Posted Jun 29, 2006 at 12:25PM by Jamie M. Listed in: Firmware, Hacks & Exploits, Homebrew Development, News Tags: downgrader, Exploit, hitchhikr, Dark-AleX, Downgrader Test, TA-082
Ó

Downgrade Test


Latest Update: 6/29, 3:25pm EST


Yesterday we got the breaking news that Kernel mode in 2.5 and 2.6 had been unlocked by hitchhikr of "hitchhikr SoftWorks" and demo scene group Neural. This was a incredible accomplishment that was previously thought impossible. Fanjita and many other members of the PSP homebrew community have come together and been testing the functionality of the proposed exploit.

So far a few interesting things have surfaced. Fanjita has shown his progress with the newly found exploit and today we bring you another. Dark_Alex from our forums has released a "Downgrader Test" for 2.50 / 2.60 PSP's. We have been watching carefully over this downgrader since its release and have got the entire scoop for you.

Dark_Alex's Downgrader Test for 2.50 / 2.60 version firmware requires a few very specific steps to be taken in order to get a glimpse at the doorway to success. As listed in the title this is TEST software and by no way 100% functional on all PSP's. With that said, we have heard a number of test reports on this Downgrader and have the brick count results after the jump.

"Therefore downgrading from 2.6 to 1.5 could in fact become a reality."


It wasn't long after the release that a few brave souls stepped up to test this new release. users who claimed to have succeeded in downgrading from 2.6 to 1.5. PSPxNax announced that he had successfully downgraded from 2.6 to 1.5. Soon after 1 more report of a successful upgrade from the IRC room I was idling came in. Then the dreadful news struck. One PSP has succumb to the death brick. Suspense filled the room as we waiting for further confirmation. Not another 5 minutes then another report of another PSP taking the plunge into darkness.

At this point I turned to the forums which was already full of possible outcomes for PSP owners who were brave enough to take the stab at reaching towards that beautiful paradise of homebrew or laying their PSP on a death bed. TheMarioKarters, known hacking enthusiast was all over it. He then reported sadly a few posts later that his attempt had been unsuccessful. Note that owners of the TA-082 version PSP's, like TMK's should not attempt the downgrade as it will most likely fail.

One of our moderators Abe Froeman was determined to get to the bottom of this and setup his PSP to face the downgrade roulette. After getting fully setup he attempted the downgrade. He too was unsuccessful. However, something unusual happened while he was trying to downgrade and he was able to get his PSP to reboot again by shorting the battery as previously outlined by PSIX developer Naoneo.

With all of this such an surge of excitement slowly starting to dim I turned back to the dark dungeons of IRC to check on the latest developments. A smile started grew on my face as my assumptions were confirmed, not all hope was lost. The developers discussing this concept design were not totally pessimistic. New ideas on what might be able to solve the problem with the downgrader started filling the channel. Some shot down, other acknowledge and discussed. A collective of independent remarkably intelligent and creative developers apparently having no limits.

While speaking to one of the developers who was involved in the discussion he divulged information on what could be possible solutions to fix bugs in the this first Test Downgrader. "sceloManager and flash0 on 2.01+ dont get along very well...at all", said Bri3d. "Calls to the Sony PRX upgrade functions format the flash and write the IPL. After that copying the files will fail [since] trying to remount flash0 read/write is a no go." So at this point theres still more work to be done. However, he said it was very possible in the future. Downgrading from 2.6 to 1.5 could in fact become a reality. My jaw drops at the thought.



Update #1: A new update has been released. This fixes a problem with the downdater not creating directorys. The creation of directorys is now fixed, however the iomanager check still needs to be handled for further progress.



Update #2: Dark_Alex has released the source code for his latest progress on the 2.50/2.60 Downgrader. This release is meant only for developers to analyze and possibly take it further so it is a functional process.
The downdater is mostly confirmed not to work. I update a slightly modified source code. It should be relatively more secure. I don’t provide the binaries.

I found two glitches in the code:

1) The restart function… Originally it was intended for a restart, but it did nothing, making possible that if some premature error before doing the real thing failed to continue the real downdate process. Now it will cause an on-purpose exception (this only will happen either at the begginiing before the unsecure code begins or at the end, when all is finished)

2) Now I’ve re-assigned the flash device after the logical format. Probably more secure.


Update #3: Dark_Alex has released v0.4 of his source code, containing the following changes:
1) Removed display: pspDebugScreen functions can freeze the psp 2.XX in kernel mode in any random moment.

2) A little bugfix. Tthe first file couldn't be correctly created because the first directory was not created.

3) Removed the check for the AC adaptor. It will be added later again.

Current bugs: if the ioassign fails, it will result in a brick, because the flash was previously formatted.

Forum Release Thread: [ Downgrader Test 2.50 / 2.60 ]
Download: [2.60 Downgrade Test v0.4 - Source Code]

Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT READY FOR GENERAL USE. DEVELOPERS MAY FIND THIS USEFUL FOR TESTING BUT PLEASE TAKE NOTE AT THE CURRENT STATE THIS WILL BRICK YOUR PSP
. Please read the information in the thread provided below. It is there for your sake. If you try out this Downgrader TEST you acknowledge that you are taking a risk and are the only one responsible for your own actions.


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332 Comments


Sort by:
   by Tacobell (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » ...

sweet

   by Tazor (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » Awesome

So instead of just playing off 2.6, they are going to get a downgrader?

   by peeInMyPantz - 2006-06-29
 » ...

good luck to you guys

   by ccooddyy (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » hi

hi freeplay

   by 4th (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » Hmmm

don't get excited it's a TEST not 100% working and most likly will brick your PSP, tho it's a good news.

   by yourdaddy (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » o

cool good luck i guess eventhough i have a 1.5 psp

   by FreePlay - 2006-06-29
 » Don't even TRY IT

You're GUARANTEED to brick your PSP. 100%.

   by peeInMyPantz - 2006-06-29
 » ...

but i still think a downgrader is not so useful, as compared to a fully utilising 2.6

   by Advertising -
   by Someguy (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » under development

A few other devs are twiddling with the src as we speak. Just letting you know.

   by yo (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » yo

FREEPLAY RULES..... DARKDEV OWNS U

   by spin (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » : /

This shouldn't have been released just yet, it was nowhere near finished.

   by pavey - 2006-06-29
 » 2.7

so this means i can throw my 2.7 at a wall now? exellent, i need to find something to punch

   by the hell? (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » to pavey

Why the hell would you update to 2.7+?

   by Hypodrive - 2006-06-29
 » meh

This is more vague than trying to make juice by throwing kool aid into a cloud.

Or maybe its not. Anythings possible!

   by Jamie M. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2006-06-29
 » This Does Not Currently Work

As FreePlay and others have said this will brick your PSP in its current state. Something to always be aware of when trying new test software that has not been tested on a real PSP.

I feel its important to portray this information in full so that others do not mistake this as a fully working versoin.

   by stefan (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » if this work

I trade my 2.6 for a 1.5, so if this work i would help my friend how got my ex-psp to downgrade

   by wtf (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » DONT DONATE

THEY CAN AFFORD IT THEMSELVES

   by Advertising -
   by DetoX (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » 2.7

NOOO, I have 2.7. This really blows.

   by FreePlay - 2006-06-29
 » Addendum to my previous statement

Anyone who claims that this worked for them is lying. It's currently *impossible* for it to work. Remember, we had reports about the PSPDizaster downgrader working, too, and it never even existed.

   by Sevenz - 2006-06-29
 » Hopefully?

Good going I suppose, though I thought there would never be a downgrader for 2.xx up. Anything is possible nowadays..

   by kraft (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » finally

the homebrew scene is gona start growing again! i thought the eloader had nearly came to a finish. cant wait for the new eloader on my 2.5 PSP

   by liquidtenmillion (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » Eventually

This is not necessarily impossible to work, although without a doubt currently this specific program at it's current state is very sketchy, and I wouldn't ever personally use it. But the ideas behind it are good, and this program was made with good intentions, and actually DOES do more than just "brick teh psp lol i typ bad", it's just not 100% now.

"Secondly, stop the donate links spamming. Spammers will be dealt with severely"

Severely dealt with eh? I'm pretty sure my local authorities wouldn't care about me spamming on the internets, so the most severe you could do is a ban.

   by Alene (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » 2.5 downgrade

sorry test 2.5 downgrade fake

   by well those that have bricked their psp's (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » hmm..

you folks that just bricked your psp's now have a need for the modchip.. lol.. maybe this is a plot to make everyone brick their psp's so they NEED to get the U.P. Modchip..

Anyway.. i hope this works out for the scene in the end.. everyone thought this was impossible.. now it may well be a reality.

   by KayJay (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » I can't wait!

:D:D:D This is a good progress... the only thing we could do is wait till somebody genious stand up and know how to create the perfect 2.6 to 1.5 downgrader!

   by xbins - 2006-06-29
 » it put my psp at 1.00

i tried downdrading and my psps battery died in the middle of it i turned it back on and my firmware was 1.00

   by insa8ne2k4 - 2006-06-29
 » (: - not a noob comment - :)

atleast we know we can brick a 2.60 now!
its a small step forward but its a step, now wqe just need to get around the bugs and wooohooooo every one at 2.60 and below can have 1.50.

before you flame, think of where the 2.0 - 1.50 downgraders started - they started the same place this did.

good work dark alex.
(atleast someone appreciates your work)


   by Advertising -
   by ALTUNOZARA (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » LOL!!!

IF THIS DID WORK!!! WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT??

OOOH WHAT YOUR GONNA GET DEVHOOK WHICH EMULATES 2.5!!!!

GUYS BE SERIOUSE FOR A MOMENT AND THINK WHATS THE POINT DONT YOU RATHER WANT A COOL LOOKING UPDATED PSP WITH EXACT SAME STUFF AS 1.5! I KNOW I WOULD!!!

AND ANYWAY GAMES AND THINGS ARE NOT GONNA ALL BE FOR 2.5 ALSO 2.6!!!!


   Re: B0BB0Y (Unregistered) - 2006-10-22
 » To ALTUNOZARA

Moron. The point is that if we get it, we can have homebrew games on our PSP's. Homebrews are somewhat custom games that sony thought would slow UMD sales. Fools, id still buy some UMD's and download some HB's too lol. So anywho, that is the point. Think son, think
   by Danichan (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » Yeah!!

Spain is getting better sirs!!

After the f***cking elimination from the world cup, we're alive with Dark Alex!!!!!!

He's la ostia!!!! (he's the holy s*it)

:D

   by nx (Unregistered) - 2006-06-29
 » its probably not fake...

nocomment



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