How do I use my Minolta XG-1 Camera?

I just found the ancient thing the other day, and I haven't used it before. I have a roll of film that I bought, and I've been trying to load it in, but I don't think it's working. I have no experience with these cameras whatsoever. I just replaced the batteries in it, and it's not seeming to turn on. Basically, I need a complete overview of the device, and how to...

1) Load the film
2) Turn it on
3) Take pictures.


Whoever helps me most gets best answer, of course.


Thanks,

Conor

well i have a Minolta X-700 and a Minolta SR T 101 (i don't really use that one its super old)
pretty much all film cameras that are completely manual load the same.
there is a plain circular object at the top. it has a rectangular piece you can lift up in it's center.
pull up up the rectangular piece so the circle raises up. this makes the back of your camera open so you can load your film.
now the use of the circle: put the canister of film in the empty space right under the circle you pulled up. then push the circle back down to lock in the canister.
next you take the tail of your film and pull it over to the spool on the other side. put the tail between one of the notches. and pull the lever above it. that will turn the spool holding your film in the camera. (if the lever does not move click the button to take a picture and then it should move)

close the back of the camera and make sure its on and take pictures. make sure to read the light meter on the inside so you can adjust the shutter speed and f stop. for learning how to do that you should look at the manual if you have it or you can look it up online.

after taking pictures there is a small button next to the batteries. push that in and then spin the rectangular piece on the circle the until the film is rolled back into its canister. never expose your film to light. that will destroy your pictures. so you need to load your film back into the camera with the camera still closed.

i forgot turning it on. on the top or the bottom you'll see a button that says "on, off" and another setting you don't need to worry about. just turn the button to on. you actually do need to turn it.

Here ya go:

http://www.lensinc.net/manuals/XG-1.pdf

Hope this helps.
V