All electrical went black on engine start

[prefict]

I have a 1998 GMC Sierra XLT, I drove it yesterday with no problems. I've had no indication of problems untill today.
I went to start the truck and everything was normal, all dash lights and fuel pump running, I turned the key to start and everything when black. Every system on the truck was dead. I opened the hood and the battery was making a soft buzzing sound. I disconnected the negative terminal and cleaned both. I then reattached it and the hood light came back on, so I tried to start the engine again, same thing, everything died and the buzzing started again. I took out each fuse and tried the battery again and it sparked every time. What could have shorted out to cause this?

[planedude]

check your battery cables to see if they are coroded. Also check your starter conection. But it sounds like the positive lead in between the two.

[blabhern]

Even a new battery can die like that. They just short out internally. How old is the battery? Take it to Autozone and have it checked out.

[prefict]

It was the battery, 2 cells had shorted out.
The battery was only about 2 years old, had it installed by the dealership after the old one went dead over a weekend of no driving.
So I just assumed the battery was newer and ok.
The garage had already came and towed away the truck, I even had a spare battery in the basement. I could have saved the towing.
Any how I'm glad it was simple and not electrical system short.
Thanks for your help.

Also: charging a shorted battery ruins a battery charger
Mine just started smoking after about 1 minute, thats why I thought there was a short in the truck wiring, never thought to blame the battery.