I am REALLY growing to hate the 5D

I doubt that the brand of batteries will make a difference she she tried the AA batteries as well.

My only advice is to download and read the user guide if you don't have it in hardcopy format. That will tell you how to remove the Lithium internal battery. Leave it out for ten minutes. Make sure all other batteries are also removed. If possible, use genuine Canon batteries, as many 3rd party batteries do not conform properly to the correct dimensions, and if they are ever so slightly smaller, they will NOT make proper contact. This also makes me ask what type of AA batteries did you use? If you did not use Alkalines, do SO. Non Alkaline batteries do not (as a general rule) conform to the ISO standards for the AA size. Again, the batteries will not make proper contact. If possible, remove the internal battery and replace it with a new one.

Failing all of the above, repeat the process without using the grip. If that fails, return to Canon is really your only option...

Dave

That really doesn't sound like a problem that can be solved without a tech, unfortunately. Good luck!

TMR Design wrote in post #4030697
The OP says the first thing he tried is without the grip. The only thing I can suggest it to replace the internal battery. Otherwise I'm afraid you may have to find the cash to get it to Canon for repair.

Really???, I re read it and still do not see where she said that.

I've had bad SterlingTeks before...

StarFinder wrote in post #4030484
I have tried all the following combinations:

- Each one of my three batteries, inserted in the camera itself, no grip.

dmwphoto wrote in post #4031151
Really???, I re read it and still do not see where she said that.

I thought it was pretty obvious

Ok, I see it now.....

One of the problem my friend encountered with his 5D is make sure you shut the unit down before changing lenses, the contactd on the camera and the lens tend to cross contact as you remove or replace the lens from the body, this gives a problem for the circiuts to figure out and the unit(camera) will freeze up. To remedy this you will have to have the internal battery removed and replaced and this will set all back to default. Hope this was of some help. Please dont ask for further info as I am just a newbie myself and use a 30D and he passed this info along to me so as not to have this problem. A little long winded, but I hope you get what he was referring to.

I had a problem with my first 5D that sounds like yours. Open the CF card door and look at the top-left corner of the door as you look at it from the inside; you'll see a small protrusion. This protrusion (tab) fits into a hole at the top edge of the CF area...inside this hole is a microswitch that signals to the processor in the camera that the door is closed properly. On my first camera, this switch was toast, and the camera appeared to be dead no matter what I tried. You can test this by leaving the door open, turning the camera on, and very gently pushing into the hole with the end of a wooden/plastic toothpick or the like. If the camera springs back to life (i.e., the display on the top comes on), that is your problem. The only fix is to send it to Canon.

HTH

Don't know if this is relevent to the 5D but i have read of power up problems on the 30D related to the Cf door \cover either not closing properly or the small switch that the door presses when closed being broken,

Worth a look ?

EDIT
Sorry just spotted waltn's post after posting this,

I have some 3rd party batteries: Sterlingtek and what not. My experience has been that they NEVER perform to spec. They'll claim higher wattage-hour: total BS I say. My original Canon batteries ALWAYS outperform them. Well, paying more really makes a difference.

thw wrote in post #4031256
I have some 3rd party batteries: Sterlingtek and what not. My experience has been that they NEVER perform to spec. They'll claim higher wattage-hour: total BS I say. My original Canon batteries ALWAYS outperform them. Well, paying more really makes a difference.

My experience is just the opposite. I use SterlingTek batteries in my 400D and have never had a problem. But, I have heard of production variations in some batteries from them which can cause problems like the OP is describing. I've heard about some models differing in shape ever so slightly from original Canon batteries and easily corrected with a little shaving with a sharp hobby knife or razor. Meanwhile, I certainly recommend switching to Canon brand batteries and when you get a chance, call SterlingTek directly. They may already know about the problem and have corrected it. In my experience, they are a friendly company offering excellent customer service. Toll free number: 1-877-742-1700.

My Sterlingtek batteries perform well but not up to spec and although they have a higher rating than the original Canon battery, I get slightly less life out of them. Battery life is still excellent and I have 2 spares. For the price I can't complain at all. If battery life was not good I certainly would complain.

My good Sterlings are ok. They're not as good as the Canons with lower rating, but for every 1 Canon I can buy 4 Sterlings.

Ain't that the truth. 2 Sterlingteks for under $30 shipped.