There is a flashing red light with a line between on canon ZR40 what does this mean

Press the DIGITAL EFFECTS and select D.EFFECT from the Digital Effects menu. If needed, you can find a copy of the User Manual on the Canon website:
Canon Support Drivers ZR40

yes for still photos

A failure to power up in camera mode indicates a problem with the lens. If the zoom or focus motors will not 'home' or 'initialize', the camera will continue to try endlessly.
If you mean that there is no picture but the camera runs otherwise normally (Beep, Start/stop, lights on, menu...), this is an Imager problem. Contact Canon about a repair. Canon may cover the repair for free.
Other things can cause it but this is most common.

The best solution is to send the product back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement. If you have a receipt for the product and its within the warranty period (1 year) they will do this free of charge. I can help you with the process.
Muzu

You can get the manual here. just scroll down till you see manuals.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=DownloadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=326&modelid=7501


Good luck and please rate

Hi . .  I downloaded the manual . . found I needed to replace the 3 volt lithium battery located on the underside of the hand grip for the zoom. Changed the battery . . . No red flashing icon in the viewfinder.
Cheers
Steve

The flashing "boat" in the middle of the viewfinder just means the button battery is dead. Camera will still work. It's the little pull-out light grey plastic thing that's next to the heel of your right hand when you're using the camera normally. You need a CR2025 cell.

Remove the battery.   Wait 10 seconds.  Put it back in and see if that resets it.

Checkout this manual(click here). it has everything that you ever need to know about your camera.

The battery is probably so dead it is using all the power from the wall supply.  Remove the battery, and run only from the wall supply.