Install Canon camera software without CD

What to do if you've lost your original CD

Canon's software for their EOS cameras is quite useful.
Latest Updates
There are regular updates available, but the problem is they are only updates - you need an original version of the EOS software installed.
Not a problem, unless you've lost your CD or just bought a second hand camera with no CD.
I've never fathomed out why this software distribution policy is to Canon's advantage.

I've heard that Canon themselves are often pretty helpful, once you can find the right person on the phone...

Obtaining the Canon Camera Software

Updates can be downloaded from Canon sites

Canon US
Canon EU
Canon EOS site (firmware)

Canon software

Only updaters now available... After visiting the Canon US website:
Select 'Downloads' then 'Consumer'
Mac or PC

Select 'EOS (SLR) Camera Systems' then 'Digital EOS Cameras' and appropriate camera model
Click 'Drivers/Software'
Select the required software and your operating system
Agree to the blurb to proceed to the download page

PC Registry modification - fooling the updaters

Note - PC registry modification is not without risks - do this at your own risk

Anything whatsoever you order from Amazon helps us run our site - thanks to everyone who has purchased items, however small.
Amazon UK link / Amazon France / Amazon Germany
Amazon USA link / Amazon Canada link

Popular products we've reviewed

Silver Efex Pro

Nik Software

Real World Color Management (2…

Bruce Fraser, Chris…

$40.94

The book we always sugg…

Spydercube

ColorVision, Inc.

$57.50

Spyder 3 Elite

ColorVision, Inc.

$203.68

1234>

Get WidgetPrivacy

The updater will only update software if it was already installed.

Method 1

Since the updaters contain full versions of the software, it's possible to convince the installer that the software is installed by adding appropriate heys to your windows registry
Open Notepad and write (or copy/paste into Notepad) the following (exactly):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\EOS Utility]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\DPP]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ZoomBrowser EX]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\PhotoStitch
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\EOS Capture]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\EOSViewerUtility]

Note that you only need the entries for the software you want to install, but there's no problem setting up everything.

Save as CanonUpdate (note .txt extension will be automatically added)
Rename the file CanonUpdate.txt as CanonUpdate.reg
Right-click on CanonUpdate.reg and select the Merge option
You'll be prompted to see if you wish to add this info into the Registry. Answer 'Yes'
You can now install any software update, without having the original installed.

• Update for 6.3.1
• To install ZoomBrowser 6.3.1, the registry key:
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ZoomBrowser EX]
• needs to be changed to:
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ZoomBrowser EX\Install]

I'm told (thanks) that this has changed with Win7 x64, where the s/w currently runs in 32 bit mode, so the keys are: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\EOS Utility]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\DPP]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\ZoomBrowser EX]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\PhotoStitch
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\EOS Capture]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\EOSViewerUtility]

We were sent the following 7D info - thanks
For the Canon Original Data Security Tools: (found for EOS 7D)

• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ODSK]

For the 7D the following regkeys:

• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\DPP]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\EOS Utility]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ODSK]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\PictureStyleEditor]
• [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ZoomBrowser EX\Install]

Following Software does not need a registry key:

• Canon Raw Codec
• WFT Utility

Method 2

Only for older software packages.

Use software like winrar to extract the executable file you had previously downloaded to folder XX
Navigate to XX\INSTALL\COMMON\
Run the Install.exe you find in that folder and the program should get installed with no problems.

Method 3

I'm told that this is an installable version of DPP that should just install
http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/sdl/data/dpp100-e.exe

Canon software for Windows 7

Canon compatibility guide [PDF] See also latest s/w [Canon]
Includes Canon Windows 7 compatability info for printers and scanners too.

On a Mac

There is no registry as such in Mac OS X
However there is a DPP V1 file that you can download
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/sdl/data/dpp100-e.hqx This seems to be a full install of DPP - not an update

A Mac install workaround (Latest)

• We were sent details (thanks) of how to modify an existing application on your disk, to fool the updater.
• It involves a bit of renaming of the contents of a package but is of no danger if you pick an unused application (my disk is full of the things) The example involves EOS utility - do read the comments at the end of the article.
• http://www.navjagpal.com/blog/?p=16&cpage=1#comment-176
• It's been suggested to us that you can use Automator to create an empty 'App' and call it the file name you want, such as "EOS File Viewer" and then edit the info.plist file.

Sept09 We've been sent (thanks) an alternative way of turning a Mac updater to an installer

• You can actually change the "update" to an "installer" without having to create fake apps.
  Just copy it from the disk image your desktop, then control-click the app and "Show Package Contents". Navigate to Contents > Resources and delete update.plist
  Now double click the modified application and it should install without any issues.

DPP V3.6-3.8 (Win/Mac)

• http://web.canon.jp/imaging/dcp/firm-e/pssx1is/index.html
• Scroll to the bottom and enter the serial number: 7816002105
• DPP 3.6 manual available at the following address.
• http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0/0300002160/01/dpp3.6-w-en.pdf
• The manual contains the list of lenses for which aberration correction is supported.

DPP V3.6.1 DPP gets updated to 3.6.1 [Canon]
DPP 3.6.2a update for Mac - via Canon 50D page [Canon]

• This updater fixes a problem that an error occurs when Digital Photo Professional 3.6.2 is installed in specific environments. *No corrections are made to the actual software itself. Also, users who do not encounter any problems when using Digital Photo Professional 3.6.2, this update is not necessary.

DPP 3.6.2

• The shooting date/time in Exif information is displayed one hour ahead when RAW images taken with EOS cameras are developed to create JPEG files using a Macintosh computer in the Daylight Saving Time setting. This problem is corrected by this updater.

DPP 3.6.1

• Adds supported models
  Now supports the EOS Kiss X3 / EOS REBEL T1i / EOS 500D and PowerShot SX1 IS.2. Adds an adjustment function to RAW adjustment for shaded and highlighted parts.3. Adds the lenses that support the aberration correction function.
  Now supports the EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro, EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro + Life-Size Converter, and MP-E 65mm f/2.8.

DPP 3.7.2 update for Mac - via Canon 50D page [Canon]

Note that there is a problem with installation on OSX 10.6 systems - here is a fix at Apple read -before- installation

• Bug Fixes: In Digital Photo Professional v3.5 or later, if handling RAW images of EOS-1D/1Ds, and the number of RAW images exceed the certain point, the application operates abnormally. This problem has been fixed.
• Changes for Digital Photo Professional 3.7.0
• 1. Adds supported models
  The EOS 7D, PowerShot G11, and PowerShot S90 are now supported.
• 2. Adds an NR Preview screen (NR: Noise Reduction)
  You can now adjust the NR level while checking the image status on the Preview screen.
• 3. Maintains the [Collection] window
  Before, when quitting Digital Photo Professional, all images in the [Collection] window were removed from the [Collection] window; however, this has been improved so that the images in the [Collection] window can now be maintained.
• 4. Adds the lenses that support the aberration correction function.
  Newly supports the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, and EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.1. Adds supported models

DPP 3.7.3 update for Mac - via Canon 7D page [Canon] - works better on 10.6
DPP 3.8.1 for Mac (V3.8.0 Win) [Canon] - read notes anbout unsupported cameras first.

• Win version supports Win7
• Supports additional models: The EOS Kiss X4 / EOS REBEL T2i / EOS 550D is now supported.
• Adds a lens that supports the aberration correction function. EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM is newly supported.
• Adds a function for adjusting the angle of an image to the Trimming tool.

DPP3.8.2 (3.8.1 Win) is spotted on the 7D software download page.

• Fixes a malfunction wherein the trimming ratio is entered abnormally when it is set to Custom using the trimming/angle adjustment tool, and also when the trimming area is copied to other images

Other updates [Canon]

• EOS Utility 2.8.1 for Mac OS / Windows,
• Picture Style Editor 1.7.0 for Mac OS / Windows,
• WFT Utility 3.5.1 for Mac OS / Windows,
• Original Data Security Tools 1.8.0 for Windows.

If you've any additional information, then please do let us know

The views in this article represent those of Keith Cooper. Keith is always happy to discuss matters raised in his articles. You can Email Us
Northlight Images prides itself on its independence when giving advice. We do not sell hardware or software and have no direct commercial links with any of the software or hardware vendors that may be mentioned here. See our Review Policy for more information.

Explore our site... Digital Black and White photography and printing - some of Keiths thoughts, techniques and tips for those interested in a digital approach to black and white. We've lots of original Photography Articles and Photography Reviews on the site to help anyone interested in photography. New site content appears on the What's New page.
Thanks to the visitors who've made Amazon purchases (any kinds of items whatosever ) via these links:
Amazon UK / Amazon France / Amazon Germany / Amazon USA / Amazon Canada
It won't save extra money we're afraid, but it does help in the running of the site, and we really appreciate it... Northlight Images is based in Leicester in the UK and supplies Commercial Photography services
Visiting Leicester or wondering where it is? We have views from the Leicester traffic cameras.