.05btc bounty!!!

So, do you think this is the case even for four? {290x} I'm downloaded Ubuntu now...

I'm having a problem keeping 1 stable with win7, nonetheless four or six.

I have:
Four Sapphire r9 290x cards
GA 990FXA-UD5 [mobo]
AMD FX 4130 4-core 3.8GHz
12GB RAM
1500w Enermax
Four 16 x 16 pci extenders [not powered]
(optical, WD 350gb hdd, Windows 7)

pics of my rig here: https://imgur.com/a/uKm87

Also, this is my first rig and may be missing something obvious to others.
All drivers are installed plus win 7
In the bios, I didn't really do anything. It was already set to boot pcie 1
Not sure what else to do in bios.

When trying just one card:
- I have to try multiple slots multiple times.
- Each time, either windows is scrambled, gets frozen at startup, looks 8-bit and distorted, or no signal, no beep
- when it gets going and looks perfect (1 out of 20 starts), it eventually crashes
- When i try other slots (like the x16 ones), it doesn't even beep once, or does the 1 long, 3 short beeps (gpu code).
- Once I got windows up with 2 cards, but one had an error 43
- I've tried to download the updated catalyst, but as it's installing, when the screen goes black a few times, it eventually never comes back.
- Tried uninstalling the drivers and restarting and installing, but trying to start windows without this driver and using this card is damn near impossible. Did it once though.
- Sometimes windows is going, but the monitor stops and says no signal, but the pc sounds no diff than a second ago...like it's still running win7
- If I try to start with two cards in any slot combo, i get the 1 long, 3 short beeps

.05btc bounty to the one that get's me up and running.

If you don't see it listed above, assume I haven't done it..even if basic

Thanks!!