Solderless GPD Win 4 60Hz fix 1
Adding 40Hz and additional CRU information: 7
EMERGENCY RECOVERY INSTRUCTIONS 8
5/31/2023 - GPD has provided a software method of updating the LCD firmware. That guide is: LINK
Before starting, there is one absolute rule to follow:
NEVER ATTEMPT TO SOLDER TO THE TEST PADS.
This is unnecessary in *every* case and has an extremely high risk of ripping off a pad and making it impossible to fix or recover your WIn4 in future. It’s happened multiple times now to people who didn’t listen. Don’t join the list.
If you follow this rule, it is essentially impossible to permanently brick your screen.
NOTE: it appears that new units (the ones that will come pre-flashed, dont know if they are already in the wild) are not affected by the black screen issue even when using the previous fw (20230426v1), no idea what’s different in new units
GPD recommends TO NOT FLASH this new fw in new units or the ones that have no black screen or issues, it is untested and may cause issue. Verify using CRU or testufo before flashing if you are not sure.
If you’ve set custom refresh rates using CRU, it’s recommended to clear those out prior to flashing. Run reset-all.exe in the CRU folder. If you don’t know what this is talking about, you can disregard
(you may have these on hand or have things that can be substituted)
- Dupont cables: standard 2.54mm spacing, I recommend the ribbon style ones so they stay straight - https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Breadbord-Jumper-Wires/dp/B01EV70C78
- Pin header blocks: https://www.amazon.com/MCIGICM-Header-2-45mm-Arduino-Connector/dp/B07PKKY8BX
- 0.48mm pogo pins: do a search for “P50-B1”
https://www.amazon.com/Yosoo-Spring-Pressure-P50-B1-0-68mm/dp/B019FGHZBG
Alternatively you can buy a pre-made 3P, single row, 2.54mm programming cable on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802885515922.html
Programmer: There are many different variations of the CH341a programmer. The easiest way to identify them is by PCB color, although there are several different versions of the black PCB CH341a that I know of.
Black, Green, and Blue PCB versions should all work, however you may need to adjust the wiring connections to match the programmer you’re using. (Green PCB programmers seem like they’re difficult to find now). Any CH341a based programmer should work as long as it has I2c connections
Example black CH341a: https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Programmer-CH341A-Burner-EEPROM/dp/B014VSGH4Y
Example blue CH341a: https://www.amazon.com/NOYITO-CH341A-Serial-Parallel-Converter/dp/B082KQ75QM
Although the screen fix ZIP contains drivers for the CH341a, they do not work correctly. The correct drivers are the CH341PAR driver from the link below (thanks pelrun!)
CH341PAR - https://www.wch.cn/downloads/CH341PAR_EXE.html
If things do not work even after installing this driver, check the jumper on your programmer board. It must be on pins 1-2 for the black programmer, and on the I2C position for the blue one.
(wiring colors for the picture and diagram match)
https://mega.nz/folder/f1slhTAZ#qQvF8eZFWuFIhtSG3r7TMg
*** You must maintain consistent contact with all 3 debug pads with the pogo pins through the entire flashing process ***
Open the flash app again, if there is good connectivity, this time you should not get the “Get Device Addr … Failure!” error message. Check to make sure “USB – I2C ON-LINE” is blue at the bottom right.
Example flashing setup (thanks tson!)
You’re all done!!! Reboot and now 60Hz should be smooth.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to confirm the IC firmware version directly. An easy way to check is to use one of the many tests at www.testufo.com to confirm proper 60Hz operation. After the IC fix, you should see the same stock 60Hz and 45Hz refresh options in the Windows Display options.
If things have gone wrong, DON’T PANIC, just read down to the EMERGENCY RECOVERY INSTRUCTIONS section and follow that.
Custom Resolution Utility (CRU)
So you got a partial flash and then rebooted anyway, and now the screen won’t turn on?
First, DON’T PANIC. You cannot permanently brick the screen unless you physically damage something, for instance soldering to the pads and ripping one off. So don’t do that.
The programmer hardware is everything you need to recover from a corrupted firmware, or even a completely blank chip.
Above all else, DO NOT SOLDER TO THE PADS.