Why is this code not working?
You need to set the ports to output first, before you can use them.

To do that you use the DDRx (Data Direction) registers.  Your code should look like:

//22-29PORTA (0x01-0x80)
//30-37PORTC (0x80-0x01)
//38-45PORTD (0x80-0x01)

void setup(){
    // Set the pins all to output
    DDRA = 0xFF;
    DDRC = 0xFF;
    DDRD = 0xFF;

    PORTA =  B0000000; //29---&gt;22
    PORTC =  B0000000; //37---&gt;30
    PORTD =  B0000000; //45---&gt;38
}

void loop(){
    PORTA =  B1000100;
    PORTC =  B0101000;
    PORTD =  B0000010;
    delay(1000);

    PORTA =  B1010000;
    PORTC =  B0001010;
    PORTD =  B0100000;
    delay(1000);

    PORTA =  B0010100;
    PORTC =  B0100010;
    PORTD =  B0001000;
    delay(1000);             
}


You can read more about direct port manipulation here.