Video walk-through explanation for first-time GH1 hack.

MattinSTL

MattinSTL

Sound Modulator
Here is an informal video I shot today to help a friend hack his GH1. I tried to explain the process over the phone, but I think there are a few tiny sticking points that are really hard to explain without a visual reference. When I was trying to make sense of the hack I tended to over-think some parts of it, and under-think other parts. There has also been a lot of evolution in the Ptool, which has made it hard for our newest visitors, when they get answers that applied to previous versions... then there are some replies in the spirit of "if this is too much for you to understand, then this isn't for you".

Well... what do you tell a friend who wants to do the hack? That since they haven't been following the development then it's not for them?

With the great advice to video tape the process on your first run through... I decided that's probably also the best way to answer this friend's questions and get it done for them quickly and (hopefully) painlessly.

If anybody sees a problem in this video PLEASE point out the problem! I apologize for the amateur level of production. This was originally only going to a friend, but I decided it might help a lot of people who don't fully understand the Ptool.

All I know for certain, is I have hacked my cam two times now... choosing what I thought are conservative options with a class 10 card. The first time through I hacked it only to try the "C" settings... then hacked again to try 24pn with "C" settings.

This is how I did it... and it worked for me. If you watch this video to use it as instruction... you are doing so at your own risk! I can't guarantee that this will work for you, or even that your camera is hackable... but I think this could help the people who don't have a good understanding of the process.

Part 1.

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I AGREE


Part 2.

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I AGREE


Please make note of the following!

diego1235467 said:
Also, ignore "Limiting Bitrate," it no longer shows up on PTools, but it doesn't matter. Ignore that bit, and follow the rest of the video, and you'll have a hacked camera in no time.
Click to expand...
 
You're welcome.

Now I realize that YOU didn't ask for this, but this is a general statement to anybody who watches this video and wants ME to provide the original Panasonic 1.32 firmware image.

I will not send or provide any files! I won't even answer any PM's asking me to do so. Not because I'm a jerk, but because I don't want that level of responsibility for your success, or that level of liability (legal or otherwise) in providing files.

For me to supply the original firmware image puts me in a zone of responsibility that I'm not going into. Perhaps it's paranoia to think that Panasonic would have altered the 1.32 download that we all got weeks ago... but the reason I mentioned this in the video is because of the other "hack-block" developments. If it were ME... I would be very hesitant to trust that download today.

There are probably a thousand people on this board that have that file and would consider sharing it... but I'm not one of them. This is CYA territory for me here... I've been around a while and want to help where I can, and that's what the video is intended to do. I'm sharing information and experience... but my sharing ends there... at least on this issue :)
 
All becomes worse and worse.
Now we have speculation about 1.32 firmware.
I understand that everyone can have their theories, but at least you must have proof of them before widely distributing.

One more time.
If firmware will be changed (and it won't!) PTool simply tell you that this is wrong file.
It is so simple.
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
All becomes worse and worse.
Now we have speculation about 1.32 firmware.
I understand that everyone can have their theories, but at least you must have proof of them before widely distributing.

One more time.
If firmware will be changed (and it won't!) PTool simply tell you that this is wrong file.
It is so simple.
Click to expand...

Yes. The current firmware on the Panasonic website will work with the hack as there are people that have successfully hacked their cameras with said firmware as late as today.
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
All becomes worse and worse.
Now we have speculation about 1.32 firmware.
I understand that everyone can have their theories, but at least you must have proof of them before widely distributing.

One more time.
If firmware will be changed (and it won't!) PTool simply tell you that this is wrong file.
It is so simple.
Click to expand...


My apologies Vitaliy.

It is not my intention to muddy the issue, but rather, to clear it up! The only reason I mentioned this, is because if you think that Panasonic has secretly blocked the hack in the newest versions of firmware... (according to the FAQ) what would prevent them from blocking the "current leak"?

I don't want to have any speculation in the thread, but I never planted the idea of a "secret" block of the hack in the latest cams... I suggested that if one accepts that as true, then I'd be nervous in trusting the current download link. I'm glad to read that as of today... you can simply follow the previous link to download the 1.32 image and use that to create your new GH1 firmware!

So... to re-state for anybody who may be uncertain... Vitaliy just said that Ptool won't even OPEN a firmware that can't be hacked.
 
Just read FAQ about it, it is sticky and very short.
And no, they won't alter 1.32 firmware.
Nor GH1 or GF1 will have any firmware publically released after June.
 
diego1235467 said:
Quick question. Once the hack is done, how do I reformat the card to use it?
Click to expand...

I have always updated my FW with a 128Mb class2 plain SD card and never had any problems, so rather than use your fancy high capacity video recording SDHC card to flash FW, use an old one that you probably have lying around.

I have reflashed this way at least 50 times, so card speed, type and capacity are obviously not critical to load an 8Mb bin file.

Rambo
 
Yep, when I updated my firmware to 1.32 when I first got the camera home I used an old 2Gb Lexar I had with another camera.

Thx for the video too.
It all helps!
 
I am following your instructions on part 1 of the video. The ptools program I just downloaded from DVXuser (the program name at the top of the ptools window says Ptool v3.40d) is missing the 5th sub-directory called Limiting Bitrate under "AVCHD Compression". There are only 4 sub-directories under AVCHD Compression: Video Bitrate fhd/sh; Video bitrate H; Video bitrate L; and Overall Bitrate.
Has the Ptool v3.40d program changed since you created this video or could I be doing something wrong.

In any event, this video is very clear and easy to follow. THANK YOU!!!
 
rst6616 said:
I am following your instructions on part 1 of the video. The ptools program I just downloaded from DVXuser (the program name at the top of the ptools window says Ptool v3.40d) is missing the 5th sub-directory called Limiting Bitrate under "AVCHD Compression". There are only 4 sub-directories under AVCHD Compression: Video Bitrate fhd/sh; Video bitrate H; Video bitrate L; and Overall Bitrate.
Has the Ptool v3.40d program changed since you created this video or could I be doing something wrong.

In any event, this video is very clear and easy to follow. THANK YOU!!!
Click to expand...


This is my point about all this... everybody says "it's so simple" and yet the program changes every 1-2 weeks.

The fifth row is "Limiting Bitrate"... I'd ASSUME that shouldn't matter... and that you can just do the rest of the operation as shown.

Hopefully Vitaliy will comment on this... I'd like to say it doesn't matter, but I don't know for sure.

I have friends out in LA that I made this video for... and they called me last night to say they couldn't get their cam to hack... I have no idea if they followed the directions exactly. As stated in the video... this is how I read the instructions... what I did... and it worked, twice.
 
Thanks for the video, couldn't have been easier to hack the camera!

Also, ignore "Limiting Bitrate," it no longer shows up on PTools, but it doesn't matter. Ignore that bit, and follow the rest of the video, and you'll have a hacked camera in no time.
 
Thank you for the confirmation Diego!

I'm glad to hear it's "no worries"... Congrats on your good luck to get in at just the right time. You got one of the newest GH1s... yet still hackable... sliding just under the closing door. How is that not awesome? :)
 
Now I'm having typical troubles that come with learning a new camera, but after a while I'm sure I'll figure stuff out. But yes, it is indeed extremely awesome :)
 
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