About the only thing you can do is reset the SMC, which should have been done when you reseated the RAM, so at this point I'd have to say it sounds like you've got a bum MLB. I highly doubt it will help, but you can try testing each RAM module in the different slots individually, and even trying to boot without the HDD installed. I doubt it will help, but who knows, you may get lucky.
Otherwise... Repair costs are probably going to be right along the edge of the repair/replace line, assuming there's no liquid damage or anything you're neglecting to mention (which will be found by any repair shop), so I'd take it somewhere to get a quote for repairing it and then make a decision whether you want to continue on with what you have or use it as an excuse to upgrade.
I press the start button, chime is heard but stays at the light gray screen with a every- second dull chime sound. I tried zapping the pram, which is the only keyboard prompt that works, reformatted the hard drive (which is healthy) & re-seated the ram. <span id="INSERTION_MARKER"> <span id="INSERTION_MARKER">
Please let me know what else can be done on my own & what you think may be the problem.
Thanks in advance for any help.

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