Memory stick error

This is a crazy fix but I can assure you it works, turn the camera off and hit it and then turn the camera back on, I had the problem and heard the fix and tried it as I had nothing to loose the camera was not working anyways an it fixed it error cleared.
You will laugh when it works.

This is a formatting error on the memory stick. Try to format it in the camera - if that doesn't work, plug it into a computer and format it with FAT-32 format for DOS. That should do the trick.

If it doesn't work, then there is a physical problem with your MS (it happens, sadly) - try using a different one!

Good luck,

I too had the "memory stick error" message come up on my camera about 3 weeks ago. I also thought it was a bad memory stick until I stuck my other one in and it gave the same error message. I bought my camera approximately 5 years ago and have never had any problems with it, with the exception of not being able to get good movement shots (sports) in some low lit gym settings. It REALLY did work. I whacked my camera on my steering wheel, turned it on and the error message was gone! It is not a highly recommended solutions for electronical items but what do you have to lose if you can't use it anyway. I certainly wasn't willing to take mine to a repair shop and here them tell me it would cost $100 just to look at it. So go ahead, give it a whack!!

I had the same 'memory error', none of my 4 memory sticks would work, it would not let me reformat, the electronics in this camera have always been a bit buggy and sketchy.
I tried buying a different camera but it doesn't work as well for my art so I had been meaning to take my cyber-shot to a camera repair shop (for nearly a year) when I saw mriceguy's best solution and decided to give it a bang ..... AND IT WORKS!!! Tears came to my eyes in disbelief.
I used it today, and will be using it all day tomorrow.

Per sony the F828 can only handle up to a 4gb memory stick............... I found this out after I bought an 8gb stick and got the error listed here. I emailed sony and sadly the 8 gb won't work with F828.