Help needed: 6D stays "black" after Firmware upgrade

[xps]

I need some help, please:
As I read, there is an new 6D-firmware. I tried to get it on my 6D. There was the success-message after updating. I took 2 shots after updating. But after restarting (switch off and on again), the 6D stays black.
No reaction after starting on the display, no reaction if I press any button.
I tried to downgrade to the 1.1.4 firmware, but nothing happened.
There is just an small white dot for one second on the lower left display

Is there anything I can do to get this problem fixed? Or do I have to send it to CPS?

Thanks

 

[Maximilian]

Sounds not so good!

What I would do:
1. Don't try to downgrade again. That might make it worse.
2. Take out the battery for at least 10 minutes. Put it in and look how the 6D reacts.
3. If it still does not react normal, try to contact Canon service via e-mail or phone.
4. If they can't help you, send it in.

Hope that helps.

 

[Stu_bert]

Hi there, sorry to hear. I would try the obvious. Remove all memory cards, remove lens, remove battery. Wait for a minute. Ensure you have a well charged battery, if not charge. Then just re-insert battery, leave card / lenses off.

If that doesnt do it (and I highly suspect it wont), then try contacting Canon support before CPS. In Europe there are email or phone contact methods, I'm sure therefore it's replicated elsewhere, and they may be able to talk you through something - especially if you explain the firmware upgrade. Failing that, then yes, CPS is your only solution.

Hope it goes well.

 

[Stu_bert]

Sounds not so good!

What I would do:
1. Don't try to downgrade again. That might make it worse.
2. Take out the battery for at least 10 minutes. Put it in and look how the 6D reacts.
3. If it still does not react normal, try to contact Canon service via e-mail or phone.
4. If they can't help you, send it in.

Hope that helps.

Great minds

 

[Marsu42]

As I read, there is an new 6D-firmware. I tried to get it on my 6D. There was the success-message after updating. I took 2 shots after updating. But after restarting (switch off and on again), the 6D stays black.

As you took 2 shots with it (which wouldn't have been possible w/ a broken fw) my guess it that the breakdown was unconnected to the fw upgrade, even if it might be hard to believe right now. +1 for trying a full battery, of course.

Is there anything I can do to get this problem fixed? Or do I have to send it to CPS?

Unless you're going to be really ingenious and inquire in the ML forum about a debugging firmware that resets the camera's settings and *might* be able to do something, this is a service case. Sorry :-\ ... I hope it's still under warranty, because this "it suddenly stopped working" is covered unless it's moisture damage.

IF there's even a SLIGHT possibility of moisture damage DON'T START THE CAMERA AGAIN but use the usual procedure (rice bag, warm/dry environment, ...) and wait some days.

 

[xps]

Much thanks!

I tried your tipps, but it did not work. Still the white point on the lower edge for one second. Fully charged battery, everything removed, fresh formatted card,....
And there was no moisture....

I phoned with the Canon support (2 min before closing), and the employee told me to send it to the German Canon service departement. He thinks the main processor is broken - maybe as an result of the fw-upgrade (then there will be NO warranty). :-[

 

[Maximilian]

... the employee told me to send it to the German Canon service departement. He thinks the main processor is broken - maybe as an result of the fw-upgrade (then there will be NO warranty). :-[

Oh man! Hearing that I'm really feeling with you
But If the Camera is within the 2 year German waranty and as it worked once after the sucessful fw update I would insist on that warranty.

Best hopes for you.

 

[Marsu42]

... the employee told me to send it to the German Canon service departement. He thinks the main processor is broken - maybe as an result of the fw-upgrade (then there will be NO warranty). :-[

But If the Camera is within the 2 year German waranty and as it worked once after the sucessful fw update I would insist on that warranty.

Problem is that you cannot *prove* these things - saying "the update broke my camrera" with millions of customers happily updating their fw each year. Canon might or might not have internal data on that, but they certainly won't tell you.

As I argued, I find it much more likely that the fw update and the broken camera aren't directly connected, maybe loosely, if at all - i.e. after the first shots the camera did some cpu-intensive calibrations, and that made it break down. Just a pure guess, of course, I have no idea what the camera does after upgrading the fw.

Still, I'd definitely make the point that an electronics breakdown withing the 2y German warranty should still be covered w/o pressing the fw connection. Alas, after this time it's *you* who has to prove it's a warranty case, not *them* proving it's not :-(

Best hopes for you.

Same from me! These expenses are sooooo annoying.

 

[Stu_bert]

Much thanks!

I tried your tipps, but it did not work. Still the white point on the lower edge for one second. Fully charged battery, everything removed, fresh formatted card,....
And there was no moisture....

I phoned with the Canon support (2 min before closing), and the employee told me to send it to the German Canon service departement. He thinks the main processor is broken - maybe as an result of the fw-upgrade (then there will be NO warranty). :-[

If you still have the Firmware which you downloaded on a CF, send it with the camera along with the explanation. The processor is unlikely to be broken. I'm no expert, but it sounds more like corruption in the firmware - and now, when the camera powers up, loading the firmware, it's not loading fully and it never gets to start. I've never heard of a firmware upgrade that breaks a processor, nor a camera failing right after an upgrade.

As mentioned, I would let them fix the camera first, and then suggest that you followed Canon's process for upgrading the firmware and therefore any fix should be gratis. I'd definitely appeal to their good customer service, before arguing warranty.

If you concur with others, then don't even mention the firmware upgrade. Just state it stopped working and go for warranty.

Best of luck.

 

[xps]

Thanks fot the tipps.

 

[badgerpiper]

Have you tried starting up the camera in a different mode? (e.g change from Av to C1).

This might help: http://wiki.magiclantern.fm/unbricking

 

[xps]

Have you tried starting up the camera in a different mode? (e.g change from Av to C1).

This might help: http://wiki.magiclantern.fm/unbricking

thanks, does not work too. Tried it in every other mode.

 

[mackguyver]

Have you tried to connect it via USB to EOS Utility? Sometimes that will be the only way to access the camera and you can try to reapply the firmware update. That worked for me on a 5DII one time and has worked many times on Blackberry and iPhones over the years.

 

[Loswr]

There was the success-message after updating. I took 2 shots after updating. But after restarting (switch off and on again), the 6D stays black.

Just to pick a nit, the instructions state:

After the procedure is complete, this <success message> will be displayed on the screen. Hit the “Set” button and power off your camera. Remove the battery for at least two seconds. This will cause the new firmware to take effect after the battery has been reloaded and the camera is turned on.

From your description, you took a couple of shots after applying the update before powering down. So technically, it appears you didn't follow the proper procedure for the firmware update.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

It used to be the case that a camera reset was also required after a firmware update, since some combinations of settings could cause issues after the new FW is installed. Its likely that there was some bits dropped or changed during the firmware loading process, and as soon, as the camera hit one of those instructions, it hosed the startup firmware.

The ML software might actually be able to solve the issue by reloading the FW (IF that is what it does). I'd give it a 10% possibility. If the loading firmware works far enough to look to the Card for startup instructions, its a good possibility that corrupted firmware could be reloaded.

 

[xps]

I am very sorry, that I wrote not the exact process in my postings. I have removed the battery afterwards. I did everything that was written down in the manual.

I´ve tried to access the camera via USB, but it did not work.
One things I have recognised when I prepaired it for UPS: The batteries do get very warm.

The camera is now on the way to Canon

Much thanks for all replies!!!!!! I will write it in this forum, which error has occured.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I am very sorry, that I wrote not the exact process in my postings. I have removed the battery afterwards. I did everything that was written down in the manual.

I´ve tried to access the camera via USB, but it did not work.
One things I have recognised when I prepaired it for UPS: The batteries do get very warm.

The camera is now on the way to Canon

Much thanks for all replies!!!!!! I will write it in this forum, which error has occured.

The battery getting warm is a symptom of a physical issue. It could be a bent pin in the CF slot, for example. A partial short circuit caused by two pins touching can drain current from the battery.

 

[nc0b]

The 6D has only one SD slot, no CF slot. I believe I have only done one firmware update on my four bodies. Three are older than the 6D. I don't remember any instructions saying to remove the battery after the update. I will read the procedure very carefully in the future. Hope Canon can revive your camera, but I don't see how a corrupt flash would cause enough current drain to make the battery hot.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The 6D has only one SD slot, no CF slot. I believe I have only done one firmware update on my four bodies. Three are older than the 6D. I don't remember any instructions saying to remove the battery after the update. I will read the procedure very carefully in the future. Hope Canon can revive your camera, but I don't see how a corrupt flash would cause enough current drain to make the battery hot.

I had a bad flash card blow fuses on two cameras due to a internal short, it was found the 2nd time after the camera died when changing the card to the same one that was in the first one when it died.

However, its much more likely something in the power supply card internally in the camera that was pulling a lot of power.

 

[xps]

The actual status of my 6D: It returned yestreday after almost 2 weeks. Camera works now basically. Changed the card-slot-board (if I have translated this right). But now, the main front wheel does not work. Sent it back again.... More to come