Hello,

I've been spending two almost sleepless nights doing this but I can't even get to step 1.

(My other rig with 2x 280X are running perfectly on Win7.)

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MSI Z87-G45 (latest BIOS 1.6)

Intel G3420
2x 4GB Corsair Vengeance

4x Asus R9 290
3x Gigabyte R9 290

ONLY 1X connected to 1st PCIE 16 slot.

Windows 8.1
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Step 1: Install from USB, Windows 8.1 Pro
Step 2: RunAsAdmin installs of all the mainboard drivers, RESTART
Step 3: RunAsAdmin install of 13.12 Catalyst, RESTART
Step 4: RunAsAdmin install of AMD APP SDK 2.9, RESTART.
Step 5: Run cgminer bat with:
-- cgminer.exe --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://stratum01.hashco.ws:8888 -u xxx -p xxx -I 13 2>testBat02.txt --temp-cutoff 92 --temp-target 85

Hardware errors everywhere.

And if I tried:
-- cgminer.exe --scrypt -o stratum+tcp://stratum01.hashco.ws:8888 -u xxx -p x -I 13 2>testBat.txt --vectors 1 --worksize 256 --lookup-gap 2 --thread-concurrency 32768 --gpu-engine 850 --gpu-fan 40-100 --gpu-memclock 1550 --gpu-powertune 20 --temp-cutoff 92 --temp-target 85 --gpu-threads 1

, it reports "Maximum buffer memory device 0 supports says 536870912 [2013-03-18 03:32:29] Your scrypt reports BLAH BLAH BLAH" and goes ape**** crazy and BSODs.

AT THIS POINT: I will reformat the drive and reinstall and start all over again, to make sure that no old drivers or registry entries are conflicting.

Tried switching drivers:
- 13.12
- 13.11-Bv9.5
- 13.1
... same results.

Tried switching cards... same results.
Tried switching BRANDS... same results.

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Other threads that could bring in more clues:
- newbielink:https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369043.0 [nonactive]
- newbielink:https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=296581 [nonactive]
( I can't post there I don't know why? New member.)

Please help me..

Oh, and Happy New Year! I'm staying in and fixing this damned mess.. :-/

PS:
Also, can someone please confirm with me if:
1) R9 290 do NOT work with drivers below 13.11
2) Win 8.1 can only do 5 max GPUs

PPS:
I need to use CGWatcher and Teamviewer so I need Windows.