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How to Load Custom Firmware on a PSP Without Modding the Battery

Before the introduction of the service tool battery, Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) owners needed to use a game exploit in the PSP game "Lumines" if they wanted to install custom firmware onto their PSP. Custom firmware allows you to do things like back up your PSP games and play them off of a memory stick. The Lumines game has a security exploit in it that allows access to the PSP's nand, making it possible to install firmware onto the PSP that isn't made by Sony.

Things You'll Need

1.50 eboot file
PSP downgrade pack
USB cable
Lumines PSP game

Instructions

- 1
  Connect your PSP to your computer with the USB cable and select "USB Connection" option on the PSP main menu. Download the necessary files (see Resources).
- 2
  Rename the "1.50.pbp" file that you downloaded to "UPDATE.pbp" by right clicking it and clicking "Rename." Open the downgrade folder that you downloaded and right click the "PSP" folder. Click "Copy" from the menu that appears.
- 3
  Click the "Start" button and click the "Computer" link to open the drives list on your computer. Open the "PSP" drive and hold the "Ctrl" key down on your keyboard and press the "V" key to paste the contents from the downgrade folder onto the PSP memory stick. When asked if you want to combine the contents, click "Yes" on the computer.
- 4
  Open the "PSP" folder on the PSP memory stick and open the "GAME" folder inside of it. There is an "UPDATE" folder inside of it. Drag the "UPDATE.pbp" file into the "UPDATE" folder. Press the "O" button on the PSP gamepad to disconnect it from the computer.
- 5
  Insert the Lumines UMD (universal media disc) game into the PSP's UMD drive on the rear of the device. The game will start automatically. If it doesn't, select it from the PSP's game section. When you see the Lumines start screen, immediately press the "Start" button on your PSP gamepad and the screen will blink and turn blue. You will be returned to the PSP main menu.
- 6
  Select the "X.YZ Update" program that is now visible in the PSP's game section. Select it and press the "X" button when the screen turns black with white text. The PSP will have custom firmware installed onto it. Press the "X" button when the process reads 100 percent. Your PSP will reboot. When it turns back on, you will be running custom firmware.

Sony PSP