# My computer won't shut down!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 19, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398 "2000-12-19T19:17:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/1 "2000-12-19T19:17:34Z")
My computer (an iMac) shuts down, then restarts by itself about 15 seconds later. Any ideas?
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### Author:  [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/2 "2000-12-19T19:19:17Z")
oh… this is when I shut it down, that is
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### Author:  [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/3 "2000-12-19T19:27:50Z")
I know this will read as a rather flip answer, and I apologize in advance, but I’d recommend calling Apple tech support.
It may be a wait because [insert Mac insult of choice], but they should/had better know what can be done.
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### Author:  [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/4 "2000-12-19T19:47:38Z")
I can’t resist…
Are you **shutting down**? or **restarting**?
Also, check your power settings if that’s really not the case…
In the _Control Panels_, under _Energy Saver_, you’ll find settings for shutting down and starting up your mac, try a few of the Control Panels, you might find it’s something there, really simple after all.
After all, it’s a mac, how hard can it be? 😉
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/5 "2000-12-19T19:57:50Z")
Hah. My HP Pavilion, with the new, improved Windows ME, is obviously YEARS ahead of your silly iMac. My machine reboots ITSELF. So there.
Often in the middle of playing Diablo.
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### Author:  [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/6 "2000-12-19T21:07:46Z")
are you clicking on the button marked \?
How long ago did this start?
Did you try rebuilding the desktop file yet?
What is your quest?
What is your favorite color?
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### Author:  [@Deiket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deiket)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/7 "2000-12-19T22:13:25Z")
Oh, this is nothing! My computer shuts down all the time (an old Gateway). But that’s not all! It completly shuts down, then the speakers blare the phrase “Run! Run like hell!” over and over again for about five minutes before the ungodly thing restarts.
No joke.
I think it’s trying to kill me…
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### Author:  [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/8 "2000-12-19T22:42:13Z")
Probably not related, but many times when a computer just shuts down it’s a processor problem. It overheats, and it will come back up after it cools down. I just had this problem, and some thermal grease to the back of the processor’s heat sink solved the problem.
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### Author:  [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/9 "2000-12-19T22:55:41Z")
Unplug it?
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2000, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/10 "2000-12-20T00:11:12Z")
So the question was actually, ‘computer restarts after shutdown’? Maybe it has a virus? Why don’t you just turn it off? You know, hit the power switch. Or unplug from wall, If after doing that it restarts by itself, call me, I want to buy it.
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### Author:  [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2000, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/11 "2000-12-20T00:42:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by lawoot \*
> \*\*My computer (an iMac) shuts down, then restarts by itself about 15 seconds later. Any ideas? \*\*
Conctact Apple there is a known problem with faulty power switchers on some iMac’s and Cubes
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### Author:  [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2000, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-wont-shut-down/46398/12 "2000-12-20T15:38:34Z")
MannyL would know this- I used to work where he does.