My Sony DSC-W100 says "Turn the power off and on again" but still wont take any pictures! The...

wow...it is sad to say but the bangin on the camera worked for me too....that's really sad for SONY

Had the same problems. Unbelievably the after slamming it lightly on the floor the camera now works. Now I know what works. I am a believer!!!!

I had the same problem.The carpet solution seems to be foolish. But still i tried the same today ... Its really a Surprise ... My cam is working properly.. Its really a shame for you SONY

OMG - I had the same error, when I turned the camera on it said "Access" and then "Turn the power off and on again".
I have turned it on and off over and over again! THANKFULLY I took "Guest's" advice from September 12, 2007. After hitting it a few times on the carpet, I still received the error, BUT while the lens was retracting in and out I hit the top of the camera beside the power button with my knuckle and it WORKED!!! I can take a picture again. Thanks so much for the advice. Hope this helps others.

Amazed that the rapping of the camera (a little harder than with a knuckle) worked for me too!!! Good grief...

Must comment that the problems with my camera began only after having carried it in my purse (without being in a case---I know, STUPID) where I'm sure the lens would have been bumped and/or had pressure from other items in the purse putting weight on it when it inevitably ended up in the bottom of my huge purse.

Moral of the story: carry this camera in a protected case when transporting---because prior to that I never had ANY problems. Moreover, the whole thing is lens related and we all know an automatic lens is a sensitive instrument!

Thanks for a remedy born of frustration!

gapeach

I had the same issue. Lens would move in/out say 3 times but camera did not start - Power off message. Suspected jammed gears - So tried the 'gently' bang several times on solid but carpeted floor (with camera off and lens retracted). Did the trick for me.

It sounds like a typical case of the focus motor gear being jammed, or out of alignment. The focus lens assembly is inside the lens, and if it doesn't move freely, the camera just retracts the lens, and shuts the camera off. I've fixed a few of these by removing the lens, taking the lens assembly apart, and getting the focus lens free again. The easiest way is to swap lens assemblies with another camera than maybe has a broken LCD. A little hint on these, is that the W100 has the same lens assembly as the less expensive DSC-W1. You can get those on eBay pretty cheap (~$35 with a good lens, but maybe bad LCD), and use it for it's lens.

Hello. Please turn off the camera and remove the batteries for 30 seconds (if this time don't solve the problem try with 1-2 minutes). Afterwards, reinsert the batteries and turn the camera back on. Perform a manual reset of the camera. For information on how to reset the camera please look at camera manuals. I hope this will help you :)

I had a similar problem with a couple sony cameras at my business. I ended up calling Sony and they told me that the main board for the camera was probably damaged. They would be more than happy to look at it for 80 bucks, but would not guarantee that they could fix it.

I would give them a call and see what Sony says, you should have a phone number in your manual.

If it is going to cost more than 80-100 bucks to have them look at it I would just replace it.

Took alot of dropping and banging but finally worked for me too. What I ended up doing was constantly rapping it with my knuckle very fast as it was opening and closing. Second set of doing that and bam, I've got a focus again.

HIT THE CAMERA! IT WORKS! all hope was almost gone, AND THEN I HIT IT!!!

I just read all the hitting and droping solutions suggested by those who had the same picture mode access problem I just experienced. I put a pocket calendar book on the coffee table, turned the camera top down and gave the top a quick, sharp rap against the soft surface of the calendar book. Like a dream come true my Sony W100 can take its wonderful pictures once again. Thanks to all you "rappers"! I firmly believe that Sony must recall these cameras and either fix the defect or give all of us who have experience frustration because of it a coupon for new 8.1 mega pixel camera.

It is INCREDIBLE!! last night I was camping and some HUGE turtles came out to lay their eggs on the shore. I felt TOTALLY frustrated that my Sony cam was giving me the "Turn power off.." error and the lens where retracting and I couldn't even take a single picture because of that. So as soon as I arrived home from camping I looked for this problem on the web. And I just found this, of course I thought it was some kind of trick or something but it worked!!! I just hope to see the turtles laying their eggs again soon so I can take some pictures :(

I had the same problem with my Sony W150. After hitting on the carpet and the top of the camera for a few times, it didn't work. I then hitted it at the bottom of the camera with my knuckle, it worked.

Thanks!

We opted to hit the camera against our desk on top of a pad. We hit it face down (lens side) but had the lens portion hanging over the edge. After a few hits the lens freed up and deployed. Thanks Sony!!

Guys this is so freakin' hilarious! its 6am and I solved my camera problem in like 2seconds after reading suggestions!! i banged my camera twice not in a carpet but my bed. not in that kind of way..lol but it worked I was so happy...i ignored the error message for a week and I thought it was the memory card or battery...but not..TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN message is GONE!!..like miracle..just freakin' slamming the camera twice in a soft object rofl!!!....I cannot believe the solution to the sort of digitechnical problem is fixable in seconds. Hahaha, i'm still laughin my ears off, I'm so happyyyyy I don't need to buy another camera..sony cybershot 7mp is a really great camera, been using it for 3years..first time this happened...now if it happens again, i know what to do. bang it! kk, peace everyone.!

That is really odd. I've seen things like this for iPod. I have the manual for the camera and it mentions nothing of this. I could only imagine if this is what the sony store will do if I'd brought it in. You'd think they'd at least mention it in the manual. Oh well. The drop to the floor didn't help however a few taps on my palm on the side by the connecter has it booting like a top. Thanks for the adivce all.

Thanks guys...I guess sony also needs tapping...........the solution worked my DSC100.
Sailesh Fiji

Too funny for words! I have Sony DSC-W120 and dropped it on the floor by accident. The same problem started happening, lense in and out and then the same error message, turn off and on. And while I could view photos already taken I could not take a picture. I figured the camera was finished. But I found this site and since I thought I had nothing to lose I followed the advice from the postings. I first hit the camera with my knuckles like Bliuuespoon25 (#4) posted but it did not work. So like Gapaeach (#5) suggested I used something a little heavier. It was actually a metal bolt about 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. I hit the top of the camera to the left of the power button a couple times while the lenses went in and out and OMG it worked! Too funny! But hey I just saved money! Thanks for the help!

It took several times, but banging worked. The camera hurt my knuckles, so I used and old Microsoft Office 97 manual.

Hi to all. I found out the solution here. At first, I laugh about the idea. But when I tried it, amazing. I can't believe it worked.

For those who have the same problem, you should have your charger near to you..

Here is the step by step procedure...

1. Put the battery in the charger for about 2secs.
2. Reinsert the battery in your camera.
3. Try to fall the camera in about 2-3feet in a carpeted floor. The camera lens should be facing the floor.
4. Try to press ON button and slide the ZOOM back and forth.

*If still nothing happens, start from step 1.

101% the camera will start working.

Gracias, el problema que tenia era "acceso" vuelva a encender la maquina".

Lo solucione como lo indicaron, con la maquina apagada y con el lente retraido, golpear en una alfombra suavemente con la base de la camara, solo con unos tres golpecitos fue suficiente. gracias a todos, excelente consejo.

yes in did work now like a pro thanks a lot

No F'n way~ I banged it as well and it worked! Ill be damned.

Not very big believers of knocking **** around either but GUESS WHAT!?!?!?!? One good tap on the desk and WAHBAM!!!!!!!!!! The thing works again!!!!!!!!!Thanks guys.........That's awesome.

Thank God for this site, I have a W100 sony with the same problem ¨turn on and off again¨, the lens would expand and contract 2 or 3 times before getting that message, and i tried one of your solutions posted here..... I dropped my W100 camera from 2 to 3 feet onto a carpet , and about the fifth time i dropped it.... VOILA, the problem was all gone. Now i am a Happy Camper. Joe

'guest' solution of september 2007 worked!!! Dear guest I believe you are from Sony, but when I contacted them they pretended not to know about thr problem ...I believe they should recall...anyhow banging gently the camera worked!

Today, I had the same error. I read above about Gapaech putting the camera in her purse. Well guess what, I did that today too. Sure enough the lens got jammed with the message everyone is saying.

Thankfully, I thought to troubleshoot and who would know that the solution is to hit the camera on the rug. It worked for me too! Thank you so much. My husband would have been so disappointed knowing that I carried it in my purse.

Sony Quality...?
This is the second Sony that I owned that needed repair.  After chuckling about the striking the camera I got frustrated and did it.  Well, It works.  The shock must help some mechanical function of the camera to engage.  The problem continues when power is recycled.  I was striking right where it says power on the unit.  The camera works fine...until powered off again. Thank you for your posts.  I'll be able to limp along until I find another brand camera to buy.  Sorry Sony, I've had it with your quality.   -mototango

"I have turned it on and off over and over again! THANKFULLY I took "Guest's" advice from September 12, 2007. After hitting it a few times on the carpet, I still received the error, BUT while the lens was retracting in and out I hit the top of the camera beside the power button with my knuckle and it WORKED!!! I can take a picture again. Thanks so much for the advice. Hope this helps others"

It did work fine for me as well