diff --git a/dreader/hal_hardware.py b/dreader/hal_hardware.py
index 99dbd0b..6241356 100644
--- a/dreader/hal_hardware.py
+++ b/dreader/hal_hardware.py
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ class HardwareDisplayHAL(DisplayHAL):
         height: int = 1404,
         vcom: float = -2.0,
         spi_hz: int = 24_000_000,
+        rotate: Optional[str] = None,
         virtual_display: bool = False,
         auto_sleep_display: bool = True,
         enable_orientation: bool = True,
@@ -170,8 +171,29 @@ class HardwareDisplayHAL(DisplayHAL):
         self.width = width
         self.height = height
 
+        # Load config from file to get display settings
+        full_config = None
+        if config_file or gpio_config is None:
+            config_path = Path(config_file or "hardware_config.json")
+            if config_path.exists():
+                try:
+                    with open(config_path, 'r') as f:
+                        full_config = json.load(f)
+                    logger.info(f"Loaded hardware config from {config_path}")
+
+                    # Override display parameters from config if not explicitly provided
+                    display_config = full_config.get('display', {})
+                    if rotate is None and 'rotate' in display_config:
+                        rotate = display_config['rotate']
+                        logger.info(f"  Using rotate from config: {rotate}")
+
+                    gpio_config = full_config
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.warning(f"Could not load hardware config from {config_path}: {e}")
+
         logger.info(f"Initializing HardwareDisplayHAL: {width}x{height}")
         logger.info(f"  VCOM: {vcom}V")
+        logger.info(f"  Rotate: {rotate}")
         logger.info(f"  Virtual display: {virtual_display}")
         logger.info(f"  Orientation: {enable_orientation}")
         logger.info(f"  RTC: {enable_rtc}")
@@ -183,6 +205,7 @@ class HardwareDisplayHAL(DisplayHAL):
             height=height,
             vcom=vcom,
             spi_hz=spi_hz,
+            rotate=rotate,
             virtual_display=virtual_display,
             auto_sleep_display=auto_sleep_display,
             enable_orientation=enable_orientation,
@@ -195,18 +218,6 @@ class HardwareDisplayHAL(DisplayHAL):
         # GPIO button handler (optional)
         self.gpio_handler: Optional[GPIOButtonHandler] = None
 
-        # Load GPIO config from file if specified
-        if config_file or gpio_config is None:
-            config_path = Path(config_file or "hardware_config.json")
-            if config_path.exists():
-                try:
-                    with open(config_path, 'r') as f:
-                        full_config = json.load(f)
-                    gpio_config = full_config
-                    logger.info(f"Loaded hardware config from {config_path}")
-                except Exception as e:
-                    logger.warning(f"Could not load hardware config from {config_path}: {e}")
-
         # Initialize GPIO buttons if configured
         if gpio_config and GPIO_BUTTONS_AVAILABLE:
             try:
diff --git a/examples/test_direct_it8951.py b/examples/test_direct_it8951.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..91c0dbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test_direct_it8951.py
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Direct IT8951 test - bypasses the HAL completely.
+Uses IT8951 library directly like the working example.
+"""
+
+from IT8951 import constants
+from IT8951.display import AutoEPDDisplay
+from PIL import Image
+
+
+def main():
+    """Test display with direct IT8951 access."""
+
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print("Direct IT8951 Test - Half Black, Half White")
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print()
+    print("This test bypasses the HAL and uses IT8951 directly.")
+    print("Matches the working code you provided.")
+    print()
+
+    # Display size
+    width, height = 1872, 1404
+    shape = (height, width)  # IT8951 uses (height, width) format
+
+    print(f"Display shape: {shape} (height, width)")
+    print(f"Dimensions: {width}x{height}")
+    print()
+
+    # Create test image
+    print("Creating test image...")
+    print("  Left half: BLACK (0)")
+    print("  Right half: WHITE (255)")
+
+    # Create grayscale image
+    screen = Image.new('L', shape, color=255)  # White background
+
+    # Draw left half black
+    pixels = screen.load()
+    for y in range(height):
+        for x in range(width // 2):
+            pixels[x, y] = 0  # Black
+
+    print(f"✓ Image created: {screen.size} {screen.mode}")
+    print()
+
+    # Save for reference
+    output_file = "direct_test.png"
+    screen.save(output_file)
+    print(f"✓ Saved to: {output_file}")
+    print()
+
+    # Initialize display
+    print("Initializing IT8951 display...")
+    print("  VCOM: -1.7V")
+    print("  Rotation: CW (clockwise)")
+    print("  SPI: 24MHz")
+
+    display = AutoEPDDisplay(
+        vcom=-1.7,
+        rotate="CW",
+        spi_hz=24000000,
+        device=0,
+        bus=0
+    )
+
+    print("✓ Display initialized")
+    print()
+
+    # Display the image
+    print("Displaying image...")
+    print("  Using frame_buf.paste() + draw_full(GC16)")
+
+    display.frame_buf.paste(screen, (0, 0))
+    display.draw_full(constants.DisplayModes.GC16)
+
+    print("✓ Image displayed!")
+    print()
+
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print("CHECK YOUR SCREEN:")
+    print("=" * 60)
+    print()
+    print("You should see:")
+    print("  • LEFT HALF:  BLACK")
+    print("  • RIGHT HALF: WHITE")
+    print()
+    print("If this works, the display hardware is fine!")
+    print("If this doesn't work, there's a hardware/wiring issue.")
+    print()
+
+    # Sleep display
+    input("Press Enter to put display to sleep and exit...")
+
+    epd = display.epd
+    epd.sleep()
+
+    print("Display put to sleep. Done!")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    try:
+        main()
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        print("\n\nTest interrupted")
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"\nERROR: {e}")
+        import traceback
+        traceback.print_exc()
diff --git a/external/dreader-hal b/external/dreader-hal
index bfa51c1..64c9177 160000
--- a/external/dreader-hal
+++ b/external/dreader-hal
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit bfa51c1439301d778f57cae09679cb68695454ed
+Subproject commit 64c91776045093a7a46538aa3899a1709c44568a