Computer Won't Boot w/ replaced Motherboard

Hello,
Recently, I was given an old computer by a friend who was going to trash it. I've always wanted to try to build my own and thought that this is the perfect opportunity. I don't know a whole lot about computers, but thought I would give it a shot. Anyway, I had a motherboard and processor from a previous computer that I owned that crashed and I was told, in short, that "everything was bad and I had to replace everything from the motherboard, cpu, hard drive, all the way down to the memory! (Somehow, after agreeing to replace everything, I think I was taken!). I have since installed the HD and memory in other computers, and they work fine (the reason I somehow feel shafted!). I figured this was the opportunity to check out the MB and CPU.
Long story short, I installed everything in the case, hooked everything up (correctly, I think), and it powers up, but I get nothing on the moniter.... no system check, no BIOS info, not even any power to the cd-rom drive or floppy. (I get no beeps, although the speaker wire in the case looks burned and probably doesn't work). Baffled, I figured it was the MB, so I bought another one on Ebay (supposedly working), and to my amazement, I get the same response as the old MB....NOTHING! I have read some other threads on here and tried things like clearing the CMOS (by jumper, and by disconnecting the battery). I don't know what else to do.
Could it be the CPU? Does anyone have any other ideas? I followed the manual that came with the new MB and seemed to have done everything correctly, although I am about as computer illiterate as they come (just thought I would try something new!!). Any thoughts? I know you guys are pretty good on here and have helped me in the past! Thanks!

 

I think it is the CPU. Just borrowed one from my neighbor, installed it, and now it is at least trying to boot up. I guess I should have checked that before I went and bought a new MB.

 

Computer boots now, but gets stuck at "searching for boot record..." Don't quite no what else to do at this point....

 

I think you were a bit hasty there.