It only booted up(as in the monitor displayed some sort of video, couldnt tell what it was because the CRT was down on the table), so chris, seems like you're right about the interface being screwed up.

I've tried the original hd again, the hd from my powermac, another spare, and no hd, and it never powered on.

Does the eMac use the same kind of ZIF processor as a quicksilver?