I just wanted to make a little guide explaining all the options in Recovery Mode.

Also I wanted to share tips on how to use it effectively. I know people have been asking me. (It still freaks me out how many people ask me for stuff. Which is cool and all. I didn’t think anyone would visit my site! Word must be spreading or something. Which is cool… But a little embarrassing.)

Anyway, in order to boot into recovery mode, you must completely turn off your PSP.

When you turn your PSP back on, you must hold the R trigger.

Recovery Mode should now load.

Recovery Mode

Toggle USB.

This will toggle normal USB mode so that you will be able to transfer files to and from the PSP.

This is NOT the USB to flash0/1 option.

Run Program at /PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP
If you ever want to downgrade your PSP back to 1.50 or whatever, this is the option you would use.

Simply download the Generic Downgrader, set up all the files correctly, then drop all the files into the RECOVERY folder.

Then select this option and it should start normally.

NOTE: You can actually use any program in the RECOVERY folder. It doesn’t have to necessarily be a downgrader.

For example, you can place the pspfiler eboot into the Recovery Folder to re-flash individual files.

Usually, there is a “flasher for recovery folder” in every release but I haven’t seen one for a while. It is found in the 3.02 OE installation package and is safe to use on 3.03 OE.

Exit

Leave Recovery Mode and reboot. It saves changes upon exit.

Recovery Mode –> Configuration

Skip SCE logo
Skip the Sony Corporation logo when coldbooting (turning on) the PSP.

Hide Corrupt Icons
Hide those pesky corrupt icons shown in the GAME –> Memory Stick area.

Game folder homebrew
This is where you change the kernel that is loaded.

Options 3.03 Kernel — Only homebrew located in the GAME150 folder will be able to launch. Also load certain demos. 1.50 Kernel — Load homebrew from both the GAME and GAME150 folder.

Use NO-UMD
Enable this option to load/play ISOs without a UMD disc.

There are compatibility problems with this option.

Certain games will crash at certain places. Others won’t load at all.

So if you have the UMD disc (which so many of you claim) USE IT!

Fake Region
Change the region code of your PSP.
The only noticable difference that I know of is the change in Japan.
If anyone else knows any differences between the regions please tell me.

Regions Japan — Enables the PTV option under the Network Icon America Europe Australia/New Zealand Russia

Free UMD Region
Enable it to play Video UMDs regardless of region code.

Recovery Mode –> Advanced

Toggle USB (flash0)

It turns on USB mode but with flash0 loaded instead of the memory stick.

With this option you should be able to quickly and easily change files on flash0.

WARNING: Do not delete folders such as flash0:/kd, flash0:/kn, or flash0:/vsh/module.
Deleting those folders or files within them can cause bricks which may damage Recovery Mode.

Toggle USB (flash1)

Enable USB mode with flash1 mounted instead of the memory stick.

Again, you will be able to write directly to flash1 from your computer.

System critical files aren’t usually kept here but take precautions as if it was flash0.

Try to safely eject the PSP from your computer on Mac and *nix systems or “Safely Remove Hardware” on Windows computers just to make sure errors aren’t produced.

Recovery Mode –> Advanced –> Advanced Configuration

Plain Modules in UMD/ISO

Enable this option if you are not able to load prxs during gameplay.

Execute BOOT.BIN in UMD/ISO
No idea

Use isofs driver also in UMD-inserted mode
Again no idea. Any help would be appreciated.

CPU Speed

Speed in XMB

Set the speed in the XMB, VSH, PSP main menu, etc. Its all the same place

Speed in UMD/ISO

Set the CPU Speed while playing a game.

Possible CPU speeds for both options 222 MHZ 266 MHZ 300 MHZ 333 MHZ (MAX)

Recovery Mode –> Plugins

This is where you enable/disable your various PRXs.

In order for your plugins to be listed in this menu they must be in at least one of these txt files which are supposed to be in ms0:/seplugins. Yes seplugins. Not a typo.

• vsh.txt - XMB, PSP main menu
• game.txt - UMD/ISO
• pops.txt - PSX emulator

Plugins are shown as:

plugin name/location | area to be loaded | Status

A prx can be listed in multiple txt files.

Recovery Mode –> Registry Hacks

Button Assign

Change the confirmation button in the XMB and Games.

Options can only be Cross (X) or Circle

Activate WMA

Activate WMA playback without connecting to the Internet

Activate Flash Player

Activate Flash Player without connecting to the Internet

Posted by Warney | 5 Comments »

There are 12 months in a year, thus 12 possible backgrounds for the PSP. You MUST rename the bitmaps you download to XX.BMP (XX represents numeric two digit month)

Examples:

01.BMP - January
02.BMP - February
03.BMP - March
04.BMP - April
05.BMP - May
06.BMP - June
07.BMP - July
08.BMP - August
09.BMP - September
10.BMP - October
11.BMP - November
12.BMP - December

Remember the following rules when using a custom background - the image must be:

24-bit Bitmap (BMP)
less than or equals 150KB in size
less than or equals300×170 resolution

Main Tutorial :
1. First create a USB connection between your PSP and PC.
2. Extract PSPersonalize_v1a-kxploit.zip(google it ITS AVAILIABLE EVERYWHERE YOU KNOW IT) to your memory stick under \PSP\GAME - this will create two directories, so you’ll end up with:
1. PSP\GAME\PSPersonalize%
2. PSP\GAME\PSPersonalize
3. Rename your BMP’s respectively
4. Copy the BMP’s to the root directory of your memory stick(meaning the very first window you see on the stick not in any subfolders).If Windows recognizes your PSP as drive letter i: then copy the bitmap(s) to i:\

1.Browse to the Game menu on your PSP
2.Select PSPersonalize - disregard any “Corrupted Data” - it’s nothing
3.Boot PSPersonalize
4.It will automatically detect the BMP’s in the root directory. Press “O” to confirm the background change or press “X” to cancel
5.You’ll end up at a “finished…” screen. Press “Home” and return to the PSP menu
6.You should see your background, depending which month you selected. If you don’t try rebooting the PSP

Posted by Warney | 1 Comment »

By the time I put this up, there’s a good chance that the number of downloads available for Frantix would have been reached. (I don’t know how people get to know about this, but they do!)

Anyway, thanks to our friends at PSP Games Downloads for letting us share this. You can get it here.

For those interested, Frantix is billed as a third view character-based 3D puzzle-solving adventure for the PSP. Frantix delivers quick bursts of gameplay through 100-plus stages.

Hope you enjoy it.

Posted by Warney | 13 Comments »

See the pic on the left? That’s a bricked PSP!

Still don’t know what I mean? Well, let me explain.

A bricked PSP means “useless” or “f@*#!d”. If you bricked your psp and there is nothing you can do about it, then you can call it dead.

NOW if you have recently bought a PSP, there’s a chance of this happening if you plan on “playing around with it”. This normally happns when you start playing around with the main memory, or Flash O. A word of warning. Its not safe to brick and recover your psp just for fun…

A) NORMAL BRICK

So if you bricked your psp; you should have nothing bu a black screen when you boot up your PSP. And pressing buttons will do nothing for it.

Now this kind of brick happens from doing something big with your psp. Like playing with flash, downgrading, updating…

<— A bricked psp. As you can see closely that the power light (green light)
is on means the psp is running. But the user just gets a black screen and nothing else. The memory stick light will flash too (very rarely) but wont help you.

B) SEMI-BRICK

NOW semi-brick is NOT like a normal brick. Semi-brick is also called “FIXABLE BRICK”. If you see; THAT THE SCREEN FREEZES AFTER YOU BOOT, NOTHING WILL COME UP AFTER YOU SEE THE OPENING VIDEO, OR IF YOU FLASHED SOMETHING SMALL AND BRICKED YOUR PSP WITH THAT (such as flashing; background, theme…)
Semi brick sometimes can be fixed by just pulling out the battery for a while, charging your psp, formating your memory stick or flashing back the orginal file that you flashed over.

These are some types of semi-brick psp’s….:

<— BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH here it tells you to click O to fix. but if its bricked it will give you the same page if you click O. EVEN IF YOU TURN OFF YOUR PSP (cuz its emi-bricked)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX5p3Z5VmUw AND http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLj1M490Qyc <— A corrupted topmenu_plugin.rco. Which the psp wont start. IT will boot but wont start. Also a corrupted icons (topmenu_plugin) can make your psp a normal brick.

Anyway, anytime you are playing aroun with Flash O, just make sure you know you run the risk of bricking your PSP. So follow instructions carefully and be safe.

Posted by Warney | No Comments »

Brian Lara Pressure for PSP is going to be released on October 3rd by codemasters.It is going to be the first legal cricket game for PSP (mind you, ps1 game shane warne 99 can be played in the custom firmware).So all cricket fans hold on,a cricket game is under way.
These are the screenshots for the game. Check it out. When the game is out a full review will be written by me.

Features of the game:

Prepare for an all-new, handheld Brian Lara challenge as Codemasters announces Brian Lara 2007 Pressure Play, an original title in the best-selling cricket series, coming this summer for the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system.

Brian Lara 2007 Pressure Play is being specifically designed for PSP gaming with an emphasis on new burst-play cricket challenges and will deliver all the exciting and accessible cricket gameplay that the series is renowned for.

The game will lead with the Pressure Play Mission Mode – a new and exclusive game mode consisting of bite-sized burst-play challenges that cover every nuance of cricket. Progressing from easier “bowl a maiden over” challenges for the beginner to more difficult “one-ball-left-to-win” scenarios, Pressure Play allows the player to train and then master the sport of cricket via specific pressurised objectives. There are 16 unique missions to master ranging from Knowledge, Winners, Classic Matches, Masters and more off the wall “Googly” challenges.

The game also features a full ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 mode, enabling players to compete as all of the stars of International Cricket in this ICC Officially Licensed Event. The game comes complete with 16 licensed international teams with official kits, 240 licensed international players including Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Hayden, Shane Bond, and of course Brian Lara - all with real player names and likenesses and officially licensed ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 stadia.

Brian Lara 2007 Pressure Play comes complete with an ad-hoc Multiplayer mode in which 2 players can compete wirelessly in a one-on-one ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 warm-up match. Cricket fans can recreate their favourite games from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 wirelessly such as Ireland’s historic victory over Pakistan, India’s dramatic defeat by Bangladesh and England’s exciting run chase against the West Indies.

With instant Hawk-Eye ball analysis options now at any point, enhanced AI for PSP gaming and updated TV-style cameras and replays, Brian Lara 2007 Pressure Play will increase the pressure on all cricket fans this summer!

Posted by Warney | 5 Comments »

Here is a tutorial for installing and using the Sony GPS receiver PSP-290

What is MapThis!?

MapThis is a freeware map viewer for PSP. It is based on free map imagery and data from Google,Yahoo, MSN, etc.

Which firmware is compactable for Using PSP-290?

You should have 3.03 0E-x or above firmware to work this, because its using 3.03 Kernal. It wont support the official Sony firmwares.

What are the things required for my PSP to use GPS receiver?

1. The Lastest MapThis! software from Deniska (latest is v048 Beta)

2. 2.71 usbacc.prx and 3.03 usbgps.prx (at present the best working combination)

 

For Simple installation for users i have put all respective files in one single folder which is ready to put it in your PSP. So you don’t need to find 2.71 usbcc.prx and 3.03 usbgps.prx. The only thing you have to do is download this file ,extract in and put the folder ‘mapViewer’ in x://PSP/GAME303/

Download:- http://rapidshare.com/files/19483676/mapViewer.rar

Also download the map for your area(google) and copy it to the “maps” folder ie x://PSP/GAME303/mapViewer/maps

 

3. in7ane’s Google Maps Download Tool (for creating your own GPS maps)

To Use in7ane’s tool make sure that you install Microsoft .net 2 from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/
Find the Latest Version of Google Maps Download Tool here

http://www.in7ane.com/psp/ and the latest version as of today is http://www.in7ane.com/psp/gmdl0.4.11b.zip

 

 

HOW TO USE THIS :

Here is the installation procedure:

1. Make sure that you are running 3.03 kernal… this can be checked by going through Recovery Mode.

2.Transfer the downloader file to x://PSP/GAME303/

3. Download the map(google your area) and put it in ‘maps’ folder ie: x://PSP/GAME303/mapViewer/maps

4. Go to u r games menu of PSP and Memory Stick and you can find the MapThis App and Click X to start.

You can see the map name and press X again to load the Map

Once the map finished loading press the “Square button” to make the GPS ‘ON’

press the start button and scroll down to GPS info and u can see the “Various Satellite Catching on you”

There will be 5-6 satellites minimum and i got maximum of 11 as of now

Also u can see a ‘fix’ which is shows ‘0′. when this changes to ‘1′ its saying that u have been fixed to satellite… There should be atleast four fixes to it would work properly

Then u press “select” button to exit that window…..

if the map is correct it will show your current location ie the red arrow…..

you can adjust the Zoom level by changing the up , down buttons.

Here are some setting which u can change according to your wish

find the config.txt in x://PSP/GAME303/mapViewer/system and open it with ‘Notepad’. If you need to change it again, here’s what to do;

CONFIG.TXT (ms0:/PSP/GAME/mapViewer/system/config.txt)
Here you can configure specific settings for Mapthis

Baud Rate:
BAUD=38400 (Default works for HOLUX 236)
BAUD=4800 (Has been used for some other devices that did not work with default settings see top)

Read Time
READTIME=1 (try bigger values for slow GPS devices)

Slow GPS Devices
#SLOW_GPS=1 (try uncommenting this if you encounter problems with slow GPS devices)

Fake Feed:
FAKEFEED=1 (Default) Set this to 0 if you have a GPS device connected

Speed Conversion:
SPEEDFIX=1.151 gives you miles per hour
SPEEDFIX=1.8523 gives you kilometres per hour

Hight Units Fix:
ALTFIX=1 gives you metres
ALTFIX= 3.280839895 gives you feet

Time Zone:
Mapthis uses GMT as default so use this to chage the offset for your country
TIMEZONE=+1 gives you time zone of western Europe Berlin

Alert Message Warning:
WARNINGDISTANCE=35 would warn you 35 feet or metres before the next waypoint depending on what you set for “ALTFIX”

Map Scrolling:
You can try to tweak following variable in config.txt to try to make the map scroll smoother:
SPEEDFACTOR=0.96

Load Wifi Module:
LOADWIFI=0 (Default) set to 1 if you want to enable it

Screen Turn Speed:
TURNSPEED=2 (toggles speed of map rotation)

Start up map:
STARTUPMAP= (default load none) enter map you want to see when MapThis! starts and thus bypass the selection screen

Posted by Warney | No Comments »

If you have your hands on custom firmware, and want to know the in and outs of how to run homebrew on your PSP, then I’m going to show you here.

First, let’s start with the general info you need to know and then I’ll move on to more specifics and examples.

Are you ready to discover what to do? Well… let’s get started.

In custom firmware, where the homebrew is placed, it’s largely dependant on what kernel you have set in the recovery mode.

You see, to enter the recovery mode, you got to HOLD your power button until your psp turns off. (Now when you do this, HOLD the power button mean Hold the power button! Don’t just quick switch your PSP off)

Now, when you turn it back on, make sure you hold the “R” trigger to enter the recovery mode. You will enter a recovery mode with the following options: Toggle USB, Configuration, Run Program at /PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP, CPU Speed, Plugins, Registry hacks, and Exit.

For the purposes of this guide and homebrew, we are only concerned with one option: Configuration.

So to do this, select it and hit X

This will bring you to the configuration menu options, with a list of options here. The one we want to alter for this guide is “Game folder homebrew - currently: X.XX Kernel”

Now, here’s the deal. On the custom firmware, you can have this set to either 1.50 kernel, or 3.03, 3.10 etc (depending on what custom firmware you have.)

From personal experience, use the 1.50 kernel.

Want to know why?

It DOES NOT AFFECT ANYTHING but where the homebrew is placed!

You see, you don’t have to keep switching this back and forth for any reason. Your UMD’s etc will still play fine, and are NOT affected by this setting.

MORE of the why:
Many homebrews are packaged in the X:\PSP\GAME format. Using the kernel setting at 1.50, will play it X:\PSP\GAME (X being your PSP’s drive letter)

Another good reason is that some homebrew is dependant on the folder it runs from being named game.

It is for these reasons, it is suggested you go with the kernel setting to 1.50.

But what about the other option? What if I DO leave it at kernel 3.03 or 3.10 etc. -> Then your homebrew will run from the X:\PSP\GAME150 folder. The above reasons are why I prefer 1.50 kernel over the alternatives.

So… set your kernel to 1.50 and exit recovery mode.

Ok, good… got it… kernel set to 1.50, now what?

Remember, with setting your kernel to 1.50, your homebrew goes in X:\PSP\GAME. Got it? Good… lets get on to some specific examples.

Now, there are TWO differant types of homebrew; kxploited, and non kxploited homebrew.

What this means is either two folders:
In the format of homebrew and homebrew% folders (Notice the % at the end of one of the folders - meaning TWO folders: example - for a Nintendo emulator - NesterJ and NesterJ% folders) - This is kxploited.

Or only one folder:
If the folder is compressed you need to uncompress it to a folder name of your choice. Note, that is should be a simple named folder, and not complex. Example: MyHomebrew (folder) and NOT My Game is cool (folder) - This is an example of non kxploited homebrew.

Ok, now that we have spoken about uncompression… perhaps for some people we should cover the issue of what compression is, and how to uncompress these files… Not going to do people any good if they can’t get at the actual files….

So… we get winrar to unpack our compressed homebrew!

Get it here: http://www.rarlab.com/rar/wrar362.exe

Download it and run it to install winrar. You need it.

Ok ok… I got winrar installed, I know all about my kernel settings, and want to install some homebrew already! Let’s get on with some examples!

So lets start with the two folder example, as in my experience it’s more of the ’standard’. (Kxploited)

For this example, we’ll use NesterJ a Nintendo homebrew emulator. Find it here

http://rukapsp.hp.infoseek.co.jp/PSPSof … 0beta2.zip

Download the file.
Open it to find the sub folder NesterJ_V1_20beta2 - Open this folder.
There will be 3 folders, and a readme.
Open the 1.5 folder
In this folder will be two folders NesterJ and NesterJ%
Copy both of these folders to X:\PSP\GAME\ (X being your PSP’s drive letter)

Help I’m confused!!!

Ok… erm.. how about a screen shot:

Once installed, go to your PSP’s game tab, then memstick to find and run the NesterJ emulator. That wasn’t that hard was it?

Help I’m Confused!!!

Ok.. erm… here’s another screen shot:

Ok, so I want an example of the other kind of homebrew (non kxploited ie only one folder / not the homebrew and homebrew% folders)

For this example we’ll use Homer’s Rin, a Gameboy / Gameboy Color Emulator. Google it

Download the file.
Open it to find a BUNCH of differant folders and files…
Copy them all to a folder of your choice, for this example, I’ll create a folder called RIN
Copy this Folder to X:\PSP\GAME (X being your PSP’s drive letter)

Help I’m confused!!!

Ok… Here’s a screen shot:

Once installed, go to your PSP’s game tab, then memstick to find and run the RIN emulator. That wasn’t that hard was it?

Help I’m confused!!! Ok… erm.. how about a screen shot:

That’s about it… the two types of homebrew you can run into, and how to run it with examples. Just apply the above examples to any other homebrew, and you should have it up and running in no time.