After I loaded the film, there is an error message flashing and an "E" on the display. I changed the aperture to the minimum (highest number), but that did nothing.

That's the Nikon error message for a lens with aperture ring set to something other than the minimum (i.e. highest number).
The camera insists on controlling the aperture ring, and to do so, the ring must be set to the minimum setting.
Unless it is a "G" lens, which has no aperture ring whatsoever.
The camera body sets the aperture of the lens wide open while auto-focusing, and displaying through the viewfinder. When it comes time to flip the mirror up and take a picture, the camera dials the aperture to the setting you (or the camera) have selected.

You haven't stated the exact Nikon model, but the error message usually applies to Nikon bodies with aperture control via the body. The message is telling you to set the lens to it's minimum aperture (highest number).

Your camera is telling you that the lens has not been set to it's minimum aperture.

As the camera body controls the aperture, the lens must be set to the minimum (highest number) aperture in order for the camera to be able to select any aperture between maximum and minimum.

If the lens is already set to minimum aperture then please report back for further options, but if my reply has solved your problem then please rate my answer.

Hello

Thank you for using FixYa for your problem

If you get an "E" after loading the film it means that the camera is still Empty and the film has not loaded properly. The most common cause is that the leader has not been pulled out enough past the red mark. I also like to place a sprocket hole on a sprocket tooth (I assume here that the N80 uses a sprocket drive system like other Nikons). When loaded properly the film should advance to frame #1.
Your "FEE" error is something else again and has nothing to do with the film. Apparently the film was properly loaded if you got that also. "FEE" is an aperture error which you get most commonly when you are in one of the auto modes (P or S) and you don't have the lens aperture set to the smallest aperture (largest number, usually f22). Set the aperture ring on the lens to the highest number.

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Thanks
Richard Scott
Technical Support
New Zealand

The blinking FEE message means the aperture ring is not set to minimum aperture (highest number). Turn the aperture ring to the highest number, and then find the aperture lock -- either a little slider or a button you press and turn. That will keep it from accidentally changing again.

If it's a D lens or similar, check that the lens is set to its minumum aperture (and locked) - ERR normally means that the lens is not at its minimum aperture.

If your lens is a G lens, then the camera is probably faulty.

The camera requires you to set your lens aperture at the minimum setting, usually orange coloured. I.E. f22 f32. Nikons control the aperture through the camera, not setting the ring manually like old style SLR's

Make sure the lens you are using on the camera is set to the minimum aperture setting. i.e. f22,f32 (highest f stop number)

You might want to check the position of the aperture ring on the lens. If it is not set at the highest number, ( IE smallest aperture, f22,f32 ), then the camera will display that error message

The "fEE" error indicates that the camera is not communicating with the lens. The lens may not be attached to the camera properly, or if it has an aperture ring, it may not be set to f22 (or the highest aperture number of the lens) - which is normally marked in orange. Select this aperture and lock it using the aperture locking switch to prevent this from occuring again. The fEE error message Set to f22, or the highest aperture number - normally marked in orange. Note the locking switch.