If you are referring to the PRAM reset procedure, I've tried that a couple times.
I've also tried booting without the battery, with no change in behavior.
The person from whom I bought it said that he was using a 3rd party AC adapter, which shorted out at some point. The computer, he said, would not turn on after that.
Do you think the DC-in board could cause symptoms like this if it were damaged by a short?
Thank you,
c