Hello.

I have a Packard Bell imedia 1538, and it's been fine for about 18 months. LAST week it just decided to not turn on.. It just stayed making its little warming up noise and nothing came up on the monitor. I turned it off at the mains for a day and next time I turned it on it was fine. It did it again today, and (on closer inspection...) I noticed that above the power switch a little light was flashing, a little picture shaped like a cylinder.
Does anyone happen to KNOW what that light means or what the problem is?
Any help is much appreciated - my coursework depends on it! Hehe.

Thanks!First off, the next time the computer WORKS back up all your work. It'll safe you alot of trouble if the computer decides to die on you.That little light shaped like a cylinder with the flashing light is showing hard drive activity....

Nothing abnormal there.

The power issue could indicate a FAILING PSU.

To test this without buying one borrow a known working one for a day or so and swap it into your machine.
Make sure it is of the same or greater wattage than what you have currently.Okay, I'll give it a go, thanks Your Power supply could be overheating. Check the power supply fan if its working. You might as well check your videocard fan. If the fans are working, try replacing your power supply. Before you this, you must TROUBLESHOOT your memory and videocard as well. malfunctioning memory and video card result to blackout. You see nothing on the monitor w/c is on or on standby mode. Try removing the memory 1st and reinstall it properly. wiping the conductors of the memory will help. Avoid electro static discharge however.