Hi, I just picked up this Compaq Presario 2200. I was told they think the motherboard is dead. So when I turn it on, the power lights go on, the DVD-Rom makes the normal clicking noise, fan whines up, HDD spins, and that's it. No beeps, nothing at all on the screen - it just, stays on and does nothing. The HDD does not click like it is booting either, it just spins. I took out the RAM, battery, HDD, Wireless card, plug in AC adapter, and plugged in my monitor - hit the power button, and same thing. The external monitor did regognize the laptop powering up because the external screen when from "NO SIGNAL" to blank. All this leads me to believe that it is indeed the motherboard OR the CPU. Based on what I am telling you, is there a way to know for sure which one it would be? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

replace the cpu with another that works. That's really the simplest way to find out.