Canon powershot lens wont budge the covering gets stuck!!

There are a few things you can try. Here is an excellent blog about lens errors and stuck lenses, and it covers what can be tried to free it up:
http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/fixing-lens-error-on-digital-camera.html
They say about 50% of lens problems can be fixed trying their suggestions. Hope you're one of the lucky ones! Also, if nothing works, get an estimate before having it repaired. Often, it's just better to get another camera.

Try these procedures.

If it says lens error all you have to do is try pushing the lens back in. If that doesnt work, sorry! lol =(

A stuck shutter is another common failure mode for digital cameras. The symptoms of a stuck or "sticky" shutter are very similar to CCD image sensor failure. The camera may take black pictures (for shutter stuck closed), or the pictures may be very bright and overexposed, especially when taken outdoors (for shutter stuck open).

To confirm a stuck shutter, put the camera in any mode other than "Auto", and turn the flash OFF (you don't want to blind yourself for the next step). Next look down the lens and take a picture. You should see a tiny flicker in the center of the lens as the shutter opens and closes. If no movement is seen, then you likely have a stuck shutter. If so, please see the following for further info and a simple fix that may help:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2009/05/simple-fix-for-stuck-shutter.html

Please see the following article on automatic lens covers:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html

This blog post outlines repair procedures for stuck lens covers. An A400 is used as an example. The A720 is more complex, but the base procedures are similar:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html

I have a canon powershot a470nd i just got a 'lens error, restart camera' message and my lens is stuck. i just bought it a month ago and haven't mistreated it at all. how can i fix it?

Take a butter knife and slide it where the crease is. move the close/open button till it open it could just be stuck due to moisture. Hope this helps.

Press the power button on and hold it down while extending and twisting the telescopic zoom lens. It might fix your problem. In any case it could not make it worse Good luck!