[dark_shard]

First off, some background on my computer. I built it from new components a few years ago and it's worked fine until the other night. I have a medium to high tech level when it comes to computers and I've been able to figure most problems out, but this one is definitely the most severe I've encountered. The other day I was on my computer and the USB optical mouse stopped working. I unplugged it and plugged it back in a few times and it started working again. Pretty soon the mouse stopped working again so I unplugged it and plugged it back in and the computer turned itself off. I figured it was just a hardware error and the computer would restart, but I tried to turn it back on and the LEDs and fans and everything turned on, but the monitor wasn't displaying anything. So I unplugged the computer thinking that I would look inside the case to try and find out what was wrong. When i unplugged the computer something blew in the power supply (I have a clear sided case) and smoke came up. I figured that the power supply had been the problem all along, so I ordered a new power supply. I got the new PSU today and put it in and hooked everything up. Now the computer turns on and sounds like it's starting up but the monitor won't display anything. Then when i hold down the power button to turn the computer off the hard drive sounds like it turns off but the LEDs start to flash even after the power button it released. I have to turn off the power supply in order to get the computer to turn all the way off. So far I've ruled out the video card, hard drive, powersupply (it's brand new and the same model as the old one that worked for three years), all the PCI cards, and the CD/DVD drives. I'm pretty sure it's either the wiring in the case that's bad or, what I'm leaning more towards, that something happened to the motherboard. Anyone have any idea based on the symptoms of what this could be? Thanks..

 

[manic]

Strip it down to the harddrive,ram,video card, see what happens. Take the
ram completly out, see if you hear beeps, if not that is not a good sign.
Ive had more then one mobo get fried when a psu popped. Try reseating
cpu, sometimes that will wake um up, but it is not sounding good for you.

 

[dark_shard]

Well I took out the RAM first because it was something I should have looked at last night but I was too stressed about my computer dying to think of it. No beeps. No POST with RAM in. Meaning the MOBO is pretty much dead. If my MOBO is fried, is it possible that my USB mouse might still be getting power? It just seems like a few things are still working on it. Either way, it's not going to be TOO bad to replace.

 

[manic]

I dont know what you mean. By getting power do you mean it stays lit?
If so it is possible. Ive seen that before. Chances are the other hard
ware is ok, just zapped a cap or resistor somewhere on the board.