Finally got it working. Thanks efc & rik for all your assistance; efc you may be right about the incompatibility as I dont think both sticks of RAM would be bad. I dont know how/why crucial.com would recommend the memory for my machine? Here's the steps I took:
1) remove both laptop & RTC battery for several hours
2) put factory RAM in primary slot (mine is under the keyboard)
3) powered on using only AC Adapter (leave the battery off to the side & when I connected the AC power the laptop turned on without me pushing the power button)

efc, let us know what happens when you get your RAM. Thanks again everyone.