Some time back, well, in January 2026, I’d managed to get my PicoCalc into a state where it wouldn’t power up or display anything on the screen! Not sure how. I set it down for a few months.
But this is how I got it working again…
Flash Keyboard firmware:
- Open case with 2.5mm hex wrench, remove batteries, gently remove Pico 2W board.
- Set switch 1 on.
- Plug in data-worthy USB-C cable from PicoCalc to Debian linux desktop.
- Long-press power button
- In linux “sudo dmesg -T” command, check for message about /dev/ttyUSB0 showing up.
- On linux system in a bash shell, collect PicoCalc BIOS firmware:
wget PicoCalc/Bin/PicoCalc_BIOS_v1.6.bin at master · clockworkpi/PicoCalc · GitHub - Then add the STM flashing CLI tool to linux:
sudo apt install stm32flash - And, with a linux user that was in group “dialout”, flash the BIOS to the PicoCalc:
stm32flash -w PicoCalc_BIOS_v1.6.bin -v /dev/ttyUSB0 - Then turn off switch 1.
Wipe Raspberry Pi Pico 2W:
- Fetched the old Debian copy of picotool:
sudo apt install picotool - Plugged loose Pico 2W into data-worthy Micro-USB cable connected to linux computer, while holding the Pico 2W’s BOOTSEL button.
- Confirmed picotool could see the Pico 2W:
picotool info - Erased the Pico 2W:
picotool erase
Write PicoMite to the Pico 2W:
- Fetched Geoff’s firmware:
wget https://github.com/geoffg/Downloads/picomite/PicoMite_FIrmware.zip - unzipped the archive:
unzip PicoMite_FIrmware.zip - Then flashed the image:
picotool load -v -x PicoMiteRP2350v6.02.01.uf2
Reassemble PicoCalc:
- As others have mentioned, do not push the Pico CPU module down into the DIP socket while the main board rests on top of the display! Doing so flexes the main board downward and often cracks the display!
- Reinsert the Pico CPU module, in a way that puts no pressure on the display. Either by releasing the display cable and removing the main board temporarily to work with it. Or by carefully lifting the main board away from the display, getting a couple fingers under it, and then working the Pico back into its socket.
Configure PicoMite to use PicoCalc display:
- Power on PicoCalc, expecting nothing to display yet.
- Plug data-worthy USB-C cable into PicoCalc and linux computer.
- Note that sudo dmesg -T shows a /dev/ttyACM0 now.
- In a linux bash shell, perhaps use screen to open a serial connection to the PicoCalc:
screen /dev/ttyACM0 - Or use PuTTY as a terminal emulator.
- Type an “Enter”, see the BASIC prompt “>” appear.
- Type “OPTION RESET PICOCALC” and power-cycle the PicoCalc
- Green boot text should appear on the PicoCalc screen.
Restore backup files to SD card:
- If backup files exist, power off the PicoCalc, eject the SD card, insert in the linux system’s SD reader, copy over files.
- At this point, perhaps add an automated switch to drive B: and a startup of one of the “Midnight Commander” tools.
- In order to use Wifi features, I should probably switch over to the WebMiteRP2350 UF2.
