HELP! dropped camera, lens won't go back in, shutter won't close

Not sure if you mean the automatic lens cover, or the actual lens shutter, so here's fixes for both:
Stuck automatic lens cover
Stuck shutter

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, sometimes with lines, 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 this link for further info and a simple fix that may help. Recommend trying the pencil tapping fix listed in the link. It worked on my SD1000 with the same problem.

Look closely for sand particles that may be lodged around the gaps of the lens barrel. Lens errors are fairly common. Usually it's sand or grit interfering with the lens extension mechanism. Or the camera's been dropped with the lens extended. Or the camera has been powered on, but the lens had been blocked preventing its extension. Or the battery ran down with the lens extended ...
Unfortunately, many cameras that fall prey to this can only be corrected by professional repair. But, here are some things that you can do that may correct it. They only seem to work for less than 40% of the lens errors, but if the camera is out of warranty, they're worth a try.

Lines across your pictures or pictures too bright are due to the shutter not closing correctly or at all.
to check this- turn camera on, turn off flash, turn camera around and look into the lens. Adjust the zoom so that the shutter and internal lens comes up to the end of the lens and whatch as you take a picture. You should see the shutter close completely over the lens. If it doesn't move or does not close over completely then there is your problem.
If camera was dropped it could have jammed the shutter open or obstructed it in some way from closing completely.
camera will require repair/ service.
You may have some luck if you power up and down your camera numerous times before taking a picture. The action of the lens opening and closing may free the shutter.

This is likely because the shutter has not been cocked all the way. Return the lens to the fully locked position and advance the film with the lever all the way down to reset the shutter. If it still doesn't work, move the lever to M for multiple exposure, make sure the back is aligned and trip the shutter release. Then fully **** the shutter again by pressing the advance lever down fully and again until it is reset. Then try to remove the lens again.

My camera got dropped into the dirt. The dirt grains are detrimental to the plastic mechanics of the lens system, they imbed themselves into the plastic and become like sand paper. I took my whole camera apart - something that I would not recommend but I was desparate. I don't think I can save my camera, it needs a new optics.

If the shutter has problems it is most likely that the thin aluminum casing at the front of the lens got bent and you may be able to bend it back with a thin screw driver, that you can manage to insert between the plastic casing of the shutter and the aluminum cover. Just where the aluminum casing ends at the front of the lens. But be careful, you may otherwise damage the aluminum and the looks of your camera. If you got dirt in there, you may want to manually (carefully) open the shutter when the camera is shut off, let it close, etc. while blowing air between the gaps of the shutter blades. You can buy a 'Cleaning Duster' spray bottle from Office Depot and use that. But be carefull to hold the bottle straight, don't tilt it or the liquid content will spray over your lens and you have to clean the oily residue with a solution of soap and water (I had to) and wet a paper tissue (use a Kleenex that is not impregnated with a lotion, on the back of the box it will tell you 'Not recommended for cleanig eyeglasses'.

Hope that helps.

Stephan

If that doesn't work, then you may have to send the camera in for repair.

The following blog outlines some repair options for a lens error:

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/fixing-lens-error-on-digital-camera.html

Tapp the lense GENTLY in the opposite direction of the misalignment

I have a camsung L830 that had similar problems and and after I would turn it on, it would beep three times and turn off....but I somehow fixed the lens by turning the camera on and then either pushing/pulling on the part the stickes out and hopefully it might activate the mechanism and it'll go in...that's what happened with mine...the shutters still won't close though. But I'm happy I can use my camera now.

I had this same problem and it was driving me crazy. I looked the camera over carefully and noticed that the lens was a little crooked. I gently pulled the protruding lens piece a little and it popped into place. After that, the camera worked fine. I guess if the lens is jammed the camera won't turn on if the lens can't move. I hope this helps you.