Canon PowerShot S410 smears of color on display and photos

This should help ... click on the .pdf

its free - but you need to key in the four numbers it displays (its a security measure to stop machines bulk downloading)

http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/CANON/POWERSHOT-S410-_E

sound like light behind screen is burned out not sure if factory defect or just old age

By the sounds of it you have a bad chip on your camera system board. If the image records okay and displays okay after the image is recorded. Other than having your camera repaired you may have to use your camera as is.

No, it's not likely to be compatible. The problem is that Canon did not update the drivers for many of its older cameras under the Vista operating system. So you're likely to run into problems downloading directly from the camera using the software. But there are other options, such as using an inxepensive card reader (can get them online for $2) to download your photos:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-do-i-download-photos-or-pictures.html

But back to your S410, what exactly is wrong with it? By chance if it's taking black, pink, or distorted pictures, please see this:

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

Since it is taking a picture, and showing it up afterwards on the display, it definitely sounds like you activated the DISP or DISPLAY button. Seeing that you've used this camera for years, you should know that this manually turns the screen on and off to save batteries, and to turn it back on again, all you have to do is press this button once more. As you've undoubtedly already tried this, suggest trying the button again, maybe jiggling it (to overcome potential corrosion) to reactivate the screen.

Hi,
Its CCD imager problem in your Canon S410 camera. Canon will repair it Free Of Cost. See Canon Advisory details for this scheme.

for this issue i have sent to canon really surprise they change the parts and return as new....After warranty......i suggest my friends who ever using canon, they also got same service from CANON. I finalised in future also i ll go to canon only, i have purchased another canon

Does it also take black pictures? If so, this sounds like it might be a defective CCD imager. 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

This definitely 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

What you describe may be caused by several different faults. Do the pictures from the camera show the same blurry washed out look? It may be either the aperture is stuck wide open, or the shutter may be similarly stuck open. Can you describe the symptoms further?