Spark and Fuel, but no start!!!!!

ok, well this is kind of a strange problem, i think.
4.3l v6
122k miles
5 spd
1997 sonoma
The other day my CEL light came on, and autozone told me that is was a random cylinder missfire. So i keep driving for 3 or 4 days.
Yesterday my truck died on me while i was driving.
Towed it home and this is what i've found out so far in order of what i've done...
-Battery is two week old optima, and good
-I can hear the fuel pump when i turn key on
-It has spark (Bright blue colored)
-Replaced cap and rotor (took it off and it was very dirty)
-tried to test igntion coil? got 2 readings out of 3 tests and those 2 tests indicated it was in spec
-I spray starter fluid into the intake manifold and crank, but it won't start, not even a cough.
So i'm kinda lost and need to fix it asap so i can stop missing school!
Could the truck somehow not know when to fire the sparks at the correct time?
Cus it had spark with my tester, and spraying starter fluid in it should get it to start, even if its just for a moment. I'm positive the cylinders did not loss compression instantly. So all i can think of is that the ingnition timeing is off somehow?
If anybody has any help I would greatly appreciate it.
John

Welcome to AF, spark to the plugs I assume, if so you should be able to get a pop with starting fluid.

I agree with you, there SHOULD be a pop. But there is nothing. so i interpret that as a timeing issue. I dont think its a timeing chain that broke, but rather a timeing issue with the distributor area. Its just a hunch on my part. Then again my hunch told me that replacing the cap and rotor would be the fix. Anyone else have any clues?

Plugs wet?, holds fuel pressure when key is shut off?

do you mean are the plugs wet from fuel after cranking and cranking? How about cranking the engine while spraying starter fluid directly into the throttle body (i've taken off the air intake stuff, and exposed the throttle body, can open the throttle body with hand and watch)

as for holding fuel pressure after the key is removed from ignition, how do I check that? can i just removed a fuel line that is going right into the intake manifold?
Thanks

Also, is there any way I can pull the CEL code without using a scan tool, like the kind autozone has ?
I have a laptop, how can i use my laptop to find the code?
I used my laptop on a 1990 audi once and with the correct software my friend was able to hook it up that way. I would imagine this 1997 sonoma would be able to something similar.
And do you think there might be some sort of timeing issue?