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ptool:ptool-faq [2011/12/18 05:27]
vitaliy_kiselev
ptool:ptool-faq [2022/04/21 04:06] (current)
vitaliy_kiselev
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-====== PTool Installation and usage FAQ ======+== 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.
  
-If you plan to use older 1.0e firmware without 25p, you'll need to go here and download it first: +== Where can I learn more and get help? == 
-http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/330/new-gh2-firmware-leak+  * [[https://www.personal-view.com/faqs|personal-view.com FAQs]] 
 +  * [[https://www.personal-view.com/|personal-view.com discussions]]
  
-==== How to update firmware ==== +== What camera firmware images can PTool modify? == 
-  - Load GH2 1.0E firmware using +  * As of PTool version 3.66d:  
-  - Check all necessary patches.  Orif you use some from our Patch Vaultclick on empty round button. Select downloaded zip file. And after this click on the round button to load all settings. + 
-  - Save firmwareJust change last digit to any number you want (you can use same name each time)+  * TZ10 v1.2: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html 
-  - Copy firmware to root of SD card. Fully charge you battery. Do not even attempt to use AC coupler or 3rd party battery!+  * 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 
 +  * G3 v1.2: 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 
 +  * 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 v1.1: 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 
 + 
 + 
 +== Where can I download PTool? == 
 + 
 +  * https://www.personal-view.com/gh1hack/ptool3d.zip 
 + 
 +== 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 an 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__V12.bin instead of GH2__V11.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.) 
 +  * Run PTool and load an original Panasonic firmware .bin file. 
 +  * To load settings in //.ini// or //.zip// file, click on a round letter button.  
 +  * If a corresponding .ini file is not already in the PTool folderthe round button will be red and PTool will prompt you for a file locationand will read the settings and store them in an .ini file in the PTool folder.   
 +  * The round button becomes green when there is a corresponding .ini file in the PTool folder Simply click the button to load the settings. 
 +  * To save settings, shift-click a letter button at the bottom of the PTool window Enter descriptions, and then click "store settings" An .ini file will be written in the PTool folder. 
 + 
 +== How to flash your camera with a firmware image == 
 +  - Copy the firmware .bin file to root of your SD card.  
 +  - Fully charge your battery. __Do not attempt to flash with an AC coupler or 3rd-party battery!__
   - Power off your camera if it was on.   - Power off your camera if it was on.
-  - Power on camera. After this press (not hold) green play button. +  - Power on your camera. 
-  You'll see hourglass and prompt to update. +  - Press the green play button.  You'll see an hourglass and prompt to update. 
-  - Press down arrow and after this Menu/set. +  - Press the up arrow button, and then press Menu/set. 
-  - Wait until upgrade will be completed+  - 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 all of the camera's settings and parameters. (Menu, Setup, Reset) Usually a reset is not necessary. 
 + 
 +== How to restore the camera's stock (unhacked) firmware == 
 +  * Usually you can just flash an original Panasonic .bin file. 
 +  * If that fails for any reason, use PTool to create a firmware image file with no modifications 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 a new firmware .bin file. 
 + 
 +== How to use PTool on a Macintosh == 
 +  * Use Wine or Wine Bottler: http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/
  
 === Small tips === === Small tips ===
  
-  1. Remember that Testers section patches are for testers. Use simple bitrate patches+  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 patches+  2. How can I make encoder hold better in low detailed scenes? Use Auto Quantizer settings
  
 ===== Useful tools ===== ===== Useful tools =====
  
 StreamParser by Chris Brandin as help tool to analyse AVCHD streams -  StreamParser by Chris Brandin as help tool to analyse AVCHD streams - 
-http://www.gh1-hack.info/StreamParser.zip+https://www.personal-view.com/gh1hack/StreamParser.zip
  
  
-Other good idea is also use trial version of Elecard StremEye +Other good idea is also use trial version of Elecard StreamEye 
 http://www.elecard.com/en/download/products.html http://www.elecard.com/en/download/products.html
  
ptool/ptool-faq.1324186069.txt.gz · Last modified: 2011/12/18 05:27 by vitaliy_kiselev