Updates On Epsilon BIOS: Review, Manual, and Screen (Video Added)

Posted Jul 19, 2006 at 8:49AM by QJ Staff Listed in: Firmware, Hacks & Exploits, Mods Tags: BIOS, burnmp3s, Epsilon BIOS, modchip, nand, Undiluted Platinum
Ó




The Undiluted Platinum fact sheet may have branded the modchip as a PSP owner's dream come true, but it also admits that it would be a better investment if Team Epsilon delivers their custom flash replacement Epsilon BIOS. Now we have all been promised that the Epsilon BIOS is indeed coming. We were even shown a video of the custom bios flashed onto the U.P. modchip. Pretty believable video, but some still can't help but shout, "Fake!" 


Now burnmp3s wrote QJ (thanks!), informing us of an Epsilon BIOS v1.0 review, video, picture, and manual making the rounds of the netvine. Wanting to share these with you guys, we quickly checked out the goods. The review was there - although in my book, it hardly qualifies as a "review" as it never gave a critical overview of the bios, just a simple "I also unbricked a PSP with the "Restore onboard NAND" function and YES it really works!!" statement after a quick recap of what the Epsilon BIOS can do; so were the manual and picture of the recovery menu (shown above). The videos, however, have been taken down (hmmm...).


The manual (which you can check out in the Full Article) provides installation procedures, steps on unbricking a PSP, and running a homebrew for an Epsilon Bios-enabled PSP. It educates users that Epsilon has two parts: bootloader and BIOS. The manual reads further, "The bootloader is flashed to UP memory once, then to install or update the BIOS the bootloader recovery menu is used. You shouldn't need to flash via the UP tool again once the bootloader has been initially installed, making things easier for customers."


With all these new info on Epsilon, dare we hope that the custom bios is indeed nearing its release? Well, as they say, good things come to those who wait. Let's just hope that the PSP community's patience will soon yield a good thing dubbed "The Epsilon BIOS".


Here's the "manual" for those who are interested:

Epsilon is broken into two parts, the bootloader and the BIOS. The bootloader is
flashed to UP memory once, then to install or update the BIOS the bootloader
recovery menu is used. You shouldn't need to flash via the UP tool again once
the bootloader has been initially installed, making things easier for customers.

To install:
-----------

1) Program "epsilonBootloader1.0.flash" to UP using the flasher tool
2) Copy EBUPDATE.BIN into the root directory of your memory stick. This can
be done with a card reader, via the epsilon recovery menu or via the PSP OS.
3) Turn on the PSP, it will enter the recovery menu since no BIOS is installed.
4) Select "Update Epsilon BIOS"
5) If you dont have 2.71 installed in PSP onboard firmware you will need to do
so. This can be done with the recovery menu, place the update EBOOT in the
standard place on the memory stick (/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP) and select
"Launch Firmware Updater" from the recovery menu. This can be used to both
upgrade and downgrade the PSP onboard firmware using Sony's own updaters.

NOTE: To forcefully enter the recovery menu, hold SELECT+START while turning
the PSP on.

To unbrick a PSP:
-----------------

1) Place a NAND flash image of 1.00 or 1.50 firmware (same format as used by
UP flasher tool) in the root of the memory stick with the file name
"nandImage.flash".
2) Enter the recovery menu and select "Restore onboard NAND"

Running homebrew:
-----------------

1) Copy EBOOT's to the normal location (/PSP/GAME/). Both 1.0 and 1.50 types
are supported.
2) Execute them from the 2.71 shell

Running ISOs:
-------------

1) Copy ISO files or compressed EZIP (use the supplied tool) into /ISOS on the
memory stick.
2) The games will appear in the same menu where homebrew is lunched from
(the Memory Stick->Game menu). Simply launch them as you would with homebrew.

NOTE: Each time the contents of the ISOS directory are changed a cache file
must be updated which will cause a slight delay when entering the
Memory Stick->Game menu.





Via console.se

 
 
 

Comments [refresh]

by Bill Doors - 2006-07-19 03:51
» fy

Stop speaking and release the shi-t

by Mike - 2006-07-19 03:54
» .

just release the damn thing and let it get devhooked

by Cao - 2006-07-19 03:56
» .

Sounds like they've been 'borrowing' ideas from customfw?

by bob - 2006-07-19 04:01
» ...

It's not worth $200....

by mark - 2006-07-19 04:04
» epsilon bios

will it work on psp 2.7 and how much does it cost

by OiD - 2006-07-19 04:05
» Lawl

Cao, this has been talked about before the avalanch of 1.5 custom firmwares!

And u agree that they should release it soon

by wtff - 2006-07-19 04:06
» devhook?

Could this potentially be run on devhook?

by Eneko - 2006-07-19 04:07
» Hmmmm.....

I'll believe it when I see it...

by Modroneman - 2006-07-19 04:09
» Can't help but be skeptical, but

This sounds like great news. But with the way that it is sounding, they are going to charge for this bios? I would be willing to pay for it, if it were as good as it sounded. But one is only willing to do so much. Devhook has been my friend and is free. So it will have to take a lot to get me to shell over mucho bucks for something I can use right now for free.

by mark - 2006-07-19 04:09
» this

will it cost lots and will it work on 2.7 please annswer

by OiD - 2006-07-19 04:11
» How horrible

I made typos in my other post!

To n.5, It will work on psp with U.P. Installed.

I'm waiting!

by flight - 2006-07-19 04:17
» to mark

yes if you have your psp chipped it will work on a 2.7+ psp and the cost is high at the min but expect it to come down what with all the custom fireware being released as not that many will want to pay if they can get it all for free

by CFW - 2006-07-19 04:25
» Just a Teaser to make U by the Chip

Just a Teaser to make U by the Chip!



The recent Custom FW from Dark_Alex and consequent Mod (like HarveyG's) are making them Scared!!



A lot less people will Buy the Chip now.

And that's why they are already copying Custom FW's Recovery feature..



Who will pay to get a "Frank n' Stein"ed device to get what they already get with Custom FW (without the risc of f*** the device due to bad soldering skills)?



And a better than this "epsilon" FW will just popup in the form of 1.50 flasher in a few weeks, I'm sure.

by GAMBITING - 2006-07-19 04:32
» for post 10

Are you stupid????It's free,but you need to have a modchip for that.Yes,it works on 2.7

by vcxcd5555555552 - 2006-07-19 04:32
» ..

For everybody thats a n00b u ahve to have the modchip and then u put this firmware on ur modchip. and yes it will work on 2.71 as long as u dont have a ta-082

by tenshu - 2006-07-19 04:41
» .

Please QJ admin don't do more adv. for Epsilon bios until they relase any piece of code.



As it seems to be perfectly running a month ago, i can't understand why this custom bios isn't out.



It sounds like a fake sorry i hope i'm wrong but please don't speak about this anymore until a release come!

by WC - 2006-07-19 04:41
» Read the text

I guess you couldn't be bothered to read the text:



5) If you dont have 2.71 installed in PSP onboard firmware you will need to do



So yeah, 2.7 works. In fact, it's required.

by pissed off - 2006-07-19 05:01
» this is bull*****

qj net should be supporting its own community programmers not advertising this phantomware piece of *****

by Jordan Black - 2006-07-19 05:07
» This looks real

I dont think its fake, people who says its fake who are the people who cannot afford the mod-chip or they are just jeaous. Does anyone agree? This un-brick the normal onboard chip - how cool is that. This is totally unbrickable but unless you drop it?

by EXCELLENT BRING IT OUT PLEASE!! - 2006-07-19 05:25
» STOP MOANING NON UP ADOPTORS

yep i agree with you dude!! people are so negative about it!! I do think there is some jealously going on here!! This is a way to beat sony! I dont see peoples problem. I know it's not cheap, difficult to install but just wait for 2nd generation and be happy for the people who do have FFS!!

by Rehevkor - 2006-07-19 05:28
» #22

"I dont think its fake, people who says its fake who are the people who cannot afford the mod-chip or they are just jeaous. Does anyone agree?"



No. Why would they remove their videos?



Given the atmosphere of fakery that surrounds the PSP homebrew community, I consider all developments potentially (and in this case, probably) fake until I have them on my own PSP. You folks can be gullible if you want.

by DUJKH - 2006-07-19 05:30
» >>>

Did it ever cross your minds that they thought they did'nt look that good and they are making better ones to stop naysayers like yourself!??!

by Rehevkor - 2006-07-19 05:37
» #25

I wouldn't venture a guess one way or another, since I didn't get a chance to see them in the first place.

by manaox2 - 2006-07-19 05:40
» well...

It must have looked so bad then to them that the video is gone, and they've waited three weeks to unleash what many of the more advanced psp community says is impossible. So making better ones wouldn't stop crap. If they released a POS bootstrap that worked, we'd have to eat our hats. Sending the unicorn to be groomed on paper doesn't prove it exists.

by Jordan Black - 2006-07-19 05:42
» #23 thanks

dont be so negative, it will come out, im 1000000000000000 000000000000000 0000000000% sure it will.

by tps*****s - 2006-07-19 05:42
» i dought its fake...

people thought the modchip was fake. they were wrong. what makes you so sure it IS fake?



@13: the epsilon firmware news came out LONG before the custom firmwares did lol. so your wrong.



listen, im not saying its definiately NOT fake, but to me it looks pritty real. so have some faith

by pspizzle - 2006-07-19 06:00
» an idea

Hmmmm, if the epsilon bios uses the two flashes, sureley it could be modified so instead of using two flashes it simply uses the flash and then the memstick (for the bios and boostrap respectvely Im sure this will get done soon anyway. The only problem I see is that the modified 2.71 firmware will probably have to be on your psp flash and then the boostrapping modded 1.5 firmware will go on the memstick...

by cubiCPixel - 2006-07-19 06:08
» Suckas

Who cares about the mod chip now if your PSP isn't Bricked.



With a custom firmware ... all you have to do is to have the 1.50 update in your PSP/GAME/UPDATE and launch the recovery mode if you stuck your PSP. It will undo any damage at all times...



The only reason to buy a mod chip is to unbrick your PSP (for only the same price of a brand new one..!). The option to launch eboots from 2.71 will come with time. We only have to be patient enaugh (most people that stayed with their 1.50 since the begining should be patient enaugh for that!)



Anyways props to developers beating the system everyday... and ya I guess, props to those making the chip. Its still moving the PSP community foward



peace

by boo-ya - 2006-07-19 06:41
» in your face

in your *****ing face to all those that cried fake. you can now officially shut your *****ing mouths! boo-ya!

by Hockeytree - 2006-07-19 07:16
» The videos dont prove anything

Im a skeptic till i can use it on my psp. I dont have the U.P. modchip, and i really dont want one. I have no reason to be jealous because devhook with one of the dark alex custom firmwares gives me exactly the same. Maybe i cant play a few of the 2.71 firmware games but all the ones i own have worked fine. Thank you, Jordan black is a moron.

by Tenshu - 2006-07-19 07:30
» well.

well i'm still not conviced.



teh video is damn dark.

It could be videao edited at the end of the gameboot

I'm not the kind of guy saying all time this is impossible or not



But like i said before, if this is real so why don't release it?

Why not publishing your sources?



Why not contributing to the psp scene, and increasing our knowledge?



So until you release this with sources (like UP team promised), i will not believe you!



And please agian stop advertising UP and this Epsilon bios

by KaNo - 2006-07-19 08:30
» yeah the number 40 is right

i really think its a fake video because the gameboot is really long its easy stop the video at the gameboot and start the real gameboot of the game hmmm and for the xmb with pirate of... u can easily put icone and background with pspbrew 0.8 well u better release something ppl dont trust u!

by KaNo - 2006-07-19 08:34
» huh RET4Rd number 35

STFU there is nothing for tell us its not fake video look fake at began how can u beleive it lol

by Psypher - 2006-07-19 08:47
» Wow.

Well, hey! A 22-second-scrolling-through-the-menu video, right inside a cave!



As if that proved anything.

by Nonymous - 2006-07-19 08:59
» This has got to be a fake

There is a lot of indication that this is in fact a fake hype. Firstly, in a previous post detailing the upcoming Bios release, the Epsilon team stated that a custom ISO format had been created to enable compressed image booting. This has now been changed to GZip support, which will most probably offer no extra compression than that already gained.

Most, if not all, psp ISO releases occur from the 'Scene'. That is, from users who participate within a Group who's objective it is to release titles before other groups. During the UP development, Scene groups were kept upto date with information, as well as development status. This was due to Scene Groups being the most likely place to find users willing to push the chip to its limits. However, during the Epsilon Bios runup no discussion has been made with any prominent PSP groups, including psypsp and caravan. You would have thought that if these guys had created a method of booting ISO images, compressed or not, they would alert those releasing the titles, to allow them to change their release types to those that autoboot using the firmware. No discussion has happened however.

Also, the videos heavily link to Divineo.se . However no Divineo regional site displays any of the posted information. The user posting videos has registered under the name DivineoSE and posted only two pictures. Plus, if Divineo did make the news release, would they not post it on there site first, rather than have users be forced to go to a competitors website to receive information. Redirecting potential customers to an alternative site in the same marketplace is suicide.

My guess is that this is a stunt being pulled of by console.se, using divineo's reputation as a method of gaining credibility. Even if Divineo were involved, it would be incredibly dumb for them to actively promote their involvement in an illegal firmware replacement ( most probably editing Sony copyrighted code ) mainly used for the execution of copied commercial titles.

by 45th poster - 2006-07-19 09:00
» I guess it'll have to be a wall of text.

THE WORLD’s FIRST PSP MODCHIP!!!

by FreePlay - 2006-07-19 09:01
» Oh, COME ON.

First we have a video which is obviously faked (the custom Exit Game logo is at a different angle from the rest of the screen and doesn't move the same way as the other text), and now we have a video of a menu that could just be a PC program? Seriously, this is not news.

by --{PrIvAte_WuDs}-- - 2006-07-19 09:04
» Mabee they are getting all the glitches fixed??????

i think if it's real they are waiting a while to bring it out so that it is perfect with no glitches or problems! with all the free downgraders and hombrew apps and loaders at the moment people have gone off the idea of buying the UP mod chip and the epsilion bios coz they can do most of that for free now ( if they bring it out and it has problems and glitches the whole PSP scene and homebrew scene with slag off epsilon and say it's crap! it's a bricker! not worth the money, and no 1 will buy it and they will have a bad reputation from the start (this wouldent be good for them!!!)) so they are mabee waiting till all problems are ironed out!!!!! (just a thought????)

by CallMeJack - 2006-07-19 09:16
» Am I the ONLY normal one here?

"You must have firmware 2.71 installed to use this custom BIOS."

Am I the only one that realises it's Sony doing this?

They're hoping we all update to 2.71, waiting for this never-to-be-released project, and it's obviously a rogue employee doing this!

It sounds farfetched, but look at the language. They type as if we're all stupid (repeated use of the word BIOS when the NAND flash is, in fact, not a BIOS... It is what it says, a NAND flash module... The BIOS is stored elsewhere.)

And coming to think about it, this has only just borrowed all the features that the custom firmwares had! It's literally stolen everything that we've looked forward to and got over the past two days and now they're playing this as a ploy.

It's not real... It's just too obviously fake, please let this go.

btw my DS lite that I bought today has a faulty D-Pad... TYPICAL ^_~

by Jordan Black - 2006-07-19 09:32
» FreePlay u r wrong

Quote from FreePlay

First we have a video which is obviously faked (the custom Exit Game logo is at a different angle from the rest of the screen and doesn't move the same way as the other text), and now we have a video of a menu that could just be a PC program? Seriously, this is not news.



Sorry but i think its real and ur just been lately WRONG

by Jordan Black - 2006-07-19 09:34
» @37

I do think ur jeaous and im not a moron and stop flaming at me.

by untouchable - 2006-07-19 09:54
» brick

i can't wait to restore my bricked psp. then brick it again the restore it ahaha. and yes i have the modchip

by Cao - 2006-07-19 10:00
» well hello guys.

They need time to fix out all bugs and make this thing perfect for a user who is going to BUY it. That's right. Not many people would be satisfied if they brought the beta product and their psp frequently freezes. I'm not taking sides here, just pointing out a few things.

by untouchable - 2006-07-19 10:05
» 55

55 what are you talking about

by cory1492 - 2006-07-19 10:18
» ...

46 - its EZip (epsilon zip?) not GZip - funny how fast typos are jumped on by typoists looking for any toehold to call something fake - essentially its probably based on lz or similar stream compression like cso/dax. Why envolve a release group of usually one or two people, when all they really do is dump and rar isos, especially when such groups have a habit of releasing things like alpha software?



50- there is a reson why the guy who's testing it is a beta tester. its common for software to go to a core group of developers for initial testing, and a larger group of closed beta testers for more thourough testing before it is publicly released.



51 - you dont have to install 2.71 until you have epsilon and an UP, and even once you have an UP and epsilon the bootloader should allow you to run the 1.5 eboot updater any time you'd like and essentially "downgrade"

.....

I wouldnt be expecting any source to this epsilon related stuff, especially since its not UP "team" branded but Epsilon.

by epslon bios creator(lo im not, in fact nobady is) - 2006-07-19 11:08
» dfbgxd

i could have makde a video like this anyone could so dont believe this crap until it is out!!

by pcx - 2006-07-19 11:47
» Dear pspupdates

Dear pspupdates, please stop giving those attention wh0re epison attention until they have a download avalible TO PROVE THATS ITS REAL.



thanks, pcx

by dfgngf - 2006-07-19 11:56
» dfgfnd

59. » Dear pspupdates



Dear pspupdates, please stop giving those attention wh0re epison attention until they have a download avalible TO PROVE THATS ITS REAL.





OMG you should have your own psp site!!!you are so smart.

this is a stupid news like most that come over to this page.sony fires a person and bOOOOOOM!!! news in here sony had fired a person. thay have the jump thing that counts to see wich news are of interest bt it looks like they just desperate to post news that they dont care and post the first thing they see and copy from other sites. this is a shame to the psp comunity

in conclusion... we all know this is fake until the sofware is released so stop posting this crap!!!!

by Cake - 2006-07-19 12:10
» Anyone seen the gameloader vid?

Looks like a load of crap to me, just film the bloody video in a bright room where you can see the PSP at all times, instead of this crap where it goes completely dark, allowing PSP switching to a 1.5 or whatever. It's not hard.

by Tu Madre - 2006-07-19 13:00
» Damn

You guys ALL need to shut up. If it's fake, it's fake. If it's real, it's real. Don't get your panties in a bunch over something you're not even sure about. Jesus. If it's fake, don't waste your breath on it, eh?



I swear you all act like you're psychic and you just know what's up. Most of the posts here are grammatically horrific and completely noobish sounding. Nobody really takes what you say seriously. They want proof and results, not the haphazardly written opinion of someone who really has no idea what they're talking about. So stop wasting your wanna-be time.



I might add that fake PSP projects usually only have one or two updates and then fade away (i.e. UltraHLE), but this one has had quite a few updates; just my 2 cents.



Also, it sounds right to say that somebody releasing an entire PSP firware version wouldn't just make crappy, unfinished releases. That's not professional.



So just *****in' sit back, relax, and wait for a release. Damn.

by lol internet - 2006-07-19 13:06
» 1st post

FIRST POST WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOO

by Tu Madre - 2006-07-19 13:20
» ^^

Wtf? Are people like this okay in the head?

by pspsmallz - 2006-07-19 13:49
» cool

that is some shyt

by RaiderX - 2006-07-19 17:00
» #55 = idiot

the epsilon BIOS are said to be free. They are edited off sony's copyrighted firmware so to sell them would be highly illegal and sony would sue their pants off.



I still sya the epsilon are fake. Im nto gonna go on abotu ym reason why cuz there are didiots who will keep goign on abotu "But they are fixing bugs" and "this video proves it" and ***** and just wont get the message. So im leaving u all with MY OPINION that these are not real.



I think they have tried and cant get it to work completely and are stalling for time till thye can maybe get their custom firmware mods working

by who cares - 2006-07-19 18:21
» Who give a ***** if it's fake or real

Seriously, 90% percent of PSP owners won't be purchasing UP. Not 'cos of they can't afford, it's simply they don't need to. All 1.5 PSP owners or upto 2.6 fw owners with non-TA082 mainboard can already enjoy running both 1.5 & 2.71 firmware on the same PSP with devhook. Why do I wanna have a UP in my PSP? I couldn't think of a single reason to install it on my 1.5 PSP. People say it'll make your PSP unbrickable. That may be true, but what's the use if I know my PSP will never be bricked. People made stupid mistakes in bricking their PSPs. If they're careful, it wouldn't be bricked in the first place.



I also agree QJ should stop posting these videos and promoting UP. Let the epsilon bios get released and then do a review on it. Epsilon bios is nothing more than a vaporware atm. Keep posting these unconfirmed video doesn't make it any credible.

by I - 2006-07-19 19:44
» FAKE!!

I won´t stop screaming FAKE! It´s simply too good to be true.

by flasher - 2006-07-19 20:17
» i got flashed once

All i can say is that's the fastest i've ever seen a PSP get flashed.

by hacker3.0 - 2006-07-20 00:39
» 1.50 version

ok if this works why can't they relese it and they should make

a version that will install on a 1.50 psp and yes itwould be possible just look at all the custom firmwares coming out

by Epsilon firmware? - 2006-07-20 01:21
» custom firmware?

When this comes out...can't someone try to make it into custom FW so we could flash. Well it's very likely that it could b done, ' cause think about it...the PSP has 2 read Epsilon bios as FW anyway or else it won't work...so just make it an actual FW

by someone in the know - 2006-07-20 01:29
» BS

Quite obviously bull. Timely released to help sell more obscenely priced modchips. There taking advantage of TA mobo and 2.71 users desperation. 200 bucks to install and the damn things so small even experienced PS2 and XBOX modders cant fit it... so your left paying the obscenely high install price.



Welcome to the decline of the PSP scene everyone. Vapourware, theft of ideas, site wars, modchips....



Scene is and always should be FREE, modchips are the start of something very ugly. Anyone who is or has been active in the PS2scene over the last 5 years will know exactly what Im talking about. Charging for a product that allows the pirating of games is bad, devhook is free and can be used for a lot of legal uses, as can UP, however no-ones profiting from devhook, no-ones profiting from people using ISO's... not anymore, UP can rub there hands in joy as they coin it in from desperate users.



Seriously, just hold tight for a few months, 2.71 is decrypted and emulated on devhook, within 6-7 months 2.71 will be exploited and you can bet your ass on that. Since the release of PSP theres been HUGE amounts of people saying, this cant be done, or that cant be done, and in the last year we've seen more advancements than anyone could possibly guess... and it will continue. Be patient, dont spring 200 for this crap, dont be duped by sjeep and his epsilon bios... there in it for money and nothing more, support the !!SCENE!! not businesses cashing in.

by know it all - 2006-07-20 02:36
» Fake

This ghost firmware hoax has been arround forages... why they just don't release it? lol maybe they are too busy making fake manuals and fake videos.... cut the bull .... either relase it or keep it to yourselves team EP.



Why would'nt they realease it if it was true? LIES LIES LIES... team EP = Hype to make you buy Stock piling "mod chips" that dont "mod" anything ... UP = Dual Boot ... not mod chip



FFS just STFU team EP., DO OR DIE TY!

by NOOB - 2006-07-20 04:13
» Devhook on 2.xx

I was wondering if devhook could be run on 2.6 firmware.

by Tu Madre - 2006-07-20 07:15
» 72

I actually agree with 72.

by justin - 2006-07-20 23:01
» fatso

nah man its not called 'epsilon', its called 'Liquid' my friend said he had it.

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