I disconnected the drive (pulled out IDE cable too) and gave it a steady shake. Nothing comes loose. No smoke smell even if I leave it on for a while. If the magic smoke was released, it didn't leave behind any discolorations anywhere.

I removed all the jumpers and applied them one-by-one and never got the red LED to come on or any lights on the display.

On my working EMPEG, I notice that if I don't have the 3v jumper, the red LED never comes on regardless of the others. Once the 3V is connected and power applied, the red LED comes on (on the good unit). On the same unit, if I connect either of the blue 5V jumpers, the blue "sleep mode" light goes on in the display.

But nothing like that happens on the dead unit. I can measure 12V when I measure between the round power input and ground. Or when measuring between the light grey metal rectangular component physically touching the 4-pin power connector from the sled (and immediately next to the black cube component). Either of those components measures 12.2V.

Any ideas?