Any help appreciated.
Computer : Packard Bell 1559 Intel Pent D 820.  Windows XP.
Arrived home tonight to be informed by my son that when using the PC he could smell a faint 'burning plastic' smell which was followed by a loud pop.  The PC shut down and will now not switch on. Of course it is only just out of warranty!
Not sur if you can help with this limited information but as a starter for ten is it more likely to be the power supply or the processor.  When switch on at the mains the monitor works but the tower unit does not respond at all.  Is there a fuse inside the tower unit?
Thought I'd ask before my untrained hand opens the side panel.
Hope you can help.

Gary
The loud pop makes me think, power supply.  I had a SIMILAR event last year, though the smell was the more acrid smell of burning electronics.

Let us see what others here, think.Use Your untrained hands to open the side panel & shine a torch inside
The motherboard will be readily apparent and any blackening or components that appear to have exploded open would indicate the board if you see nothing amiss there
It would be in the power supply and you may not be able to see it as readily without removing it and or giving it a sniff test to see where the burn is consentrated.On a side note, you may have BLOWN the fuse in the plug top as well. So if you buy a new PSU you may need to replace the fuse.try smelling it. it should smell wrong.

Check each componant, such as the PSU and the motherboard, but also the CPU.

but from the pop, i would suggest to check the PSU first.

But i think the most useful information here is that your computer has officially and literarly fried. Check each of the capacitors on the motherboard. ...they are the ones with the cross etched on top of them......when they pop, the cross on the top splits wide open and a poof of gas is EMITTED causing the odor......I currently have nine ready to spawn........the motherboard has to be replaced or a person with knowledge can replace the blown cap if that's the problem. Same issue occurred with my wifes's PC...two blown caps. Quote from: iamyourmom on March 31, 2009, 08:10:13 AM

try smelling it. it should smell wrong.

Check each component, such as the PSU and the motherboard, but also the CPU.

but from the pop, i would suggest to check the PSU first.

But i think the most useful information here is that your computer has officially and literally fried.