Adding 2nd SSD caused restart loop!

I built a PC last year with the following specs:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3

Chip: Intel Core i7-2600k

Power Supply: Corsair AX750 Gold

Memory: 2 Cosair Vengeance 4GB sticks

Video Card: EVGA GTX580

SSD: Corsair Force GT 180GB (This is my primary drive)

External HDD: WD MyBook 1TB

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium



It has run perfectly since day one, never a single hiccup. Until today when I attempted to install a second SSD, a Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB.



First, I unplugged and removed a small case fan that I had wedged inside the optical drive bay. I left that unplugged 'end' tucked away in the case for future use.



Plugged the Neutron into the power cable also running to my Force GT and my DVD drive. Connected the Neutron into the motherboard via one of the SATA3 jacks. (The two SATA6 jacks are being used by the Force GT and the DVD drive)



I booted up fine without the system seeming to notice the Neutron as it wasn't available in My Computer. Went in to Add Hardware and found it, all the space was unallocated. I went into its properties and set it up with a drive letter (X and the MBR setting. I then shut the system down to fix some wire management and move the case back under my desk.



Turned everything back on and the problems began. It seems to hang at random points during the Windows startup and then freeze for about a minute or two before restarting itself. Sometimes it makes it to the logon screen but then freezes with no mouse or keyboard input. Once it froze on the Windows Starting screen with some strange pixelation in the graphic.



I was able to boot into safe mode once and set the PC to do a Disk Check on the next start up. Now every time I boot, I get to the 'Check Disk, push any key in 10 seconds if you would like to skip' screen. It starts the countdown and freezes during it before restarting.

Using F8 and going into Advanced Boot Options works, but if I choose 'Repair computer' I am unable to use mouse or keyboard once it gets to the recovery options screen. The system freezes and then reboots.

I would appreciate any assistance! Let me know if I can provide any more information! =)



Update: I was finally able to get back into Safe Mode and changed my new SSD to a different drive letter after reading that X: is used by part of the Windows boot infrastructure. I can now usually get to the Windows logon screen but that is where the system is now freezing with no use of mouse or keyboard. Same for when I try to get into the 'Repair Computer' part of Advanced Boot Options. I also booted the computer into safe mode and performed a System Restore to the day before installing the hard drive, it still freezes and reboots at the Windows logon screen.

 

A little trouble shooting is in order.

You need to isolate the problem.
I suggest start by reverting to your previous configuration and checking if you still have the problem.

IF is is gone, then I would suggest power problems with the added SSD - in which case a PSU upgrade will be in order.

IF your problem persists, remove all peripheries and boot with just the basics - mouse, keyboard, one hdd/ssd, maybe one optical drive nothing else, disconnect everything else.

IF your problem persists at this stage, you can either isolate to software or hardware, you can try for software, by replacing your existing SSD, with your OS with the new one with nothing and install a fresh OS (make sure to format first - that should take care of any malware issues).
If you can install, boot and run fine, then you have a software issue, if you can't, then some hardware my be failing or has been knocked while fiddling inside your PC.

Reconnect everything, reseat your RAM and all your cards. Make sure your CPU fan is plugged in and working, you shouldn't have to reseat your CPU if you didn't mess with it.
Check your PSU fan as well and all other cooling fans in your system.