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#51
Another powered off a computer that was always on for months. It would not repower. That proved (using wild speculation) that power cycling is destructive. Then I took it. A pullup resistor had one function. To bootstrap the power supply controller during power on. Sometime over many months, that resistor failed. It was scorched. But I did not notice until test equipment found it faster.
That resistor failed due to a manufacturing defect - the most common reason for electronics failure. Power cycling only created a symptoms - it would not power on maybe one month after that resistor failed. A classic example of how wild speculation jumps to conclusions rather than first learn how electronics really work.
Most failures (even years later) are due to manufacturing defects. We all learned about electronics failing because some company counterfeited electrolyte. That manufacturing defect only became obvious in all electronics many years later. So many, instead, blamed fictional surges. And bought a UPS or surge protector. They could not first learn facts provided by the fewer who actually do this stuff.
OP's problem is addressed productively and immediately had he used recommendations that provide numbers. It required minutes of labor. Apparently fear and myths from others means that defect remains for days - when it could have been resolved in minutes.
Why would that part smoke? Only observed after the shop did shotguning - and did not use a meter. A burning smell only existed after it went to a shop - that also made bogus claims about short circuits. Just another reason why informed tech do not shotgun.
Had the meter been used, then reasons for the failure could also be discussed. Shotgunning means one must cast blame using wild speculation such as power cycling, surges, voltage variations, heat, ... maybe even an earthquake. Why not? Wild speculation can take liberties. Great nations are founded in liberty.