I have a Canon Powershot A70 digitical camera. It is about five years old.I use re-chargeable batteries.I use the camera periodically usually having to recharge the batteries before use. However when I placed the batteries in the camera the lens extended but there was no image on the lcd. The flash still works but the camera won't take a photo.

The image sensor has failed. This is a very common problem with all old digital cameras. Yours is about seven years old now and the camera was built for a five year minimum service life, so it's certainly not a premature failure.

Repairs will cost far more than your camera is worth.

This link has some examples of repair of the automatic lens cover. It may help you figure out how to reinstall the lens cover springs.

This is an old A70, but the way it's done is very similar as I don't think this has changed much over the years. It's a pin design that you have to push out with a stiff unbent paperclip. You push in on the side with the smaller hole. To access the pin you'll need to remove the front and back case covers. See the following:

http://blog.thustra.com/2007/03/canon-a70-ir-modification.html

For both of you, this sounds like it might be a defective CCD imager. If so, Canon should fix this for you for free, including free shipping both ways. This is regardless of your camera's warranty status. Please check the following two links for more info:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/canon-digital-cameras-showing-black.html

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&fcategoryid=225&modelid=13390&keycode=2112&id=29819

Applicable cameras include:
A40, A60, A70, A75, A80, A85, A95, A300, A310, S1 IS, S60, S200, S230, S330, S400, S410, S500, SD100, SD110, IXUS V2/300/400/430/500, IXY Digital 200a/300a/400/450/500

please first remove the battery ...it will create more damage to the circuit ....... repairing it depends on how much water damage has occured and even if repaired ...problems keep popping up ....

I just called the phone number listed by toothysam. Canon is sending a free shipping label and will repair the camera at no charge! Thank you toothysam!

Chargeable batteries usually last for a year or two. Alkaline batteries should only be expected to last for around a dozen shots (as such, NEVER rely on alkaline batteries). Recommend buying another set of NiMH rechargeables. Make sure you get 2500 mah or better power rating (look on the package).

See this link.

When I got my A70 I got a CD with the software. If I connect the camera with USB cable to the computer, set the little lever on the back for the camera to display whatever pictures are in it, and turn the camera on, the computer recognizes the camera, opens the software and leads me through the process.
If you have some other photo software than the Canon software, it should still work.

Bad news is that this is a CCD sensor problem and you need a new one installed. Good news though is that Canon will fix this free of charge so contact them.