Rog Strix Z790E won't start windows, just dotted circle until it locks up

[maddhatter]

Initially, system worked great for 18 months until 1 day locked up while using windows.  Rebooted with hard shutdown, now won't load windows.

Card is Z790E, bios was an older version.  Running Win 11 home. i7-13700 CPU, MSI 850 PSU, 2 32gb Dimm in A2, B2.  Using liquid CPU cooler (Lian Li).

Changes:  Changed mother board to new identical z790E ($400), still same issue.  Updated bios to version 2503, same issue.  Have unplugged all additional SATA drives and tried only using SSD (Win OS) drive, same issue.  Tried swapping the 2 Trident mem sticks around, and tried only a single mem stick in A2 and still same issue.  Ran memtest, memory checked out 100% OK.

What I haven't tried:  changing CPU, power supply, or new dimm sticks.

I can get into bios and move around just fine, problem is leaving bios and trying to boot windows.  Circle going around about 1 to 1 1/2 circles and then freezing up.  I have also tried booting to a windows install USB flash drive, system will exit bios, then say ....loading files, then I get a purple, or black screen, or simply just freeze up again.

Suggestions before I sink a ton into this box....?

Any help will be most appreciated.
Todd

[AndeCSUK]

This is weird because something happened to me that is similar yesterday and I've tried everything. I went out and shut down my pc. It started up fine at like 11am I shut down at like 5:40pm and came back at around 6:30pm turned on my pc and it will not get past the second ROG screen. I can load into BIOS and it'll load fine into windows if I then exit it. (This is where we differ) I have tried EVERYTHING, I was on the lastest bios version, so I went down a version, I put in a new cmos battery, reseated everything, cleared cmos, I reinstalled windows, reinstalled windows to another drive and nothing works!

If I restart windows it'll load fine every time. If I do it from a shutdown then I have to load into bios and then do it. Sometimes my lights on my mobo don't light up. You know the error lights and then I get no video output. But then I hard power down and do it again and it'll work. I can find nothing that is totally similar you're just the closest. Please if you find anything that resolved it can you let me know. 

[maddhatter]

I even tried buying another windows 11 home package, installed a new SSD drive for the OS and the install fails.  I have pretty much replaced everything except power supply, DIMM modules, and CPU.  I also tried disabling secure key, or secure boot and TPM set to disable.  Nothing works, still get locked up on ROG screen with spinning circle of dots, then freezes.  It also will not let me do F3 to go to safe mode on new SSD drive.  It will let me hit F3 on boot to install USB drive, then I select F8, then I can go to safe mode, but then it won't run repair, won't finish install, nothing works....

[maddhatter]

$75 reward to the person who gives me the answer that gets me up and running...just trying to motivate someone to assist.

Thanks.

[maddhatter]

Ok folks.  As for my problem, here was the answer.....A new CPU!  In the past 26 years, I don't think I have ever had a CPU go bad. This was crazy. I replaced everything piece by piece.  Motherboard, dimm modules, updated bios, power supply, monitor, new SSD drive and new load of windows 11 home (new license), and then finally, the CPU.  My Intel i7 13,700 went bad while I was using the computer and froze my screen, never to return.....  So, if you have the spinning circle of dots that freeze on the second ROG screen with these boards, try swapping the CPU.  Good luck all.