Thread: Downgrading / Installing Custom Firmware onto your PSP.

What is Custom Firmware??

Custom firmware replaces your PSPs official firmware but it is not a permanent upgrade.
You can easily uninstall the custom firmware and to back to official firmware if you
don't like or don't want to use custom firmware anymore.

Custom Firmware has all the features of the official sony firmware, but also adds the ability
to load homebrew PSP ISOs and PSX EBOOTs directly from the game menu in the XMB.
so you can still play your original UMD discs, Music and Videos using custom firmware.

Custom Firmware also has an option to use 'No-UMD Mode' so you can run your PSP ISOs without a UMD inserted.

If you don't have a USB cable but you have a memory card reader, you can use that instead.
when you see 'connect your PSP to your computer and make a USB connection',
Turn off your PSP, take the memory stick out of your PSP and insert it into your memory card reader.
When you see 'close the USB connection and disconnect your PSP from your computer'
Take the memory stick out of your computer and insert it into your PSP and turn your PSP on.

Installing Custom Firmware:

If you have ANY 'M33-Based or 'GEN-Based' custom firmware,
you can update it directly to 5.50 GEN-D2 version
by using the installer and updater files below.

If you have an SE, OE or the 'Official Sony Firmware 1.50' on your PSP
you will need to install 5.00 M33-6 first using recovery flasher.
Scroll down to the 'Using Recovery Flasher to install 5.00 M33-6'' section below.

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'5.50 GEN' Custom Firmware:

Required Files:

Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-D Installer
Download 1 (Mediafire): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 2 (iFile.it): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 3 (zShare): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 4 (SendSpace): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 5 (Megaupload): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]

Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-D2 Update:
Download 1 (Mediafire): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 2 (iFile.it): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 3 (zShare): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 4 (SendSpace): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 5 (Megaupload): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]


Installing 5.50 GEN Custom Firmware:

If you have a UMD inserted into your PSP, please remove it before updating...
you can re-insert the UMD after you have completed the update / install.

1. Download the '5.50 GEN' Installer and update from the above download link.
2. Select BOTH files, right click and select 'winrar > extract to here' (or similar command)
3. Make a USB connection (or insert your PSP memory stick into a card reader)

4. Copy the 550.pbp file onto your memory stick 'root' (i.e where the PSP folder is)
See this picture if you are not sure where to put the file:



5. Copy the 'UPDATE' and 'GEN-D2' folder into the 'PSP \ GAME' folder.
See this picture if you are not sure where to put the folders: [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]

6. Close the USB Connection (or put the memory stick back into your PSP if using a card reader)

7. Go to the 'Game > Memory Stick' on your PSP and find the "5.50 GEN-D" icon and start it.
See this picture if you are not too sure what you are looking for:

8. When the updater start, select 'enter' and press 'X' on your PSP
9. On the next menu, select "Flash Install CFW 5.50 GEN-D" and press 'X'

10. The updater will extract PRX files load the update and flash the files.
This can take a few minutes, so let the PSP update, don't touch the PSP until its done.
Note: I needed to redo the settings after updating as the updater didn't keep them.

11. Once done, press 'X' and the PSP will restart.
12. Go to the 'Game > Memory Stick' menu and look for the 'GEN-D2' icon and start it.
13. When the updater loads, press 'X' to apply the update patch.
14. After the patch has applied, press 'X' and the PSP will restart.

15. You now have custom firmware 5.50 GEN-D2 on your PSP.

16. You can safely delete these files from your memory stick:
G:\ 550.pbp (single file, the official Sony firmware update file)
G:\ Backup (entire folder, was used to hold your PSN activation)
G:\ PSP \ GAME \ UPDATE (entire folder, the 5.50 GEN-D installer)
G:\ PSP \ GAME \ GEN-D2 (entire folder, the 5.50 GEN-D2 updater)

17. You will need to redo the main settings on your PSP (found under the settings menu) and also the 'Recovery mode settings'

'5.00 M33' Custom Firmware:

Required Files:

Custom Firmware 5.00 M33 Installer
Download 1 (Mediafire): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 2 (iFile.it): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 3 (zShare): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 4 (SendSpace): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 5 (Megaupload): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]


Custom Firmware 5.00 M33 Update #6:
Download 1 (Mediafire): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 2 (iFile.it): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 3 (zShare): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 4 (SendSpace): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 5 (Megaupload): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]

Installing M33 Custom Firmware:

1. Download the 'M33 Custom Firmware' Installer.
2. In recovery mode, make sure the 'Kernel Mode' is set to 3.xx Kernel
Hold 'R', Turn on PSP -> Configuration -> Game Folder Homebrew -> 3.xx Kernel
(note: this could be 2.xx, 3.xx, 4.xx or 5.xx Kernel, it depends on your current custom firmware version)

3. Connect your PSP to your computer and create a USB Connection.
4. Extract the Custom Firmware Installer to a folder on your computer.
5. Copy the UPDATE folder into the PSP \ GAME folder.
6. Close the USB connection and disconnect the USB cable.

6. Go to the Game -> Memory Stick Menu and run the 'PSP Update ver 5.00' program
The installer icon will look something like this:


7. Press X and the Sony updater will begin and write the official firmware files. (The custom firmware files will be written in the next step.)
The 'Sony updater' screen is normal, go through the firmware update process like you would install an official update.

8. When finished, the updater will ask you to reboot, Press the X (or O) button.
This will finish installing the 'Custom Firmware' files to your PSP.

9. You have now installed the Custom Firmware update onto your PSP.
You can check the firmware version using the 'Settings -> System Settings -> System Information' menu.

10. Go to the Game -> Memory stick menu, highlight the 'PSP Update ver x.xx' icon.
Press Triangle, choose 'Delete', select 'Yes' and press 'X' to delete the installer from your memory stick.


Updating M33 Custom Firmware:

1. Download the Custom Firmware Update file.
2. Connect your PSP to your computer and make a USB connection.
3. Extract the 'Custom Firmware Update' file and copy the UPDATE folder into the PSP \ GAME folder.
4. Close the USB connection and disconnect the USB cable
5. Go to the Game -> Memory Stick menu and start the custom firmware update.

The update icon will look something like this:


6. Follow the on-screen instructions. (Press 'X' and you'll see a few files being updated)

7. You have now applied the Custom Firmware update onto your PSP.
You can check the firmware version using the 'Settings -> System Settings -> System Information' menu.

8. Go to the Game -> Memory stick menu and select the update icon (the file you just installed)
Press triangle, choose delete and select yes and press 'X' and this will delete the update from your memory stick

Using Recovery Flasher to install 5.00 M33-6:

This will install and update your PSP to 'Custom Firmware 5.00 M33-6', as of now this is the latest custom firmware version.

Recovery Flasher v1.60 (Installs Custom Firmware 5.00 M33-6): (28.15mb)
Download 1 (Mediafire): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 2 (iFile.it): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 3 (zShare): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 4 (SendSpace): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 5 (Megaupload): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]

Installing Recovery Flasher:

1. Download the 'Recovery Flasher' Program from the link above.
2. Extract the 'Recovery Flasher' file you downloaded.

3. The next steps will depend on what Firmware you have on your PSP:

For PSP systems with a 'Custom Firmware' already installed (SE, OE or M33 firmwares):
A. Make a USB Connection (or insert your PSP memory stick into a card reader)
B. Copy and paste the 'RECOVERY' folder into the PSP \ GAME folder on your memory stick.
C. Close the USB Connection and remove the USB Cable.
D. In recovery mode, make sure 'Game Folder Homebrew' is set to 5.xx Kernel
(OR 4.xx / 3.xx / 2.xx Kernel, it will depend on your firmware version)
-- (To access Recovery mode, fully turn off your PSP by holding the power button up for about 5 seconds,
-- Then hold the 'R' trigger button and turn on PSP, select 'Configuration' and press 'X', you'll find the option there.)
E. Exit recovery mode and you should see the XMB main menu of the PSP.


For PSPs with the 'Official 1.50' Firmware Installed:
A. Make a USB Connection (or insert your PSP memory stick into a card reader)
B. Open the 'Recovery' Folder and you will see 2 files. (eboot.pbp and 500.pbp)
C. Copy the '500.pbp' file from this folder and open the 'files-for-1.50-Firmware' folder
D. Open the '__SCE__rflash' folder and paste the '500.pbp' file into the "__SCE__rflash" folder
E. Go 'Back' and copy both folders (%__SCE__rflash and __SCE__rflash)
F. Paste both folders into the 'PSP \ GAME' folder on your memory stick.


Using Recovery Flasher to Install Custom Firmware:

1. Go to the 'Game > Memory Stick' section on your PSP and start the 'Recovery Flasher' program.
2. You will need to 'Agree' to the warning screen (Press Down and then 'X')
3. On the main menu confirm that target firmware is set to 5.00.
(If the target firmware isn't 5.00, highlight "target firmware" and press 'X' until it changes to 5.00)

4. Go down to 'Install M33 CFW' and press 'X' (You will need at least 50% battery power)
(note: you can skip the battery check by holding L+R at the same time)

5. You can decide if you want to reset your settings (recommended) or keep your settings, Once you have decided, press 'X'
6. The Custom Firmware install process will begin. This will take a few minutes, Wait until it finishes.
7. Once its done, press any button and your PSP will shutdown. It might take about a minute for the PSP to shutdown.
(The Power light flashing is normal, just leave your PSP and it will turn itself off automatically, don't shut it down yourself)

8. Turn on your PSP and reconfigure the settings (if you decided to reset your PSP settings)

You should now have Custom Firmware 5.00 M33-6 installed on your PSP.

1.50 Addon Files for 'M33 Custom Firmware':
(Needed to run 1.50 format homebrew programs on M33 custom Firmware)

The 1.50 Addon files can only be installed to 'Fat PSP' systems, The Slim PSP cannot load 1.50 firmware files.
(Note: If you install the '1.50 Addon' files you will lose the location free player and Korean fonts)

Required Files:

1.50 Addon files for 5.00 M33
Download 1 (Mediafire): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 2 (iFile.it): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 3 (zShare): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 4 (SendSpace): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]
Download 5 (Megaupload): [Only Registered users can see links . Click Here To Register...]

Installing the 1.50 Addon files:

1. Download and extract the 1.50 addon files to a folder on your computer.
2. Select the 150.pbp file and paste it to your 'Memory stick' root folder. e.g Removable Disk (E:\)
3. Open the PSP \ GAME folder (from the extracted files) and copy the "150k_Installer" folder to the PSP \ GAME folder on your memory stick.
4. Close the USB connection and disconnect the USB cable.
5. Go to the Game -> Memory stick menu, and start the 'PSP Firmware Update 1.50' program.

The 1.50 addon installer icon will look similar to this:


6. Follow the on-screen instructions, (Press 'X' to install the addon files)
7. Once the '1.50 addon files' have been installed you can delete the 'PSP Firmware Update 1.50' program.
(select the 'PSP Firmware Update 1.50' program, press Triangle then choose 'delete')

8. Make a USB connection and delete the 150.pbp file from your memory stick.
9. The '1.50 addon' files that enable the older '1.50 format' homebrew on M33 custom firmware have been installed.

Using the 'Custom Firmware' Recovery Mode:

Configuring 'Custom Firmware'

1. Fully turn off your PSP by holding the power button for 4 seconds.
2. Hold the 'R' button and turn your PSP back on and the 'Recovery Mode' will start.
3. Here you can change options on how the custom firmware operates.
Below is a list of all the options you can change in the recovery mode, some options may not be available
as it will depend on the custom firmware version you have installed and also if have a Fat or Slim PSP.

Configuration Menu:

• Skip SCE Logo
  - Skips the white PSP screen when the PSP is turned on and also disables the UMD Autorun.
  $: Recommend Setting: Disabled
  
  Notes:
  If you only want to disable the UMD autorun, you can do this from the settings menu
  in the XMB by going Settings > System Settings > UMD Auto-start: Off
• Hide Corrupt Icons
  - Hides the 'Corrupted Data Icons' of 1.50 homebrew on the Game Menu, can cause XMB to run slow.
  $: Recommended Setting: Disabled
• Game Folder Homebrew
  - Changes the PSP \ GAME folder that you need to put your homebrew games and programs into.
  $: Recommended Setting: 5.xx Kernel / 4.xx Kernel / 3.xx Kernel (depending on custom firmware)
  
  Notes:
  This option is only useful for FAT PSP systems that have the 1.50 kernel addon files installed, Slim PSPs cannot run 1.50 homebrew.
  
  If this option is set to 1.50 Kernel then you need to put:
  • Older Firmware (1.00/1.50) homebrew in the "PSP \ GAME" folder.
  • Newer Firmware (2.xx/3.xx/4.xx/5.xx) format homebrew in the "PSP \ GAME5xx" folder
  If this option is set to 5.xx Kernel then you need to put:
  • Older Firmware (1.00/1.50) homebrew in the "PSP \ GAME150" folder.
  • Newer Firmware (2.xx/3.xx/4.xx/5.xx) homebrew in the "PSP \ GAME" folder.
  
  Replace '5.xx Kernel' and 'GAME5xx' with:
  '4.xx Kernel' and 'GAME4xx' for 'Custom Firmware 4.01 M33'
  '3.xx Kernel' and 'GAME352' for 'Custom Firmware 3.52 M33'
  '3.xx Kernel' and 'GAME340' for 'Custom Firmware 3.40 OE'
  
• Autorun Program at /PSP/GAME/BOOT/EBOOT.PBP
  - Enabling this will make the PSP automatically run a PSP homebrew program that is saved in the folder above when the PSP is turned on.
  $: Recommended Setting: Disabled
• UMD Mode
  - Run PSP ISO games without having to have a UMD Game disc inserted in the PSP
  - There are 4 different No-Umd modes you can choose from:
  -- "Normal -UMD Required-" -> Uses the normal UMD Driver, this settings requires a UMD Game disc inserted into your PSP.
  -- "M33 Driver -NO UMD-" -> This driver was created by the M33 Team (might not work with all PSP games)
  -- "Sony NP9660 -NO UMD-" -> The driver that Sony made to play downloaded games from the PSN Store (might not work with all PSP games)
  -- "OE isofs legacy -NO UMD-" -> The driver used in the older SE and OE custom firmwares, very low game compatibility rate.
  $: Recommended Setting: Sony NP9660 -- or-- M33 Driver
  
  Notes:
  Some PSP games may freeze on a black screen when loading, if that happens try changing the UMD Mode to 'M33 Driver' instead.
  If both the NP9660 and M33 modes don't work, insert a UMD disc and use the "Normal -UMD Required-" mode instead.
• Fake Region
  - you can fake the region of your PSP, useful for playing UMD movies from a different region then your PSP is.
  - e.g A Japanese Region UMD Video Disc on a Europe Region PSP / A Europe Region UMD Video Disc on a USA Region PSP.
  $: Recommended Setting: Disabled
• Use VSHMenu
  - Enables or Disables the small menu you get when you press 'home / select' button in the XMB main menu.
  $: Recommended Setting: Enabled
• XMB USB Device
  - Change the 'drive' that will be accessed when you make a USB connection.
  - There are a number of 'drives' that can be accessed:
  -- Memory Stick (default, access your memory stick)
  -- Flash 0 (Main Firmware files)
  -- Flash 1 (Settings and wallpaper)
  -- Flash 2 (Playstation network activation data)
  -- Flash 3 (Currently unused)
  -- UMD Disc (Enables you to make a copy of the UMD Disc in ISO format.)
  $: Recommended Setting: Memory Stick
• Charge Battery when USB cable plugged (only available on PSP 2000 models)
  - Lets you charge your PSP through a USB cable when in the XMB without needing to have the "USB Connection" activated.
  - If this is disabled but the "USB Charge" option is enabled in the XMB, you will need to activate a USB connection to charge the battery.
  $: Recommended Setting: Enabled (Save battery power when transfering files)
  
  Notes:
  Some computers (mainly laptops) might not supply enough power to the USB ports.
  if you can't make a USB connection to transfer data then you should turn off
  the "USB Charging" option in both the recovery menu and also in the XMB menu.
• Use M33 Network update
  - Allows you to download custom firmware updates using the network update icon in the XMB.
  $: Recommended Setting: Enabled
  
  Notes:
  If this option is disabled, using network update will download official firmware onto your PSP.
  Installing official firmware will overwrite the custom firmware, If you accidently install the official firmware
  onto your PSP you will need to "re-hack" your PSP using a pandora battery + magic memory stick.
• Use version.txt (only on 5.00 M33-2 or higher)
  - loads the plain text version of the the file "flash0:/vsh/etc/version.txt"
  - This changes the firmware version reported by the PSP to different services.
  - This was mainly used to by-pass the "firmware" version check when you accessed the 'Playstation Network' Store.
  $: Recommended Setting: Disabled
• Speed up MS Access (only on 5.00 M33-6 or higher)
  - When enabled, uses a faster memory stick driver to load files from the memory stick.
  - There are 8 different choices you can choose from:
  -- NEVER (Disabled)
  -- ALWAYS (Enabled)
  -- VSH (Only in the VSH Menu)
  -- VSH and GAME (Only in the VSH menu and GAME modes)
  -- VSH and POPS (Only in the VSH menu and 'Playstation One' mode)
  -- GAME (Only in the GAME modes)
  -- GAME and POPS (Only in the GAME and Playstation One' mode)
  -- POPS (Only in the 'Playstation One' mode)
  $: Recommended Setting: ALWAYS

Advanced:

• Advanced configuration ->
  - Shows the Advanced configuration menu that contains more options:
  • Plain Modules in UMD/ISO
    - Will allow 'unencrypted PRX files' to be used when a PSP UMD or ISO is running
    $: Recommended Setting: Disabled
  • Execute boot.bin in UMD/ISO
    - Will run the unencrypted boot.bin file instead of the encrypted eboot.bin file.
    $: Recommended Setting: Disabled
  • XMB Plugins
    - Will disable loading of all 'XMB' Mode plugins.
    $: Recommended Setting: Enabled
  • GAME Plugins
    - Will disable loading of all 'GAME' mode plugins.
    $: Recommended Setting: Enabled
  • POPS Plugins
    - Will disable loading of all 'POPS' mode plugins.
    $: Recommended Setting: Enabled
• Toggle USB (Flash0)
  - Will make a USB connection so you can change / modify the files on your PSP flash0 Memory.
  - This is where the main firmware files are stored.
  - Wrongly replacing / modifying files here can cause your PSP to brick.
• Toggle USB (Flash1)
  - Will make a USB connection so you can change / modify the files on your PSP flash1 Memory.
  - This is where the settings files are stored.
  - Wrongly replacing / modifying files here can cause your PSP to brick.
• Toggle USB (Flash2)
  - Will make a USB connection so you can change / modify the files on your PSP flash2 Memory.
  - This is where the Playstation Network "activation" DAT file is stored.
  - Wrongly replacing / modifying files here can cause your downloaded PSN games to not work.
• Toggle USB (Flash3)
  - Will make a USB connection so you can change / modify the files on your PSP flash3 Memory.
  - This space is currently unused.

Cpu Speed:

• Speed in XMB
  - Will change the CPU speed in the XMB menu.
  $: Recommended Setting: Default
• Speed in UMD / ISO
  - Will change the default CPU speed in UMD / ISO games.
  - Increasing the CPU speed may make games run faster but the PSP will use more battery power.
  -: Some PSP games may require this to be set to '266' or '333' for the game to load.
  $: Recommended Setting: Default

Plugins Menu:

• Here will be a list of plugin files you have installed onto your memory stick.
  - you can choose to enable and disable plugins in certain modes (XMB, GAME and POPS)

Registry Hacks Menu:

• Button Assign
  - You can switch the O and X buttons for Confirm and Exit.
• Activate WMA
  - Will activate the WMA playback feature without having to use wireless internet.
• Activate Flash Player
  - will activate the Flash Player feature without having to use wireless internet.

3. Once you have finished with changing the settings in recovery mode, choose "Exit" from the main menu.

Good info provide due. Surely going to try this soon.
Will leave a comment after that.

Nice and detailed information... but I have a question here that Is any newbie able to do that?

Thaks for su much info.. These will help for me

Its really detailed information, any newbie can do it by following the procedure, thanks for sharing this information, it really help us all :D