Sponsored By PSP Blender

PSP Blender

February 12, 2007

PSP firmware 3.10 Open Edition Rev A !

Some of you may know already but if you don’t 3.10 OE-A has been released!! Changes include (from the README):

- Change from 3.03 firmware to 3.10
- 4th level of brightness (aka battery eater) can now be selected also without ac adaptor.
- Changes in hen core:

* Static user elf’s can now be executed in the 3.10 kernel. (this includes snes user version between other programs)

* Tyranid’s patch (added in 3.03 OE-C) consequences was not explained very well in the changelog of 3.03 OE-C:

- For programmers: it allows kernel modules to have user imports, making kernel programming in 3.03/3.10 less strict.
- For users: plugins and applications that worked in 2.71 SE, but not in OE, *may* now work in 3.03OE-C and 3.10 OE-A.

Sounds pretty good to me, I have just updated and it works like a charm. If you have modified your PSP make sure you back up your modified files before beginning or you will have to modify them again. Installation is the same as any other major Dark_Alex update but if you need some instructions read on.
Updating to 3.10 OE-A

  1. Now to upgrade to 3.10 OE-A you will have to download this updater/update maker.
  2. Once you have the 3.10 OE updater/update maker you will need to download the 1.5 EBOOT and the 3.10 EBOOT.
  3. Now extract the 3.10 OE updater, the 1.5 EBOOT, and the 3.10 EBOOT.
  4. Once you have that extracted inside the “310oe_a” folder you will find the following folders-

    310oeflasher
    310oeflasher%
    oeupdmaker
    oeupdmaker%
    Leeme
    Readme

    Copy the following folders to the PSP/GAME (or PSP/GAME150 if your at a 2.71 SE, 3.02 OE, or 3.03 OE firmware) folder-

    310oeflasher
    310oeflasher%
    oeupdmaker
    oeupdmaker%

  5. Now rename the following EBOOTS to the following-

    1.5 EBOOT.pbp - 150.pbp

    3.10 EBOOT.pbp - 310.pbp

    Copy these to the oeupdmaker folder.

  6. Go to your GAME section of your XMB and run the oeupdater NOT the 302oeflasher, wait until it’s done and then restart your PSP.
  7. Once the oeupdater is completed copy the DATA.DXAR from the oeupdater folder to the 310oeflasher folder.
  8. Make sure your PSP is charged over 75%, and then run the 310oeflasher NOT the oeupdater. Press X to accept the user agreement and wait until the flasher is finished, reboot your PSP.

You should now be at 3.10 OE, if not then your PSP shouldn’t boot at all, and will be considered bricked.

Guide will be updated soon!!

Permalink • Print • Comment

January 14, 2008

Dark AleX’s PSP 3.80 M33 Custom Firmware released!

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

  • Memory Stick
  • PSP running 3.52 M33-3 or above

3.80 M33 Change Log

  • HEN core: user mode can load now signchecked files from flash.
  • Recovery: flash1 format will create flash1 directories after format.
  • This could fix some flash1 issues with the previous versions.
  • Network update from dark-alex.org page. By default is enabled. You can turn it off in recovery (when off, network update will download sony updates as usual).
  • Nids resolver for various kernel libraries.

Permalink • Print • Comment

September 26, 2007

PSP Custom Firmware 3.71 M33 Released!!

PSP Blender

Big, huge, gigantic news! The great Dark_AleX, responsible for all the custom firmwares available for the PSP who claimed to have gone into retirement, is back under the name of M33 releasing a brand new custom firmware for both PSP Fat and Slim! The new firmware is barely out of the gate and is already fully hacked.

3.71 M33 by M33=Dark_AleX

Changes in 3.71 M33:

- Now uses 3.71
- VSH Menu is not longer launched using HOME key, but using SELECT now. This is to not interfere with the XMB function of home, which is now more useful in this firmware.
- Psp Slim: umdcache was allocating memory even when homebrew was launched, wasting memory that homebrew programs may want to use. Now umdcache module is stopped before it can allocate any memory, only in the case homebrew is launched.

Also, memory is unprotected for user memory usage by M33 core (only when homebrew is launched).
Developer, for a sample of how to use the extra memory, see the extra ram sample of the M33 sdk.

- Both version boot now from 3.XX ipl, and are independent of 1.50.

The main installer will not install 1.50 kernel anymore.
A 1.50 kernel addon for 3.71 M33 that will install inside 3.71 M33 will be released in a
few days (for fat only)

Note: due to some changes in kernel nids by Sony, you can expect a lot of kernel plugins not working anymore.
Programmers: refer to the sdk readme for details.

It’s nice to see the PSP hacking community is still alive and well.

You will need the official 3.71 firmware and the M33 installer. To install you will need a PSP Fat with 3.52 M33-3 or 3.52 M33-4 or a PSP Slim with 3.60 M33. Visit the Official M33 website for more details and previous M33 releases if you need them to meet the requirements for 3.71.

Permalink • Print • Comment

April 15, 2007

Firmware version 3.30 Open Edition Revision A

It’s out, folks! Dark_Alex has finally released the latest in his series of Open Edition firmware - the much-awaited 3.30 Open Edition Rev A! This is serious cause for celebration especially after days of waiting for DaX to finally give word on what’s up with his work (and what’s up with his PSP).

3.30 OE-A retains all of the original Sony 3.30 FW functions - PSOne game library support, Internet navigator, etc. - but because Dark_AleX is THE man, he’s added a lot of features and changes to his latest custom FW (some taken from PSPGen’s release notes).

  • Homebrew support under either 1.50 or 3.30 kernel
  • Region spoofing
  • Patched a protection that prevents the FW to load higher firmware modules
  • Fixed a bug that could have caused instability in 3.10 OE after recovering from sleep mode
  • Recovery Mode
  • Direct launching of PSOne games (converted with PSP format)
  • Direct launching of demos and homebrews
  • Possibility of regulating hte speed of the PSP’s processor
  • Direct launching of ISOs/CSOs

DAX says this doesn’t support popsloader at the moment due to “Sony rearranging again the module list of pspbtcnf_pops”, but rest assured that the great dev will be making a new version that will support all current pops in 3.10 OE, 3.30 OE and maybe 3.03 OE-C. The dev also tried testing the customization of icons, but that didn’t work out.

For the full installation guide, please go over the Readme. It’s there for a reason. We know you’re all excited about the 3.30 OE-A but be mindful of what you’re doing. Take caution. This can only be installed to PSPs with firmwares 1.50, 2.71 SE, 3.02 OE, 3.03 OE, or 3.10 OE. Downgrade first if your PSP has a different FW. 3.30 OE-A cannot be installed to PSPs with FW 3.10, 3.11, or 3.30.

Download: Dark_AleX’s 3.30 Open Edition Revision A

Permalink • Print

July 20, 2008

Pandora Battery Guide for Noobs

Ive been seeing that alot of peole have been trying to get Pandoras battery to work but they are having trouble, so this is a little guide to help.

First I would like to thank the Noobz team and Team C+D for making this possible. All credit goes to them.

Requirements:
1. A hombrew enabled PSP (if your psp cant run homebrew it will not work)
2. The files you can get it from "HERE"
3. A memory stick Produo ( a 32mb non produo will not work)
4. A an extra battery not necessry but it is good to have one.

First you have to format your memstick with any tool. I use windows to format mines. So go to your psp drive letter and right click it and choose format. Then click start to start format. I dont know if its necessary but the readme states it so I do it.

Now it is time to run mspformat. The best way to run this is to make a .bat file. Open up a note or worpad and type in "mspformat X" ( replace X with the your psp drive letter.Then save the file as format.bat and place it where the mspformat.exe is. Now hook up your psp to your PC and double click the .bat that you just made. A dos window will pop up and ask you if you want to proceed. Type "Y" to and hit enter. It will take some time depending on the size of your memstick.

It should look like this.

After you are all done formatting, it is time to start putting files in the memstick. Extract the download that you downloaded if you have not done it already. Then go to your psp and make a folder called PSP. then inside of the PSP folder make a folder called GAME. After you are done go back to the download folder and open up the folder called "install" and take the 2 folder you see there and put it in the GAME folder you created. Then go to the folder called "battery" and take the 2 folders in there and put it in the GAME folder as well.

So your memstick should look like this.

X:\PSP\GAME\pbfirm_install pbfirm_install% and pandora_battery pandora_battery%

Now you must get the 1.5 EBOOT from "HERE". Unzip it and rename the EBOOT.PBP to UPDATE.PBP. THEN stick it in the root of your memstick. Then remove your memstick and put it back in.

After you got that done go to your xmb menu and run the Pandora installer. It should make all the files that it required including the msipl you will use to make the memstick bootable.

Ok after the installer has finish making all of the required files, it is time to run msinst.exe. Go back in to your psp and take the file msipl.bin that the installer created in your memstick and place it in the same folder as msinst.exe.. Open up notepad/word pad and type in msinst X msipl.bin(repace X with your psp driveletter). Then save it as msinst.bat and put it in the same folder as msinst.exe. Once done connect your psp to your PC and double click the .bat file you have made and a dos window will pop up and ask you to proceed. Type "Y" and hit enter.

It should look like this.

Now that you have all the files and are ready to make your battery. Go into your psp xmb and run Padora battery creator. When the screen finish loading it will give you some option like to create battery or return to normal and backup eeprom. I suggest you backup your eeprom just incase. After you have backup you eeprom, then run the creator program again and just press X on your psp and you are done!

NOTE: When starting up the battery make sure you dont have the AC charger plugged in.

If all goes well.
CONGRATS NOW YOU HAVE AN UNBRICKER BATTERY.

Permalink • Print • Comment

January 8, 2008

Write custom fw M33 3.71-2 to ANY model psp

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 !!

Attached Files

  despertar_cementerio3.rar
  Battery tool 0.4 for 3.xx kernel.rar
  Battery tool for 1.50 kernel.rar

 

Permalink • Print • Comment

December 15, 2006

About PSP Blender and the PSP in General

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.

Permalink • Print • Comment