Sent My Camera in For Repair...Can't Hack it Now

T

tommygdawg

Well-known member
Hey All


Anyone else had this problem? My strap rivets broke and shortly thereafter my LCD stopped working and the camera stopped taking photos, but it still took video.

I sent it in for repair, and, before doing so I put the original firmware back on. Got the camera back, now I can't put hacked firmware on. This is so disappointing, not to mention it took them almost 2 months. Anyone else had similar issues?
 
They replaced motherboard to new one.
With V1.34.
Panasonic uses unprecedented security measures with v1.34 firmware.
Non of service centers got it. Factory only.
 
I'm Sorry Vitaliy, I don't understand exactly what you're saying. Are you telling me that I SHOULD still be able to hack the firmware? Or that only new cameras are unhackable?

The Invoice doesn't say anything about them changing the motherboard. It says they replaced the following parts:

Chip Fuse DC 32V 1 5A
Chip Fuse DC 32V 1 25A
Fuse
Fuse DC 32V 2A
 
It will be interesting to see how they handle upcoming G2 and lens updates ...

Unless they plan having all G2 bodies or kit lenses physically sent in for lobotomy they will have to publicly release firmware. Thereby opening up their cards. Sounds like a loosing proposition.
 
tommygdawg said:
I'm Sorry Vitaliy, I don't understand exactly what you're saying. Are you telling me that I SHOULD still be able to hack the firmware? Or that only new cameras are unhackable?

The Invoice doesn't say anything about them changing the motherboard. It says they replaced the following parts:

Chip Fuse DC 32V 1 5A
Chip Fuse DC 32V 1 25A
Fuse
Fuse DC 32V 2A
Click to expand...

You just can call them and ask if they have v1.34 firmware (yes, it is unhackable one) and if they flashed it.
I do not know anything about service centers that have it.
This is why I told about MB replacement.
 
Camera not taking pictures

Camera not taking pictures

tommygdawg said:
Hey All


Anyone else had this problem? My strap rivets broke and shortly thereafter my LCD stopped working and the camera stopped taking photos, but it still took video.

I sent it in for repair, and, before doing so I put the original firmware back on. Got the camera back, now I can't put hacked firmware on. This is so disappointing, not to mention it took them almost 2 months. Anyone else had similar issues?
Click to expand...

The replaced parts might just concern the LCD screen.

Did the camera show a message that you were unable to take any photographs, or did it tell you that you should reboot it?

If Panasonic did not replace any firmware chip and just put V1.34 on, would it be possible to create a PTool patch requiring a particular file on the SD Card with a customizable password to update from there on? The password would have to be entered in PTool then to allow the check to take place.

That way, Panasonic would (hopefully) not be able to destroy our magnificent adjustments to the product.

[Edit]
What I mean is, for cameras that are (still) hackable, it would be nice if we could prevent Panasonic to upgrade it by the normal procedure if we force our added hackware to require a password file for any further upgrade.

If a user enters his password in PTool to upgrade firmware including this patch + password, he himself knows which password the file should contain. Panasonic wouldn't know and if they just try to upgrade by the normal procedure, they won't be able to.
 
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No. I am not saying this.
I just asked to call them and ask if they have 1.34 and if they flashed it.
And if we could get 1.34 in posession it'll become hackable :-)
 
Good luck getting the 1.34 firmware, I highly doubt they'll release it for this very reason. I'm thinking about calling up Panasonic and giving them an earful, but I don't know if that will do any good.

When it was broken, any time I tried to take a photo I'd get a message in the viewfinder saying "Please turn camera off then on again".
 
Wow that sucks. That'll make me think twice about sending my camera in for repair for a broken plastic part near the LCD hinge...
 
Indeed, I'm very disappointed. There's basically no way to get around this either short of buying a new camera, and honestly my opinion of Panasonic has been really sullied in all this. I really don't have any desire to buy a GH2 or AF-100 after this.
 
vitaliy i propose a ruse for panasonic. we get one gh1 outfitted with some custom script inside of it that is invisible and records any changes. then we break something on it and send it in to panasonic repair. then when they insert v1.34 your custom script records v.1.34 somehow so that you are then able to extract it later and view it and hack it. possible?
 
tommygdawg said:
honestly my opinion of Panasonic has been really sullied in all this. I really don't have any desire to buy a GH2 or AF-100 after this.
Click to expand...

Gotta agree. It's pretty nasty on Panasonic's part. It' shows how petty Panasonic can be... Normally owners can download and catch up to a newer shipping firmware of a product they just bought a month earlier that came with the previous firmware. You buy a GH1 right before the 1.34 shipping versions; so now you don't get the latest 1.34; that's unheard of. Anytime Canon ups the firmware on the 5DMII, they allow pre-existing owners to upgrade to current shipping FW. Panasonic show's their dark side on this IMO...

Michael Pappas
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1st. the update came before the hack so i dont think its because of the hack
2nd. lets wait for the new lens compatibility firmware upgrade.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity
 
dcloud said:
1st. the update came before the hack so i dont think its because of the hack
2nd. lets wait for the new lens compatibility firmware upgrade.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity
Click to expand...

It's difficult to regard it as anything other than a deliberate act to prevent the hack. If this was a 'normal' f/w upgrade that just *happened* to prevent P-Tool, then it would have been posted in the usual way for universal download & installation.

Since it's not available publicly, and since it was furtively apllied to June + cameras with no announcement, what else could it be than a 'hack blocker'?

Panasonic might feel that they have perfectly valid legal & commercial reasons for preventing the hack - but it's rather underhand of them to apply it to production units with no prior notification, and [ii] apply it to cameras returned for repair - again, without notification or consent.
 
if my strap rivet breaks, the last thing i would do is send it in for repair...mistake #1.

that's just my opinion, and has nothing to do with panasonic reaffirming their firmware on my cam. just find other means of supporting your camera...seriously....i have never trusted a strap (or the hardware by which is hangs) ever...my hands work better. honestly, i didn't know people still send their cameras in for such a repair....seems as antiquated as bringing shoes to a cobbler to be re-soled. who does THAT?

EDIT: drunk post
 
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Isnt that something you can sue? I mean, someone did something to a camera you own, something that you didnt tell them to do? Not Panasonic the company, but maybe sue the tech guy who did something unauthorized? Just a thought. -maybe someone knowledgeable with legal stuff can chime in.
 
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dcloud said:
1st. the update came before the hack so i dont think its because of the hack
2nd. lets wait for the new lens compatibility firmware upgrade.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity
Click to expand...

Also remember than Panny went on to announce firmware update for G2 only to add 3D lens support, while there is no such word on updates for other G series cameras. Of course they still could announce it, but I would not hold my breath.

My feeling is that GH1 will be back in favour for a firmware update only when they stop manufacturing GH1. I keep wishing I am wrong...
 
teddybear said:
In my block, at the corner a guy sent his kids to college re-soling shoes. He's still there as we speak. And he has a lot of customers especially students from a nearby university. :-) Don't forget this is aglobal forum, your just in america.

Back to the topic, isnt that something you can sue? I mean, someone did something to a camera you own, something that you didnt tell them to do? Not Panasonic the company, but maybe sue the tech guy who did something unauthorized? Just a thought. -maybe someone knowledgeable with legal stuff can chime in.
Click to expand...

"Offend a Cobbler" believe you me, that was on my bucket list. Check.:thumbsup:
 
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