How To Downgrade psp firmware guide

This guide will show you how to downgrade your PSP firmware.

Please Read: these steps flashes your psp, meaning that there is a small chance of rendering your PSP absolutely useless, by reading this you accept that you cannot hold me, Emuparadise or the people that created this software responsible for what happens to your PSP

The FaQ at the bottom will answer your questions

The files needed are included in this thread.

What's needed
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GTA:- Liberty City Stories (Unpatched Version)

[Noobz 3.03 Homebrew Enabler (HEN)] Download:http://dl.qj.net/Homebrew-Enabler-%2...2430/catid/114

[Noobz 3.03 to 1.50 downgrader] Download:
http://dl.qj.net/Downgrader-for-v3.0...2431/catid/114

[1.50 Update] Download:
http://dl.qj.net/PSP-Firmware-1.50-F.../163/catid/163


Steps
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1. Update to firmware 3.03. If you already have this firmware then proceed to step 2.

2. Open the 3.03 downgrade file and copy the contents of the folder MS_ROOT to the root of your memory stick.

3. Open the 1.5 update and rename the EBOOT.PBP to UPDATE.PBP then copy it to /PSP/GAME/UPDATE/
Make sure not to overwrite PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP

4. Load Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (unpatched)

5. It should get to loading save game, clear the screen, the screen should fill with a light blue color and then reset the PSP

6. Check that HEN is running by going to system settings then System Information and it should show up as system version 303 HEN

7. If it is showing up as 3.03 HEN then go to the memory stick and run the x.yz update

8. Before the downgrader does anything to your PSP it will ask for you to agree to what it is doing
If you no longer want to continue press the Right Shoulder Button (R-TRIGGER).

9. Once you have agreed to start the downgrade do not unplug the PSP

10. Once finished the PSP will ask you to press X, after pressing it will reset it self.

11. If it comes up saying that the settings are corrupt press X to continue.

12. Enjoy your new golden firmware


FaQ
----

Q. How can I tell if i have an unpatched version of GTA: LCS or not?
A.Unpatched versions of Liberty City Stories contain the 2.0 update, whereas patched versions contain higher updates.

Q. How can I tell the HEN enabler has worked?
A. Go to system settings on the XMB, then go to system information, it should say;
System software 3.03 HEN,
If it doesn't run the HEN enabler again.

Q. Why would I want to be on lower firmware?
A. Lower firmware security allows unsigned code to run on your psp (Homebrew), such as; games, applications and other great software.

Q. I have already upgraded to a higher firmware than 3.03, can i still downgrade
A. Not with this downgrade, check QJ.net for other downgrades.

Now I have Downgraded, what next?
------------------------------------

You can either go to QJ.net and start downloading Homebrew, or you can upgrade to Dark_AleX's 3.10 OEA custom Firmware.

Q. Why would I want to upgrade when I'm already on firmware 1.50?
A. With Dark_AleX 3.10 OEA you can enjoy the freedom of 1.50 homebrew capabilities, and also play psp games that need a higher firmware to run.

I have a question. I am going to buy a PSP pretty soon (in probably a month). My question is, Do I need to have the GTA LCS ??? Is there a way where I DO NOT have to buy any game ?

I live in India, and I don't really think I'll be able to get my hands on a GTA LCS that has not been patched or patched for that matter :P Also, that will require me to spend money on a PSP game, which is anywhere around Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 (indian rupees), which is kinda like a little too much for me :(

So, I got any other options ??? I can research on the internet (which I intended to do when I get my PSP) on sites like psphacks, etc, etc but after reading this, this is the question that arised in my mind and you seem to be knowing quite a lot about PSP downgrading and stuff like that.

Thanx in advance for all the help :D Really appreciate it (:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kazekage Gaara

I have a question. I am going to buy a PSP pretty soon (in probably a month). My question is, Do I need to have the GTA LCS ??? Is there a way where I DO NOT have to buy any game ?

I live in India, and I don't really think I'll be able to get my hands on a GTA LCS that has not been patched or patched for that matter :P Also, that will require me to spend money on a PSP game, which is anywhere around Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 (indian rupees), which is kinda like a little too much for me :(

So, I got any other options ??? I can research on the internet (which I intended to do when I get my PSP) on sites like psphacks, etc, etc but after reading this, this is the question that arised in my mind and you seem to be knowing quite a lot about PSP downgrading and stuff like that.

Thanx in advance for all the help :D Really appreciate it (:

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I will look for an update for you, dont get your hopes up though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blood Wings

I will look for an update for you, dont get your hopes up though.

---

Also, I would like to inform you that I am going to buy one from the local gray markets over here in India (customs are really high over here) so am gonna get it for approx Rs. 8200 (Indian rupees) and the guys over there are gonna let me open up the box and check out whether its working properly or not, etc, etc, which in turn will enable me to LITERALLY CHOOSE which PSP I buy coz they'll have like hundreds of them, and I can manually start it up and check which firmware it has, although I highly doubt I'll get a PSP with ORIGINAL 1.50 firmware. Also, I can't ask them to show me right now which versions they have coz they'll let me touch their PSPs only when am 100% sure I wanna get one and actually show them the money, coz otherwise, they get really irrigated if I "waste their time" and didn't even buy one in the end :P

Oh and almost 98% of them are total noobs knowing nothing about technology and what can actually be done with a PSP or any other console for that matter :D

Any firmware up to 2.80 should allow you to upgrade to custom firmware which is much better than having lower firmware because the newest custom firmware has a recovery mode which gives you the option to restore your psp if it gets bricked.
If you do get a psp, I would be happy to help you with downgrading, contact me anytime.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blood Wings

Any firmware up to 2.80 should allow you to upgrade to custom firmware which is much better than having lower firmware because the newest custom firmware has a recovery mode which gives you the option to restore your psp if it gets bricked.
If you do get a psp, I would be happy to help you with downgrading, contact me anytime.

---

Wow...this recovery mode seems to be a really good thing. So I gotta make sure I get a PSP with a 2.80 firmware OR lower right ? which will NOT require me to have a GTA LCS to upgrade to latest custom firmwares (like Dark Alex, etc) right ?

Thanx for the help dude. Really appreciate it. You've earned rep ;)

Edit: It would be just great....I'll surely contact you when I get my PSP and we can do this on MSN chat or somethin :D

thanks for the rep, i would recommend DarK_AleX's custom firmware, i will keep looking to make sure what i have told you is correct.

there is a file you need if you want to be protected from getting your psp bricked which isnt big and you just stick it in the game folder on your psp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blood Wings

there is a file you need if you want to be protected from getting your psp bricked which isnt big and you just stick it in the game folder on your psp.

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So correct me if I am wrong....technically as soon as I get my PSP, I need to put "that file" in the game folder of my PSP AND THEN TRY TO upgrade/downgrade just to be on the safer side so if the FIRST INITIAL upgrade/downgrade fails, it will restore my PSP

or is it that I need to upgrade it to the latest custom firmware INITIALLY TAKING THE RISK and THEN that file will work and protect me from FUTURE upgrade/downgrades going wrong ??

Am I confusing ? :P

you have to upgrade to the latest custom firmware before you can do this, because the recovery mode is needed to run the file that will unbrick your psp, the recovery mode works even if the psp has been bricked.

Anyway, if the upgrade is done correctly, the odds of the upgrade going wrong are small.

I don't know if this answered your question

I recently downgraded a v2.80 on a TA-80 motherborad, supposedly the hardest combination to mod, down to 1.5 without a hitch. I just made sure I read everything I could find, and was familiar with the process before I even attempted to download the programs. This is key, and probably the leading cause of people bricking their PSP's. Make sure you study the info, and know what you are doing, and what to expect.

Today I upgraded from 1.5 to 3.10-A because I was disappointed in 1.5's ISO compatability. Again, I read up on it, and I actually found an auto-installer you run from the PC, and it did all the work for me. I was considering 3.10B, but all it adds is PSX ISO playability, and that's not something I am interested in.

This is the best site I have found for downgrading. It's pretty complete and full of specific info:
http://forums.qj.net/f-guides-hacks-...ide-90919.html
It tells you how to downgrade every firmware revision and motherboard, and has links to all the programs needed.

http://www.epforums.org/imagehosting...0f40f90787.jpg

:explode:

Thanx for the link dude. This is EXACTLY what I was waiting for (or for someone to personally help me downgrade me PSP :P). All the info at one place, in perfect order, with screenshots, risks, warnings, and all the required file download links. JUST AMAZING... :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kazekage Gaara

http://www.epforums.org/imagehosting...0f40f90787.jpg

:explode:

Thanx for the link dude. This is EXACTLY what I was waiting for (or for someone to personally help me downgrade me PSP :P). All the info at one place, in perfect order, with screenshots, risks, warnings, and all the required file download links. JUST AMAZING... :D

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No problem ;) I hope your PSP modding goes as smoothly as mine did.

yeah me too, good luck.

Qj.net is the place i get all my upgrades and software from.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sprung

I recently downgraded a v2.80 on a TA-80 motherborad, supposedly the hardest combination to mod, down to 1.5 without a hitch. I just made sure I read everything I could find, and was familiar with the process before I even attempted to download the programs. This is key, and probably the leading cause of people bricking their PSP's.

---

Has your psp ever been bricked?

I got a 2.71 with the motherboard with the writing on it/

I wanna install the dark alex custom firmware.

Do I need to downgrade first?
or just upgrade?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinosaurman

I got a 2.71 with the motherboard with the writing on it/

I wanna install the dark alex custom firmware.

Do I need to downgrade first?
or just upgrade?

---

http://forums.qj.net/f-guides-hacks-...ide-90919.html

You need to go to 1.5 first, then upgrade to whatever custom FW you want.
If you have a TA-82 or TA-86 mobo, then make sure you use the idstoragechange...it's crucial.

So for the sake of clarification, if I have a TA-82 or 86, do I need GTA to do the downgrade?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cyberxion

So for the sake of clarification, if I have a TA-82 or 86, do I need GTA to do the downgrade?

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What firmware do you have now?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sprung

What firmware?

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Woops. Um, I'd be buying the PSP brand-new more likely than not, so I'm not sure. I think I'll have to get back to you if/when I finally get my PSP. :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cyberxion

Woops. Um, I'd be buying the PSP brand-new more likely than not, so I'm not sure. I think I'll have to get back to you if/when I finally get my PSP. :P

---

Ok. Well, if it's anything above 2.80, you need GTA to downgrade. So, I dunno...maybe find some old stuff shoved in the back of the shelf at Walmart? :P

Whenever I try to run hen the psp locks up/

Like as soon as I try opening the hen folder.


Gimped

Edit ok nevermind,
waiting to reneter my settings.


Fingers crossed/



Edit again YAY 1.5

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinosaurman

Whenever I try to run hen the psp locks up/

Like as soon as I try opening the hen folder.


Gimped

Edit ok nevermind,
waiting to reneter my settings.


Fingers crossed/



Edit again YAY 1.5

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YAY! :D

HEN is a bitch to get running. I had to try it about 25-30 times before it would work. Good thing you only have to do it once.

1.5 is nice, but I am guessing you'll be upgrading soon ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sprung

YAY! :D

HEN is a bitch to get running. I had to try it about 25-30 times before it would work. Good thing you only have to do it once.

1.5 is nice, but I am guessing you'll be upgrading soon ;)

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Yeah half way done/

:D

if you want to know what firmware your psp has before purchase...
http://forums.qj.net/f-psp-firmware-...007-28717.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cyberxion

So for the sake of clarification, if I have a TA-82 or 86, do I need GTA to do the downgrade?

---

You only need GTA for the 3.03 downgrader
you won't need it if you downgrade from 2.80

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinosaurman

Yeah half way done/

:D

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Now you need to run 302_BASIC_Installer_150 with the PSP hooked up to the PC and USB Connection active.

I put it in the PSP ISOs folder on my FTP.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sprung

YAY! :D

HEN is a bitch to get running. I had to try it about 25-30 times before it would work. Good thing you only have to do it once.

1.5 is nice, but I am guessing you'll be upgrading soon ;)

---

It only took me two attempts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blood Wings

It only took me two attempts.

---

The first time I tried, I probably got it running is 2 or 3 attempts. But, the instructions I was following was written by a dolt, and he didn't know to press the HOME button to exit the HEN loaded demo used for testing that HEN worked, so he said to turn off the PSP. On my second load, it took me forever to get it to run.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sprung

Now you need to run 302_BASIC_Installer_150 with the PSP hooked up to the PC and USB Connection active.

I put it in the PSP ISOs folder on my FTP.

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I got the 310 oe a ,

now to find a rom that will fit on my 128mb card untill my 2 gb arrives.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinosaurman

I got the 310 oe a ,

now to find a rom that will fit on my 128mb card untill my 2 gb arrives.

---

Check my FTP ;)

Although, small roms are still going to cut it close.

it took 30+ attempts for me....maybe more, I was using the old crap 32mb.
I decided to try my sandisk and after formating, it only took about 5 attempts.

I finally found what I was looking for. You can rip PSP ISOs directly to your computer instead of ripping to the memory stick. It's pretty easy as well.

1.) Download USB Special System Storage (FILE ATTACHED BELOW)
2.) Extract to the destop.
3.) Enable USB Connection on the PSP.
4.) Back in your extracted USBSSS_100 folder on the desktop, open it and copy the folder "PSP" to the memory stick.
5.) Exit from USB Connection, but keep your USB cable plugged in.
6.) Then go to "GAME" -> "Memory Stick" -> and start "USB Special System Storage"
7.) Now put in the UMD you want to rip into your PSP.
8.) Select the first option; "Virtual FAT16 . UMD ISO-9000".
9.) XP users will get a window that pops up showing the contents of the UMD drive. If not, then go to My Computer and open up the PSP drive.
10.) Now you should see your game.
11.) Now drag your game to the desktop on your computer.
12.) Now your rip is being made, the rip will be finished when the percentage on the PSP has reached 0% again then press "X" to disconnect. - (DO NOT disconnect until the percentage has gone back down to 0 again or your rip will be incomplete. (It will stay on 100% for a while.) You can verify size by right clicking the ISO on your computer and selecting properties, and comparing that to the one show in in the PSP dive window.
13.) Now just choose "Exit to XMB".

Verified working ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sprung

I finally found what I was looking for. You can rip PSP ISOs directly to your computer instead of ripping to the memory stick. It's pretty easy as well.

1.) Download USB Special System Storage (FILE ATTACHED BELOW)
2.) Extract to the destop.
3.) Enable USB Connection on the PSP.
4.) Back in your extracted USBSSS_100 folder on the desktop, open it and copy the folder "PSP" to the memory stick.
5.) Exit from USB Connection, but keep your USB cable plugged in.
6.) Then go to "GAME" -> "Memory Stick" -> and start "USB Special System Storage"
7.) Now put in the UMD you want to rip into your PSP.
8.) Select the first option; "Virtual FAT16 . UMD ISO-9000".
9.) XP users will get a window that pops up showing the contents of the UMD drive. If not, then go to My Computer and open up the PSP drive.
10.) Now you should see your game.
11.) Now drag your game to the desktop on your computer.
12.) Now your rip is being made, the rip will be finished when the percentage on the PSP has reached 0% again then press "X" to disconnect. - (DO NOT disconnect until the percentage has gone back down to 0 again or your rip will be incomplete. (It will stay on 100% for a while.) You can verify size by right clicking the ISO on your computer and selecting properties, and comparing that to the one show in in the PSP dive window.
13.) Now just choose "Exit to XMB".

Verified working ;)

---

You the frickin man,

Once you have ripped your ISO successfully, you'll want to compress the ISO so you can put more games on one memory stick. To do this you'll need CISO. (attached below in 2 parts)

1.) Download CISO below. (get both parts)
2.) Extract to your computer.
3.) Run CISO UTILITY.
4.) Click the ISO > CSO radio button.
5.) Click the OPEN ISO button and locate the ISO you wish to compress.
6.) Click the SAVE CSO button and name your CSO.
7.) Make sure the dropdown box is set to 9. This is the highest compression.
8.) Click START!
9.) You're done.

I used it on Miami Vice, which I just ripped myself. Results as follows:

Original ISO: 330 MB (346,617,856 bytes)
Compressed CSO: 225 MB (236,482,609 bytes)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sprung

Once you have ripped your ISO successfully, you'll want to compress the ISO so you can put more games on one memory stick. To do this you'll need CISO. (attached below in 2 parts)

1.) Download CISO below. (get both parts)
2.) Extract to your computer.
3.) Run CISO UTILITY.
4.) Click the ISO > CSO radio button.
5.) Click the OPEN ISO button and locate the ISO you wish to compress.
6.) Click the SAVE CSO button and name your CSO.
7.) Make sure the dropdown box is set to 9. This is the highest compression.
8.) Click START!
9.) You're done.

I used it on Miami Vice, which I just ripped myself. Results as follows:

Original ISO: 330 MB (346,617,856 bytes)
Compressed CSO: 225 MB (236,482,609 bytes)

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Cool, ripping me and my katamari right now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinosaurman

Cool, ripping me and my katamari right now.

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Ohh...I'd like to have that one *wink*wink* :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sprung

Ohh...I'd like to have that one *wink*wink* :P

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Ill up it to your ftp tomoz

:D


Also thanks to the cso converter i can squeeze some isos that wouldnt fit before onto my 128 mb

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dinosaurman

Ill up it to your ftp tomoz

:D


Also thanks to the cso converter i can squeeze some isos that wouldnt fit before onto my 128 mb

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Sounds good!

No problem ;) I'm glad to be of service.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sprung

This is the best site I have found for downgrading. It's pretty complete and full of specific info:
http://forums.qj.net/f-guides-hacks-...ide-90919.html
It tells you how to downgrade every firmware revision and motherboard, and has links to all the programs needed.

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Hey sprung I don't know if you even remember this but thank you SO much for spoting this link I really didn't want to have to write a guide myself (don worry though I gave the fella credit for it :D