Booting with no RAM

I'm hoping someone can help me.

After getting some blue screens I decided to check my RAM using my Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic CD.  On the 7th Pass errors were detected.  I proceeded to test each stick individually. I removed one stick of RAM and ran the test again.  During the test the laptop turned off and now will not turn on again.  I have tried with each RAM stick individually and with them together.

When I power on the the laptop, the power light & the 3 keyboard indicator lights turn on for about 4 seconds and that is all, the laptop just never turns on.

I will replace the RAM, but I'm curious if this sounds like what would happen if a working laptop trying powering on with no RAM installed?  Is it possible for RAM sticks with errors to just die like they appear to have on me?

Further info: Inspiron 8200 laptop, 2x 128MB DDR 266MHz RAM.

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers,

Chris.