Hello, I am about to go to another country tomorrow morning and I would like to solve my numerous problems with my Nikon Coolpix 5400 as soon as possible. I have had this camera since the summer of 2004 and these problems seem to have risen after the winter of 2007. I only take pictures on vacations and on special occasions, so I haven't done anything bad or dangerous to harm the camera. Here are my problems listed below:

1. Strange initial set-up after turning on camera and going to ALL modes on mode dial EXCEPT the 'taking picture mode' and 'viewing pics mode' - When I try to go to 'WB," "ISO," "SET UP," "SCENE," and other modes on the mode dial, the AF button thats not part of the LCD screen flashes nonstop, and the LCD screen shows my flash mode, and other settings that normally appear when taking a picture, but also has a column of three brackets ([ ]) going down the center of the screen. One of the brackets of the same size appears on the left and right of the center bracket.

2. On "Scene" mode, there are no scenes to select from - I know that Coolpix 5400 should have a variety of different scenes to select from like Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night landscape, Museum, Fireworks show, and etc. but the strange set up I mentioned above only appears! And if I press the "Menu" button while on the "Scene" dial, I just get a list of "Metering, Continuous, BSS, Image adjustment, and etc." coming up. I have NO scenes to choose from.

3. After ONE picture is taken, then screen "blacks out" when I try to take another picture. It only revives when I press any random button. - Arguably the thing that is the MOST bothering and pressing concern while on a vacation. The only way I CAN take pictures is if I turn the camera off and then back on EVERY TIME I take 1 picture. If you could help me fix this problem, the others won't really matter.

4. On "Set Up" mode, the menu does not list the wrong items - When I turn to the "SET UP" dial on the mode dial of my camera, it first comes up with the strange initial set-up I mentioned in #1 of this list and ultimately lists "White Balance, Metering, BSS, etc" INSTEAD of "Language, Date, Folders, Monitor Options and etc" like it should be doing.

5. Distinct noise comes from camera - Comes AFTER I take the first picture, no time before. Sound does NOT come when I am viewing my pictures, but when I'm at any other mode in the mode dial, a faint "buzzing" noise comes from the camera.

6. Cannot use the down button/arrow at ALL - Especially bothersome when I want to move down after zooming in on a picture I took. Also annoying when going through the list of menu options. The right, left, and up arrows/buttons work fine.

These are all the problems I can list for my Nikon Coolpix 5400 camera right now, and please ask for clarification if necessary. Thank you so much for reading this; it's giving me so much trouble and anxiety. If you could help me in ANY way, I would be so thankful and do all I can to help you when you will need it!