Need some help on update my PicoCalc

PicoCalc
1

Hello,
I recently baught a PicoCalc in an Ebay auction. Its SD card still retains the old file structure, featuring the .bin files and the firmware directory.

Now, I would like to replace the Pico with a Pico 2 W. I have already downloaded a file named “PicoCalc-553da6f2408963b956779599d179d77fd611a4d7.zip”. Inside this archive, specifically within the Bin\PicoCalc SD subdirectory, I found, among other things, the pico1-apps folder and the files BOOT20240.uf2 and bootloader_pico.uf2.
As far as I understand, all of this is intended for the Pico 1.

I have also already located the corresponding files for the Pico 2 W: BOOT2350.uf2 and bootloader_pico2.uf2.

Now, here are my questions:

  • Which .uf2 file needs to be flashed directly onto the Pico 2 W via the BOOTSEL mode?
  • Where can I obtain the .uf2 files, that correspond to the files currently in the pico1-apps directory, which presumably need to be placed into a pico2-apps directory?

Unfortunately, the relevant information available here is quite scattered, and I have not yet been able to find the answers to these specific questions.

2

steps

in a nutshell:

use the stm cube programmer to upgrade keyboard to Bin 1.6

nuke flash your Pico 2 w

flash your nuked Pico 2 w with correct .uf2 file

SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE REQUIRED

1 download and instal STM Cube Programmer.

2 download from Geoff’s Projects the latest firmware.

3 download nuke flash uf2 file.

INSTALLING THE STM LATEST AND UF2.

1 watch this JBlank video, caveat newer firmware available for the STM keyboard. 1.6 not 1.2 as suggested.

Jblanked video

2 follow instructions on the video and update the STM firmware. if this is not done, updating the UF2 file for the PICO 2W only, will result in a blank screen.

3 nuke flash your PICO 2 so it contains no conflicting code in preparation for the correct uf2 file. drag and drop.

4 select the correct uf2 file from the Geoff’s Project zip file that you unzipped ealier. it will be a 2350 file. drag and drop

now would someone please point this gentleman to the correct .UF2 file for the PICO 2 W. I used the base version as I only have the PICO 2.

1 Like
3

I want to have multiboot with the pelrun bootloader.

My steps:

  • Prepeared a new SD card with the following content:
ls -la
insgesamt 2788
drwxrwxr-x 9 holger holger    4096 Mai 25 17:48  .
drwxrwxr-x 6 holger holger    4096 Mai 26 14:02  ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger 2133632 Apr  2 04:20  BellLabs_Fine.mp3
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger     423 Apr  2 04:20  bifdiag.bas
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   92160 Apr  2 04:20  BOOT2040.uf2
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   89600 Mai 25 17:47  BOOT2350.uf2
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   14336 Mai 25 17:46  bootloader_pico2.uf2
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   22016 Apr  2 04:20  bootloader_pico.uf2
drwxr-xr-x 3 holger holger    4096 Apr  2 04:20  cc
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   40976 Apr  2 04:20  Chessnovice_johnybot.nes
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   29696 Mai 25 17:48  diag_pico2.uf2
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger   30720 Mai 25 17:47  diag_pico.uf2
drwxr-xr-x 2 holger holger    4096 Apr  2 04:20  fonts
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger     550 Apr  2 04:20  lorenz.bas
drwxr-xr-x 2 holger holger    4096 Apr  2 04:20  lua
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger    4598 Apr  2 04:20  MACHIKAP.INI
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger     185 Apr  2 04:20  main.lua
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger     847 Apr  2 04:20  mand.bas
drwxr-xr-x 2 holger holger    4096 Apr  2 04:20  pico1-apps
drwxrwxr-x 2 holger holger    4096 Mai 25 17:52  pico2-apps
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger  307254 Apr  2 04:20  picocalc.bmp
drwxr-xr-x 3 holger holger    4096 Apr  2 04:20  picoware
-rw-r--r-- 1 holger holger    9610 Apr  2 04:20  README.md

  • Updated STM32 following these instructions https://github.com/jblanked/awesome-pico-calc/blob/master/GettingStarted.md

  • Checked my new pico 2W via the Arduino IDE with the blink example, works.

  • Pressed BOOTSEL on the Pico 2W and plugged it in again

  • Copied bootloader_pico2.uf2 to the root directory of the mounted Pico 2W

  • Changed the Pico 1 in te PicoCalc to this new Pico 2W.

  • Changed the SD card with the prepared one.

  • Switched the PicoCalc on.

Green LED is on but the screen keeps black, nothing happens.

I then changed everything back and it’s working the old way. What’s wrong?

<

4

I’m a step further. Flashed the Pico 2W with universal_flash_nuke.uf2 first and then with bootloader_pico2.uf2. I don’t know why but it boots into the select uf2 menu when holding the up button.

  • micropython_pico2w.uf2 is starting on select and flashing but it is rather empty.
  • PicoCalc_Fuzix_v1.1_pico2.uf2 is missing the root partition allthough I made a SD card with a big fat32 partition as first partition and a small linux partition as a second.
  • PicoCalc_NES_v1.0_pico2.uf2 is booting and shows Chessnovice_johnybot.nes in a choice menu but that’s not working. It behaves like the original PICO 1 so no progress.
  • None of the MMBASIC versions under Releases · madcock/PicoMiteAllVersions · GitHub is working. It shows a black screen on the PicoCalc. Now I found a thread in the forum regarding this topic. The uf2 file from Releases · pelrun/PicoMiteAllVersions · GitHub is working.

What do you need to keep in mind when compiling UF2 files yourself and using the Pico 2W with the pelrun bootloader?

What does the FUZIX use as the root partition?

5

FUZIX uses its own filesystem format. You may want to get ahold of the FUZIX source with the necessary PicoCalc patching and start from there, to properly initialize a FUZIX filesystem.

6

Finally I got FUZIX up and running following these instructions: GitHub - wez/FUZIX: FuzixOS: Because Small Is Beautiful · GitHub
I still struggle with the Micropython. This GitHub - zenodante/PicoCalc-micropython-driver · GitHub isn’t working. I have a Micropython which is starting but it has no examples etc.

7

The core philosophy of uf2loader is to almost never have to think about uf2loader when making a picocalc app. If you can flash it directly to the pico you “should” be able to use it directly with uf2loader.

Unfortunately a few of the most popular applications take control of flash in ways that uf2loader can’t control, and therefore conflict or need changes. Micropython and PicoMite are in this category. (I have a list at Applications that need patching · Issue #6 · pelrun/uf2loader · GitHub )

Practically everything else should just work.

8

zeptoforth currently does not support uf2loader, and I am waiting on @cathiele to add the capability for it to properly autodetect partition sizes to his pull request before I merge it in so zeptoforth will support uf2loader.