If the port is shut down, it means that the switch has disabled the port and is not sending or receiving any traffic on it. This would explain why the network interface's indicator lights are not blinking on either the computer or the switch, and why the user cannot access resources on the network. The port could be shut down manually by the network administrator, or automatically by the switch due to security or error conditions.
Reference
Port shutdown is one of the common switch configuration options covered in Objective 2.3 of the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 certification exam1.
Port shutdown can cause the network interface's indicator lights to stop blinking2.
Port shutdown can prevent the user from accessing resources on the network3.
1: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 5 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008: Switch not forwarding frames on trunked port3 3: Cable Management - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.3