eos utility

Since I originally wrote this post there have been several new versions of the software that require different instructions.

Versions < 2.9.0

I recently tried installing the Canon EOS Utility on my new laptop. After checking Canon’s website I found that they only offer updates, no actual installer. For that you need the CD that came with your camera. Like most people I lost mine long ago. I’m not sure why Canon wants to make it so hard to use their software without the original CD. It’s not like you can use it without buying one of their cameras. The only conclusion I can come up with is that they are completely fucking retarded.

We can get around their retardedness (it’s a word, shut it) by editing their updater. This will only work with the older versions. As of this writing the 2.61 updater works. Download the updater here (I think all cameras have the same EOS Utility) http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=DownloadIndexAct and grab the latest version as well while you’re at it. Now extract the 261 updater and copy out UpdateInstaller to your Desktop. Then right click and go to Show Package Contents. Go to Contents/Resources/ and delete update.plist. Now run the installer. Once that is finished you can run the latest updater and it will recognize your previous install. The latest updater (281) doesn’t contain the update.plist file, so we have to install the old one first, then update.

I got most of this info from http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/install_canon_software.html which includes instructions for doing the same thing in Windows.

P.S. Canon I love your hardware, but your software department is run by imbeciles.

—Version 2.9.0—

Bilock mentions that in version 2.9.0 the update.plist file is now in the SDI.bundle subpackage:
– Show Package Contents of the UpdateInstaller
– Show Package Contents of the SDI.bundle
– delete the Contents/Resources/update.plist
relaunch the UpdateInstaller.
Work for me under osx 10.6.7

—Version 2.11—

Thanks to FrancoisG for instructions on 2.11:
for the 2.11 version (tested on 2.11.4) on MAC (ML but doesn’t matter) :
– mount the EU211.4x-updater.dmg
– copy the application (like on your desktop)
– unmount the dmg
– show package contents of the copy on your desktop
– on ./Contents/Ressources/ delete the Info.datx file
– close
– Run it.