600D not detecting Magic Lantern

[steer_rally]

Hi all
New member here from Wales, UK.

Canon 600D, no modifications, firmware 1.0.2 (factory installed)

Having finally decided to bite the bullet, I've spent most of today trawling this site trying to install Magic Lantern on my camera, but despite my efforts it remains exactly as it left the factory. I have tried any number of different workflows, using 3 different SD cards, downloaded and extracted the ML files at least 3 times (on the off chance that something got corrupted somewhere along the way) and followed at least half a dozen videos on Youtube, but to no avail.
Regardless of what I do I always get the message "Firmware update program - Update file cannot be found. Please check the memory card and reload the battery and try again".

So in desperation I'm asking for help before I admit defeat.

Relevant information:
Kingston 2gb SD card
SanDisk 2gb SD card
SanDisk Extreme Pro 16gb SDHC card

1. Downloaded and unzipped ML 2.3
2. Formatted card in laptop (built-in card reader)
3. Formatted card in camera (low-level)
4. Put card back into laptop, and copy across ML files (into root)
5. Put card back into camera, go to firmware update, and get the above error message.

I have tried the above steps using all three cards, I have tried variations of the above steps, including:
deleting all redundant .fir files (for other cameras)
Swapping over steps 2 & 3
I have tried overwriting the current firmware with 1.0.1, just to see if it would work (same result, got the above error message)
Used EOSCard to make the card bootable
Used EOSCard to add the ML files to the card
More variations that I can't remember now.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be causing this, and what I might try to resolve the issue.

Thanks in advance

[chris_overseas]

Sounds like the Canon firmware on your camera isn't happy. Try reflashing the Canon .fir file to get rid of the error.

[dmilligan]

You downloaded the stable version right? Is there a .fir on your card?

[steer_rally]

You downloaded the stable version right? Is there a .fir on your card?

Hi, and thanks for the reply.
Yes, I downloaded the stable version, and the card has the file 600d-102.fir

[steer_rally]

Sounds like the Canon firmware on your camera isn't happy. Try reflashing the Canon .fir file to get rid of the error.

Hi Chris
I thought that too, and tried overwriting the factory install with another copy of 1.0.2 which I downloaded from Canon site. The camera wouldn't recognize the file, giving me the same error as above. I used a freshly formatted card, with just the Canon firmware file on it (and the two folders which the camera put on the card), but no go I'm afraid.

Just had a thought - I can't remember whether I tried this or not, but I will try reflashing the camera with the canon .fir using a card which has just been formatted in the computer, i.e. not in the camera, so it will be completely blank except for the fir file. I will report back.
THanks

[steer_rally]

Okay, I have just formatted an SD card in the laptop, copied just the latest Canon firmware onto it, tried a firmware update, and got the same message as I've been getting all day - Update file cannot be found etc etc.

Interestingly when I then put the card back into the laptop it now has the two EOS folders on there, i.e MISC and DCIM - presumably the camera automatically created these on startup?

I'm now wondering whether this is a fault with my camera? It looks as though it's not related to ML at all, since the camera won't even see Canon firmware files on the card? Or have I missed something obvious (likely)?

Any ideas gratefully received....

[dmilligan]

it does sound like there is something wrong, you could try updating the official canon firmware via the eos utility

[steer_rally]

it does sound like there is something wrong, you could try updating the official canon firmware via the eos utility

Tried this, got all excited when it looked like it was going to work, but it just gave me the same old error message.
Thanks for the suggestion, though
Grasping at straws now, but would it be worthwhile trying again but using a different computer - start from scratch download files, format card etc?

[steer_rally]

Well, I've been trying again today to install ML on my 600D, and the camera still refuses to see any firmware or ML files.
I've now tried two different laptops (one running Win7 and the other running Win7 64), I've tried 3 different cards (a couple of 2Gb and a 16Gb). I have followed the install instructions to the letter. I've tried various permutations of various workflows, using both computers and all 3 cards, including:

I've tried rolling back to 1.0.1 (the camera came with 1.0.2, but I thought if I could get the older firmware on there, I may then be able to update to the latest one, and then on to ML), but I get the same message "Update file cannot be found".

I've used Eos Card to format the card(s)

I've tried using Eos Utility to trigger the update (and I've used it to try rolling back the firmware), but this would seem to be impossible, since when browsing for the file (in Eos utility), none of the ML files are visible.

These are the contents of the card as navigated to in the card reader:


But if I put the card into the camera, this is what I see (even the ML folder is invisible):


And if I try to update the firmware using Eos utility, when it asks for the update file, again all but the two "Canon" folders are invisible:


Should the files be visible when the card is in the camera?

Thanks again for any replies.

[Walter Schulz]

First step to remedy the mess: Download Canon's firmware 1.0.2 as described, extract contents, use EOSutility to install Canon's firmware. I think there is no use messing around with other steps just to keep yourself busy.

[steer_rally]

Hi Walter
I have tried to update the Canon firmware 1.0.2 (having downloaded it from the Canon website), using EOSUtility. The problem is that the camera doesn't see the file.
From memory, this is what happens:
1. Download Canon firmware 1.0.2
2. Extract contents - file name CCF11102.fir
3. Format card in camera - low level
4. Put card in card reader, copy CCF11102.fir onto root of card
5. Put card back in camera, connect camera to laptop using usb
6. switch on camera, EOSUtility opens, start firmware update procedure
7. EOSUtility opens a window looking for firmware update file, I navigate to the card (which is in the camera), but the file cannot be seen (see third screenshot in my previous post), and so the update procedure cannot be completed.

[Walter Schulz]

Then let EOSutility load the file from your computer's HDD/SSD ...

[steer_rally]

Hi Walter, and thanks again for your help, and for your patience - I appreciate that this isn't perhaps a Magic Lantern issue exactly, but it is preventing me from installing ML on my camera, so I am grateful for any assistance or suggestions.

This is what happens when I try to install the firmware from the hard drive using Eos Utility (I will outline each step I take, in the hope that someone can tell me if I'm doing anything wrong):

*The camera came pre-installed with firmware 1.0.2
*Camera settings are cleared before attempting firmware update or ML install

1. Format card in camera (low level)
2. Connect camera via usb (the newly-formatted card is still in the camera)
3. Start up Eos Utility, go to Camera Settings/Remote Shooting, then to the Set-up Menu tab
4. Click on Firmware 1.0.2 - EOSUtility displays "Current version is 1.0.2 Continue Updating the Firmware?
5. Click on OK to the above
6. Window opens (on the computer), looking for a .fir file. I have both the 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 firmware in a folder on my desktop, so I navigate there.
7. Select CCF11102.fir in this desktop folder
8. Window pops up (on computer): EOS Utility. "Updating the camera firmware 1.0.2 --> 1.0.2" I click on OK
9. New pop-up window on computer appears, telling me "To start the update, press the SET button on the camera. Watch the status on the back monitor of the camera......." etc.

So far, so good, BUT - while the computer is displaying this last popup, the camera screen is now showing "Update file cannot be found, Please check the memory card and reload the battery and try again".
Needless to say, pressing the SET button on the camera does nothing, and I have to pull the battery to get rid of this message.

Sorry for the long convoluted post, but I hope someone can help me get to the bottom of the problem.

Also, I have tried the above with 1.0.1, and with the ML fir file for the 600D

Cheers

[tupp]

Can you try an md5sum of the CCF11102.FIR file?  I get  195defc3eef7cff7fa2317f7d8ee19aa.

Also, don't know if this matters, but the letters in the name of the firmware file from Canon are capitalized.

In addition, what are the file systems of the 2GB and 16GB cards, as formatted by the camera (just curious)?

[Datadogie]

Do not connect camera to computer.

Put canon's fir file on SD card.
put card in camera.
go to "M" (for manual)
Scroll to update fir.
update.

Format SD card in camera.
Back to computer. Put all ML files in card.
Put SD back to camera.
Still in "M" update fir again.

Enjoy.

[steer_rally]

Can you try an md5sum of the CCF11102.FIR file?  I get  195defc3eef7cff7fa2317f7d8ee19aa.

Also, don't know if this matters, but the letters in the name of the firmware file from Canon are capitalized.

In addition, what are the file systems of the 2GB and 16GB cards, as formatted by the camera (just curious)?

Hi Tupp, and thanks for your input.

md5sum of the CCF11102.fir file gives me 195defc3eef7cff7fa2317f7d8ee19aa (identical to yours).

The firmware file name is indeed capitalised on my system.

The camera formats the 2Gb SD cards to FAT and the 16 Gb SDHC card to FAT32. This is confirmed by both Windows Explorer and EOSCard.

[steer_rally]

Do not connect camera to computer.

Put canon's fir file on SD card.
put card in camera.
go to "M" (for manual)
Scroll to update fir.
update.

Format SD card in camera.
Back to computer. Put all ML files in card.
Put SD back to camera.
Still in "M" update fir again.

Enjoy.

Hi Datadogie
Thanks for your reply.
The problem I'm having is that no matter what I try, the camera freezes each time I try to update fir. I've just followed your instructions exactly, but when I try to update, the camera freezes with the message that the file cannot be found. I then have to pull the battery out.

The camera definitely sees the files, because if I try the update without any fir files on the card (I know, a pointless exercise), I get a different message: "Memory card containing firmware is required for update", which I would expect, obviously. So the camera does see the fir file, it just doesn't seem to know what to do with it.

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks to all who've tried to help so far - I would like to get to the bottom of the problem, and would like to get ML installed on the camera, so please keep the suggestions coming

[Walter Schulz]

Format card in cam
Remove card
Insert into cardreader
Copy Canon's FIR (and only it!) to card
Remove card
Insert into cam
Run firmware update process

Post results.

[steer_rally]

Format card in cam
Remove card
Insert into cardreader
Copy Canon's FIR (and only it!) to card
Remove card
Insert into cam
Run firmware update process

Post results.

As soon as I hit <OK> at the firmware update screen, the camera freezes on the following message:
"Firmware update program
Update file cannot be found. Please check the memory card and reload the battery and try again"
In this state the camera will not respond to any buttons, or the on/off switch, battery must then be pulled to restart the camera.

[Walter Schulz]

Canon's FIR is the only file in the root directory (beside DCIM and MISC), all cam settings set to factory defaults (including Fn)?
If so: I'm out of ideas.

[steer_rally]

Canon's FIR is the only file in the root directory (beside DCIM and MISC), all cam settings set to factory defaults (including Fn)?
If so: I'm out of ideas.

Yep! Yes to all the above
To be honest, I'm fairly sure that I've tried just about everything possible, followed all the instructions I've found to the letter. The camera works properly in all aspects other than it just will not update firmware (and thus will not install ML). The camera was purchased around a year and a half ago and no modifications have been made. Is it possible that the camera could somehow be set to a state where it will not read firmware files?
Grasping at straws now.

[tupp]

Have you tried another SDHC card that is 4GB or greater (fat32), other than your 16GB card?

Also, you might try copying the firmware file to an SD card, and then delete the firmware on your computer (completely delete it -- in the trash or anywhere else on your computer).  Then, using your card reader, do an md5sum of the firmware file on the card.  This test should make sure that there is no strange file linking occurring, while also making sure that there is no corruption when you copy files to the SD cards.

Just curious, in what mode is your camera when you try to upgrade the firmware?

[tupp]

Also, is your file manager set to read hidden files?  If so and if your computer is somehow creating files and folders with attributes set to "hidden," then you would see the files through your file manager and card reader, but your camera might not see the files.

Furthermore, do you have any automatic encrypting functions running on your machines?

[steer_rally]

Have you tried another SDHC card that is 4GB or greater (fat32), other than your 16GB card? No, but I will find a 4Gb card tomorrow and give it a go

Also, you might try copying the firmware file to an SD card, and then delete the firmware on your computer (completely delete it -- in the trash or anywhere else on your computer).  Then, using your card reader, do an md5sum of the firmware file on the card.  This test should make sure that there is no strange file linking occurring, while also making sure that there is no corruption when you copy files to the SD cards.
Hopefully I have attached a jpeg showing 3 checksums. The last 2 are of the ML firmware and then the Canon 1.0.2 following your suggested test, with the files on the card in the reader. Each file copied in turn on to the card then deleted from the computer before checksum performed. I'm not sure how I can verify that these results are valid??

Just curious, in what mode is your camera when you try to upgrade the firmware?M

[steer_rally]

Also, is your file manager set to read hidden files?  I'm running Win7 64bit, and explorer is set to "show hidden files"If so and if your computer is somehow creating files and folders with attributes set to "hidden," then you would see the files through your file manager and card reader, but your camera might not see the files.Well, this sounds as though it may somehow be happening. At no point does the camera "see" the fir files on the card. If I try browsing the card using windows explorer, whilst it's in the camera (usb connection), all I can see are the Misc and DCIM folders. Even though I know that there are a number of other files on there, including ML firmware, autoexec.bin and the ML folder, I can't see them when the card is in the camera. The same happens if I use EOSUtility to browse the card while it's in the camera. If I put the card in the card reader, all the files are visible. I'm pretty sure that this is where the problem lies, but have no idea what to do about it. I've even tried using another laptop, completely different make, running 32bit Windows, with all the files downloaded from scratch, with the same result.

Furthermore, do you have any automatic encrypting functions running on your machines? Not that I'm aware of.