No flash on P7100 with PSAM

I no longer can activate the flash on my P7100 when using any of the PSAM mode settings. I just get a flash symbol with the slash through it in the viewfinder.

Flash unit is up.

Full battery.

Flash works in the green Auto mode dial position and in some of the Scene modes.

There is no response when I hit the flash symbol on the upper part of the multi selectorl dial, tho this works when mode dial is in green Auto position. I have set the flash to auto while in the green Auto mode.

I have gone thru all the menus looking for something to reset. Flash control in menu is set to Auto, not to Off.

Couldn't find any solutions in forum search or Google.

Since flash works as expected in some modes, I don't think that it is an electrical continuity issue with the flash unit or multi selector dial.

Is there some obscure setting that I have enabled that causes this? Leaving on a 6 week sailing trip in 5 days, would like to use flash!

Suggestions?

Many thanks,

Bruce