to change the battery all you should have to do is use a coin in the slot on the battery compartment and unscrew the cap,

so far as the bow being dryfired I would reccomend taking it to a proshop and having it checked out before you shoot it anymore, and would contact tenpoint to see if they will service it and it be covered under warrenty, Randy will prolly chime in on this when he gets back from hunting,