«

I had just re-charged the battery. Took one picture. My husband
dropped it. Now when I turn it on, I get a blue screen with a blinking
battery icon (low battery). Then is shows what ever it sees thru the
lens for a second or two, then it goes to a black acreen with the
words, -For "Info Llithium" Battery Only-.

I re-charged the battery, but nothing changed. Is it possible to
"break" a battery? I hesitate to spend the money on a new battery,
just to find that it still won't work. The camera doesn't seem to
recognize the battery.

I love my old Mavica! Help. Anyone have any ideas?

Sounds like (wild guess here) that the chip in the batter that passes
info to the camera has been damaged.

I'd go to the store and get a new battery first, and return it if that
doesn't solve the issue.

Otherwise, get a new camera (sorry) It would be cheaper than what Sony
will want to fix your old one. Unless perhaps you bought a 5-year
extended warranty?

On 15 Aug 2005 14:01:40 -0700, tabby wrote:

>> I love my old Mavica! Help. Anyone have any ideas?

> I'd go to the store and get a new battery first, and return it if that
> doesn't solve the issue.

wavelength's suggestion is a good one. It may not even be as
costly as it would seem, because unless your lithium battery was
bought recently, its current value may be much lower than you think.
Whether they are used or not, rechargeable lithium batteries
gradually lose capacity through an internal chemical process, so
that after 2 or 3 years they usually need to be replaced. But if
you do get another battery, make sure that you'll be able to return
it in case the camera was also damaged.

The battery is only about a year old. Wavelength's idea and your's
make sense. I have a friend who had a Mavica like mine. If he still
has it, maybe I can try his battery!

In article < .com>,
tabby <> wrote:

> I re-charged the battery, but nothing changed. Is it possible to
> "break" a battery? I hesitate to spend the money on a new battery,
> just to find that it still won't work. The camera doesn't seem to
> recognize the battery.

Possible, but not too likely. There are LOTS of things in the camera
that will break before something in the battery gives way. Fastest and
easiest is to try another battery; but (as mentioned) make sure it can
be returned. You'll probably have to.

I don't know your Mavica, but one senario I've seen is where the
contacts in the comera aren't connecting to the battery. If there are
more than two, that could cause the camera to work but not be able to
read the battery status. I've sometimes been able to gently bend them
back into position.

Another thought is that the camera is shorted internally, and the short
is pulling the battery voltage down. In that case, it may indeed be new
camera time.

UPDATE: I remembered I have a friend with a Mavica. I went to his
house, and put his battery in my Mavica. It worked!! My husband
purchased a new battery ($50!), I charged it. It works!

I don't know what coud have happened to the battery when dropped, but
that was the problem.

Thanks to all for the advice.