somehow might be the problem. Somehow its very hard to tell whats wrong. How is it booting in safemode but would not reinstall windows? Was it able to go reach the desktop in safe mode? Try another optical drive in booting windows vista re installation .
Well remove the dvdrom rom and swap it. Flashing the bios on that board worked for me, its not freezing up on me anymore...if that works for you, let me know if it also seems to disable the cd/dvd drive, because mines not being detected by windows anymore now. I've got that listed on my own thread (same subject name), so you can see what else i did if flashing bios doesn't seem to work...but I'm pretty sure thats what fixed my freezing issue

*edit*
I should have mentioned before, my computer was very stable in safe mode as well, and it never froze once when i reinstalled xp and ran some HD utility programs off of a floppy...that WHOLE process took well over 2 hours and it didn't freeze once when doing that. And yes, I know comparing xp and vista is like apples and oranges, but it seems like we're having very similar problems with very similar hardwareHey EVERYBODY. Thanks for the responses!
I've been working on my issue all day without real luck.

My system runs perfectly in safemode - no freezing.

I would like to flash my bios to see of I should be as lucky as jakkusto, but I feel uneasy doing so without a little guidance. I know that the bios is a very essential part of a PC, and must therefore be treated with a certain level of respect... I imaging just downloading the newest version of the bios FITTING my mobo from asus.com and installing it, but I really want some advise in chase you have to keep something in mind. Flashing the BIOS has created many doorstops out there and i would'nt recommend it until you have exhausted all other possibilities...

A few things to do in the meantime:

Test the RAM
DLoad and run MemTest...let it run at least 2 hours.
Any errors at all and you have a bad stick of RAM

Test the hard drive:
DLoad and run the diagnostics from your drive manuf. site.
They run outside of Windows from a bootable CD and are more extensive tests that chkdsk.
Any errors and you have a bad hard drive.

Test the video card:
Borrow another vid card and install it with it's drivers
Remember to un-install your existing video drivers.
If the condition goes away then the card is the culprit.

P.S. You say you have had problems installing drivers....did you remember to re-install your MBoard drivers after formatting ? ?