have you tried gently moving the power cable where it enters the Laptop to see if it makes any connection at all.or maybe change the fuse on the plug.

Sorry estuary I only have a limited knowledge of Laptops when trying to repair my Grandaughters,So will have to leave it for someone else to give you the advice that you need.

Try the first fix again and this time when you are holding the start switch on hold on to a radiator at the same time.And when starting without the battery hold the radiator at the same time again.

I know it sounds silly but it worked for me when the first try did not work.

All it does is help remove any static in the Laptop,Worth another try I suppose.

If there is no sign of power and in your own words "completely dead" (ie. no lights,no sound of fans running etc)and you have tried all of buteman's suggestions then it does sound like a hardware failure. Have you checked to see if it is still within Warranty?

CMOS battery should be Ok if only 2 years old.It was not loosing any time or date changes before it went down.

Just wondering if it was completely dead whether the laptop would still work or not.