Startup issue - blue screen freeze before login - Safe Boot works fine?

I've not seen this before and I can't fix, wonder if anyone has any new suggestions, here is what I've tried so far... (safe boot works fine)
1. Verbose and Single user login
2. removing the startup folder from disk library
3. Zapping PRAM
4. Reset SMC
5. Zeroed disk and reinstalled system
6. Target disk and disk repair (No Problems Found)
7. Permissions repair (No Problems Found
8. Apple Hardware Test (No Problems Found)
9. System DVD Startup - Disk Utility (No Problems Found)
10. Network Startup - Disk Utility (No Problems Found)
In every case unless I hold the shift key down for safe boot, the mac will freeze on a blue screen when the grey screen disappears, and never proceed to login. Thought about replacing the disk but it's a lot of bother on these machines and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it??
Any ideas?
Can anyone think of a possible fix not listed above?

Hello chip
The only thing I see missing from your list is, have you disconnected all External HD's, iPods and other storage devices befor Starting up? Sometimes when the iMac has multiple storage devices connected the Startup Manager will get lost.
Also try going to: Startup Manager in System Preferences, select the Macintosh HD and restart the iMac..
Dennis

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