How to Your Custom Firmware MOD Your PSP

Intro: How to Your Custom Firmware MOD Your PSP

In this instructable I will show you how to create a pandora battery, magic memory stick and, the installation process! I will also show you how to convert your Pandora battery back to a normal battery! Video Included !

Materials:
-First of all your going to need a PSP (I am using a slim)
-A SONY battery (other brands dont function the same way)
-A Memory Stick (1gb -4gb)
-Tape
- 7-ZIP (YAY Open Source) ...... or winrar....
-Iced Tea ?

Tools:
-Utility Knife
-Pencil

STEP 1: Making the "Magic" Memory Stick !

Ok lets get started ! First you need a couple of files. Rains MMS Maker , And a 5.00.pbp (A SONY Update File). First We Must extract both Folders,Then Rename the EBOOT.pbp to 500.pbp and place it in the Rains MMS Folder.

Connect your psp via USB to Your PC !
Okay Now Open Up RAINS MMS, Select Your PSP's drive letter, Then Check off the FORMAT option , and if you want to backup you data Check the BACKUP box as well !

CREATE MMS

WAIT....

STEP 2: Pandora Battery

You Have 2 Options Softmod (safest/ easiest) or Hardmod (Time Consuming)
Step 3 is a Hardmod, Cutting open your battery and splicing a connection.
Step 4 is a Softmod, Using software on another modded PSP to make a Pandora battery

STEP 3: Pandora Battery: SLIM HARDMOD

This step is "SLIM" Specific, And we can make your battery normal after !!
1 With your utility knife cut the crease in the plastic, Please don't puncture the lithium cell inside !!!. This may take 30-60 minutes.

2 Now that your inside locate the connection we need to cut ! its probably under a number mine was 19

3 Cut the connection as shown in the picture. (Don't worry we can make your battery normal after)

4 Place everything back together, and tape firmly tape it down!

5 You should have a SLIM Pandora battery

(DO NOT PUT IT IN A PHAT PSP IT WILL RUIN YOUR BATTERY)

STEP 4: Softmod (Slim/Phat)

Softmod (Slim/Phat)
Here's the catch on the softmod, you have to know someone with a PSP thats already moded !
Simply download UltraPandoraInstaller Put the files in the PSP Game Folder, Start the app on the modified PSP, Then go to battery options>Make Battery Pandora ! You now have a PANDORA battery !

(Once Again DO NOT PUT A SLIM BATTERY IN A PHAT PSP)

STEP 5: Returning Your SLIM Battery Back to NORMAL

Simply cut the tape, and using a pencil generously score lead into the crease you cut , Tape it back together and EUREKA !

Note If you don't hold the "L" button on boot it will automatically start your PSP in normal mode !

STEP 6: Video

The installing process...

STEP 7: Now That I Have Modded My PSP What Are the Possibilitys ?

Well on your freshly modded PSP the first thing you should do is format your memory stick (with the psp). Then plug it into the computer and you should see some new folders:

ISO - This is where you put your OWN PERFECTLY LEGAL NOT DOWNLOADED GAMES ;)
seplugins - This is the plugins folder, I will explain more of this in the next step.
PSP>GAME4/5XX - This is where you put your Homebrew apps for your firmware !
PSP>GAME150 - This is where homebrew apps for 1.50 firmware goes

STEP 8: Homebrew

Homebrew:
Hombrew is a fancy word for "PSP Applications." (Yes I know it sounds like homemade coffee) Anyways with homebrew you can control your computer, use your PSP as a second monitor, use common IM clients, check your email, run emulators, you can run linux and windows 95 ( and mac ) with homebrew ! The list could go on for a couple of steps!

This is QJ.net They have lots of homebrew for many consoles. I encourage you to find an app at QJ or PSP-HACKS and come back, then I will show you how to install an app.

Now that you have found an app (and I have refilled my glass of iced tea :)) You need to extract the .rar or .zip archive. Then dig around and check out the readme (its way easier if you learn the controls firest !) after that we have to copy the directory containing EBOOT.PBP and a bunch of other files to our memory stick in the X:>PSP>GAME directory !

Now test out your homebrew app ! If you have any problems ASK in the COMMENTS then other people can learn from your problem or mistake !

NOTE: Some apps only work on the Phat, some only on the slim, and sometime they don't work at all !

STEP 9: Plugins

Plugins are used to add functionality to the psp, they can flip the screen over, play YOUR music during games/web browsing, take screen shots.... once again I could make a LONG list.

Plugins come with the .prx extension, there are three different places to use plugins VSH (XMB), in GAME, and POPS (this is for playing ps1).

For example if you wanted to listen to music durring a game you would:
Download the plugin from QJ
Extract the file
Copy music.prx to the seplugins directory
Open or create a text file called GAME.txt
Inside GAME.txt you would put "ms0:/seplugins/music.prx"
Now with your memory card inserted completly shutdown your psp (hold the power switch for 7 seconds or remove the battery and put it back in (make sure its not still pandora))
Then turn it on while holding the "R" trigger this will take you to recovery mode.
Go to >PLUGINS and make sure music.prx is (enabled)
Then go back>EXIT and you will be at your XMB. Now if you launch a game or hombrew, and press the correct button combination (mentioned in the readme) you will here music !

Plugins for XMB are listed in VSH.txt
Plugins for PSone are listed in POPS.txt
Plugins for GAME are to be listed in GAME.txt

You can have a MAX of 5 plugins in each category and a MAX of 7 in total !
Plugins for the web browser are to be used in VSH.txt

STEP 10: UMDS, .ISO's, .CSO's, and .DAX and EBOOTS

This step explains the difference between UMD image formats, and PSP executables. First of all PSP software is either downloaded from PSNetwork or On a UMD format disc.

UMDs are simply mini DVDs in a plastic case, they can store 1.6GB of data and are non-rewriteable. So they can be ripped in .ISO format. But there is more than Just .isos there is also .csos and .dax and .jso
The difference is:

.ISO - The largest size, with the fastest loading speed, With almost NEVER any problems in the game.
.CSO - A Mid size with slightly slower loading speed (its unnoticeable) I have experienced one issue with a grand theft auto game.
.DAX - The smallest size, It is still supported but rather obsolette
.JSO - Once again a small size, but format has is no longer supported.

.CSO is the standered.

To play .isos

You can download games for free at pspisoz.com or pspiso.com however you are only downloading games that you own and have the UMD disc for. right ?

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU DO WHEN IT COMES TO DOWNLOADING GAMES WHICH YOU DO NOT OWN OR SELL AND KEEP THE ISO.

STEP 11: Firmwares

There are several different kinds of firmwares, including M33 which I showed you how to install in this instruct able as well as, GEN, OE, LE, HX,OMEGA, Theres more but theres only a few I want to talk about.

5.00 M33-4 - Is developed by the most popular PSP Hacker of all time (so far). It is the most common and it has support for the most available hombrew, and plugins. I Recomend this for NOOBS

5.02 GEN-A - The second most common firmware, it is a reconstructed M33 firmware, but its designed for more advanced users. It has support for everything except the CXMB plugin (there is a way to use CXMB on 5.02 however it is very complicated). It also has a built in feature to softmod pandora batteries! This is the firmware I Use, simply because it is the latest and greatest

5.02 OMEGA - This firmware isn't the most popular and its very buggy with homebrew, If you like playing your old PS1 games this firmware is "supposed" to have good support for that. (However didn't work for my PS1 games)

5.02 XFC - This firmware is once again a recompiled M33 firmware, It DOSENT support .iso or .cso playing. So if you want to use homebrew and not look like a pirate. This firmware is good for you.

M33 is the best for noobs, so unless your battery is PANDORA don't mess around with other firmwares !

STEP 12: FAQ

Can I Put a Slim Battery in a PHAT Psp ?
NO

Can I Put a Phat battery in a SLIM PSP
Yes

Can all PSP's be modded ?
NO, All Phat PSPs can be moded(1000series), The Newest Slims (2000 series) CAN'T be moded and neither Can the PSP BRITE (3000 series) !

What happens if I put a pandora battery in an unmodifiable PSP ?
Nothing, (New slims do show a light)

Comments

[mrollier]

The Ultra pandora link no longer works

[JacobB1]

Lol outdated info. I have a modded PSP 3000 sitting on my desk right now. Thanks for the tutorial, though. ;)

[superMacaroni]

why did you take a picture of a micro sd instead of a pro duo? lol

[vishalapr]

There's an easier way
Just follow this you tube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJAXCbexTu0
One download link is dead but you can type that in google search and you will get the download file(I tried it and it works perfectly,
Try it out!!!

[TheNextWorldLeader]

Okay, I put the files where I need to, but it says that its corrupted. Help?

[markie]

it work`s great no more game buying ;) LOL
thanks!!

[Coliflower]

Nice 'ible, 5 stars.

My brother's PSP was modded with M33, by a friend. I'm not sure how he did it, but, if it helps, he already had 3 batteries because we had three PSP's for him to mod.

I recently downloaded an update from Sony and didn't realize it changed the FW, so how do I re-install it? Everything else is already set, but the CFW doesn't support his ISO's.

Help?

[bears0]

WHICH APP IS IT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO USE YOUR PSP AS A SECOND MONITOR

[bears0]

thanks sooooooooooooo much ive been trying to get this to work for a very long time :D

[GENERALCHAOS]

HEY IM NOT A NOOB ...UM....... IM SUPPA NOOB TO U BUDDY XD XD

[larslovespeace]

I have winrar and both files but when I go to extract theRaun mms maker it doesnt show up in the folder i placed it in there was an eboot.pbp and I renamed that to 500.pbp but other than that there was a readme file telling me to go to a website? any help?

[larslovespeace]

Okay I have the folder with 500.bpb but how to I do the format stick and backup files?

[Se1f_Destruct]

I love this instructable, i did it myself. It works on a TA-83 mobo, and I can go back all the way to 3.71 M33. The problem i have is that people who use CFW just to pirate (download iso's of games) games INFURIATES ME. It ruins it for all of us because that is the reason Sony does not let us create our own apps for the psp.

Here is what Dark_AleX has to say:
"Everyone has the right to do what they want with their own hardware. Piracy does upset me, and because what we are doing opens the way to piracy it's harder to justify it morally. But our stance on piracy is clear, and we hope to be role models. Sony have never been in touch with me, so I am confident that what we are doing is legal."

I encourage CFW too, but not piracy! It ruins it for all of us!

[dunnos]

I am SO going to do this... one question: If i cut the line (lol) and put the battery in my phat is there ANY chance ATT ALL that my psp will explode or break in any other matter? (i am going to play the nes version of mario on my psp then !! yay) PS: Now that i think of it i have another question: -throughout the process is the ANY chance AT ALL that my psp breaks? (the psp not a component like the battery of the psp)

[Se1f_Destruct]

It is hard to break, lol.

[littlechef37]

no your PSP will not explode or break, as long as you use a PHAT battery your covered!.... NO your psp CANNOT just break... unless a chip fries (not caused by modding) then the only way to break your PSP is to physically break it

[HellifiKnow94]

This works on the 3000 series right?

[Se1f_Destruct]

You can try it, i dont think so...

[ReCreate]

No

[foxtrot4697]

guys! holy snap!!! it works without the pandoras battery aswell, but not on OFW 5.50 yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQS2hYBTLI remember to watch both parts tho