[Solved - Bent pin] 7D boots without card; fails to boot with any card

[PhilipN]

I loaned out this camera without explaining how to use it and it came back weird. I'm not sure what happened--possibly a lock or a dead battery the user didn't know how to handle. Before this, the camera's been working great with and without ML for several years, but won't function now with any CF card installed.

I'll list the troubleshooting steps I've tried in as much detail as I can remember, in hopes that if I'm missing something, you can point it out.

Thanks in advance!

CAMERA BEHAVIOR
- No card, battery:
   - Switch power on.
   - Camera starts normally. (Displays "No card" screen)
- With any card, battery:
   - Switch power on.
   - Camera appears dead (no rear display, no rear LED, no top LCD. Front LCD flashes yellow once when battery is inserted).

Cards tested:
- old working copy of ML
- fresh copy of ML, not initialized in camera
- fresh copy of ML, BOOTDISK set with EOScard
- formatted blank card
- formatted card, original firmware present

BATTERY PULL
- Insert card and battery.
- Switch power on.
- Pull battery. Reinsert battery.
- No change.

BATTERY/CARD PULL
- Insert card and battery.
- Switch power on.
- Pull battery.
- Pull card.
- Reinsert battery.
- Reinsert card.
- No change.

PORTABLE DISPLAY TEST
- formatted card (using Windows, FAT32)
- copy 7D 2.0.3 ML to card
- overwrite autoexec.bin with Portable Display Test (http://a1ex.magiclantern.fm/debug/portable-hello-world/autoexec.bin)
- check BOOTDISK in EOScard
- insert card to camera
- Switch power on.
- No change.

[Walter Schulz]

Check CF-card slot for bend or missing pins.

[PhilipN]

Sorry for my delayed response.

I think that's it! I do see one corner pin bent sideways. Another looks short, but perhaps that's  normal. It's possible a card was forced into the slot backwards.

This is clearly not a Magic Lantern problem, but in your opinion: can this repair be attempted at home, is it better to find a camera shop, or is it unrepairable?

[PhilipN]

Never mind, I remembered how to Google.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Canon+EOS+7D+Bent+CF+Pin+Fix-Card+Reader+Replacement/24777

Thank you for your help, Walter!