Bitcoin client wont sync

[halix2000]

I just reinstalled my PC. I have been using bitcoin since november 2010, and I can usually figure this stuff out for myself. I use armory, and I downloaded that first and imported my wallet. Then I downloaded the bitcoin client ver 0.8.1 64 bit, and it started up and said it was syncing. after an hour it hadn't downloaded a single block. I closed the client and reopened it, and even though I connect to the network with 8 active connections it won't start syncing again. doesn't even try. I uninstalled, deleted the bitcoin folder from %appdata%, rebooted, reinstalled... nothing. I'm at a loss as to what the problem is, It was working perfectly fine before I reinstalled, and Windows firewall is disabled, so I doubt it's a connection issue. Anyone have any ideas? Note: the client has been open for three hours as I write this and hasn't began the sync process.

edit: i have tried -addnode as well.

edit2: .05BTC reward to the person who helps me solve this. I know I should be patient. just thought I'd put it out ther.

[1715155540]

1715155540

[BTime]

I'm sort of in the same boat.
Have you tried the 32-bit version?
I don't remember seeing a 64-bit version.
I can sync, but it stops, and I had to exit and launch again.
I started from scratch.  It loaded 23000 blocks and stopped.
It is running again and hasn't stopped, for very long, again yet.
This all started because it would not sync the last 1300+ blocks.