Computer is dark and completely unresponsive...

[danann]

Monitor went blank.

Nothing responds, including the power button.  CD doors won't open.  When I attempted to reboot by pulling the plug and restarting it, the router light indicating the computers connected goes out as soon as the power goes on to the PC. 

Any thoughts?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[ChrisXPPro]

More info might help.

What if anything preceeded this?  How long computer in use.  What OS version? (SP2, SP3).  Recent changes?

Right now sounds like a near total failure of PSU.  Normally CD drawer would open as soon as power comes on - plus of course a power LED.

[danann]

Ok...

The situation occurred while a game program was on - Bridge Baron, which has a fairly minimal graphics and sound requirement.  Computer had seemed a bit slower of late, but no other oddities that I noticed.

Computer has been in use fairly constantly since purchase in November 2002.  Operating system is Windows XP, not sure what service pack.  I have been doing the recommended updates from Microsoft and had installed the latest update in the morning.  No other recent changes.

Not sure what a PSU is...power source unit?

Thanks much for your help.

[ChrisXPPro]

Sorry yes - "Power Supply Unit".

If no major warning signs then does seem possible the PSU has a major problem.  6 years is quite a time for a machine too.

If you have had updates then probably SP2 is on at least and anyways - sounds like that may not matter too much even if a very recent update added.

If the puter/PSU runs as an ATX (the sort that powers down after system shutdown) then that too may be behind the problem - either due to PSU not responding to the power button push - assuming that in itself is fault-free.

So - subject to other's comments I still feel the PSU is your failure causing the problem, unless I forgot something else.  I am trying to remember if PSU units have any fuze that could blow - right now I think not from what I have used over the years.