MacBook Pro Stuck In Sleep Mode - Won't Boot

LAPTOP

2008 17" aluminum Macbook Pro running Snow Leopard

SCENARIO

I was using my laptop, closed the lid and took it to the office. Removed it from the laptop bag and it would not come out of sleep mode using mouse / keys. I hit the power button once (this has happened before and hitting the power button once has woken it from sleep mode). This did not help. I held down the power button for a hard reboot. The laptop shut off. Now I can't get it to turn back on.

ISSUE

When I hit the power button to turn it on:

The SIL blinks twice slowly like it's in Computer Sleep state and then the laptop turns off.

When I hold the power button to turn it on:

The SIL blinks slowly once like it's in sleep mode, then stays solid and dim for 4 seconds, then blinks very fast for 2 seconds, then goes dark for a second, then blinks slowly once more like it's in sleep mode, then the laptop turns off.

In both instances, I can hear the dvd drive begin to spin immediately after hitting the power button. Also, when I put my ear to the laptop, I can hear the hard drive start up before the laptop shuts off.

TROUBLESHOOTING

I've tried the following. All resulted in no change.

- Reset PRAM / NVRAM

- Reset SMC

- Checked RAM was installed correctly, wasn't jiggled loose for some reason

- Boot laptop with power cable, no battery

- Boot laptop with battery, no power cable

- Boot laptop with power cable and battery

- The above 3 boot scenarios with PRAM / NVRAM reset and SMC reset

RESOURCES

Intel-based Mac: Startup sequence and error codes, symbols

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2674

Mac computers: Sleep Indicator Light behavior

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4167

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

About NVRAM and PRAM

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

I just purchased my second fresh battery for this machine and cannot afford an entirely new laptop right now. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance. 🙂