Help with broken Canon IXUS 500

[popmorgangd]

Today I took out my old trusty Canon IXUS 500 digital camera.
I haven't used it for many months (I upgraded many months ago).
I charged the battery and fired it up. Everything seemed to work fine BUT

It behaves as though there was a dust cap on the lens i.e. no pic on the display.
Everything else on the display is fine - all the menus work.
The lens extends and the cover opens. The zoom works.
If I take a photo, the flash always goes off but the resulting picture is blank.

I feel I'll probably have to write the camera off but as a computer techie I am interested to know what the likely cause of such a failure is. I am unfamiliar with the innards of these cameras.

Can anyone suggest likely causes please?

I assume any sort of repair is out of the question so it's really a matter of interest.

Thank you

Pop

[raven38571]

It maybe the shutter sticking. Some people have this problem when they dont use there camera for long periods of time. I'm not sure what the correct way of fixing it is, but I'm sure someone will chime in soon.

[Erik_L]

maybe give it a light tap against a table while pressing the shutter, assuming the shutter mechanism is not altogether broken.

[popmorgangd]

Thank you Raven and Eric.
I don't see why it can have anything to do with the shutter?
There is no picture on the display BEFORE I even try to take a photograph!!
Could a shutter problem cause that?
Pop

[Jon]

Yes, if it's not opening at all.

[popmorgangd]

AH! OK. Understood.
Folks on another forum have suggested it may be the sensor has failed.
Time to get out the small screwdriver :)
It's well out of warranty (the camera!).
Thanks to all

Pop

[raven38571]

Be careful taking it apart. I have a camera in a ziploc bag that I can't get back together. Let us know how it goes.