Something wrong with Camera

you can't fix this problem by yourself, you have to take it to the manufacturer and ask for repair, probably mechanical problem, not a big problem at all.

Depending on the make and model could vary the problem, maybe battery is flat. Has it been dropped or taken near a beach. The shutter covers on most compact camaras are usually prone to breakdown as they are weak, Check your warranty!!!!

It's broken. And the fault is likely to get worse if not repaired. At best, something has got jammed in the barrel and it doesn't need more than a professional clean; a lot depends on how expensive the camera is, of course.

It is hard to say from your description what the problem is. You might want to say what the make and model is. If your friend has the same camera with the same problem it sounds like it is a manufacturing defect and I would get it replaced under warrantee as it is not going to fix itself and will possibly get worse over time. On the top of my head it sounds like a gear or belt is chipped or broken inside the camera and you cannot fix it yourself.