please help! electrical alarm prob, no start!

hi there,
one month ago i got in my 1996 vw golf and turned the key. i heard a popping noise in the dash, like a fuse blowing and then (the engine never even turned) everything started flashing as if in time to the alarm, the interior lights, dashboard, lights, etc... a tick ticking noise was coming from under the dash. tried to push start, no luck. tried to jump start and when cables were connected from other vehicle, alarm went off!!

we searched for the ticking noise and found the alarm ecm or alarm control module. took it out, opened it up and found part of circuit board blown... thought we had found the problem. first tried to solder the circuit board but didn't work. ordered part (3 different ones) from online junkyards and still, when part is plugged in, the ticking starts again and no engine turn over.

its definitely an electrical problem. please someone give me some troubleshooting advice and ideas to try. there is no way i can afford a mechanic to look at an electrical problem right now, i know they'll charge so much and i want to save for vacation and i got a crappy bonus at work... plus, why can't somehow fix it myself???
please help
breccia

You can bypass it by disconnecting it and jumpering the #5 & #6 pins of the 6 pin harness connector for the starter to function.