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Custom Firmware Roundup - Which one is for me?

Posted Jul 18, 2006 at 10:06AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Firmware, Hacks & Exploits, Homebrew Applications, How-To Tags: Custom Firmware, harleyg, Moonlight, psp firmware

Custom Firmware

Recently, the front page has been dominated with the release of numerous custom firmware modifications, all derivatives of Dark_Alex's original Custom Firmware Proof Of Concept which was released just 3 days ago. Within those 3 days, the amount of Custom firmware modifications that have been released are unbelievable. and frankly, a lot of our readers are confused over which ones to use and why. For this reason I have put together this little guide to help you get through the custom firmware madness. No need to sit there and scratch your head any longer!

Stage 1: The Lingo

There's no need rushing into a custom firmware choice. As we all know, writing to the PSPs flash memory can be dangerous, and if you do not follow all the steps correctly, you could brick your beloved PSP. Knowing the lingo is one of the fundamentals if you hope to choose which custom firmware to go with, and understanding what each one does. Here's the rundown on a few technical terms that you may be unaware of:

Recovery.elf and Recovery Mode - Recovery.elf is nothing more than a file that will initiate "Recovery mode". Recovery mode is no more than a simple application that will let you to use the USB, and execute a program under ms0:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP, that could be, for example, a Sony updater or the 1.50 -> 1.00 downdater by keeping R pressed while starting the psp.
'Flashing' - Writing to the PSPs Internal memory which holds the firmware information. If you mess up any of the firmware files your PSP could be a brick, although some can be saved by using recovery mode.
Custom Firmware - Firmwares designed by homebrew coders. They aren't completely new, and only offer simple modifications of firmware 1.5 at the moment. Usually these come in the form of new or replaced "modules" or PRX's that make up the PSP's firmware.
Overclocking - Setting the PSPs CPU clock speed to 333 Mhz. This cannot damage your PSP, although will use more battery life, and has been included in many Custom Firmware mods in order for the PSP to run faster.
XMB - The PSPs "homepage". It's the menu which houses game, music, video, settings etc.

Stage 2: The Mods

All of the mods that you have heard about so far have all been modifications of Dark_Alex's original Custom Firmware POC. Here's all the derivatives and the original, along with their strong points. Many people ask "why should I use custom firmware". From this list you should be able to decide which and/or if Custom Firmware is best for you.rk_Alex's Custom Firmware POC:

If you are incredibly unsure on how to use custom firmware, I would go with Dark_Alex's original release for starters. This granddaddy of Custom Firmwares and has a great Readme. This Custom Firmware features Recovery mode, can execute 1.0 eboots, can hide corrupt icons and can execute any homebrew program you wish on startup.

Download: [Dark_Alex Custom Firmware POC]
View: [Forum Release Thread]

Zettablade's Custom Firmware All-In-One Mod

Has the ability to take screenshots using the note key, an automatic USB function (just plug the USB cable in and it works), and overclocks your PSP's CPU to 333Mhz.

Update: Zettablade has released a new version of his AIO firmware mod today. It includes bug fixes and a config file so that you can disable any of it's features.

Download: [Zettablade's Custom Firmware AIO Mod v0.2]
View: [Forum release thread]

Harleyg's Custom Firmware mod v0.2

Harleyg's Custom Firmware is probably the most feature-packed yet. It has a much nicer looking recovery screen, includes options the option to both change the clock speed and remove the custom firmware completely. Homebrew can be started by holding the L-Trigger and much much more. A full list of features can be found here.

Download: [Harleyg's Custom Firmware mod v0.2]

PSP Audio Recorder Beta

This is one of the older custom firmwares, before the release of Dark_Alex's proof of concept. The mod made by Moonlight It allows you to record audio from a UMD or homebrew application using L+R+Circle to begin recording and L+R+Square to stop recording, saving all recorded sound to PSP/Music in .wav format. This has a few bugs including sound lag whilst in-game, but is decent for those wanting to record some of their game.

It saves the recording as a WAV file in PSP/Music.

Download: [PSP Audio Recorder Beta]

Slasher's MP3 Plugin

This allows you to listen to your MP3 from anywhere in the PSPs XMB using hotkeys assigned by Slashers MP3 Plugin. Currently supports up to 100 songs that you may have in the ms0:/PSP/MUSIC/ folder.

Controls -
LTRIGG + LEFT = Switch song(to the left)
LTRIGG + RIGHT = Switch song(to the right)
LTRIGG + SQUARE = Stop current MP3
LTRIGG + CROSS = Pause/Unpause

Download: [Slashers MP3 Plugin]

Stage 3: Installing

A lot of people are concerned about installing Custom Firmware because it could brick their PSPs. Chances are most of the people reading this now have probably downgraded their PSP before, whether it be from 2.0 > 1.5 or from 2.5/2.6 > 1.5; both of which write to the flash memory. If you haven't downgraded, you probably still will have flashed your PSP before. By running a Sony Firmware Update Eboot, you are flashing your PSP, which is why they ask you to plug in your AC adaptor, reducing the risk of a brick if you battery power cuts.

The only advice I can give you is to be careful. If you copy the folders into the correct directory (usually just unzip the download archive and copy all folders to your PSP root directory). you'll be fine. Flashing has its risks, but look above for all the benefits of custom firmware.

To minimize risks, make sure that your PSP battery is either fully-charged or above 50% and plug in the AC adaptor. NEVER reset, turn off or place into sleep mode a PSP which has the memory stick light flashing whilst running any program that writes to the flash memory.

Well there you have it, custom firmware in a nutshell. Remember, it has only been 3 days since Dark_Alex's Custom Firmware which has set the standard for these mods was released. In the weeks to come we will be seeing more and more custom firmwares, and more features. I know that both Zettablade and Harleyg are working on new features for their firmwares, as well as Dark_Alex.

Thanks go to: Dark_Alex for creating the original Custom Firmware POC, all the modders and coders out there that have helped make these mods and Nutterbutter for helping all our forum users with Custom Firmware mods. To keep up on an updated list of Firmware mods, make sure you keep checking Nutterbutter's Thread in our forums!

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do people really need this i am so used to opening the umd slot when i do a hard reset to get back to 1.5 while in devhook 2.6/2.71 that is wouldnt really need these it would be nice to listen to music while on the web but then i would have to run devhook and i doubt it will keep playing music while emulating 2.6

# who's that Z....guy who created the all in one mod? — wipey 2006-07-18 12:12

I'm not sure if I want to flash my firmware with his mod when he can't even spell half of what he's typing...

# Slasher MP3 mod detrimental to my psp — manaox2 2006-07-18 12:20

After trying the mp3 mod, at first I thought it was great. Until I tried loading homebrew. PSP CRASH. Tryed USB to remove it. PSP crapped itself and skipped until I restarted it. Tryed to go into recovery mode. PSP CRASH! WTH. Stopped song in XMB, deleted the prx, and edited out the line in the config, and did a disk check on my memstick. Restarted, tryed to go to recovery, PSP CRASH!!! Went back to XMB, flashed in the recovery.elf again, and finally everything worked again. I won't use that again until its fixed.

# Modchip — Guest 2006-07-18 12:28

Does anybody know if this works with a UP modchip? Can you load the firmware onto the UP flash instead of the PSP flash?

# @20 — Guest 2006-07-18 12:41

Please read the comment I posted within the thread(along with in the readme). It clearly tells you to stop your current song before loading either homebrew or a UMD, else it crashes. Also, it even tells you that when exiting out of USB mode, the song may get jumbled up. Just simply change the song to get it working again. Quick & Easy fixes if you bothered reading the readme.

As for your recovery mode not starting up; that has absolutely nothing to do with my mp3 plugin. When launching the recovery mode(correctly) , the firmware skips loading the modules altogether, hence, my mp3 plugin not even having a chance to start.

I would recommend either reading the readme next time, or avoid blaming things that have nothing to do with your problem at hand.

# FRiggggg — Guest 2006-07-18 12:46

OK so I flashed is and everything.. got it all to work couldn't get the mp3 thing to work but thats ok after reading #20 comment. but now how do i get my normal psp back?!?! with recovery mode?? i went into that and all thats in there is usb option, flash index.dat to flash0 option and to launch a program under game/update. which one do i do?!?! There is no index.dat in my psp's root. How do i get my normal firmware back??

# and... — Guest 2006-07-18 12:48

I would also like to comment, that when using a USB-related module in conjunction with my mp3 program; it WON'T work. It will likely freeze if you use both a USB activating module & my mp3 plugin at the same time. Thanks.

# maybe not the prx, but the crash... — manaox2 2006-07-18 12:54

How did something like the recovery.prx corrupt itself after a crash? It very well wasn't likely to be directly related to the recovery.prx failure, I was describing what happened. Let it be a warning that the recovery.prx can fail after a crash. Anything that makes the psp crash could cause that.

# noob — Guest 2006-07-18 13:01

this might be a noob question but do you need 1.0 or1.5 for these and how easy is this to install

# Merging... Plugin... — Guest 2006-07-18 13:33

Actually I was thinking that to avoid multiple explosion of too much custom firmware that would be really nice to do a plug-in architecture.

So people can easily add or remove module/plug without having to reflash or do dangerous modification.

It will also avoid having multiple person writing the same code again and again (and avoid some bug)

# @#27 — manaox2 2006-07-18 13:44

do you maybe mean modules/prx's? cause they aren't flashed? I think you got your wish.

# Dark_Alex = moonlight — Guest 2006-07-18 13:52

...fore the release of Dark_Alex's proof of concept. The mod made by Moonlight It allows you to re...

I ALREADY SAID IT: Dark_Alex and moonlight are the same person!!!

see: http://mphwebsite.tuxfamily.org/punBB/viewtopic.php?id=1651

# HELP — Guest 2006-07-18 13:57

Will anyone answer my question? I'm #12.

I'm getting interested in getting a PSP.

# Harleyg's Custom Firmware mod v0.2 — Guest 2006-07-18 14:12

can someone please send me Harleyg's Custom Firmware mod v0.2 to me in a zip. file i cannot download winrar because im not the computer admin and the admin wont be back for a couple of weeks and i cant wait that long so if u could send it to me at sk8birdhosue325@aol.com

thanks in advance

# PSP Ownership — Guest 2006-07-18 14:28

@30: It is a good time to be a PSP owner. It's finally coming into it's own as a console, as far as retail games, homebrew, and these incredible firmware developments such as the custom firmwares and Devhook.

To answer your questions, I don't think Sony has actually started shipping out PSP's with 2.7 firmware yet (could be wrong though) so I *think* any standard PSP you find should be 2.60. Then your only obstacle is finding a copy of GTA that can be exploited so you can downgrade to 1.50 and begin taking advantage of all this stuff! Both the exploitable copy of GTA and 2.60 PSP can be identified by the serial numbers on their packaging, I believe (google or search PSPUpdates for more info on this).

To use these firmware mods, you do not need to take apart your PSP. They are done solely through software. Good luck, and happy buying :)

# custom devhook fw — Guest 2006-07-18 15:11

Isnt it possible to do this on devhooks 2.71??

I mean I would love to use the "Slasher's MP3 Plugin" in devhook while running 2.71

how can I fix this?

# Thx so much =) — Guest 2006-07-18 15:16

Thx so much =) So do only some version of GTA work for the exploit?

# custom per MS? — Guest 2006-07-18 15:27

so thismay sound stupid but...

theses custom firmwares, the ones I have tried only seem to flash the MS.???

I took out my gig which had the "custom firware" and put in my 512. It booted as normal. Huh? I put my gig stick back in and it booted with the custom firmware.

What's up? A flash of the firmware should mean no diff. in what MS I have inserted...???

I love it but just wondering...

# Nice! — h3inousguy 2006-07-18 15:28

Nice, informative, well written article... Some of these custom fws i had no idea existed (Why didn't they make front page?) Thank You

# HELP — xplicitratingz 2006-07-18 15:36

I need help with this because i install and when i go to the video menu the music stops why

# @35 — Guest 2006-07-18 15:48

Your gig stick holds the config file in PSP/SYSTEM. Without that, your psp boots as normal. (recovery should still work)

# help — xplicitratingz 2006-07-18 15:48

??? can some1 help number 37

# wow cooooooo — Guest 2006-07-18 16:09

me is so cool! firzt post sux! L button rukz~! hold button sux~! recovery start with r botton rukz~! swich w lan botton sux~!

slasher rulz

# HELP HELP HELP — xplicitratingz 2006-07-18 16:10

wtf can someone help me plzzzzzz

# Ok, it says it can boot a prog on startup — pspmagic 2006-07-18 16:16

I got the devhook directory in there, and with the eboot.pbp part to....and it doesnt start, wtf?!

# Harleyg+ZettaBl ade's Mod+MP3=meh — Supashay91 2006-07-18 17:13

For some reason it dosen't workl I'm mutting the MP3 Prx thing in the loadmadule=1 slot and it don't work...

# AUDIO RECORDER DOES NOT WORK! — RaiderX 2006-07-18 17:15

Yea, I tried the prx out a while back and it doesnt work with the cutom firmware. Youll see the instruction scxreen flahs for a second on startup, but cant record anything.

Slasher's mp3 plugin is amazing!! Ive wanted something liek this for a long time!

# answers — Guest 2006-07-18 17:42

@#43:

did you uncomment the load module line and make no spelling errors (forward slashes, proper spelling, etc.)

@#44:

Yeah I noticed that a while back when I first tried it... dunno why.

# @#45 — RaiderX 2006-07-18 18:05

It doesnt work because the prx doesnt just load up controls to record sound, the prx is what loads the mneu (this cuases the flash of the directions screen) and Im guessing the eboot is what sets the contols.

Hopefully someone will make a new one that will work.

# mp3 module — RaiderX 2006-07-18 18:24

its great, but anyway you can make it not start playing automatically? it ruins my bootsound :/

on the other hand, I coudl put an mp3 in for a bootsoudn and use the non loading UMD thing

# Cant Remove Dark Alex's Firmware — Guest 2006-07-18 18:49

How can I remove Dark Alex's Firmware to Use the Harleyg Firmware? It says the .prx filesize does not match then restarts.

I tried the Harleyg 1st, and all i had to do was reload the program and click remove Custom Firmware from HIS recovery Mode, THEN i installed Dark Alex's to try it out, but I cant remove Dark Alex's and put Harley's Back on!! I get the same .prx file thing, and Da's Recovery Mode doesnt have a remove custom FW option like Harley's did.

Help!!

# #48 — RaiderX 2006-07-18 18:54

Download Slasher's Unflasher

# mp3 module in devhook — RaiderX 2006-07-18 19:33

Ive been trying to get this to load in devhook for a while now, and i cant get it without an error. Can anyone who is interested in getting this to work or has any info that might help, please email me at tyrantfire8@yah oo.com

# Cant Remove Dark Alex's Firmware — Bobman32x 2006-07-18 20:23

# @51 & @48 — Guest 2006-07-19 01:56

Are you illiterate? Your question has already been answered. Just check #48.

# Scared — Guest 2006-07-19 02:03

Did anyone use the custom firmware in this pack and did it work?

# OMFG — Guest 2006-07-19 03:47

Harlgeys Custom Firmware Bricked it,It was successfully installed but just didnt start.So i left it on hold to go to config and removed it there.Tried Dark Alexs and his work so dont use Harlgeys.

THIS IS NOT A JOKE AND IM NOT WORKING FOR ANYONE.

or its either i flash my psp too much.

# help — Guest 2006-07-19 05:03

has anyone got the mp3 prx to work with Harlgeys Custom Firmware if so please post your config.txt and how u installed it

# thanks — Guest 2006-07-19 07:40

i hadnt kept up in the custom fw news so i needed this, thanks to the one who did it!

# reply to help — Guest 2006-07-19 08:13

dump the 1.50 fw and move it to the devhook 150 folder them install

# QJ Hacking and Emulator News Rip-Off Artists — Guest 2006-07-19 08:35

These guys know no one from the scene. They are poser, hacker, emugod wannabes. They are only here to generate income from unsuspecting users coming to their sites and clicking on advertisements. They care nothing about their users or the scene. Thanks for ripping off the real sceners and making a mockery of them. For all of you who wish to see the real sites and forums that these posers are stealing their information from take a look at the links. They speak for themselves.

http://www.xbox-scene.com/ = http://360updates.com

http://psp-news.dcemu.co.uk/= http://pspupdates.com

# brick psp — Guest 2006-07-19 09:16

can i use this to unbrick my psp?pls help

# Ficken — Guest 2006-07-19 09:28

***** you all!!!!

# custom firmware — Guest 2006-07-19 15:44

can i use this on 2.7 to go to 1.5?

# Enough of the Stupid Questions — Guest 2006-07-20 04:42

What a society we've come to where so many people can't manage to read the details of a post? Stupid people hurt my brain.

# going back — Guest 2006-07-23 04:19

once i've modded my firmware with this program how do i use this again?

it's telling me file size of vshmain_real.prx doesn't match.

how do i run this program again or go back to my original firmware so i can run it again?

my email is macsweyn22@hotm ail.com if someone could help me out please thanks.

# need more features like epsilon — Guest 2006-07-25 20:47

custom firmwares should allow for iso selection from the game menu, instead of having to home+trigger to select an iso, you know what im sayin ;)

# Can't get HarleyGs firmware to work — Guest 2006-09-03 07:32

I installed the HarleyG custom firmware and anytime I boot up with the WLAN switch on (should go to 2.7 i believe) the psp just goes black and the memory card light flashes on and off.

I can get devhook running fine without the switch booting into 1.5 then running it, and even get into 2.7, so i cant find out what the problem is. Any tips?

Thanks!

# Guest 2006-09-16 15:28

can i use the harley g thing 2 unbrick my psp cause of a bad font

# CHECK THE BEST PSP FORUM!!! — Guest 2006-09-17 11:31

BEST PSP FORUM==> http://www.smokaz.de.vu

SIGN UP TODAY!! THOUSANDS OF FREE ISOS!!

# Help with custom Firware — Guest 2010-01-14 01:19

Can someone please help me.

I have The official Sony firmware 6.20. Do i need to downgrade or have a magic memory stick and Pandora battery before I install one of these firmware?
Also If i put a new memory card into my psp will it effect it in any way?
One other thing how can I download arleyg's Custom Firmware mod v0.2 the link is broken. Thankyou for your help.

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Custom Firmware Roundup - Which one is for me?

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