Sponsored By PSP Blender
Ector has released a new PSP Emulator for Windows that plays Commercial games. Potemkin (codenamed DaSH) is an experimental open source HLE PSP Emulator. Screens and Downloads via the link
read more | digg story
PSPe 0.7 (The 1st PSP Emulator for PC)
| 1st PSP Emulator for the PC. Performance of the emulator is a little bit sluggish considering its on very early stage of development. Only homebrew apps runs. Not commercial roms/isoz.
INSTRUCTION : C:\PSP\ms0\PSP\GAME\[appfolder] Then run the emulator .exe. If you have no apps the \GAME\ folder emulator would just hang on startup. They keys for the emulator are : Games we tested : |
| [ Download Tools ] |
From just about day one, the holy grail of the PSP homebrew scene has been PSX emulation, and while much has been accomplished on this front, the spiffiest emulator yet happens to come courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment Itself. Of course, that emulator entails a pay-per-download scheme, limited catalog and requires a PS3 to make it all work, right? Not so much anymore, thanks to hacker extraordinaire Dark_AleX and his new Custom Firmware 3.02 OE-B, which lets you convert your very own PSX ISOs and run them at full speed on the PSP. OE-A worked as a hack for Sony-released download titles by stripping the DRM, but it sounds like OE-B is the real deal here. Sure looks like those PSP fanboys are going to be having some happy holidays this year. Keep reading to spy an incredibly blurry vid of the hack in action.
The Wii’s Twilight Hack has been a big hit for the homebrew crowd. Using the software flaw, they’ve been able to play Tetris on their Wiis and even create some custom Wii channels. Nintendo tried to shut that program down, but 8 hours later, it was back. Nobody can keep the homebrew devs down, and over the past week there have been two more major breakthroughs in “hacking the Wii.”
A group called Waninkoko has created a custom firmware for the Wii which allows writable DVDs to be read by the system. This means that downloading Wii titles to your PC, and then playing them on a burned disc could be right around the corner. The second crack for the Wii came from teamshift. They were able to create a PSP emulator that can play whatever games you wish.
Of course, neither of these hacks have actually been confirmed, so take heed before you try to install the Waninkoko hack. Do so at your own risk. The PSP emulator rumor from teamshift comes from a single image posted on NintendoMax showing Puzzle Bobble Pocket playing on a Wii. The image doesn’t hold much credence, and could be completely fake, but if it’s real then PSP games may become the new black for a while in Wii owner’s homes.
As more information is revealed on this, we’ll let you know.
“Homebrew coders push the boundaries on the PSP again, StrmnNrmn has released a new version of his Nintendo 64 emulator for the PSP that has been confirmed to play Mario 64 at Full Speed on Sony’s Handheld. A full Compatibility listing is available with games such as Starfox64 playble too.”
The complete PSP glossary.
A
Ad-hoc: The network process of connecting one PSP directly to another
Atrac3 and Atrac3Plus: Sony’s format of music similar to mp3 and wma
AVC: AVC, or Advanced Video Codec is a brilliant codec that allows better quality video to be put into a smaller file
B
Bière d’Alsace: Fanjita’s eLoader 0.9.6 Was a big bugfix over 0.9.5
Booster: The creator of DevHook
Brick: To brick someone’s PSP, key flash modules must be overwritten. If your PSP is bricked, when you turn it on nothing will happen except the little green light will come on.
Bock: Fanjita’s eLoader 0.9.7, the most current release. Supports wifi
Brown Ale: Fanjita’s eLoader 0.9.5 The first eLoader not called eBOOT Loader, can load many EBOOTS for 2.01-2.60
Buffer Overflow: A Buffer overflow is where the PSP is told that somewhere there is 2 byte’s of information to read. If more information is forced then it will also be read without checks. Hopefully at least, this can lead to a loader making use of that overflow.
C
C/C++: C and C++ are two commonly used languages for the PSP, C++ is the most powerful, but C is easier. They are used in conjuction with the toolchain.
Cache: Where webpages are stored in temporary memory. Helps speed up page loading.
Cheatdevice: The first thing to utilize the GTA exploit by Edison Carter. This allows you to change many aspects of GTA:LCS
Coding: Coding is the act of making programs for the PSP. They may be make in a number of languages.
Coldboot: The short video that plays when you turn on your PSP
Custom Firmware: A custom firmware is a firmware mod made by a developer. These are most likely flashed to the PSP. These add funtionality to your PSP e.g Wlan switch down at boot, go straight to DevHook
D
Dark_Alex: The man dehind the 2.6-1.5 Downgrader, 1.5-1.0 Downgrader and custom firmwares
Decrypt: If you decrypt something then you remove all protection on it and can edit it freely
DevHook: Device Hook, or DevHook for short is a revolutionary piece of homebrew that allows you to emulat any firmware without actually installing it. I guide to getting DevHook working can be found here.
Digital Signature: See: Encryption Key
Directory: A directory is just the correct name for a folder.
Ditlew: Worked with Fanjita on the eLoader, the other half of the team
Downgrading: Downgrading is the process of going down a firmware or two. This may be done because the lower firmware has more homebrew games that work on it. Currently only firmwares 2.00, 2.50 & 2.60 can downgrade. If your PSP is a TA-082 downgrading won’t work.
E
EBOOT: EBOOT.PBP is what an application/game must be called to run on the PSP.
eLoader: The eLoader is a device that allows you to use downloaded games on firmware 2.00 and above. It does not work on 2.70+ You can download it from this link: http://dl.qj.net/Alternative-eLoader…5999/catid/114
Emulator: An emulator is something that effectively turn your PSP console into something else. It may allow you to play (illegal) ROM’s for an N64 or SNES or any other console.
Encrypt: The process of encoding information so it can’t be changed then used
Encryption Key: This is Sony’s personal 128 Bit Key. It is virtually uncrackable, however Sony use this to sign EBOOTS and make them run on any firmware.
Exploit: An exploit is a bug in Sony’s code that may hopefully lead to a buffer overflow or underflow which could lead to homebrew on that firmware.
F
Fanjita: The other half of the eLoader team
FAT: FAT, or FAT16, is the format used in the PSP’s memory sticks by default. Sadly it round any file less than 4kb up to 4kb, which isn’t very space conservative. FAT32 however doesn’t do this.
Firmware: Your PSP’s firmware is almost like OS, its upgrading every time. However Sony also put more effort in to stop homebrew every time.
Flash0: Stores highly important system stuff. Cannot restore itself
Flash1: Stores system settings and stuff such as your background. Can restore itself it you currupt something
Flash: (N) The Flash memory of your PSP, where important system settings and files are kept. (V) To flash a PSP means to add, delete or change content on the PSP
Flash Dump: An exact copy of a part or all of the PSP’s flash
Flash Player: PSP’s version 2.70 and above come with a version of Macromedia Flash Player 6
G
Gameboot: The short movie that plays between when you click a game and when it actually begins
Gigabyte: 1024 megabytes, which is 1024 kilobytes which is 1024 bytes
GTA Exploit: An exploit in GTA that allows it to run unsigned code. Unpatched versions ONLY!
GUI: Graphical User Interface
H
Hello World: The simple program thats used for testing exploits and whenever a programming/scripting language is created, Nem created the 1st PSP one (I think)
Hex Editor: A hex editor is basically used to take apart, well, anything. From editing menu names to changing your font loaction, a hex editor will do it.
Homebrew: Homebrew is any game or application not made by a company to make profit. Homebrew is generally free of charge.
I
IDE: Interactive Development Environment, one program that group things such as a tool chain, an editor etc…
Infrastructure Mods: Like Ad-hoc, but rather than connecting directly to another PSP this goes via an access point
IRdA: The PSPs infrared system. Used in remote control programs
ISO’s: ISO’s are against this site’s policy. They are games that have been directly ripped from the UMD and put on the internet for anyone to download. They are VERY illegal
ISO Loader: A program the lets you load iso’s
J
K
Kernel: Kernel is a specific part of the memory in any device, you PC will have kernel RAM also.
It controls access to more major system functions, but also if we use kernel RAM in an app we will have more RAM to work with.
KXploit: KXploit is the trick used to get homebrew to work on 1.5. I was initially done by swapping the memory sticks, but now it is done by adding a percent (%) sign to the end of a homebrew’s name.
L
LocationFree: A Sony device that lets you stream all of your media content, TV, Radio etc… to your PSP. Works only with version 2.50 and above (emulated or flashed)
Lua: Lua pronounced Loo-ah is a simple scripting language designed for entry level games and applications. You can download luaplayer v0.17DK2 (most compatible) here and v0.20 (most features) here. Note, I suggest v0.17DK2.
M
Makefile: Makefile must be used to actually turn your surce code into an EBOOT, this is used with the PSP Toolchain.
Memory Stick: The memory stick (or ms0) is the little card you insert into your PSP. This stores information such as songs etc…
Mips: A type of processor
Modchip: The modchip (most famously Undiluted Platinum) allows you to unbrick your PSP, dual-boot your PSP, upgrade/downgrade at will and has a very nice recovery mode. You can’t brick a modchip.
MP3: The most commonly used audio codec
MP4: The format the PSP uses as standard for a/v
MPH: The creator of the MPH 2.00 -> 1.50 Downgrader
N
NAND: The Flash Memory that the PSP uses is called NAND Flash
Nub: The Nub or Analog nub is just a fancy name for the Analog Stick
O
P
PAK: Almmost like zip, a collection of files needed to make a game run
Param.Sfo: This file contains information on the thing it is attached to (region etc.)
.PBP: The PSP’s form of .EXE
PMF: Sony’s game video format, it can only be encoded using the leaked Sony UMD composer Tools
PMP: A homebrew media format that can stream brilliant quality content to the PSP in full resoulution using PiMP Streamer
POC: POC, or Proof Of Concept it used by developers to show something works, generally created after an exploit
Port: The act of porting a game invoves making it run on a different console to what it what coded for, for example, you may port a PS2 game to work on the PSP
Portal: A shell that runs through the PSP’s web browser
Prx: A file that contains important system functions.
PSP:PlaystationPortable
Python: Python, like Lua, is an interpreted language that needs an interpretation EBOOT to run. You can download the interpreter here
Q
R
Resolution: The number of pixels on something’s screen. The PSP had 480 horizontally and 272 vertically, thats 130,560 altogether.
Ripkit: A program that takes unnecessary files out of an iso to make it smaller
Ripped: If something was ripped from a UMD it doesn’t mean it was torn, it means simply that an exact copy was made and saved to a computer.
ROM:1 A ROM is like an ISO, although it is not from a PSP game, you may have ROM’s for a GameBoy game etc… ROM’s are illegal.
ROM:2 ROM or Read Only Memory is the PSP’s memory stick, or your PC’s hard drive, where information is kept.
Root: The root of your memory stick is not a folder. It is just the memory stick’s contents before you have entered a folder.
S
Sdk: Software development kit, See Toolchain
Shell: An alternative OS for the PSP to replace the xmb
Sircs: Sony’s iR protocol, used in most Sony TV’s, the PS2 and the PSP
Sleep Mode: A form of the Windows ‘Hibernate’ for the PSP
T
TA-082: A motherboard version identifiable by writing on the top left hand side of the inside of the UMD Drive. These PSP’s are not downgradeable
Tiff Exploit: An exploit present only in 2.0 that allows unsigned code to run through a buffer overflow in the TIFF image loading code
Toolchain: The PSP Toolchain is run in cygwin and it automates the process of compiling EBOOTs
U
UMD: A UMD, or Universal Media Disk, it the disk in the plastic casing the the PSP uses. Currently only large games companies can write to these. A UMD Holds 1.8 gigabytes of stuff
Unsigned: If an EBOOT is unsigned then it doesn’t have Sony’s encryption key built into it. Unsigned EBOOT’s can only be run via exploits on firmwares above 1.0
Updating: Updating is the process of taking you PSP up a firmware. However above firmware 2.60 there is no homebrew and you cannot downgrade. 2.80 is the most recent firmware
USB: Universal Serial Bus, the most common way of connecting a portable device to a computer, the PSP has a USB mini-B port, for which you’ll need a USB mini-B cable
User Mode: User mode it often unlocked a long time before kernal mode. This allows you to run homebrew games and write to the flash but not to use kernal features. *
V
VRAM: Video RAM, RAM designated to graphics. Mainly found in computers
VSH: VSH is an abbreviation of Visual Shell
VSH Mode: The Mode that the XMB runs in, halfway between Kernal Mode and User Mode, gives flash access etc…
W
WAB: The creators of the WAB Version changer, one of the first kernal mode Eboots
WAD: See PAK
WEP: A bad network encryption format
Wifi: Wifi is the PSP’s wireless feature, it comes in two versions, ad-hoc and infrastructure
WLAN: A WLAN, or Wireless Loacal Area Network is a home or business network that runs from a wirless access point (router)
WMA: Windows Media Audio, the default windows format for audio. Can be used only on 2.6+ after enabling via the settings menu. Will not work below 2.6 (unless you are in DevHook)
WPA: Also known as TKIP, a network encryption protocol, safer than WEP
X
XMB: The XMB, or Cross media Bar is simply the PSP’s menu UI
Y
YoYoFR: The creator of the current most popular emulator Snes9x TYL
Z
ZX-81: The guy that has made loads of the emulators you probably use, including the calculator one and PSP-VBA
*It is a common misconception that User mode blocks flash0 writing, however that is what Sony did by making it read-only. It is however writable in kernel mode as we then change the permissions to writable.
The Following guide is for newcomers to the PSP and is to give you as much knowledge as needed to use the PSP
NOTE: Please refer to your PSP Manual for detailed instructions for playing UMD-related games/music/videos as well as Music/Videos on your Memory Stick.
Background of Sony in Handheld Market:
The PSP (Playstation Portable) is Sony’s first handheld gaming device. Sony has created many handhelds before, but not in the gaming industry. Sony’s most popular line of handhelds are the Sony Cliés. Sony Cliés are a Palm-powered handheld and vary in many different handheld structures. Sony isn’t new to handhelds, but they are new to the famous industry of “handheld gaming”.
The PSP Unit
The Playstation Portable is what many refer to as the PSP. The PSP has the greatest graphics of any current handheld. The graphics are comparable to the PS2. Although it is not as powerful (graphics-wise) as the PS2, it yields better graphics than the PSOne, partly due to the smaller screen size. The PSP offers less buttons than the first Playstation Dual Shock Controller (Missing buttons include: L2, R2, and the Right Analog stick), but it does offer many more features than the PSOne had to offer. The PSP is slightly larger than the Nintendo DS and other handhelds in thickness, but the screen makes up for this. With a screen of 480×272 pixels, this screen is the largest handheld screen to date. The US price for the Sony PSP is retailed at 250$.
Firmware
The most important part of the PSP is its firmware. Many owners refer to the firmware as the PSP’s OS (operating system) or BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The firmware of the PSP is located in the PSP itself and not on your memory stick. The firmware on the PSP is replaceable/ upgradeable. Sony issues updates to the firmware every few months and adds new features. With these new features usually come security updates. These security improvements fix up holes in the firmware that may be accessible to the user. Sony does not like homebrew due to the piracy of UMD games on the memory stick and would stop it at almost any cost (Piracy/Isos/Loaders are discussed in a few sections below).
The Updates are downloadable on Sony’s PSP website (Playstation.com) and only allows you to download the latest update. Once you have the update downloaded, move it to your PSP/Game/UPDATE folder (the eboot file) and it shall update your PSP. Once installed (the update) you can delete it from your memory stick
1.0 Firmware:
The first firmware version that was installed on a PSP is firmware version 1.0 (Japanese PSP’s only). This firmware version was pre-installed on the first PSP’s released. The 1.0 firmware is unable to be downloaded since it was never released as an update. You can find various dumps of the firmware, but these dumps are not complete. (Dumps are basically files from the 1.0 firmware that were dumped onto the memory stick). The 1.0 firmware allowed for unsigned code to be ran on the PSP, and all that was required was an eboot.pbp compiled file. This file was run straight from the PSP/Game folder located on the memory stick. (Homebrew code is described in the section: Memory Stick located under Games on the PSP)
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1.5 Firmware:
This firmware was the first update to the Sony PSP in Japan. This version was also pre-installed on the US PSP release. This update changes from 1.0 JP to 1.5 JP include: Support for German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Russian language options on the PSP menu (it will not affect in-game menus), a setting to retain the screen mode on videos, and a quick-resume function to resume playback of audio and video after coming out of the PSP’s sleep mode (it won’t automatically keep playing the media file, but you can jump right into the track or movie exactly where you left off before sleeping.) Download the 1.5 update here: [Click Here to download] This update, however, did not allow for the execution of eboot.pbp files from the memory stick like the 1.0 firmware did
After a few months of the US PSP release there were rumors of people finding a way to run homebrew on this new 1.5 firmware. Many did not believe this at first, but a few days later, on June 15th, they had to. You can find this news-breaking coverage at the following link: [Click here to view the PSPUpdates.QJ.Net Article] Two days after this hack of the 1.5 firmware, a safer exploit was produced. The previous exploit required two memory sticks that you switched once the PSP booted the split eboot (The file is split using the KXploit program that PSP-Dev created.). The new method does not require this and only requires the original MS1 folder contain a % at the end and the second folder to remain the same name. This was a major accomplishment.
To find out how to install these 1.5 homebrew, please read below for further instructions.
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1.51 Firmware
The second update for Japanese PSP’s (first for the US) was the 1.51 update. Update changes: The new Firmware update fixes various security issues in the PSP’s v1.0 firmware which effectively fills holes to stop unsigned code from being executed.
As stated above, this new firmware does not allow for unassigned code to be run on the PSP (same as 1.5 but with heightened security). At the current time homebrew code is unable to be ran on this firmware; read the section on 2.0.
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1.52 Firmware
The third update for JP PSP’s (2nd for US) was the 1.52 update. Update changes include: UMD Music to be run from the main menu and higher security.
Once again, homebrew can not be run on this firmware version; read the section on 2.0.
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2.0 Firmware
This is Sony’s first major update to their Sony Playstation Portable. There have been numerous changes in this version and all are very significant.
Update: 2.0 PSP’s can now run homebrew 
This is done by updating to the 2.0 firmware and then using Fanjita’s eLoader or downgrading to 1.5 via the MPH downgrading method.
For a list of all the changes and any question that you might have, please go to [this link]I have compiled this complete guide for the 2.0 firmware that lists all its features and includes a large…a very large FAQ section on the new firmware.
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2.01 Firmware
This is Sony’s response to the overflow exploit found in 2.0. Aside from this “security patch,” nothing else was added to this firmware package.
Update: 2.01 PSP’s can now run homebrew using Fanjita’s eLoader.
Update: 2.01 PSP’s can now be downgraded using the noobz downgrader.
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2.50 Firmware
This firmware version was released only a few days after the 2.01 firmware patch was released. This contains a new major addition (Location Free Technology) and other small changes.
Update: 2.50 PSP’s can now run homebrew using Fanjita’s eLoader.
[UPDATE July 1 2006] At this point in time, --escaped_anchor:f1639ce01788f26dcc790ebce9ba5edb--
Updated parts of the firmware include:
--escaped_anchor:a65dae2b1db3e6b304e6335e877bbc87--
--escaped_anchor:dd1fdb9369c87fdf6f0e962dcb36b491--
and regions.
--escaped_anchor:1808d10fa46564c2a0d7dfad773efa61--
--escaped_anchor:1b6797fa4260e1238b961bbb5a899beb--
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2.60 Firmware
This firmware version was released on November 29th, 2005.
Update: 2.60 PSP’s can now run homebrew using Fanjita’s --escaped_anchor:515eff8e01e0f42ede5e35caae0541b8--.
[UPDATE July 1 2006] At this point in time, --escaped_anchor:1772684b5a018847c13831084192eab6--
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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2.70 Firmware
This firmware version was released on April 25th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 2.70 PSP! read the section on 2.71.
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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2.71 Firmware
This firmware version was released on June 01st, 2006.
Update:you can downgrade, or play homebrew (Homebrew Enabler or eLoader) on a 2.71 PSP!
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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2.80 Firmware
This firmware version was released on July 27th, 2006.
[UPDATE NOV 15 2006]: 2.80 PSP’s can now run usermode homebrew using the latest eLoader.
[UPDATE DEC 23 2006]: 2.80 PSP’s with TA-079 to TA-081 motherboards can now be downgraded.
[UPDATE JAN 03 2007]: FW2.80 DownDate to FW2.71 for TA-082~086 PSP.
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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2.81 Firmware
This firmware version was released on September 7th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 2.81 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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2.82 Firmware
This firmware version was released on October 26th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 2.82 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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3.00 Firmware
This firmware version was released on November 20th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.00 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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3.01 Firmware
This firmware version was released on November 21th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.01 PSP!(UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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3.02 Firmware
This firmware version was released on December 5th, 2006. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.02 PSP! (UPDATE: see 3.03 section below)
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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3.03 Firmware
This firmware version was released on December 19th, 2006.
[UPDATE] As of January 28th, 2007 3.03 Firmware can be downgraded using the GTA exploit.
[UPDATE] As of January 28th, 2007, Homebrew Enabler is now supported using the GTA exploit to run homebrew on 3.03.
Updated parts of the firmware include:
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3.10 Firmware
This firmware version was released on January 30th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.10 PSP!
Updated parts of the firmware include:
Undocumented updates to PSone/PS1 emulator settings:
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3.11 Firmware
This firmware version was released on February 7th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.11 PSP!
Updated parts of the firmware include:
Undocumented updates to PSone/PS1 emulator settings:
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3.30 Firmware
This firmware version was released on March 28th, 2007. At this point in time you cannot downgrade or play homebrew on a 3.30 PSP!
Updated parts of the firmware include:
The Memory Stick
The memory stick/storage that the PSP uses to save saved game files is called the Memory Stick Pro Duo (The regular Memory Stick Pro will work, but it will stick out of your PSP since it is much larger in length). This flash media format was created by Sony for use with their handhelds (Including their PDAs and Ericsson phones). The MSPD varies in allowable size. The maximum storage size of these memory sticks at the current time is 2 gigabytes (bigger than the UMD’s allowed size). The memory stick can be used to play movies, save game files and play music on your PSP (able to play games on select firmware versions of 1.0/1.5).
Important: When you first obtain your memory stick you must format it using your PSP. To format it, please go to system settings and select format memory stick. Formatting will erase all data on your memory stick. Be aware that due to discrepancies in calculations used by memory and hard drive manufacturers, as well as formatting requirements, means that your actual, useable space will appear smaller than the listed size of the memory stick. This is normal.
Games on the PSP:
UMD:
The main way of playing games on the PSP is via the UMD disc. This disc is the game format that is playable on the PSP. UMD’s can not be burned or copied as there is no way to do this via regular hardware. These discs hold up to 1.8 gigabytes (that is approx. 1,800mbs). To play games that are on the UMD: Read the instruction booklet that came with your PSP. Just insert the UMD game that you bought and scroll over to the Games section of your PSP’s “OS” and click X. This will launch the game and you will then be able to play games J
Memory Stick (Can only be used on 1.5/1.0/Custom firmware version PSP’s)
The second way of playing games on the PSP is via the memory stick. Like gaming consoles, save game files are stored on memory cards/sticks (this is the same with the PSP). The memory stick is both versatile and user-friendly. The only games that can currently be played on the PSP via the memory stick are made by PSP owners and licensed game companies. These games that can be run off of the memory stick are referred to as homebrew. Homebrew is any application that is made at home 
All of the current PSP emulators, PSP games and such that run off of the memory stick are called homebrew. The installation of these games can be found in the Installation of Homebrew section. Recently, Sony has released several game demos, such as LocoRoco. These games require higher firmwares, and are available at dl.qj.net
What is Homebrew?
According to google, hombrew is: Homebrew video games are video games written by hobby programmers. Homebrew can be thought as games for the PC that are refered to as Freeware. Homebrew shares the same general concept: be free, be fun. Some examples of hombrew games for the PSP include: Squarez , Various emulators (eg. SNES TYL is a SNES emulator) and other homebrew applications.
Emulators are basically: An emulator, in the most general sense, duplicates (provide an emulation of) the functions of one system with a different system, so that the second system appears to behave like the first system. (Contrast with simulation). ROM files are the “games” that are emulated on the system and are universal in a way with all emulators of that console/unit.
Music on the PSP:
UMD:
With the Playstation Portable Handheld and the UMD format disc, users are able to place Music UMDs that they buy and play the music on their Playstation Portable. To play UMD Music:
1.)Buy a Music UMD
2.)Open up the package and take the UMD out of its case (remove according to manual instructions as removing in a different way then told may damage the disk
3.)Place it in your PSP (disc side forward facing the laser)
4.)Close the disc draw and go and select UMD from the Music menu and enjoy
5.) Please be sure you have the proper firmware before purchasing the UMD music or opening its package.
Memory Stick:
One of the most used aspects of the PSP, besides its games, is its ability to play music on your Memory Stick Pro Duo. The PSP will only play a select few formats (types of music) on the system with the firmware. As firmware updates come, we might see support for different/new types as well.
Here’s a list of supported song formats for each firmware:
1.0/1.5/1.51/1.52: MP3 and Atrac3 and Atrac3 Plus
2.0: MP3, Atrac3, MP4 and Atrac3 Plus (Atrac formats only work with 2.0 on Pro Duo sticks)
For information on how to convert to these formats, please visit [here] and download Sonic Stage and follow the necessary instructions (if it asks you to update your PSP, do not!)
Place songs that have been converted in the PSP/Music folder
Videos/Movies on the PSP:
UMD:
UMD videos (also known as movies) can be played on your PSP. These movies are purchasable at almost any store that sells DVD’s. These UMD Videos contain full-length movies with a possibility of extras as well. To play the UMD Movies/Videos: Follow the same steps as with the UMD Music except select the UMD from the Video menu.
Note: Most movies are region-coded. This means that in certain countries, if you imported your PSP you will be unable to play your country’s movies. JP and EU (European) share the same region code but the US shares a different region code.
UMD Movie prices have been found to vary widely in range. Shop around for the best price.
Memory Stick:
The memory stick also allows movies/videos to be played via the PSP. At the moment only a few formats are supported and they are listed below.
Supported formats: MPEG4 (all firmware), AVC (requires 2.0+)
To convert videos to MPEG4 format, I would suggest downloading: PSP Movie Creator and then download PSP Video9 to encode/format for AVC/MPEG4.
Install MP4 videos in the: MP_ROOT folder (F:/MP_ROOT).
AVC videos go in the 100ANV01 folder, in the format MAQxxxxx.MP4 i.e MAQ10018.mp4
MPEG4 go into the 100MNV01 folder in the normal way.
Homebrew Installation
Read more here
Misc. Homebrew Questions (Commonly Asked Questions)
1.) What is fileassistant?
File assistant is a homebrew application for 1.0/1.5 PSP’s that allows you to view the contents of your memory stick and allows you to delete, copy and paste files and folders on your memory stick. This program can also view some internal PSP files and can run ISOs (some) and flash the firmware with files.
2.) —More to be added at a later date–
Firmware Hacking/Cracking Section for “Noobs”
Possible methods of allowing homebrew on non-hacked firmware:
Downgrading:
Downgrading refers to the installation of a previous firmware version over your firmware. Basically it allows for users to literally un-update to a previous firmware. The only problem with this is that Sony’s Updates are encrypted and once edited they can not be viewed properly and we can not create our own updates. The PSP also recognizes your firmware and will tell you that you can not upgrade to a lower version. The only theoretical way to create a working downgrader is to:
A.) Somehow hack the Sony official updates (the ones that you want to downgrade to) and place the firmware number higher than your current firmware); this would require a way to modify an update without corruption which isn’t possible at the moment.
B.) Create an exploit that will skip security checks and firmware checks (ie: folder names, eboot splitting, file renames etc.)
At the current time it is only possible to downgrade 2.0, 2.01, 2.50, 2.60, 2.71 and 2.8 to 1.5.
Ultimate Downgrader Guide
Exploits (Cracking/Hacking)
All hardware is theoretically “hackable”. The PSP is of no exception. Sony has released many security updates with every firmware update and in doing so indirectly told us that the security on the previous firmware version was insufficient or “just not good enough”. It took a team of very skilled developers (PSP-Dev.1emulation.com) to crack the 1.5 firmware (the first PSP firmware to be actually exploited/cracked). An exploit is (Google definition): …a common term in the computer security community to refer to a piece of software that takes advantage of a bug, glitch or vulnerability, leading to privilege escalation or denial of service on a computer system.
This is the most logical way of being able to play homebrew (rather than downgrading) because it allows you to keep all the features of your current firmware and still be able to play homebrew. The PSP is one of the most secure handhelds ever made for a few reasons: The UMD format is only made by Sony (and can not be made any other way) and the security on the PSP is extremely high.
A possible exploit may be using the new 2.7 internet browser flash player and finding a bug in it. Once the bug is found, hackers could find ways of using it against the firmware security. This, though, is not very likely, but it may be possible if Sony rushed on the creation of the firmware. There is no guide to hacking a PSP, but it is more of a trial and error sort.
ISO Loaders/Memory Stick Launchers
What are they?
The two terms in the title of this section describes the execution of UMD files from the memory stick. These UMD files were obtained through a program executed on the 1.5 firmware and dumped the files onto your memory stick. Once dumped, with these programs, you are able to run the files without the UMD.
Where can I get the files to run them?
PSP Blender offers access to all files needed. Not only does PSP Blender offer access to loaders, they offer downloadable games, movies, music, and more!
Sorry about the PSP Blender blog visitors who have been waiting on an update. We have been busy on a sister site of ours.
You can visit their PSP section here:
http://www.thegameforum.com/sony-psp/
You may want to check it out for all of the latest PSP downloads, and PSP hacking news. PSP Blender members receive special access to a PSP downloads forum. Simply send you receipt number and PSP Blender username to The Game Forum. Contact info can be found on their website.
After a long wait, Team M33 has released the long awaited custom firmware 3.80 M33. This release brings the changes found in the official 3.80 Sony firmware, including internet radio, but it also brings the ability to run homebrew applications and backed up ISO games. One of the coolest features added to 3.80 M33 is the ability to upgrade your PSP using the Network Update functionality of the XMB menu. This means that you will no longer have to follow M33 upgrading guides, as everything will be handled by the automatic system.
Visit Dark_Alex’s website to download 3.80 M33 and see it’s included readme.txt file.
Visit qj.net for complete release information.
3.80 M33 Requirements
3.80 M33 Change Log
Intro:
Lots of questions pop up in these forums lately on how to install Despertar del Cementerio v3 (DCv3).
Numerous threads on the matter are created, because the newbies can’t find their answers.
This is not a complete howto, but should get people in the right direction.
And if they do have any questions, they can ask here instead of starting a new thread.
What is DCv3 ?
DCv3 is a powerfull tool created by the greatest devs in the psp scene. It is an evolved version of the Pandora’s Battery. Pandora was first created to unbrick psp’s. However Pandora wasn’t compatible with the psp slim. Therefore DC was coded. The latest version (v3) has full compatibility with classic and slim psp’s.
DCv3 allows you to:
- Write custom fw M33 3.71-2 to ANY model psp (regardless of fw version) to date
- Write official fw 3.71 to ANY model psp (regardless of fw version) to date
- Create a nand dump from the psp (the nand holds the fw on the psp)
- Write a nand dump to the psp.
NOTE: DO NOT USE A DUMP FROM ANOTHER PSP. IT WILL DESTROY THE IDSTORAGE. THERE’S NO WAY OF REGENERATING THE IDSTORAGE. THE ONLY WAY OF RECOVERING THE IDSTORAGE IS FROM A NAND DUMP FROM YOUR OWN PSP. THEREFORE ALWAYS MAKE A NAND DUMP BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING WITH DCv3 !
To let the memstick do it’s magic you’ll need a battery which will put the psp in ’service mode’. There’s several options how to obtain such a battery.
1) Create it with a homebrew capable psp. That’s a psp running cfw or official 1.50 fw.
2) Create it by hard modding a battery. This is not for beginners, it is potentially dangerous as you are opening your battery.
3) Buy a battery from the internet. Your on your own on this one, as I do not promote the financial exploitation of psp devs.
Once you have the battery all you need now are the correct files on the memstick. Once again there are several ways of putting them on.
1) Create the stick using a homebrew capable psp.
2) Create the stick without a homebrew capable psp.
That’s all the options we have. Now you know what DCv3 is, where it came from and how you can get it.
I’ll put all the needed downloads and information below here in links and attachments.
Downloads:
If you do not have access to a homebrew capable psp use the folowing files:
- Memstick Easy Installer Run it by clicking Start.exe follow the prompt and choose Option 4.
- Hard modding your battery This will tell you exactly how and which chip to alter.
- Free service Go here and let someone near you create you a DCv3 kit.
If you have access to a homebrew capable psp (slim or classic) use the following files:
- To create the DCv3 yourself you need the 1.50 eboot, the 3.40 eboot and the 3.71 eboot. Also use the DCv3 attachment.
- To create the battery use one of the two tools. Slim users and classic psp with M33 3.71 without 1.50 kernel use the 3.xx tool.
Both tools will also allow you to convert your battery back to normal.
That should get all of you started. I know it’s not complete. For usage of DCv3, check the readme included.
If you still have questions on DCv3, post them here please !!
Some reminders:
MAKE A NAND DUMP !!
DO NOT USE A NAND DUMP FROM ANOTHER PSP !!
USE DCv3 WISELY !!
WHEN IN DOUBT…DON’T !!
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