🚀 go-pugleaf

I think I deserve this punishment.
Back in June, my family bought a Gateway2000 486sx25.  It is a fine computer.
Then in September I bought a very similar computer from Standard (only 
because I did not want the huge Gateway case in my dorm room-- and Gateway
did not yet offer the baby case for their 486 line).
I never compared the computers side by side, but the Gateway just FEELS
faster and better built (mostly attributed to the Western Digital hard drive
which is much faster than the Maxtor in my Standard).
So all Winter I was saying how much faster (and cheaper) the Gateway is.
Then, the last day before I left to come back to school, it died.

What is happening is that when it is turned on, the three indicator lights
flash on, and then everything turns off.  No fan spinning; no hard drive.
Gateway Tech Support said they cannot send an On-Site technician to my home
because they do not do "troubleshooting."  I will first have to find the
problem, and they will send me a replacement part.  Only if it is a big job
will they send someone to do the work.

Okay, now to the point...
What could be the problem ?
At first I thought it could be the power supply, but I doubt it since the
lights do come on for a brief moment.
Gateway Tech support said it could be an expansion card shorting out the
motherboard (I have three:  the Gateway modem, ATI Ultra, and I/O card).
I really hope the modem is the problem, because that is the easiest fix.
I was also told that the "riser" board holding the expansion cards could be
the problem, or it might be the motherboard itself.
What other possibilities might there be ?  How would I go about finding the
problem (other than removing expansion cards one at a time) ?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Please EMail responses to PV9955@albnyvms.bitnet

Thank you,
Peter Volpe