The lens cover wont open

Common problem with automatic lens covers. I use a toothpick to manually open the lens with the camera on. The use some glue, small amount on the lens cover to glue it open. Then I would carry it in a carry bag.

Your battery may need to be replaced or recharged.

Could be that the lens cover doesn't open fully or that perhaps there is a smudge on the bottom part of the lens. Maybe a water drop. IF the front optics are dirty, use an optical-quality lens cleaning solution and cloth (if you have glasses, the lens cloth that came with your glasses). Apply a very small amount of cleaner to the cloth and gently clean the lens.

If the lens cover doesn't open, could be a grain of sand. The only thing to do is to gently move the lens cover in and out & hope the sand works its way out.

I would either open up dvd tray and blow real hard inside a couple times.
Or
Remove cover of the player, take rubbing alcohol and cotton swab and wipe the glass laser lens eye with it so it is clean.

If the lens is dirty, this will surely solve your problem. If cleaning doesn't work, then the laser lens circuit could be faulty.

AROUND THE COVER THERE IS A CARBON BUILD UP CLEAN WITH OVEN CLEANER AND YOU SHOULD SEE THE SMALL SCREW HOLDING THE COVER IN REMOVE IT AND GENTLY PRISE IT OFF ..

remove the cover and drag a glasses cleaner cloth over the lens. if that does't work put a disk in while its still open and see if the motor is working if not you might need to buy a new motor and swap them.

My wife's Canon SD200 got stuck with an open lens and the E18 error. I opened the case and wiggled things and still nothing. Then, I turned the camera on and started tapping the edge of the lens casing with the magnifying glass I'd been using (need the battery and memory chip in place and make sure you've transferred pictures to your computer before trying this). Voila! The lens closed. But, of course, it wouldn't open and still gave the E18 error. Well, one good tap deserved another and Voila! again. It opened. After a few more iterations - and cleaning the lens casing each time, it was back to normal. The trick is the timing of the tapping. Just after turning on the power to the camera start tapping on the lens casing - not hard - just a light tapping. And don't tap on the glass lens itself -- you don't want to really break it.

I need to remove front cover and look for an obstruction or possible substance spilled or splashed in camera. N/C for estimates! www.flcamerarepair.com Art Schneider (40 years exp.)

This is a common problem to deal with in all these type of cameras. You can take the camera apart going slowly and you will need a small philips and straight screwdriver. It is easy to do but time consuming. Once you get the lens apart you can see the spring that holds onto the side and either super glue it if the plastic is broken or remove it all together. I would rather try to fix it. Let me know how it goes.

If debris like sand or dirt get into the mechanism which closes that cover it will jam shut. Try gently placing something pointy in the gap between the two blades of the cover. Do not force them apart, if this is going to work they should free with very little pressure. Be very careful not to touch the lens especially if you are using something metal to separate the cover.