Inspiron 1100 Hardware stepping failure

I just replaced a bad board with a 5W610 motherboard in my stepson's Inspiron 1100, and while I had it apart I replaced the 2.0 Celeron with a 2.6 P4 Desktop processor. Now the machine will boot to the Dell screen and shows the Intel p4 logo and indicates Bios rev A27, but as soon as the initial loading bar completes the screen goes black and I get the ominious message: "Hardware stepping failure. Strike the F1 key to shutdown."
A Dell tech suggested by email that it is the hard drive, and I tried to access the PSA menu using his instructions in the email, but it did not work. I got the P4 logo and bios revision #, and again as soon as that loading bar completes I get the hardware stepping error. I also replaced the hard drive with a fully functioning hard drive from another notebook, and received the exact same error message. I also replaced the 2.6 ghz P4 desktop with a 2.4 ghz P4 desktop processor in case it happened to be a core stepping issue. I received the exact same error message.
I replaced the original Celeron and received the same hardware stepping error, also pulled the hard drive, on boot the computer recognized the drive was missing and then gave the hardware stepping error.
Now Dell is telling me through chat that since I did the work myself they won't help me, and that I have to pay for phone support through the out of warranty dept.
When I press F2 to enter setup, it says 'preparing to enter setup' then after the loading bar finishes I get the error. So far I haven't been able to boot it from a cd. The processors have all been well-seated and locked into place. The initial screen showed the P4 logo when they were installed, and the 'Intel inside' logo for the Celeron. The irony in all this is that two used P4 processors, a new HD, a motherboard, and some extra RAM later, I'm into this computer for over what I could have bought a fully functioning used one for. At least my stepson is getting some hands on laptop deconstruction lessons.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
John

 

I am interested to find out what the problem is...did you fix this yet? The Intel Pentium 4's have a LOT of different type of revisions to them. I know my gf's Inspiron 1100 has a Pentium 4, but it could be Dell exclusive or some other sSpec Number. For example, a common Pentium 4 2.4 GHz sSpec is SL6RZ. This processor has a core stepping of C1. You might want to check this website and search for what your core steppings are. http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL6RZ#

The Mobile versions of the Pentium 4 are called Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processors - M. THey have steppings similar to the Mobile Celeons: E0, D1, D0, C0. The 2.4Ghz has a C1, or D1, depending on the bus speed.

The 2.2Ghz and 2.4Ghz Celeron's are either C1 or D1 stepping at 400 MHz bus speed. There are LOTS of different 2.6Ghz and 2.4Ghz steppings, so I'd recommend sticking to trying to fix the problem with the original Celeron inside the machine.