HELP!! BROKEN FLASH! powershot A540

I have a Canon Powershot A540, probably only 2 or so years old, and as I have a dSLR now, I hardly use it very frequently - but just recently took it overseas and it was fine - the last couple of weeks i have been using it at night just on auto with auto flash and it will not shoot!! i have to take the flash off to even take a picture but of course this is not a solution as i have the shutter open for seconds.

does anyone know what could be wrong with it? it works fine during the day without the flash but if anyone could think of anything?

thanks

I have this problem too! Found this after some research:

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …390&keycode=211​1&id=28799

It might be part of a recall...

I have the same exact problem with my A540 and I don't have the recalled spring. The camera otherwise works perfectly, but the flash often will not work, even with fresh batteries. Often, if flash is needed, the flash indicator blinks and the camera won't focus. Sometimes, though, it will work, so it probably means that a component isn't fried. After poking around on-line, I've come to the conclusion that these cameras are prone to a loose connection somewhere, possibly in the flash capacitor (no, not the flux capacitor). I recently tried gently banging the camera and then the flash worked. I've seen other people complain of this problem in other model Canons. See, e.g., http://www.digitalcame​ra-hq.com/digi...html?qid​=14581
Since this is not an isolated problem, this really seems to be a problem that Canon should fix, even past warranty. Canon merely offered to sell me one of three refurbished cameras I wasn't interested in through its "loyalty" program. While the camera is three years old, it is otherwise perfectly functional and I like it.