compaq n610c no power

[tahmi]

Pc will not turn on with ac adapter power brick.
I checked voltage of the power brick (correct 18.5V) at the male jack.
I've got the motherboard out & checked the connections of the female jack on the m'board. they are tight & i get continuity through it with my dc meter. I also have found continuity from the center pin on the motherboard power jack--to the power button (which works-- on beep, off no beep)
I am not an electronics guy, but am just trying to see is I'm getting power to the board at all.
I plugged in the power supply brick & did not get any voltage past the jack.
Could this be a bad jack? Or is there some other component that is keeping the computer from turning on? ( no fan--nothing)
Does the battery have to be in place and charging? The battery is dead--is there another way to charge it & see if it will run on batt.?
Thanks for any help