Step-by-step instructions for the new GH1 Ptool hack: "GH17 Lenin" (2011 cameras)

cut2052

Well-known member
Step-by-step instructions for the new GH1 Ptool hack: "GH17 Lenin" (2011 cameras)

Below are the procedures I used when doing the new hack “GH17 Lenin” on a Panasonic GH1 with a 2011 serial number. This will work, but if someone wants to point out something I should change or include, pm me or post in thread to let me know and I will re-edit the post.

Note: This will also work on GH1's made before 2011.
You can also, for those cameras made before 2011, visit a sticky thread created last year:

Ptool for beginners / Ptool FAQ


Regarding things like changing values - whether changing the patches/values within Ptool; native 24p, bitrate, etc. can be found at the Ptool site:
http://www.personal-view.com/

Information about patches created by lpowell can be found here at dvxuser.com:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/member.php?59441-lpowell


Thanks to Vitaliy Kiselev for the ground-breaking, awesome GH1 Ptool hack and to lpowell for the incredible patches and, of course, Panasonic for their innovative technology!

Donations to
Vitaliy
for the Ptool hack and his other projects can be made here:
http://www.personal-view.com./talks/discussion/148/ptool-3.55d-topic


Sources:
http://www.personal-view.com./talks/discussion/148/ptool-3.55d-topic
http://www.gh1-hack.info/wiki/PToolSoftware
http://www.dvxuser.com

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________


The information in this first post are basics on how to execute the new GH17 hack.

Instructions for the new hack/Panasonic GH17 Lenin:

This color (teal) = required for hack
This color (yellow) = optional
This color
(red) = caution

You will need:
- a Windows computer
- Panasonic original V1.32 firmware update
- PTool 3.55d: "Firmware manipulation tool"
- an SD or SDHC card dedicated just for the firmware
- a separate (class 6 /class 10 recommended) SDHC card to shoot video to
- a fully charged GH1 camera battery (don't use GH1 AC adapter/plug-in power)
- Panasonic GH1 camera



Steps...
(click on images to open larger in new window):

1. Download "Panasonic original V1.32 firmware update":
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/gh1.html

2. Download PTool 3.55d: "Firmware manipulation tool"
:
http://www.gh1-hack.info/ptool3d.zip

3. On your PC, create a folder in Windows and name it something to describe the settings you plan on using for the hack;
"First Ptool Hack", "Hack with 40Mbps AVCHD High Reliability Patch", etc.
For the sake of these instructions, I will call it "Hack Folder".

4. Double-click on Panasonic downloaded V1.32 firmware update file and, when prompted, extract to your Hack Folder.

5. Right click on downloaded PTool file/choose "Extract all"
, then browse and extract the file to that same Hack Folder.


__________ v optional v _______________________

5a. (optional/not absolutely necessary to do the hack) If you are planning on adding patches other than what's in Ptool, then download the patch. Right-click on the patch, choose "Extract all" and then browse and extract the file to that same Hack Folder.
Once extracted the file will be called "set", followed by a letter. For example, the file from lpowell's 40Mbps AVCHD High Reliability Patch will be "setj". (See bottom of this post for links to lpowell's GH1 patches.) You can also adjust the patches included within Ptool (without clicking the letters, but you need to know what you are doing).

Firmware, Ptool and patch:
firmware ptool and patch.jpg

__________ ^ optional ^ ______________________


6. You will now have at least the two required files in your Hack Folder: Panasonic V1.32 firmware and Ptool (and a 3rd file if adding a patch).
Double-click on Ptool, click "Load Firmware".


firmware and ptool.jpg

The Panasonic GH1__132.bin will show as the only choice in the Hack Folder.
(If the location that popped up isn't your Hack Folder, then browse to it. Always go to the specific folder, in this example "Hack Folder", for each hack attempt - don't use the same folder every time you do a new hack - name a new folder something new when making new hack settings a separate time.)
Select that Panasonic GH1__132.bin file and then click open.

7. After selecting and opening the Panasonic bin file, the Ptool interface will now open.

Check the top three boxes:
x Version increment
x Prevent version compare
x New Body


ptool check 3 boxes.jpg


8. Double-click on “Version increment”
After clicking, about ¾ the way down on Ptool, this will appear:

Enter Increment
1
ORIGINAL > MODIFIED


Move your mouse cursor inside "1" and replace it with 10


Version increment--1.jpg

Version increment--10.jpg


__________ v optional v _______________________

8a. (optional/not absolutely necessary to do the hack) If you are adding a patch, then click the corresponding patch letter.
For example, lpowell's 40Mbps AVCHD High Reliability Patch
file is "setj". So, on the Ptool screen, go to the bottom and click the corresponding letter to the patch.
Go to the bottom of Ptool, click the letter J (for this example) in the circle.

load patch J.jpg

It will then say “settings loaded” and check all of the settings for you.

load patch J --settings loaded.jpg

Note: After clicking the letter, the "Settings loaded" message (as seen in the above image) will only flash for a second and will not be permanently visible. You also won't see anything different about Ptool, on the surface, once you click the letter.
If you go through the "Patches for end users" settings (not necessary to go through this for a hack with a loaded patch); certain settings will be checked or unchecked. For example, depending on the patch, "Native 24p" or "Third party battery" boxes may be checked/unchecked. Just leave them be as the patch loaded them. You will not see the results of the hack until after you put the card into the camera and shoot some footage.


When you load a patch setting, "New body" may become unchecked.
If New body becomes unchecked, re-check the New body box after applying the patch settings.


__________ ^ optional ^ ______________________


9. Click “Save Firmware”, and name it higher (or different) than the GH1__132.bin Panasonic firmware.
I named my first hack GH1__135.bin

Then save it to that same Hack Folder.

save firmware.jpg


10. Take an SD or SDHC card that you will be using to save the firmware to and format the card while it’s in the Panasonic GH1.
After it is formatted, turn the camera off, take that card out and put it in a card reader connected to your PC.


11. In your Hack Folder on your PC; right-click on the new firmware file GH1__135.bin and choose “copy”.

Copy new firmware.jpg

Open your SD card and, right at the first level where you see folders, then "paste" the GH1__135.bin file.

Paste new firmware to card.jpg

Eject card from the PC.


12. Put the card in the Panasonic GH1, then turn on the camera. (Make sure, before the hack, that the automatic EVF viewfinder/LCD function that turns on/off the LCD when you are near the eyecup - IS SET TO OFF BEFORE THE HACK as it may interfere with the update.)

13. Press the play button on the camera and hold it for 5 seconds/or until a message appears. When it prompts you whether you want to up the firmware version, use the cursor button to select “YES“ then press set button to confirm.
LET THE PROGRESS BAR ON THE LCD SCREEN GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY BUTTONS. DON’T TURN OFF THE POWER OR ANYTHING UNTIL IT’S DONE OR YOU COULD SCREW UP THE CAMERA!
If you held the play button on the GH1 and nothing happened, you probably did something wrong; for example, didn't change the increment number from 1 to 10 or other setting you may have missed.
If so, reformat your firmware card in the camera, go back to step 3 and try again.


14. When it is done updating, turn the GH1 off, then take the card out.
You can label your SD card case for that particular firmware version/hack; for example; lpowell's "40mbps AVCHD High Reliability Patch" on a sticker on the outside of the case (don't put a sticker on the actual card) or however you want to label the card case.
You can use this hack again at another time. You can leave the folder on your PC and copy the file again to the same or another card.
You can also format the card again in the camera and put a different hack version on it or have different firmware hacks on different cards, including the original Panasonic GH1__132.bin original firmware on a separate card if you want to, at some point, revert back to it.


15. Put a different card in the GH1 that you will be using to shoot the video to, then turn camera on.
Class 6 SDHC/preferably Class 10 SDHC.
Sandisk Extreme Class 10 strongly recommended for use with the GH1 hack.
Sandisk Extreme Class 6 suitable for most hacks - but go with SanDisk Class 10 if possible; most suitable for the higher bit rate hacks, i.e. 100mbps max.

Other brands like "Lexar/Class 10" or other Class 10/Class 6 cards may not be usable for the higher bit rates.
Please research your card options before purchasing.

____________________________________________________
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You may go through the GH1 menu and look at/adjust settings before shooting video.

After you shoot and transfer the files to your computer, you can use a program to see file information; for example, the bit rate.

MediaInfo:
http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en

Stream Parser:
StreamParser Install.zip


If, in the future, you do a hack again after this one; name the new, hacked firmware version a different name and place it in a new, different folder: for example, GH1__136.bin and the one after that GH1__137.bin , etc.


GH1 patches created by lpowell for ALL previously unhackable cameras:
* Reliable In-Camera Playback Patch - version 2
* Blackout-Powell Native 24p Patch - version 2
* 100Mbps Max Latitude Native 24/25p Patch



 

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thanks for the write up.. i was looking for something like this before I hacked my GH1..

the naming of the bin file - after the first hack, the camera firmware goes down to 0.0.. at that point, if you want to re-load any new firmware, the version number in the filename only has to be larger than 0.0 right?
 
You might include instructions for Mac users as well. Also, I suggest this be made sticky.
I don't now Mac - maybe someone can make a separate Mac thread.

Also, these instructions will work on any GH1 body, not just 2011 ones.
Is that confirmed as a definite? I can include a mention - but there's already a sticky for the first hack.
 
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So the third check box sets the firmware version to 0.0 so that you don't have to continuously increment the version in the firmware file name?
 
Is that confirmed as a definite? I can include a mention - but there's already a sticky for the first hack.

If you check all three of the first boxes in Ptool and set Version Compare to 10 or above, it will hack any GH1 body - lpowell confirmed that for me in another thread.
 
If you check all three of the first boxes in Ptool and set Version Compare to 10 or above, it will hack any GH1 body - lpowell confirmed that for me in another thread.

That's funny- I think I told you that yesterday.
Well, duh on me - wasn't thinking. :/
 
If you check all three of the first boxes in Ptool and set Version Compare to 10 or above, it will hack any GH1 body - lpowell confirmed that for me in another thread.
This is absolutely correct. There is no value in experimenting with different settings of the first three patches. Leaving all three patches checked will eliminate the hazard of inadvertently creating a patch that will make it difficult to hack the camera with updated patches in the future.
 
That's funny- I think I told you that yesterday.
Well, duh on me - wasn't thinking. :/

This is absolutely correct. There is no value in experimenting with different settings of the first three patches. Leaving all three patches checked will eliminate the hazard of inadvertently creating a patch that will make it difficult to hack the camera with updated patches in the future.

Conversations between the three of us definitively prove one thing: I spend way too much time on this forum :P
 
lpowell...I was wondering if it would matter if a file, for example a notepad, was placed on the SD card also on the same root level as the firmware?

This would be so that if you are going through the cards, you could see what patch is on a particular card via the name of the file.
It wouldn't have to be a notepad - maybe a folder with the patch name - it wouldn't be opened, but the name of the patch displayed:

patch notepad on card.jpg

Would that harm anything with the camera?
 
lpowell...I was wondering if it would matter if a file, for example a notepad, was placed on the SD card also on the same root level as the firmware?

This would be so that if you are going through the cards, you could see what patch is on a particular card via the name of the file.
It wouldn't have to be a notepad - maybe a folder with the patch name - it wouldn't be opened, but the name of the patch displayed:

View attachment 34740

Would that harm anything with the camera?

Taking that one step further-I've got a 1GB SD card that I have formatted in the camera. Is there any harm in creating a folder called "patches" with which to install all my ini files?? Then I could just swap out whichever firmware I want to load from the folder, to the root-put the card in the camera, and hit "play". I plan on just using this SD card for my patches. But, it would be nice to just have one card and my laptop in the field-that way I can swap patches at will.
 
Taking that one step further-I've got a 1GB SD card that I have formatted in the camera. Is there any harm in creating a folder called "patches" with which to install all my ini files?? Then I could just swap out whichever firmware I want to load from the folder, to the root-put the card in the camera, and hit "play". I plan on just using this SD card for my patches. But, it would be nice to just have one card and my laptop in the field-that way I can swap patches at will.

omg, that would be awesome.

I bet there's even a way to use the camera's controls to skip to the next firmware version file if they were all at the root.
I wonder if you put 4 bin files at the root and when it asks you to up the version, you choose "no" - maybe it would go to the next one if you hit the play button again?
 
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omg, that would be awesome.

I bet there's even a way to use the camera's controls to skip to the next firmware version file if they were all at the root.
I wonder if you put 4 bin files at the root and when it asks you to up the version, you choose "no" - maybe it would go to the next one if you hit the play button again?

Try it, let's find out.
 
lpowell...I was wondering if it would matter if a file, for example a notepad, was placed on the SD card also on the same root level as the firmware?
No problems that I'm aware of. The camera appears to recognize only those files and folders that are correctly named, and ignores the rest. On occasion I've swapped an SD card between a GH1 and a Zoom H4N, which writes its own separate folder structure to the SD card. Both devices have been able to share the card without any apparent conflicts.
 
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