What does it mean if my computer turns on and automatically shuts down a few seconds later?

I tried to restart my desktop but every time it tries to reboot, it automatically shuts down within 30 seconds. Is there an easy resolution for this or do I need to bring it in?

Mac OS X Help
Isolating Issues in Mac OS
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1388
https://www.apple.com/support/osx/
https://www.apple.com/support/quickassist/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/help/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/tour/
Get Help with your Product
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304725
Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT131
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367
Symptoms
If your Macintosh computer won't turn on, here's how to troubleshoot it. Please keep in mind that although your computer may display similar symptoms that prevent it from showing video, this article discusses what to do if the computer won't turn on, meaning that when you press the power button:
You don't hear a startup chime.
You don't hear any fan or drive noise.
The power button or power indicator doesn't light up at all.
If your computer doesn't display any video, it may display one or more of these similar symptoms when you press the power button:
You may hear a startup chime.
You may hear fan or drive noise.
You may see the power button or power indicator light up.
If any of these conditions occurs, see Troubleshooting: My computer has no video instead.
If your computer won't turn on, try each of these steps:
Make sure that the power cord is plugged into a working wall outlet, and that it's properly connected to the power adapter. (To check if the wall socket is working, plug in a lamp or other electrical device.)
Make sure that the power adapter is properly connected to the power port on the side or back of the computer.
Disconnect all accessories that are plugged into the computer, such as a printer, hub, or other mobile device.
Reset the computer's PMU, SMC, or PRAM. Refer to the instructions for your model:
Portable (iBook or PowerBook)
Mac mini
iMac
Power Mac
Mac Pro
MacBook or MacBook Pro
Other Mac computers
reset SMC For "Mac wont' turn on or boot" and related
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367

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What does it mean when you computer crashes and when you turn it back on it shows you a blank blue screen with a little folder and a question mark in the middle?

What does it mean when you computer crashes and when you turn it back on it shows you a blank blue screen with a little folder and a question mark in the middle? It's a old imac from 1997.

I don't have original discs that it came with.
Then you still can use the second option with the keyboard combo I posted, called "resetting the PRAM."
Also when you way hold the c key down do you mean turn computer off and turn back on holding the c key?
Yes, or you can simply restart. As you don't have the CDs, this isn't on the plate any more.
The internal backup battery is not expensive and, in most iMacs is user-replacable. If yours has a tray-loading optical drive like this one:
it takes a major teardown to replace the internal battery. If this is the case, you'd be better off to leave the computer plugged in all the time; that eliminates the main reason for having a working battery.
If it has a slot-loading optical drive like this one:
things are much easier. The battery is visible through the RAM access door on the bottom of the computer case. The manual:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iMacG3_2000UserManual.PDF
has sketches of how to access the RAM and therefore the backup battery. Unfortunately, the pdf on the manual goes up sideways on-screen and the RAM instructions are pretty deep into the manual. It's probably easier to scroll (for a while) to the section on adding RAM and print the applicable pages.
When you work on the battery, some sort of non-conductive pliers or large tweezer or forceps help unless you have tiny fingers. Make sure to note the polarity of the old battery and install the new one in the same orientation.
The battery itself is readily available. If price is no oblect, you can get it for a small rasom from Radio Shack Store ("Tandy" outside the US) as part number 23-026.
Online, they are dirt-cheap even after adding shipping. I buy backup batteries form this outfit:
3.6v Newer Technology Lithium 1/2 AA PRAM Computer Clock Battery

When connecting my iPhone I get the following message "The iPhone cannot be used because it requires iTunes version 10.1 or later. What does this mean? My computer has 10.4.

When connecting my iPhone I get the following message "The iPhone cannot be used because it requires iTunes version 10.1 or later. What does this mean? My computer has 10.4.

That's an issue with your system. Try removing the iTunes and the other APPLE software related from your system and reinstall it again.
Follow this if you're using XP: support.apple.com/kb/HT1925
Follow this if you're using VISTA/7: support.apple.com/kb/HT1923
Follow this if you are using a MAC 10.5.8 or later: support.apple.com/kb/HT1224

What does it mean when the ipod is diabled and says connect to iTunes

what does it mean when the ipod is diabled and says connect to iTunes

It means...
Connect to iTunes on the computer you usually Sync with and “ Restore “...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
If necessary Place the Device into Recovery mode...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808

HT4623 What does it mean after you update your phone and then your phone starts to blink on and off showing the apple logo only?

What does it mean after you update your phone and then your phone starts to blink on and off showing the apple logo only?

Read http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1808

I can't redeem my iTunes gift card, my phone is un activated, help desk has not helped. What does it mean my phone is un activated and how can I redeem my gift card for my 5c living I. The Caribbean

I can't redeem my iTunes gift card, my phone is un activated, help desk has not helped. What does it mean my phone is un activated and how can I redeem my gift card for my 5c living I. The Caribbean

(Typing all in capitals is considered shouting, makes posts difficult to read and may mean that people are less likely to reply.)
There isn't a phone number for iTunes Support.
If you've forgotten your answers to your security questions then you can get them reset : If you forgot the answers to your Apple ID security questions
If you have a credit card on your account then its details have to complete - and asking for their details is also a way of checking that you have a valid billing address in that country. As long as you are buying content for yourself and not trying to gift content (you can't use your balance for gifting) then the purchase price (plus any applicable taxes) should be deducted from your balance. If it's not then you contact iTunes Support : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page, then Purchases, Billing & Redemption

What does it mean when I log into Facebook and a pop-up comes out saying "[JavaScript Application] Error: jQuery("#fb_menu_account a", document).attr("href") is undefined"?

What does it mean when I log into Facebook and a pop-up comes out saying "[JavaScript Application] Error: jQuery("#fb_menu_account a", document).attr("href") is undefined"? I would like to know what I can do to fix this. The site ends-up running slow. I have tried clearing the cookies and cache, but that doesn't work.
== URL of affected sites ==
http://www.facebook.com

Does is still happen in Firefox Safe Mode. See [[Safe Mode]].
If so, it's probably being caused by an add-on.

IPhoto keeps shutting down a few seconds after I open it. What is wrong?

My iPhoto shuts down a few seconds after I open it. It sys there's problems to repair, then it repairs the problen, then a few seconds later it shuts down. What can I do?

Post the first 50 lines only of the crash report
Regards
TD

What does this mean? This computer's local hostname "Linda-Daviss-iMac-4.local" is already in use on this network. The name has been changed to "Linda-Daviss-iMac-5.local".

What does this mean: This computer’s local hostname “Linda-Daviss-iMac-4.local” is already in use on this network. The name has been changed to “Linda-Daviss-iMac-5.local”.
When I came back to my computer this message was on the screen. Should I be concerned ? or doing something?

Sometimes this message means that you have two simultaneous connections to the same local network: probably Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Disconnect the Ethernet cable or turn off Wi-Fi.
Sometimes it happens because a device that gets its network address from the router wakes from sleep, and the address it was using before has been assigned to another device.
Rename the computer in the Sharing preference pane.

HT1212 what does it mean when my computer shows me ipod contact server cannot be connected

what does it mean after hitting restore on my computer for my ipod, the notice comes up that my ipod contact server cannot connect\

Update Server
Try:
- Powering off and then back on your router.
- iTunes for Windows: iTunes cannot contact the iPhone, iPad, or iPod software update server
- Change the DNS to either Google's or Open DNS servers
Public DNS — Google Developers
OpenDNS IP Addresses
- Try on another computer/network
- Wait if it is an Apple problem

What does it mean when your computer says that someone is using your IP address

What does it mean when someone is using your IP address and what should i do...

Expanding on Bob's explanation, be sure you haven't set a manual IP address, thus being the culprit for this problem. In System Preferences / Network / Advanced... / TCP/IP section, Configure IPv4 should be set to Using DHCP. If that is not the case, then some network miscreant has purloined the IP address your Mac was using.
First try clicking on the Renew DHCP Lease and see if the DHCP server figures it out and assigns a different address. Else, try disconnecting from the network (if on Wi-Fi, turn Wi-Fi off in the previous window, if cabled disconnect the patchcord), wait a little while and reconnect. Then hopefully the DHCP server will realize the address was purloined and assign a different one.

What does it mean when the computer says it does not detect a battery?

Its usually on the house power when its on the desk, and it has been connected all night. So what does this mean? I have had this machine about 2 weeks, and should not have to replace a battery this soon.

When do you see this message?
Any error codes?

HT203434 what does it mean when i connect to recharge and a microphone appears with lightening sign just above it?

what does it mean when i turn on my mini wi fi i pad and it shws a microphone and lightening coming out from it and nothing else is able to be brought up??

I think that you are seeing the lightning bolt and the lightning connector on the screen. That means that you have to plug the iPad into a wall socket using the power adapter becuse the battery is too low to charge using your computer.
Look at the photos on this website and not the one under the Connect to Power heading.
Charge the battery in your iPad - Apple Support

HT1710 What does it mean if the blue screen appears and stays on with no further activity?

My disk failed. Apple store replaced it with a disk with OS X. I tried to load from valid time machine backup. eventually I got a blue screen.
What does this mean and what should I do?
Here is more of this story:
When I picked up my computer after the disk was replaced, I was told I could do a time machine recovery. After about 6 hours the recovery said it had less than a minute to go and was transferring "your" network settings. at 9 hours it said the same thing.
I rebooted DVD to try to reload MAC OS X but it crashed with "INSTALL FAILED MAC OS X could not be installed on your computer Click restart and try again"
I did but it would not boot.
I reloaded the disk utility and and it showed no problems but the next OS X install failed (hung).
I then wrote zeros to all the disk (could not find a reformat command). This went tith out error.
I restarted the OSX install and it appeared to work.
I started the install from time machine again and it hung in the same place. (less than a minute remaining. The completion bar had a sliver of white at the end but was mostly blue)

It just means it's hungup just before completing, we can get more info with Verbose boot...
CMD+v keys on bootup...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492

I am having trouble installing itunes. I get so far and it will not finish installing Quick time. Error %appdata%/ what does this mean? We had itunes before and it vanished? I have Windows 7 and explorer 9

I having trouble reinstalling itunes. I have windows 7 and explorer 9. Keep getting as for as itunes installed and it will not finish installing Quick time.also, keep getting error message "could not find location %appdata%/. What does this mean?

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/

What does it mean if my computer turns on and automatically shuts down a few seconds later?

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