Not so XaPpy anymore

If you're getting nothing, the power supply would be the likely culprit.

Silly thought, but is there power at the socket where you are plugged in?

Same thing happened to me back when. Turns out the dog had stepped on the on / off toggle switch to the power strip-surge protector.

It's a safe bet it's Microsoft trying to get you off XP. :B

bwanshoom wrote:
It's a safe bet it's Microsoft trying to get you off XP. :B

They still have a laptop to kill!

I plugged into a separate outlet - no go.

The only reason I suspected the hard drive is that I had just learned to use Audacity to record music cassettes and parse them into 'CD audio' files. For several hours I really worled the computer HD hard.

It was a good run for that PC. This laptop is flimsier, and may not go so long.

Could be a bad capacitor. Not uncommon for HPs (and other brands) to develop "bulging capacitors".

You could also try, since it is quick & easy:
1. Remove Battery (for a laptop) and unplug the power cord (laptop and desktop)
2. Press and hold Power Button for 30 seconds
3. Plug only the power cord to the computer
4. Try turning on the computer

I had an old HP laptop that needed the battery removed for a couple of hours, then it would start up normally again.

Go figure.