This is my problem. I just set up my new Canon Rebel XS camera and the display screen will not show a live view. I can see the pictures Ive taken that are saved but not as Im taking them. Please help!

See Chapter 5, "Live View Shooting" in this manual.

It sounds like you're trying to use Live View.

Possibility 1: Do you mean that you want to use the screen to see a "video" of what you're looking at so you can compose your shot and then click the shutter? If so you want to use Live View. Go into your menu and you'll see one topic called "Live View function settings" in the 5th section (2nd wrench icon). Make sure it says "enable". After that, press menu again to exit and then when you press the Set button you'll see the screen come to life.

Possibility 2: If you mean that you can't see the photo you've ALREADY taken, then you have to press the play button beside the screen (near the bottom). It could be that you've set the camera NOT show the image after it's shot. You can change this in the menu by setting the image display time to a higher number of seconds.

Set the shooting mode to a Creative Zone mode. Under the Setting tab, select [Live View function settings] and press SET. Select [Live View shoot] and press SET. Select [Enable] and press SET. Press the MENU button. Press SET.

how can you download and update firm ware when you cannot see anything on the screen?!!!!

You need live view to see the subject on the screen. Does your camera model have it?

EOS 400D / Rebel XTi Digital Camera
EOS 400D/Rebel XTi doesn't have live view function, so you cannot see the picture you are taking.

You have to set the camera to "Live View" mode. Check your manual for settings.
BTW, it's usually a bad idea to use Live View mode unless the camera is on a tripod. With Live View you have to hold the camera out in front of you and it's much less steady.

In order to turn on Live View, first put the camera in one of the Creative Zone modes (i.e. P, Tv, Av, M or A-DEP). Then press the menu button, and scroll to the second settings menu (the second wrench-symbol), then scroll down to "Live View function settings" and press the SET-button. Then scroll to "Live view shoot", press SET, scroll to "Enable", and press set again. Close the menu by pressing the menu button twice.
Now you can turn on and off the live view on the LCD by pressing the SET-button.
/Chris

Unless you have the Digital Rebel XS or XSi, you are not going to be able to preview the shot on the LCD. This feature was not available on any digital SLR made before 2007. Compact cameras have always had this feature because they have a different optical architecture than SLRs. If you have the XS or XSi, check in the index of the user manual under "Live View shooting" for specific directions.

This is normal for this camera. Think about it. The CMOS chip can't see through the mirror. After the shot is taken the electronic shutter exposes the CMOS chip and makes an image just like exposing film on a film type camera. Once you get used to it you may like it better. In outdoor or bright light situations it's difficult to view the LCD screen to frame the shot anyway.