i checked the power supply...its working fine...
didnt try chucking the reset ckt...
oscillator is working fine
ISP conditions met...(PSEN pulled to GND,Vpp=5V,ALE=NC)
RS232 link is good.. i tried shorting rx n tx, n characters do echo back.
I just got a brand new IC (the second since the first failed for unknown reasons)... so lost boot vector is less probable.