PS2X?

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:35 pm

Twisted Warthog wrote:I tried to downgrade my PSP and it bricked the first time, a waste of almost $300... If thats a risk people want to take thats fine with me. The only reason i bought a PSP in the first place was so i could custom it but it bricked.

Waste of $300? Was that all on the PSP?

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:53 pm

bicostp wrote:What do I need to look for to find a downgradable unit?

Good choice Bic, honestly, you'll be much more pleased with the PSP!

As for looking for a downgradable unit, the only real option anymore is to buy used. All the new units are shipping with 3.3/3.4, so there's really no chance there. The basic jist of things is that you have to downgrade the current firmware to firmware 1.5, and then install a custom firmware (I recommend Dark_AleX, his stuff is the best, and he normally spits out new custom firmware pretty much right after Sony releases the standard stuff). For any PSP at or below firmware 2.71, there are downgraders available all over the internet that are pretty much step-by-step, but you do run the risk of bricking your unit. If your firmware is above 2.71, then you have to do something with GTA to downgrade, I have no clue what it is, though.

Once downgraded, you put a custom firmware on your memory stick and install, but again, it's possible to brick your PSP doing this as well. In all honesty, your best option is most likely to grab a PSP from Ebay that is already at firmware 1.5 or running a custom firmware 3.03 OE or higher. They're fairly easy to find with a bit of hunting, just a quick search yielded these results. And as I stated before, if the used one is beat up, replacement faceplates and buttons are always an option, and it'd probably still be cheaper than buying a brand new PSP.

Just as a side note, on standard 1.50 firmware (the official stuff from Sony) you can actually still run most homebrew apps and emulators, though PSX emulation is only available in custom firmware. Hope this helped, and good luck!

CTFan

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:38 pm

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the firmware stuff.

Is downgrading to 1.5 really necessary? (You can't run the custom firmware updater from a newer version?) Which models support this operation? I keep reading about a recovery mode which is accessed by holding the right shoulder button while powering on the system, what's the deal here? How dangerous is messing with the firmware if it's done with a wall adapter?

Sorry if I'm asking obvious questions, but I want to know what I'm doing before dropping the money on one of these, even if it is a 50 dollar used unit off eBay.

Thanks for the help everyone!

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:58 pm

Is downgrading to 1.5 really necessary? (You can't run the custom firmware updater from a newer version?)
As far as I know, the only way to install a custom firmware is to downgrade to 1.5 (unless its already custom, then it still has 1.5 and no need to downgrade to go to a newer custom).
Which models support this operation?
I think all the problems you've heard about have been dealt with, you would just need a different downgrader if you have one of the weird motherboards.
I keep reading about a recovery mode which is accessed by holding the right shoulder button while powering on the system, what's the deal here?
I think its used to recover the PSP if the upgrade or something poops it up, I think it can be used to undo some brinkings, but its only on custom firmwares.
How dangerous is messing with the firmware if it's done with a wall adapter?
I think if its going to screw up, its going to either way. As long as the battery is charged you should be good. Most of the problems I've heard weren't the power dying. I think the best thing to do is memorize the instructions so that you could recite them when you're dead, follow them, and when you start the upgrader/downgrader, have the PSP on a table, and just leave it and let it do its business. Then you can't accidentally hit the power switch or something.

Remember, I'm not an expert, don't just take my word for it.

schmellyfart · Post by **schmellyfart** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:26 pm

bicostp wrote:Is downgrading to 1.5 really necessary? (You can't run the custom firmware updater from a newer version?) Which models support this operation? I keep reading about a recovery mode which is accessed by holding the right shoulder button while powering on the system, what's the deal here? How dangerous is messing with the firmware if it's done with a wall adapter?

Yes it is necessary. I think it has to load something from that firmare the enables the homebrew in the custon firmware.

Recovery mode is where you can change some settings and plugins for the psp that you cant normally change i.e. adding or removing the sony logo when the psp boots, enabling or disabling 'no umd' for "backups"/ISO's and making the GAME folder use the 1.5 kernel or 3.xx kernel. Thats all of the recovery mode that I can think of off the top of my head.

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:40 pm

So downgrade to 1.5, then upgrade to whatever the newest version of Dark AleX's firmware is? Can you do this with any PSP? (I thought there was a second motherboard revision that needed its own patches...) And is GTA:LCS really necessary? I don't want to buy a game I'm never going to play.

I'm looking into a unit on ebay that has custom firmware installed already, but I figure learning the process is a good idea in case I'm outbid. GameStop is definitely NOT an option since the price for a used PSP is only 20 dollars less than a new Core pack.

Is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-PSP-Custo ... =1-1">this book</a> good?

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:00 pm

So downgrade to 1.5, then upgrade to whatever the newest version of Dark AleX's firmware is?
Yes
Can you do this with any PSP? (I thought there was a second motherboard revision that needed its own patches...)
There are separate downgraders, you still have to check, but its possible to downgrade any motherboard with the appropriate downgrader.
And is GTA:LCS really necessary? I don't want to buy a game I'm never going to play.
Only if it has 2.71 to 3.03 firmware.

Krepticor · Post by **Krepticor** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:57 pm

1. I don't think so HAven't really tried

2. popstation google it and ignore the nipenease psp look-alike

3. fairly decent, hard to explain without showing you

4. actually it is surprisingly good, you can cut the quality because the small screen makes up for it and it is better

5. nope just upgrade to the right firmware (I use 3.03) drag and drop, simple

6. don't really need it, unless you run umd's, and if you want and auxillery pack just buy one there all over, and honestly a bought rechargeable one is much easier and cheaper than taking out a small fortune in alkaline

jperryss · Post by **jperryss** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:03 pm

bicostp wrote:I'm looking into a unit on ebay that has custom firmware installed already, but I figure learning the process is a good idea in case I'm outbid. GameStop is definitely NOT an option since the price for a used PSP is only 20 dollars less than a new Core pack.

Keep an eye on Craigslist. I got mine from a guy up in Boston last fall for a great price, already had 1.50 on it (this was before the 3.XX OE stuff, or at least before I knew about it). Plus you can play with it before committing.

Post by **bicostp** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:57 pm

Sorry, just a few more questions.

So any PSP will work? Obviously I'm not rushing out to the store and buying a brand new one, but there's nothing specific to look for anymore? (I don't want to pay a hundred bucks for a console only to get shafted because it's incompatible with the up/down/left/Dennis-graders.)

Why doesn't running the updater for a 3.X OE firmware work on anything but 1.5? (I thought downgrading to 1.5 was the riskiest part of the procedure?)

I read some of that PSP hacking book I linked to earlier at Borders. (It's not the best book and it's already outdated, by the way.) Apparently there is/was some sort of adapter that lets you plug any memory card into a Memory Stick Duo slot. Are these still around, and if so where can I track one down? If I can find one that handles CompactFlash, I can use either the cards for our digital camera or make it into an adapter for a laptop hard drive. (I have a 6 gig laptop drive just sitting around collecting dust...)

Thanks again!

jperryss · Post by **jperryss** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:29 pm

I'm spitting this out as best as I remember, since I haven't researched it much since I got mine in October, and the one I got already had 1.5 on it. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

-Anything 2.71-ish or lower is downgradeable to 1.5 and it's fairly straightforward.

-If you have a PSP with the above FW and it also has a TA-082 mobo (identified here) then it's still downgradeable, but the procedure is different.

-Anything over that FW rev and it gets tricky. You need a certain version of the GTA:LCS disc to take advantage of an exploit with that game. Then you can downgrade to 1.5.

Getting to 1.5 is key, and IMO probably the hardest part. 1.5 is vulnerable to exploits that allow you to run homebrew, and this was eliminated by Sony with all revs after 1.5. Once there, you can upgrade to 3.XX OE (currently at 3.40OE) with all features of the Sony FWs, plus the ability to run the homebrew stuff. Now, whenever Sony releases a newer FW, Dark_Alex tackles it and puts out his own 'OE' version in short order. Once you're running any of the OE FWs, upgrading to a newer one is easy.

And I've never heard of that MSDuo memory card converter you mentioned.

bicostp wrote:Sorry, just a few more questions.

So any PSP will work? Obviously I'm not rushing out to the store and buying a brand new one, but there's nothing specific to look for anymore? (I don't want to pay a hundred bucks for a console only to get shafted because it's incompatible with the up/down/left/Dennis-graders.)

Why doesn't running the updater for a 3.X OE firmware work on anything but 1.5? (I thought downgrading to 1.5 was the riskiest part of the procedure?)

I read some of that PSP hacking book I linked to earlier at Borders. (It's not the best book and it's already outdated, by the way.) Apparently there is/was some sort of adapter that lets you plug any memory card into a Memory Stick Duo slot. Are these still around, and if so where can I track one down? If I can find one that handles CompactFlash, I can use either the cards for our digital camera or make it into an adapter for a laptop hard drive. (I have a 6 gig laptop drive just sitting around collecting dust...)

Thanks again!

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:30 pm

I've seen the adapters you speak of before, they're... meh. My friend had an SD card one, and it was very outlandish, you had to insert some clip thing and then there was this ugly strip that came out of your memorystick port. Not only was it bad to look at, but seeing the way he had to grip it, it looked very uncomfortable to play as well. Ebay and other online marketplaces are actually selling MemoryStick Pro Duos for very cheap now, I got a 4 gig one from Ebay for just about $40 shipped.

CTFan

jperryss · Post by **jperryss** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:44 pm

CronoTriggerfan wrote:Ebay and other online marketplaces are actually selling MemoryStick Pro Duos for very cheap now, I got a 4 gig one from Ebay for just about $40 shipped.

CTFan

A few months ago I picked up this Sandisk 4GB stick from Newegg, but ended up returning it because it was too slow and some stuff was nearly unplayable as a result. I've had the 1GB version of the same stick forever, and the speeds are fine. I guess speed goes down as size goes up.

I've been eyeing the Sandisk Ultra II. Just waiting for the price to come down a bit more, since now the 8GB sticks are coming out.