PC won't boot after adding SSD

[Currymcflurry35]

I have an issue regarding what I think is my power supply. So I've been using my PC fine for over a year now with no issues, but I recently got my hands on a SSD (Intel 535 series 240gb) and wanted to add it to my build as my primary drive and use my 1tb HDD as a slave. However, as soon as I connected the SSD the PC wouldn't boot. The lights turn on, the fans start, but the red CPU_LED light is on on the motherboard and it wont enter POST. I tired every possible configuration of cables to check if those were faulty on my power supply and those were fine. Even taking out my HDD completely didn't solve the problem. I did find out though that if I disconnect the 6-pin connector from my GPU (xfx radeon r9 280x which has an 8(6+2)-pin and 6-pin input connection), the system boots fine with everything connected, however I have to resort to on-board graphics which obviously I don't want. As soon as the SSD is disconnected, everything runs fine again. My PSU has a 750w output (EVGA supernova NEX750G) so I can't believe that is the issue but everything points in that direction. Please help. Also sorry for bad formatting, this is my first post. Thank you for any help.


Full System Specs:


CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor

Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

Storage: Intel 535 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply

Monitor: Asus VN247H-P 23.6" Monitor

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the SATA connection is fine. I know this because the PC has actually booted two times with the SSD connected. I was able to install the OS and even play CSGO while overclocked for about an hour with no issues. But when I turned of my PC and then tried again the next day, no boot 🙁

 

[ArtPog]

1. As things now stand do I understand that setting the SSD aside the system boots & functions problem-free when the HDD that presumably contains the OS is the ONLY drive connected in the system? That no problems exist with the system as long as the SSD is not connected?

2. But at one point you were able to install the OS (what OS?) on the SSD? A fresh install? And you could boot to that SSD and it functioned properly for a short time but subsequently it would not boot?

3. And if the SSD is connected as a secondary drive (don't call it a "slave") in the system and you boot to the HDD, the system will not function?

The problem seems to point to the SSD, doesn't it? Possibly a defective disk. Have you checked it out with Intel's SSD Toolbox? See https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/18455/Intel-Solid-State-Drive-Toolbox

 

[Currymcflurry35]

1. As things now stand do I understand that setting the SSD aside the system boots & functions problem-free when the HDD that presumably contains the OS is the ONLY drive connected in the system? That no problems exist with the system as long as the SSD is not connected?

2. But at one point you were able to install the OS (what OS?) on the SSD? A fresh install? And you could boot to that SSD and it functioned properly for a short time but subsequently it would not boot?

3. And if the SSD is connected as a secondary drive (don't call it a "slave") in the system and you boot to the HDD, the system will not function?

The problem seems to point to the SSD, doesn't it? Possibly a defective disk. Have you checked it out with Intel's SSD Toolbox? See https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/18455/Intel-Solid-State-Drive-Toolbox

1. Yes, without the SSD connected, the PC boots fine.

2. It is a clone of the HDD on the SSD with windows 10, and yes, the PC booted succesfully on two occasions with the SSD. The first time I cloned the HDD to the SSD, and the second time I booted with the SSD and used the computer for about an hour with no problems.

3. I can't boot with the HDD while the SSD is connected because the PC fails to even enter BIOS. It just powers on and the fans start, but nothing after that and the screen remains blank.

It is a brand new SSD and I tried it on a friend's PC and it worked fine, but for some reason will not work for me. Because unplugging of one of the GPU power cables works, I am lead to believe it might be the PSU shorting for some reason upon booting. Is this a possibility?

 

[ArtPog]

First of all it's hard to imagine you're dealing with a defective PSU and furthermore I can't imagine uninstalling a GPU's power cable is of any relevance here. But I never say "never" when dealing with PC problems so who knows?

Since you have a viable OS on your HDD, consider one of two options (or maybe both depending upon results)...
1. Re:clone the HDD to the SSD. Perhaps the problem involved a defective (at least erratic) disk-cloning operation. Following the disk-cloning operation temporarily uninstall the HDD so that the SSD is the sole drive installed and boot to the SSD.
and/or...
2. Fresh-install the OS onto the SSD. (I can't recall if you ever mentioned what OS?). See if that resolves the problem of the SSD properly booting/functioning.
3. Ensure that the SSD is connected to the motherboard's first SATA port (connector) designated either SATA 0 or SATA 1 when it's serving as the boot drive.

And definitely check out the health of the Intel SSD regardless that it functioned properly in another PC (as well as sometimes your PC).

 

[Currymcflurry35]

First of all it's hard to imagine you're dealing with a defective PSU and furthermore I can't imagine uninstalling a GPU's power cable is of any relevance here. But I never say "never" when dealing with PC problems so who knows?

Since you have a viable OS on your HDD, consider one of two options (or maybe both depending upon results)...
1. Re:clone the HDD to the SSD. Perhaps the problem involved a defective (at least erratic) disk-cloning operation. Following the disk-cloning operation temporarily uninstall the HDD so that the SSD is the sole drive installed and boot to the SSD.
and/or...
2. Fresh-install the OS onto the SSD. (I can't recall if you ever mentioned what OS?). See if that resolves the problem of the SSD properly booting/functioning.
3. Ensure that the SSD is connected to the motherboard's first SATA port (connector) designated either SATA 0 or SATA 1 when it's serving as the boot drive.

And definitely check out the health of the Intel SSD regardless that it functioned properly in another PC (as well as sometimes your PC).

I would try this, but the problem is that I can't re-install the OS (which is windows 10 by the way, from a clone of the HDD) because when the SSD is plugged in, the PC wont boot. Unless I can perform a clone without the power connected to the SSD which I don't think is possible. I have contacted Intel about the possibility of it being a faulty drive and am working with them currently on the issue as well.