Camera won't power on with fresh battery or cable

Did you remove the USB cable? As long as there is an USB cable in the camera, you can't power it up.
Then you still have to check if the battery is still in good order. Batteries do have a limited time of life. And you only can be sure it is charged, when it works in another (same model) camera.

What model Vivitar camera? What type(s) of batteries?

If the camera is within warranty, return it to where you bought it. Common fault with a few different brands, to do with a lens open sensor within the lens assembly itself. Maybe allow the camera to dischage without the battery for a few hours and see does it power on with a new battery. Also chack the battery, if it has bubbled it a dud, and check the battery contacts within the battery compartment.

You need to get fresh batteries in hope it will power on.

Make sure the camera is on, and the selector is on the 'setup' spot. Batteries should be fresh, and a memory stick should be in the camera.
What does the manual say?
You can also have the computer search for recently attached hardware.

Things to check first for a camera that won't turn on are battery contact points, and micro switches that are located on the battery and memory card doors. Troubleshooting tips on other things that need to be checked may be seen here. These tips won't work for every case, but they're worth a try.

If it sat a long time with old batteries, make sure they did not leak and corrode the contacts in the camera. Look at them and clean if necessary.

Here are the steps for V1223 no power problems: 1. Clean the battery contacts. a. Remove the battery/batteries and the memory card from your camera, then wipe the battery contacts with a soft, clean cloth. b. Reinstall the battery/batteries into your camera. Please make sure that you are installing a fresh/ fully charged battery c. Turn the camera on. 2. Without the memory card, turn your camera on. (If it works then it?s your memory card that is faulty) 3. Please test with the a different battery If you do not have access to another battery Try these steps instead: Please take the battery out of the camera. b. Insert the charger into the unit from the main socket and turn the camera on. If the camera works you will need to replace the battery. If you camera doesn?t switch on you will need to order a no power repair with KODAK or a new cable. In order to organise your repair or Trade up please Contact KODAK: http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=14563&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=3490

The camera doesn't charge though the camera is on. It only charges when the camera is off. Here are the steps for no power problems: 1. Clean the battery contacts. a. Remove the battery/batteries and the memory card from your camera, then wipe the battery contacts with a soft, clean cloth. b. Reinstall the battery/batteries into your camera. Please make sure that you are installing a fresh/ fully charged battery c. Turn the camera on. 2. Without the memory card, turn your camera on. (If it works then it?s your memory card that is faulty) 3. Please test with the a different battery If you do not have access to another battery Try these steps instead: Please take the battery out of the camera. b. Insert the charger into the unit from the main socket and turn the camera on. If the camera works you will need to replace the battery. If you camera doesn?t switch on you will need to order a no power repair with KODAK or a new cable.

When I plug the USB cable in & have the camera on, the camera says busy & does not detect on my computer.