My firmware is .15d so it must be the new firmware. I just ran a test again, and this time I took out the rechargeable batters, left them out for a few seconds, then replaced them...then held the power button on for about 4 seconds, and hooray...it powered right up. So I am hoping my initial problem came as a combination of the first set of batteries running down while I was reading, and my own inexperience

. So I thank the forum members for giving me a place here to turn to for answers

!
But the other problem does still exist...the battery indicator really does not move...at all. So I guess I will have to just change them when I think a reasonable amount of time has passed. Thanks again.