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== What is PTool, and what does hacking do? ==
  * PTool is a Windows application written by Vitaliy Kiselev that can modify certain Panasonic Lumix camera firmware images. The modifications remove firmware restrictions and let you change video encoding parameters. Modifying to increase the video recording bit rate can significantly improve video quality.

== Where can I learn more and get help? ==
  * [[http://www.personal-view.com/faqs|personal-view.com FAQs]]
  * [[http://www.personal-view.com/|personal-view.com discussions]]

== What camera firmware images can PTool modify? ==
  * As of PTool version 3.66d: ([[http://www.gh1-hack.info/wiki/VersionHistory|version history]])

  * TZ10 v1.2: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html
  * G1 v1.5: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * G2 v1.1: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * GF1 v1.2: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * GH1 v1.3: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html 
  * GH2 v1.1: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * GF2 v1.1: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * GF3 v1.2: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * GX1 : http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html
  * G3  : http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html


== Where can I download PTool? ==
  * http://www.gh1-hack.info/wiki/PToolSoftware

== How do I use PTool? ==
  - Please see the [[http://www.personal-view.com/faqs/|camera-specific FAQ pages]] for more information about hacking certain cameras.
  - Download an original Panasonic firmware image for your camera, and unzip it to get the .bin file.  (see the download links, above)
  - Run PTool
  - Click "load firmware" and load the original Panasonic firmware .bin file
  - Make you settings in the Ptool window.  If you want to load stored settings, see below.
  - Click "Save Firmware".  Choose a filename that is the same as the original firmware .bin file, except with a different number.  (e.g. %%GH2__V11.bin instead of GH2__V10.bin%%)  Note that the filename has two underscores.

== What is testing?  Who are testers? ==
  * Vitaliy did a tremendous amount of work in reverse engineering the firmware images and figuring out what many of the parameters do.  But there's too much for one person to figure out alone.  The process of testing different parameter settings and figuring out what they do has been delegated to any willing tester.

== How do I load or save PTool settings? ==
  * PTool can load or save settings in an .ini file, letter A - J. (seta.ini, setb.ini, etc.)
  * To load an setings in //.ini// or //.zip// file, run PTool and click on empty round button, it'll ask you for file location and will import and store them. After this you could load settings just by clicking on this round button.
  * Run PTool and load the original firmware
  * To load settings, click a letter button at the bottom of the PTool window.  Loadable settings have a green button.
  * To save settings, shift-click a letter button at the bottom of the PTool window.  Enter descriptions, and then click "store settings".

== How to flash your camera with a firmware image ==
  - Copy firmware .bin file to root of SD card. Fully charge you battery. __Do not even attempt to use AC coupler or 3rd party battery!__
  - Power off your camera if it was on.
  - Power on camera. After this press (not hold) green play button.
  - You'll see hourglass and prompt to update.
  - Press up arrow, and then press Menu/set.
  - Wait for the update to complete.  Do not touch your camera while the update is in progress.
  - When the update completes, the camera restarts itself.
  - If anything unexplained happens after flashing, try resetting the camera. (Menu, Setup, Reset) Usually a reset is not necessary.

== How to restore the camera's stock (unhacked) firmware ==
  * Usually you can just flash the original Panasonic .bin file.
  * If that fails for any reason, use PTool to create a firmware image file with no patches selected:
   - Run PTool
   - Load the original Panasonic firmware .bin file
   - Don't touch any of the check boxes in the PTool window: leave them as they are
   - Save the new firmware .bin file

== How to use PTool on a Macintosh ==
  * [[http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/2594/ptool-mac-v3.64d-feb-20-2012|Stand-alone PTool for Mac]] packaged with WineBottler
  * Or run Wine or Wine Bottler yourself: http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/

=== Small tips ===

  1. Remember that Testers section settings are for testers. Use simple bitrate settings.
  2. How can I make encoder hold better in low detailed scenes? Use Auto Quantizer settings

===== Useful tools =====

StreamParser by Chris Brandin as help tool to analyse AVCHD streams - 
http://www.gh1-hack.info/StreamParser.zip


Other good idea is also use trial version of Elecard StreamEye - 
http://www.elecard.com/en/download/products.html
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