K790a camera flash disabled?

Posted by angst
Hello,
I got this phone about 3-4 months ago, i'm not sure when this stopped working. but when i got it the flash worked no problem.

now as of a few weeks ago, when ever I try to use the camera, the flash does not work, the option to turn it on is no longer in the camera settings menu. but I can see a small icon with a lighting bult ( for the flash ) with a slash through it noting that it is disabled.

does any one know whats wrong ? and how I can re-enable the flash option on this phone?

thanks in advance for your time!

Posted by RLP06
If no one else has a better suggestion, I was suggest flashing the firmware, sounds like a software issue to me.

Posted by angst
hmm, i thought about that, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea, will I loose all my files/settings/phone numbers? I'm pretty sure that my contact numbers are stored on the SIM card though. also where can i download new fireware? I'm looking at the sony site now and can't seem to locate them?

thanks again!

Posted by RLP06
You can backup everything using My Phone Explorer, theres a sticky in this forum about it

Heres a firmware for you, search for a tutorial somewhere, I'm sure theres one on this site somewhere

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BUCI4X6W K800_CDA102568_207_R2A_GENERIC_CENT_EUROPE.zip
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZZMMZPCZ K800_R8BA024_FS_CENT_EUROPE_RED52.rar
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=S35KQL16 K800_R8BA024_MAIN_GENERIC_WI_RED52.rar

Posted by Coquito
As I can see, that firmware is for k800 and he has K790a.

@angst: Make sure the files you going to use for flashing your phone are especific for K790a or you can damage your phone.

another suggestion, if you still have warranty take it to a serivice center or the store where you bought it.

[ This Message was edited by: coquito on 2008-05-21 18:02 ]

Posted by RLP06
Sorry, was tabbing between windows,

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FI5153S0 K790_CDA102568_107_R4A_GENERIC_AMERICA_2.zip
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BMJTLNKQ K790_R6BC002_FS_AMERICA_2_RED52.rar
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=EOGEKX2P K790_R6BC002_MAIN_GENERIC_EV_RED52.rar

K790a or K790i firmware won't make a diff, the bands are built into GDFS, and flashing main and FS doesn't modify that.

Posted by Tigerente
Well,

I don't agree with the other ones who suppose to change the problem by making a firmware update.

I have two other ideas which might be better:

1. The 'bulb' indicates that you (or someone else) has changed the whitebalance-settings from 'automatic' to a specific profile. You can let the 'bulb' disappear by switching to settings -> whitebalance -> and select automatic.

2. When you're in picturemode you can switch the flash on / off / red-eye-reduction by settings-menu or by pressing the '*'-key. If both doesn't work AND you have no 'flash'-menu in the camera-settings, check if you're in picture-mode or video-mode. I suppose that reading your description of the problem, you have switched to videomode by accident and in videomode there's no flash-item in settings but some other thing like stabilisation or nightmode or mic. off.
When pressing the settings softkey what's named the first item in menu? "Activate picture-camera" or "active video-camera"? (I think it's called a bit different, but I actually have a german menu)
Just 'activate picture-camera' and I'm sure you can use your flash again.

Posted by angst
@Tigerente

thanks for your reply!

but I've tried all those settings, and yes the phone is indeed set to camera mode. and I've check the white balance, and thats set to auto. i'm not sure what else I can do here. seems very odd that the option to turn it back on is completely gone.

Posted by RLP06
As I said in my first post: flash it IF no one else has a better suggestion

Posted by angst
above you said:

"search for a tutorial somewhere"

I've downloaded the files, but can't seem to find any tutorials on how to actually update the firmware for the phone, I would assume that I need some software to apply the fireware,

could someone perhaps point me in the right direction?

thanks again everyone for all your help on this!

Posted by angst
ok, I got it working, just read another post, and someone had suggested doing a "Master Reset", this corrected the issue, and everything is working once again!

thanks for all your help guys!
cheers!