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.
