Burning power regulators and smoke is usually not software related. A PIC can usually drive or sink 25 mA and that is not enough to create that kind of events.

So to make it easier for us to try to help you please post a schematic so we can see what you are up to and figure out where the amps go.

DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!! it is hard, very hard in the beginning but there is light in the end of the tunnel. All those cryptic names are just names for different registers in the PIC. Usually PBP takes care of them but sometimes you need some manual fixing to get it right. There is no easy way to learn PIC and PBP that I know of, but this forum is worth both gold and diamonds.

What kind of powersupply did you hook up the poor innocent 3V regulator to? 24V??

So a simple drawing with partnumbers and some lines going here and there and I am sure many people will join in trying to help.

/me