"Charging Flash" This is the second R817 I've had with the exact same problem. The battery is fully charged, but the flash won't work--it says "charging flash", but nothing happens. I have to turn the flash off to get it to take any picture. The fools at HP say too bad, so sad, replace it.....

I have two R817 with same problem. I have two R817 with same problem.

Have got exact same problem. Have got exact same problem.

I have the same problem. I even bought a new battery and updated the firmware, but it didn't help.. :((

HP usually makes good products, but this is a damn mistake.


I have the same problem. I even bought a new battery and updated the firmware, but it didn't help.. :((
HP usually makes good products, but this is a damn mistake.

I have the exact same problem, the battery is charged but the camera keeps saying charging flash. My wife read the trouble shooting section of the book and it says the battery is bad. So I paid $40.00 for a new battery and the same thing happened. I called HP and they said they would send me a new camera for $125.00 What good is it if I can only take pictures outside. My warranty ran out I week before the camera did. I have the exact same problem, the battery is charged but the camera keeps saying charging flash. My wife read the trouble shooting section of the book and it says the battery is bad. So I paid $40.00 for a new battery and the same thing happened. I called HP and they said they would send me a new camera for $125.00 What good is it if I can only take pictures outside. My warranty ran out I week before the camera did.

I have the same problem too. It's too bad because I like the macro mode on this camera. I have the same problem too. It's too bad because I like the macro mode on this camera.

I have the same problem. I have two batteries, and they both give the same results if the camera sits for a week or so. If it only sits a day between uses, it isn't really a problem. I, too, hold down the button to try to "charge" the flash. Eventually, it does work again. I keep snapping until it seems charged again. However, this usually fully drains the battery, and I have to immediately recharge the battery again. I try to do this the day before I know I will need my camera--really spontanious, hey!! Currently, I am trying the tactic of taking the battery out of my camera between uses. We'll see if that works. I have the same problem. I have two batteries, and they both give the same results if the camera sits for a week or so. If it only sits a day between uses, it isn't really a problem. I, too, hold down the button to try to "charge" the flash. Eventually, it does work again. I keep snapping until it seems charged again. However, this usually fully drains the battery, and I have to immediately recharge the battery again. I try to do this the day before I know I will need my camera--really spontanious, hey!! Currently, I am trying the tactic of taking the battery out of my camera between uses. We'll see if that works.

i have the same problem, it say charging flash and it will not work. at one time you could hold down button and it would eventually flash. not any more. i have the same problem, it say charging flash and it will not work. at one time you could hold down button and it would eventually flash. not any more.

me 2. just started, am trying everything, but nothing will make it use the flash again.

me 2. just started, am trying everything, but nothing will make it use the flash again.

My Hp R817 is havingthe exact same problem.  Try to take a picture and I see flash charging, but nothing happens,  Only had this camera for a year with minimal use.  How can I communicate with HP to see how to solve this problem, that according to the message boards. is quite frequent? My Hp R817 is havingthe exact same problem.  Try to take a picture and I see flash charging, but nothing happens,  Only had this camera for a year with minimal use.  How can I communicate with HP to see how to solve this problem, that according to the message boards. is quite frequent?

My Hp R817 is havingthe exact same problem.  Try to take a picture and I see flash charging, but nothing happens,  Only had this camera for a year with minimal use.  How can I communicate with HP to see how to solve this problem, that according to the message boards, is quite frequent? My Hp R817 is havingthe exact same problem.  Try to take a picture and I see flash charging, but nothing happens,  Only had this camera for a year with minimal use.  How can I communicate with HP to see how to solve this problem, that according to the message boards, is quite frequent?

Have same problem. Charging flash- never takes picture. Inside, only if I aim it directly towards an open window, will it go off WITHOUT flash. Flash simply does not work. When I sit it on the dock it says "no thing connected to the camera dock" or something like that. I purchased a new battery- same problem. Only place it takes a decent no flash (ONLY way to get a pix) is in bright lighting outside- like pointing it at the sky! what the heck is WRONG with this darn thing? Am currently trying to dig up the purchase info so I can fix this thing or else. My sony Mavica worked better- (though when I bought new battery it only charged up twice; no idea about that EITHER yet. ugh!

Have same problem. Charging flash- never takes picture. Inside, only if I aim it directly towards an open window, will it go off WITHOUT flash. Flash simply does not work. When I sit it on the dock it says "no thing connected to the camera dock" or something like that. I purchased a new battery- same problem. Only place it takes a decent no flash (ONLY way to get a pix) is in bright lighting outside- like pointing it at the sky! what the heck is WRONG with this darn thing? Am currently trying to dig up the purchase info so I can fix this thing or else. My sony Mavica worked better- (though when I bought new battery it only charged up twice; no idea about that EITHER yet. ugh!

same exact thing. i have had this camera for two years but dont use that often and this is starting to **** me off. i was trying to take a quick pic of my dog and i missed the moment cause of this ****

same exact thing. i have had this camera for two years but dont use that often and this is starting to **** me off. i was trying to take a quick pic of my dog and i missed the moment cause of this ****

HP R817 charged but won't charge flash. I've had this camera for 15 months. This is my last HP product if they won't do something about this. HP R817 charged but won't charge flash. I've had this camera for 15 months. This is my last HP product if they won't do something about this.

Me and my brother-in-law each have one of the R817's and over time both started to exhibit the "charging flash" issue. On his we took it apart and found some corrosion on the lead running into the flash capacitor. We cleaned and re-soldered the connection and it started to work again. We then took mine apart expecting to find the same thing but it was clean and there was nothing to fix. My unit remains with the problem. Now, after several months the unit we repaired has the charging flash problem again. I think the issue is a defective or poor quality capacitor that runs the flash. It is really too bad because I otherwise really like the camera and it takes great macro shots. We also tried bios upgrades and holding the button down for long periods with elastics all to no avail

Me and my brother-in-law each have one of the R817's and over time both started to exhibit the "charging flash" issue. On his we took it apart and found some corrosion on the lead running into the flash capacitor. We cleaned and re-soldered the connection and it started to work again. We then took mine apart expecting to find the same thing but it was clean and there was nothing to fix. My unit remains with the problem. Now, after several months the unit we repaired has the charging flash problem again. I think the issue is a defective or poor quality capacitor that runs the flash. It is really too bad because I otherwise really like the camera and it takes great macro shots. We also tried bios upgrades and holding the button down for long periods with elastics all to no avail

charging flash message and camera gets very hot charging flash message and camera gets very hot

I had the same problem. It resolved when I did a reset of the camera. Instructions are at the hp website. Basically you take the SD cad out, take the battery out, and take a straightened paper dip to push the reset hole near the battery compartment and hinge for the cover, I had the same problem. It resolved when I did a reset of the camera. Instructions are at the hp website. Basically you take the SD cad out, take the battery out, and take a straightened paper dip to push the reset hole near the battery compartment and hinge for the cover,