Pentax Optio 330GS its gone blind!

soak and, I mean soak your camera inside and, out in 90% isoprophyl (rubbing) alcohol remove the battery first then after 24 hours dry the camera out using a hair dryer on the warm setting.

Since the screen went black BEFORE the lens retracted, it makes me think this is a main board problem. The only other possibility is that it is the lens assembly, but since it went black BEFORE the lens retracted, I don't think that is it. I can replace the main board for $40, or you can send it to pentax in Arizona, and they will do it for about $90.
The main board is NOT something that I would suggest anyone try to replace as a DIY project. There are too many small screws, and delicate connections to deal with.
You can contact me at: mrfixitmark at comast dot net

If you just want to sell the camera as-is, I also buy all pentax a10, a20, a30, a40 cameras, in any condition.

Forget all that. If all you want to do is download your pics from your camera, use a card reader to download to a folder you create on your desktop.

Here is the list from Pentax as to what is compatible under vista:

http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/product_support_os.html

The best way to use is to get a free program from Adobe website or Kodak. That can transfer your pictures from your camera to your computer.

Check the manual throughly- usually there is a more comprehensive manual on the CD- to ensure all the correct setting are made. Other wise this is a flash failure[lamp or capacitor] Take a look at the Pentex technical support site.

My optio t10 did basically the same thing...turned on, lens goes out, then automatically shut off. I took the advice of a solution listed here for another problem...hit the camera. For whatever reason it worked.

Sounds like the images are corrupted on the card. If you have another card then try starting the camera with it. To get the card working again, you will need to format it in a card reader with FAT16 format, or try in another camera. If you want the images, you will have to obtain repair software to try to retrieve the images.

This is because the RGB filters in the camera are not perfect, and there is no one "green" colour. The green pixels pick up a wide band of colours, and are somewhat sensitive even to red and blue, especially near where green shades into red.

No I don't believe it is your shutter, more than likely it is a LCD Screen problem. I would suggest you take your camera back to the shop where you purchased the camera and have it serviced under warranty. I had a customer with an Optio 550 come in and it looked like every shot was taken through 'venetian blinds' and the problem was with the LCD Screen and the camera was sent back to Pentax and repaired under warranty.

Just had the same problem (black display). I moved my hand in front of it and took pictures of things but nothing happened. Then my girlfriend tried to point it to a lamp, and all-of-a-sudden it kinda woke up from a screensaver or something. So weird, but it worked. Perhaps it needs enough light in order to start using the display and lens. I couldn't take any pictures when the LCD was black. So, try pointing it towards a strong light source before you break your camera.