My camera died!! Need help!

[Jyoti]

Had ML for over a week.
Canon 7D. 2.0.3
Everything seemed ok.
This morning I made a few videos, plugged the camera (with a usb) to the computer, copied a few of the files, unplugged it and several minutes later realised that it's not turning on at all. Nothing. Nada. No lights, no nothing.

What can I do?

I did just unplug the usb without safe disconnection (though I've never done that in my life and nothing ever happened before).

Please help me.

[Walter Schulz]

Remove battery, remove card.
Load battery.
Insert battery. Don't insert card.
Startup cam.
Report results.

[Datadogie]

Did you accidently cut the exe file and paste.  Check your card and make sure all the files are their.
Remember do not delete the files from your camera as when you first loaded it onto the card there is a hidden file telling canon to boot from card. Therefore if no exe file it will hang and hang looking for it.

[hjfilmspeed]

+1 on what these guys said. Don't panic. Next time don't transfer via USB. I have never used the USB. Get yourself a good card reader

[budafilms]

and charge the battery.

[Jyoti]

Walter:

Remove battery, remove card.
Load battery.
Insert battery. Don't insert card.
Startup cam.
Report results.

I've done these things. There is no change.
Nothing happens. The power light doesn't even turn on.


Datadogie:
I don't know.
I can't see any exe file.
I will include pictures of what files I can see on the card


hjfilmspeed... I am panicking


* I don't understand how to include pictures. I'm clicking on the "attachments and other options" but there is nothing there to include an attachment with.

Basically, I see these folders:
DCIM
MISC
ML

and the files:
AUTOEXEC.BIN
ML-SETUP.FIR

Inside the ML folder I see these folders and files:
CROPMKS
DATA
FONTS
LOGS
MODULES
SCRIPTS
SETTINGS

DOCS
README

[Jyoti]

should I re-copy the original ML installation files?

[Ottoga]

What happens if you turn the camera on without a CF card inserted?

[Walter Schulz]

Do you have only one battery? Are you able to test this battery in another cam?
Or try to get hold of a second one and test.

[Jyoti]

@ Ottoga
Nothing happens.
Absolutely nothing.
Like I said, even the power light doesn't turn on.

@Walter
I have three batteries, I charged and tried all of them.

[Walter Schulz]

Last resort:
Backup Autoexec.bin and copy the one found in 1) Portable display Test http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=2296.0 to card.
- Insert battery and close compartment door
- Insert card and close compartment door

If there is any kind of activity: Good!
If there is not: Looks pretty much like hardware failure.

[Jyoti]

JESUS

It's ALIVE!

Yes, something is happening but I don't know what to do now.

It says:
Magic Lantern Rescue
----------------------
- camera: 7d
-camera model: canon eos 7d
-firmware version: /
-IMG naming: 100EOS7d/IMG_0000.JPG
-Artist:
-Copyright:
User PS:
Boot flags: FIR=0 BOOT=-1 RAM=-1 UPD=-1
ROMBASEADDR: 0xFF010000
-DONE!



What do I do now?
Turn it on and off?
Reinstall somehow?
Remove ML?

[a1ex]

It means we can at least investigate it.

However, because of the dual processor, this is going to be difficult.

Before continuing, please copy ML/LOGS/ROM*.BIN from your ML card to PC if you haven't done so when installing.

Do you have access to a second Canon camera that runs ML? I'd like to try this first: http://magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=13070

[Jyoti]

No I don't have any other cameras.

So should I turn the camera off, connect the card to the computer, copy the files you sad to... and then what?

[Walter Schulz]

You can't switch off the cam. You have to remove battery and remove card. As long as this debug autoexec.bin is located on the card it will do the display test. Rename or delete autoexec.bin and copy ML's "normal" autoexec.bin to card.

Backup those ROM files (don't link them here, that may be illegal because they belong Canon) and send a1ex a PM.

[Jyoti]

OK.
I simply copied ALL the files to my computer, copied the autoexec.bin file from the original folder of the ML firmware download (i.e, not the "corrupt one" from the camera) and the camera is "fully" operational now.

It's odd though... it look like the original Canon firmware only appears to have less options and although it still shows the firmware ver as: 2.0.3-mi-nightly.2 I can't access ML at all even when clicking on the trash can.

what will be the safest way to continue?
Should I wait for you to analyze the files (I will contact Alex) or can I somehow re-flash / install the original 2.0.3 or 2.0.5 Canon firmware?

BTW... when this is over I'm buying you guys a beer ;-)

[Jyoti]

OK

Something else is going on.
The battery was blinking as though it's about to die (which I thought was odd since I charged them) so I turned it off and replaced the battery and it did the same.

I just checked my batteries by plugging them to the charger and according to the charger they are all almost fully charged...
This is weird.

[a1ex]

Are you in M mode? Can you start the camera without a card now?

If yes, I'd say clear Canon settings and check if the camera is operating normally without ML (take a picture, record a movie, check some menus).

[Walter Schulz]

Tip: Power switch does not switch off power supply. If there is something to test *always* remove battery and insert it before going on.

[Walter Schulz]

@a1ex: Would it help trying to start in C1-C3 mode?

[a1ex]

Yes, it may help.

[Jyoti]

Yes I'm in M mode.

Since the whole thing with the batteries seems a bit odd if not straight on fishy I'm going to give them some time on the charger before attempting to use the camera.
I'll write back in 30-60 minutes with an update

[axelcine]

Quote reply #16: "Something else is going on.
The battery was blinking as though it's about to die"

Was battery blinking like mad when in the charger? If so, then maybe you could look here...:

http://nofilmschool.com/2013/10/canon-product-advisory-lp-e6-dslr-battery

[hjfilmspeed]

+1 all ML users should read this ^^^^

[Jyoti]

OK...

Put a fully charged canon battery in.
Took a few pictures.
Made a short video (of my lamp).
Used the auto mode.

Seems to be working however...
The camera turns on and off a lot slower.

What should I do now?
Should I format the card and re-install ML?
Do I first need to reinstall Canon 2.0.3 ?
Should I check other functions first?

[Walter Schulz]

Do you own a decent cardreader? Try running some benchmark test.
Windows: CrystalDiskMark or ATTO.
OS X: Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.

Compare with ML's benchmark. Photo mode, global draw off. Debug tab -> Benchmark -> Card R/W benchmark (5 min)
Press play button after benchmark start.

[Jyoti]

I have a card reader by Anker. It's quite old I guess. Don't know what qualifies as decent so can't really answer that.

I will try some benchmarks today.

My main concern right now is how to proceed though.

[Walter Schulz]

Decent CF-card reader = Supports UDMA-7. Has an interface on par with UDMA-7: USB 3.x, IEEE 1394–2008 (,,FireWire S3200"), ExpressCard, eSATA ...
Look at http://www.cameramemoryspeed.com/reviews/card-readers/
I'm using Kingston FCR-HS3 and think about replacing it with FCR-HS4.

[Jyoti]

To be honest I had no idea it matters.
I just assumed it's simple file transferring. I wasn't aware that there are differences.

My CF card is UDMA-7 by Kingston, 64gig but like I said I didn't know the card reader needs to be "special".

[Walter Schulz]

The only company I know having a disclaimer about cardreader compatibility is Komputerbay. Their CF-cards may get permanently damaged if used in cardreaders not compatible with UDMA-7.
Other manufacturers may not have this problem.

[Jyoti]

i also have this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Media-Reader-Writer-Grey/dp/B00007LSWN/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1453630608&sr=8-24&keywords=belkin+card+reader

if it's any better

[Walter Schulz]

This reader is slow as hell (USB 1.1 -> 1.5 MByte/s theoretical bandwidth) and direct transfer cam->PC will actually do better. And outdated as hell, too.
But a decent USB 3.x cardreader will do about 150 MByte/s (9-10 x cam's USB speed) if connected to USB 3.x interface and card is up to this speed. And most UDMA-7 cards are.

[Jyoti]

Juts came back from a park.
Took pictures, made videos (with ML)...

So what should I do?
Leave it as is?
Re-install ML?

How do I prevent these problems from happening again?
Not copy from camera but get a card reader?

BTW, can you format the card via the cam or not?
Otherwise if I have hundreds to thousands of pictures how are you supposed to delete them? Go one by one and delete manually?

[Jyoti]

I live in London.
If you could tell me a few of the best card readers to buy from Amazon UK I'll just buy one 8^)

[Walter Schulz]

So what should I do?

Doing some benchmark runs first and contacting Kingston support. Ask for card replacement.
Cardreader: http://pricespy.co.uk/product.php?p=3100126

[Jyoti]

Crystaldisk:
550.9 | 533.6
218.9 | 204.4
513.9 | 507.8
32.48 | 57.60

[Walter Schulz]

Fine. You tested your SSD.

[Jyoti]

At the risk of sounding even more silly... then I don't know how to do it because when I choose it from the folder option and test while the light of the card reader blinks to indicate that it's running nothing happens no matter how long it lasts.

[Walter Schulz]

I think this card has left us. Contact Kingston and ask for replacement.

[DeafEyeJedi]

I have two of the Kingston FCR-HS4 which has been serving me well ever since my Hoodman died out on me earlier this year.

Plus FCR-HS4 has a deep pocket for CF to slide into which feels safer and less prone to damaging the pins internally.

Thanks for recommending a fine tool for such a low price, @Walter Schulz!

[Jyoti]

Just wanted to say... I didn't disappear.
I broke my leg a few days ago and had to redo my computer as well.

OK.
So I'll get a new card.
Once I do, what do I do?
Copy ML files to it and re-install the FW?