Do I have to charge the Flip Video (an old one) by plugging in the USB to my computer even if it uses AA batteries?

open the battery cover remove the batt pack and install two good regular AA batts. if it still fails, well you have a serious issue. If it runs, it's letting you know the battery pack is too far gone to charge (which is what its trying to do when you plug it in to the USB)

In a convoluted way. The FE-46 uses standard AA batteries. You may use either disposable alkaline or lithium batteries, or rechargeables. If you use rechargeables then you must charge them outside the camera. There are chargers that run from a computer USB port, and there are even AA batteries that plug into a USB port. However, you canNOT charge the batteries by connecting your camera to your computer.

You need to first Charge your camcorder battery pack.(mine had to charge over night) the first time.  Plug the little arm that extends from the camera into a USB 2 port on your computer and make sure your computer stays ON during the charging, otherwise the camcorder will not charge.

A red light will come on during charge and goes off when charged. If it does not come while plugged in try a different USB port.  Screen should light up temporarily and Red light showing charging on front of camcorder.

 

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THE ABOVE, and are having the problem, pull the battery pack out and reseat it back in there again.  maybe connection not good.  OH, and I think mine had plastic covering the metal connections you may want to check that too -remove if so----- BUT the entire white plastic around the batteries STAYS IN PLACE do not remove that. 

 

If that still doesn't work I would try regular AA batteries in it if in fact you have The FLIP ULTRA HD it will take regular batteries too.    IF they work - then maybe you got a defective Rechargeable Battery pack and should contact Flip Video at   http://www.theflip.com/en-us/  

 

Try a different USB port and don't use an extension cable with it either. Make sure the computer you are using is turned ON and stays on during the charging. not sure about the second half of your question, not knowing how to open? and change the battery? If you never opened it to begin with how did you get the rechargeable battery pack into it?? they don't come installed. battery was separate in the packaging on mine. anyhow, there is a little slide button at bottom of camcorder slide the opposite direction, then the whole front of the camcorder slides down and off of the camera. The battery pack goes in. the White plastic that covers both batteries Stays on them do not remove, but if there is a little plastic strip covering the connections remove that. I have the Ultra HD and it also takes regular AA batteries, and you may try that too to see if it will work your camera, if not, maybe something is wrong with the camera.
I am hoping you did not think the rechargeable batteries were already in the camcorder and they got thrown away with the packaging !!!! IF so, then use AA batteries instead. good luck. :)

Hello there,

The Flip Ultra should have a rechargeable AA battery pack.

To verify it is charging, the battery icon will be flashing lightning bolt. The red light goes from red to green the moment it is fully charged. It takes six hours before it gets a full charge via the USB.

Please let me know if this gave you enough information. Thank you for using FixYa.

Do you have standard batteries or the rechargeable batteries?

If standard, change them.

camcorders don't generally charge from pc's as the voltage is much higher.they won't switch on when the battery is low or i should below a certain voltage..try charging it using its charger it will probably be fine .good luck farr64[colin]

You can try charging with the cover off... or putting a fan on the unit. I was never able to get mine to charge the full 7 hours with or without the cover on or using the flip usb cable, wall unit or directly connected the computer. I went through two units and then just finally returned it to the retailer.

rep suggested i try the minoHD because of the internal battery. hmmmm... sorry I can't be of more help..

plug in your flip. Click start, control panel, adminitstrative tools, computer management, storage, disk management. right click on flipvideo. Choose 'change drive letter and path' Pick a drive letter, any letter that is not currently being used on your comp (try U). Tada it should read your flip

If you look on the bottom of the camera there is a button that slides from a locked to an unlocked position. Slide it to unlocked and then slide down the back of the camera (the side with the lens) there is a removeable rechargeable battery pack. Remove it for a moment and then put it back in. Try plugging back into the USB port. This should work.