Can't get started

The directions seem simple, but when I start recording, the camera appears to be recording for about 22 seconds and then I get a rotating hourglass symbol which does not appear anywhere in the manual. It then turns the recording symbol on and off, the hour glass appears and disappears all on its own and it will not allow me to turn the camera off or use any of the controls regardless of whether the hour glass is on the screen or not. This is my second camera. The problem started when I tried to format the memory card in the first camera. As soon as I pressed "yes" to format the card the camera left the set up mode by itself. I am using the same card in the new camera. I did not try to format it because as soon as I turned the camera on, it said the card was full. So I followed the directions to delete files, but it said there was no file to delete. The camera is pretty. Why won't it work? Linda Lee