Is my Mobo borked?

Intel BOXDX58SO2 LGA 1366 x58 DDR3
i7 960
Corsair XMS3 Tri Channel 6GB PC10666 DDR3 Memory - 1333MHz
Radeon 6970
Corsair 750W TX
Windows 64-bit Home Premium
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I put my computer together last night.

First boot up, I went into the BIOS and ensured everything was showing up as installed and ensure DVD was shown as boot drive

Proceeded to install Windows 7. All seemed to go well during the process, and I received a Windows installed successfully notification (the system restarted successfully at least twice during the install process)

Removed the Windows install disk from DVD drive and rebooted the computer with intention of going back into the BIOS and making the HDD the boot drive, but upon restart all I got was a cursor in my upper left corner then the screen goes blank. The internal fans and all lights on motherboard continue to operate

Put Windows install disk back into DVD drive thinking maybe it requires a boot disk. This works, but I am too slow with hitting the key to get into the BIOS and I am booted all the way into Windows. I allow Windows to load properly and then exit using the Windows shutdown key.

I repeat the above reboot sequence twice - once trying to get into the BIOS by constantly pushing the DEL key and once by using the INTEL "back to BIOS" button. The DEL key did not do the trick and I loaded into Windows; The "back to BIOS" button leaves me at a blank screen.

Now I cannot get past the single dash then blank screen scenario. I've tried install disk in and install disk out. The graphics card is talking to the monitor because I go from no signal onscreen message to a current resolution message (feature of the TV I'm using as monitor) and then the single dash in the upper left corner before the screen goes completely black.

any suggestions?