Can someone please clarify the following statement? "The short circuit is likely from the motherboard mountings. Make sure all mounting point surrounding areas are not touching the case from surface mounted components. This sort of problem normally comes from "bad" design or "cheap" case. OEM cases (like Dell, Compaq) have special mounting point design to facilatate mass assembly (continuous production line), often one must mod the case before using aftermarket boards." Please, I want to know if when mounting the MB to the case, are you supposed to put isolation fiber washers between the case and the brass mounting screws that raise the board from the case? In the past I have bought Mother Boards that include these red fiber washers sometimes and sometimes they are not included. What is the rule for attaching MB to the case? Thanks for your help.

The rule is to not let parts of the mobo touch where the mounting studs are. If you notice, the mounting holes on the mobo have somewhat largs silver pads around them. These pads are part of the ground. Sometimes when people attach their mobo to the case, a screw with a wide head could touch a component on the board (hence the afore mentioned poor design), causing a short to ground. While the washers are not necessary, they could be used to prevent the shorts that could happen. Hope this helps

Yeah just place the bracket mounts where ever you see the silver mounting holes on the motherboard and you will be fine. One time I seen someone put the mount brackets on every insert hole on the motherboard and then asked why is my motherboard shorting out? Well Gee maybe placing all of your bracks on all of your motherboard insert holes where you didn't need them because there was no silver holes on your motherboard where you placed them could have gave you a clue. If that guy would have taken the time out to read his case and his motherboard manual then he wouldn't have had those problems.

What they mean ist that a normal ATX board has either 6 or nine holes in it depending on the size of it. You need one of those brass mounting screws for every hole in the board and exactly at the place of the hole. In the backplate of some cases might be additional holes for differnt types of boards and some OEM manufacturers may use different places that the standard ones to make it difficult to install boards from other manufactures or to make upgrades impossible from the start. If you place those brass holders in one of these holes they will not fit with the holes in the board but will touch something important on the underside of the board instead. That may cause a shortage which can fry the board! Usually those brass mounts come with the case and not the board so if you find some inside the board they are additionally put in by the board manufacturer. The problem is those doesn't have to fit into the backplate of the case because the thread there maybe of a different sort!

Washer above and below every mounting holes on the motherboard, that's the standard rule. or else you will face no post and hang issue over time (when the power supply/motherboard ages). If you have no washers available, just use the electrical insulation tape instead. same purpose.