air conditioner has quit working

thanks for all the input y'all...i am a cut flower farmer AND a basket maker and we are having to down size and sell our farm thanks to the soft economy so i won't be able to get back to this immediately (and yes that likely was my earlier post..things don't happen quickly here when you have so many irons in the fire) but i willprint out the USEFUL answers and to those who took the time to ALMOST read my post may i say my apologies for my trying to input as much info as possible......i know how hard it is to help someone trouble shoot something that isn't there with you..it's SO nice to have JUST as MUCH info as possible....and yes my writing style is a bit scattered.....i get it....sooooo....in the interest of being MOST helpful to you ..let me say this....putting on-off switch into on position doesn't make machine work. please help kind sirs. :)
as soon as i have the time to try some of this and eliminate things i will report back but it won't be today
oh and sorry for my snippiness just now but i'm a bit overwhelmed atm. ik sux to be me np i can do this
thanks again to ALL i find this forum to be invaluable asset and pass along the good will and intent as often as i am able.