20 Most Recent Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W1 Digital Camera Questions & Answers

This seems to be a commonn problem for Sony and has been addressed several times in this forum: http://www.fixya.com/support/t119207-view_finder Please read all the solutions - basically, looks like the problem is with a loose connection and the fixes range from cleaning the contacts to giving a whack to the camera!

I have several of these little Sony cameras and had the same problem with the battery door not latching on or locking up. If you want an easy fix, just look for your camera model number on Ebay and some sellers actually sell the complete battery door. You can also buy a For Parts Only camera with the same model number and use the battery door making sure it is intact of course? I doubt you can find or buy a battery door through Sony any more, a repair shop would charge an arm and a leg for such repair and that is if they even have extra parts for a camera that old? I fixed one of mine by cutting two small pieces of a sewing needle, yes i know it souds corny and all but it worked. What usually breaks on these camera battery doors is 2 small tiny plastic tabs that that latch on to 2 tiny tabs attached to the camera body, when the door tabs break off theres no way the door can lock and so it just hangs open. I decided to measure 2 pieces of metal, more like rods from a needle and heated the tip and pierced through the battery door matching those tabs underneath. You do have to be very patient and careful with this as you don't want to miss the angle where the original tabs use to be. I did fix my camera even though you can see 2 tiny metal rod inserted through the battery door but it held up real good and still working.

SErvice manuals for digital cameras are not much valuable than spare parts like Shutter Assy, Main PCB,LCD,CCD & SOME GEARS PAPAJI INDIA PVT LTD 91-11-25551438

You don't need a driver.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

You don't need any special software.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

Try NOT connecting your camera to your computer.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.

you must press a button above the menu button

I'm having the same problem with my DSC-W1 camera. I dropped my camera and the battery door latches broke.
I found a replacement door on Ebay for $9.95
I followed the instructions in the description and easily removed the broken door from my camera. Now i'm just waiting on the new door to arrive so I could slide the new door in.
I hope this was helpful.

Here's the seller I bought the door from. Hopefully the seller has more doors. =) :

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-DSC-W1-battery-door-silver-battery-cover-lid_W0QQitemZ110250995036QQihZ001QQcategoryZ107892QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



In addtion, I found the last two posts on this forum very helpful:
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/digital-cameras/sony-cybershot-dscw1_question.html?qid=2382

Good Luck! =)

the two little clips that hold it closed are more than likely broken off or damaged. you need to replace the battery door.

yep, happens to most all of them eventually. mine has broken twice. i had it repaired at the camera shop and the next time i put in new batteries it broke again. i'm sticking to a piece of tape. i've seen you can buy the replacement door online and i've seen the instructions for replacing it yourself via a google search.

as far as i know you can't.

the little clip(s) have broken. you can take it to a camera shop for repair or find the part and instructions online and do it yourself. mine has broken twice. i'm using a piece of tape.

a camera repair shop can fix it but it's pricey. mine has broken for the second time. you can find the replacement door and instructions on the internet to fix it yourself. i'm looking to see if anyone makes a replacement that is sturdier since the original is so cheap and just breaks again. i'm sticking with the tape for now since i have a new canon that is tons better.

CHeck for FREE in this link Download the PDF of the Owner's manual, User guide, Operating Instructions for Cyber-shot DSC-W1 (English)

I hope this helps, abd just keep in mind that your feedback is important and I'll appreciate your time and consideration if you leave some testimonial comment. Have a nice weekend and thanks for using FixYa.

Jose.

Lens errors (access errors on Sony's) 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 ...Here are some troubleshooting steps that you can try that may (or may not) correct it. They only seem to work for less than 40% of the lens errors, but if the camera is out of warranty (or repair cost approaches that of the camera), they're worth that try. Some of the later steps do involve some risk to the camera, so carefully weigh your options before deciding to conduct them: