[crossposted:sci.electronics.repair,sci.electronics .design ;
followups-to:sci.electronics.repair

I went to Fry's to get a new motherboard, and installed it and it
didn't work. I didn't have a clue, so I took the whole schmear down
to a computer repair place, and for $45.00, he diagnosed it - I had
apparently shorted out the new motherboard when I installed it in the
old case, because one of the brass threaded studs was in the wrong
place. I asked the tech, should I take it back to Fry's and not
tell them that I blew it up? He says, "Of course. Take the whole
thing - don't disassemble it (MB, CPU, and 512 MB.) just play
the guy who don't know nothing: 'I assembled this just like the
instructions, and it doesn't work. Can you make it go?'" So, I
paid the guy for the diagnosis (actually, they only accepted cash,
and I didn't have exact change, so the guy let me get out for $40
and I owe him five) and went back up to Fry's, and customer service
checked it out on the spot - they have a test stand right there that
you can walk up to. I was looking over this tech's shoulder, as
she plugged in a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power supply, and
it came up and the BIOS announced the RAM and that there were no
drives plugged in, and there was no boot device, please press F1
to continue.

I'm gonna go back to that repair place who charged me $40.00 to
tell me that the motherboard was hosed and it was my fault, and
see what kind of deal I can strike, pardon the language.

Anyway, I figured out at Fry's that there's another connection I
have to make, which I neglected the first time I put the board
in the case, and the MB won't run without it, but the old case's
power supply didn't have that connector, so I ass-u-me-d that I
could get away without it. Please don't tell anyone I was so
f**king stupid, thanks.

Anyways, I take out the old PS, trundle back on up to Fry's, and
by this time, I've found the shortcut through the foothills, which
is way more scenic and shady than the freeway, and actually I think
I made better time - I go to get a PS, and they've got a 450 Watt
unit already mounted in a case, for $34.99 plus tax. I got one of
the droids, and asked, "See this power supply?" "Yes." "Can I get
this power supply without the case?" "Yes, but it's more expensive."

In other words, the cheapest PS they had on its own cost more than
one already mounted in a brand-new case.

So now, I have essentially a new computer for less than $200.00.

But here's the rub:

I've seen motherboards get screwed into cases on studs, which I have
in the old case. The new case doesn't have studs, but it's got a bag
of really nifty little pieces of hardware, amongst which are at least
four little plastic standoffs, obviously intended to mount the MB on.

So, finally, to the question: If it were up to you, would you take the
brass studs out of the old case and screw them into the new case, or
would you use the plastic standoffs? My major worry, of course, is
grounding the MB to the case.

The plastic ones will probably be easier, but if anybody is adamant
about using the brass studs, I'd be happy to read it here.

Thanks!
Rich