Help with a d9t before i go spending money.

Before i start let me thank anyone who helps me, ive worked on computers now for a long time, but ive always stayed on desktops, laptops are not my area, and especially not something like a clevo.

the deal is i was given free of charge a alienware laptop which i cant identify because all the stickers are gone off it, but i do know the mobo is a cleveo d900t, i wanted to run its symptoms by you guys as im closeing into a diagnostic dead end (my current theroy is the mobo is trashed and needs replacing but i want to besure cause it costs so much)

when i go to boot it up, it turns on, no video, no fans, just kinda lights up, flashes a few times on the keybord buttons (caps, scroll, num lock) then powers down. if i hold the laptop on an angle (liek vertical on its side) it will do as above, but the fans start to spin and it acts as if its trying to boot, but after a few seconds just powers down.

its worth mentioning that when it tries to power up the front display does turn on, and it is keeping time, the front display will also power up if i turn it on and play music perfectly.

so far i have swapped ram locations (to ensure that i wasnt useing a bad ram port) a external monitor (not realy effecting booting) tried it with diffrent HD's took bat out, back in, held power the normal diagnosis. im comign closer and closer to the dreadful fact the mobo is shot. i found one i can buy refurbished for 200, and i really ATM dont have a budget for the 500 buck price tag of a new board, in fact the 200 at this current time is scrapping (what with bills) but before i dump any money into it i thought id ask you guys who knew about the system before i do anything.

any ideas?, and again thanks.