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Custom PSP Firmware: Proof of Concept

Posted Jul 15, 2006 at 03:52AM by Jeff C. Listed in: Hacks & Exploits, Homebrew Applications, News Tags: downgrader, DevHook, Dark-AleX, Downdater
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It's been awhile since I've written an article, but I couldn't miss out on this one. Dark_AleX, the author of many firmware hacks and mods, such as the PRX Decrypters and some of the latest downgraders we're sure you've heard about, has now released his latest creation - Custom Firmware: The proof of concept.

As you can tell from the name of it, it is a customized firmware, which is still in its early stage. Dark_AleX has added quite some features to this firmware, and will make you actually burn this firmware into your PSP. Although he has already tried this on his own PSP, this doesn't mean he takes any responsibility on unpredicted casualties. So, you are warned, you will take a risk of bricking your PSP if you try this out (but in fact whatever you are doing with homebrew, you take that warning for sure). And don't worry about going back to the official firmware. I will explain later.

Here are the features of this firmware:
  • Execution of normal pbp's (1.00 ones, no-kxploited)
    - This means you will no longer need to have 2 similar folders in your PSP/GAME folder to make a homebrew run. Very convenient.
  • Possibility of hiding corrupt icons. (Note: by default it's not enabled, look at the file /PSP/SYSTEM/config.txt to see how to enable it).
    - So, even if you stick with 2-folder 1.50 PBPs, you will feel better with this feature.
  • Possibility of skipping the SCE logo at the startup. (and in this way avoid the annoying auto-execution of the UMD). Like the previous one, this is not enabled by default.
    - What else can we say? This is of course useful: no stupid auto-start when you forget to take your UMD out of the UMD drive. Great.
  • "Recovery mode:". If you keep R pressed while starting the psp, it will enter in "Recovery mode".
    Recovery mode is not more than a simple application that will let you to use the usb, and execute a program under ms0:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP, that could be, for example, a sony updater or the 1.50 -> 1.00 downdater.
    This would allow to recover potential bricks caused by the writing of bad fonts/videos/sounds... to the flash.
    (Note that this wouldn't allow to recover critical things like the overwriting of critical prx's)
    - Yes, you read it. With this mod, you may have a chance to unbrick your PSP, if it was caused by the writing of bad fonts/videos/sounds to the flash. (Note that this wouldn't allow to recover critical things like the overwriting of critical prx's)
  • Autoexecution of a program at the startup. See the configuration file at /PSP/SYSTEM/config.txt to see how to use it.
    - Very handy, especially for folks who want to boot directly to DevHook nowadays, or any favorite program immediately.
How to install it then? Very simple. After downloaded the zip file and opened it, you will see 4 items. Just drag & drop the "PSP" one into the root of your memory stick, and proceed with any overwrite warnings.

You can access the file "config.txt" in PSP/SYSTEM with your notepad program, to modify your experience with this mod later. This file is well commented, you will understand what to do when you see it on your own. After the files are copied, you just browse to the program "Custom Firmware - The proof of concept" and run. Files will be flashed to your PSP. And then, you are done.

We can tell that there can be many possibilities thru this kind of customized firmware. In fact, we cannot tell what the future of custom firmware holds right now, but we are definitely looking forward to see how this unfolds. And let's cheer again for the  inspired developer Dark_AleX and his latest creation! Thanks!

Download: [Custom Firmware - The Proof of Concept]
Discuss: [Forum release thread]
Digg it! (Thank you all for your support, Digg has lifted the ban of QJ.net!)

[Via Dark_AleX] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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202 Comments


Sort by:
   by Fatelvis (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » Jackpot!!
Yes at last no more boot up screen ..Custom firmware on 1.5 ??YES!!!!

   by WorldGenesis (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » really works.
>_>

single EBOOT loading!!

   by meep (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » .
wow. just wow. cant wait for this to catch on.

   by Aisi (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » Nice
This is a good start... Thanks to Dark_Alex other mates doing this! I hope you can make the "ultimate customfimware" like all in one someday.

   by gambiting (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » IT WORKS!
I've tested and it works!!!YEAH!!!!

   by Hahaha (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » YES!
Full firmware emulation with devhook, ability to stop your psp from bricking with this... There is no need for that modchip after all!

   by riatha (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » 'burn', lol
"and will make you actually burn this firmware into your PSP."


'BURN'??? LOL

   by Feark (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » IT BURN!
Really, this is great!

   by Advertising -
   by PopcOrn DeVil (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » FREEPLAY'S WRONG
Sorry FreePlay, but now I'm starting to think what you said was a load of ***** :p.

   by Bricked Wally (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » UNBRICKER
nice....

   by j0ey2069 - 2006-07-15
 » nice one...!!!
this is class, cant wait to try it...!!! can you run this on 1.5 or do you have to downgrade to 1.0 first, it says nothing about this in the post and "burn" to your psp's firmware???

   by kaneda - 2006-07-15
 » custom firmware on devhook
any possibility that we will be able to run it via devhook? :) I't would be very nice for the start (actually before one will flash it) :)

   by lionel007 (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » Sweet !!
Awesome, but @ #10, i dont think it's a unbricker. Since in needs to be installed on your psp first to flash the firmware. So if the PSP is dead, not much luck(otherwise UP chip)

   by B-R8 (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » I'll hold off for now...
The only way I'd flash my 1.5FW PSP is if someone made a custom firmware similar to the features of the Epsilon bios.

I do realize this will take time, and this is a step in the right direction. It'll be interesting to see how things turn out in a few months.

   by z3rb - 2006-07-15
 » Digg Link
http://digg.com/mods/Custom_PSP_Firmware_Proof_of_concept
Go go go go.

   by The Milkman (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » mine is better:
http://digg.com/gaming_news/Custom_Firmware_for_PSP_RELEASED!

   by Wally (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » @13
True it isn't an "UN-Bricker" but I'm sure more then a few people have messed up psp's from flashing bad pmf files and such...and if this lets them go back,then it is,in a sense, an unbricker.

   by Advertising -
   by Slide (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » What firmware?
What original firmware is this custom firmware based on?
Does it have features like browser and such or is just a modded 1.0/1.5 firmware?

   by psphacked (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » Awesum But
Awesum but i rather be on the safe side and wait until there are advancements and upgrades b4 i try flashing my psp.

   by Dan (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » #12
#12 that's a good idea.

   by da man (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » sweet!!!!

So what firmware version does it say it is after installing??

how long til we have a custom 2.71? with the abilities of 1.0???

   by steve (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » hmm...
where does this firmware fit in at? 1.00 - 1.50? are we able to upgrade and downgrade after using it?

   by harleyg (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » It can unbrick... kinda...
Say you brick your PSP and you have this on, if you can still get to recovery mode, turn on usb, put a 1.00 index.dat onto ms0, then copy that over to flash0... then edit it to auto load the 1.50/2.00 update eboot.

   by akuma2099 - 2006-07-15
 » Cool
But who is this Dark Alex person? I've never heard of him some newcomer I guess, this must be his first firmware thing. Ok I' kidding seriously this is cool, but couldn't this be implemented into devhook that way it could be tested before it is flashed on the PSP?

   by max (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » no-kxploited files
Great :D

BTW corect me if im wrong.. but if you put this on>>

# Set it to true if you want to enable the execution of normal pbp's, no-kxploited
nokxploit = true;

then you don't need to hidecorrupt icons anymore right? because you can run it fw1.0 style without the % files.

   by moeela (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » never heard of dark_alex?!
You've never heard of the guy who's possibly the best PSP developer out there?! Well... him and Booster atm. Just look at his download page - http://dax.psp-tuts.net/download.html

All of the following stuff is his:
DAX Iso Compression
the 2.5/2.6 -> 1.5 downgrader
1.5 -> 1.0 Downgrader
He's the guy who decrypted the 2.71 and 2.60 firmwares!
And now he's the first guy to make a useful custom firmware!
That shark guy made one two, but it sucked.

Anyway so ya, I'm going to wait till dark_alex works on this a bit more. But lemme just say you really should know this guy, he's amazing!

   by z££l (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » o does it play 2.71 games
cant they jst make a custom firmware that gits rid of sony's, like that rock boxx thingy on tha ipod, so it cud maybe be all tha fimwares in one, n we dont need ta worry 'bout sony's upgrades cause its open source? i dunno jst askin.

   by Advertising -
   by akuma2099 - 2006-07-15
 » @26 I was joking
Didn't you read my whole post I said I was joking :) If you own a PSP and don't know who Dark Alex is then you suck.

   by Sony-owned (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » Video?
Can anyone show us an installation video on youtube?

   by yes (Unregistered) - 2006-07-15
 » This is a modified 1.00 dump for sure...
How else would they be able to do all of this?



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