The Noobz team (with help from Mathieulh and Dark_Alex) has just announced and released an improved version of Dark_Alex's 2.80 downgrader with 2.80 HEN support as well! Previously, HEN was only usable on firmware 2.71 but the Noobz team has worked their magic and ported it to firmware 2.80. So, a downgrader and a homebrew enabler in one announcement, what a nice present!

Apparently, a lot of people have been bugging for a stable, secure, and easy downgrader for 2.80 firmware. Well, the Noobz team never ceases to impress us and has released just that!

Using the recent 2.80 downgrader and the generic downgrader from Dark_Alex, the team has been able to create the "best" 2.80 downgrader. The great part about this downgrader is the fact that it uses the original 1.50 eboot file in order to downgrade, which will decrease the hassle of obtaining the 1.50 dump files. For all those TA-082 and TA-086 users, this downgrader will still work on your PSPs.

The Noobz team has also bundled a new homebrew enabler for the 2.80 firmware, eventhough the last one was only on 2.71. This 2.80 HEN will allow users that are afraid of downgrader to execute homebrew on their 2.80 firmware (TA-082/86 supported). There's always a risk in downgrading if you do not follow the instructions, so please follow these instructions if you plan on downgrading -

1. Install the HEN files, by following the details in the readme.txt file.
2. Test that HEN is working fine, by running one of the bundled sample applications - e.g. the cube demo.
3. If you have a TA-082 or TA-086 PSP, run the "TA082 IdStorage Changer", via HEN, to patch your registry before downgrading.
4. Get a copy of the v1.5 upgrade EBOOT (e.g. from here) and copy it to the /psp/game/UPDATE/ folder on your memory stick, as UPDATE.PBP.
5. Start the"PSP Update ver X.YZ" program via HEN, and follow the instructions.
6. Congratulations, you now have a v1.5 PSP! :D

Great work Noobz and Dark_Alex's team! May the PSP community continue to thrive as you all help us! Also, big props to Fanjita for making an excellent chicken in a hard hat, his developer skills are rubbing off on his artistic talent now! Show your gratification for these great developers by saying so below in our comments; I'm sure they would appreciate it!

Download: [Homebrew Enabler (HEN) for Firmware 2.80]
Download: [TA-082 Easy Downgrader]

It won't be too long until other devs try to help out those who will be downgrading from FW2.80 to 2.71 using 0okm's golden downgrader. As mentioned by my co-blogger Pranav, don't expect this 0okm creation to be as easy as a Dark_AleX downgrader. So with that, some devs are extending a helping hand to those who are stumped.

Before you go over the steps and the download links, we just want to remind you that you are using this at your own risk. Get it (and in the future, other "easy" downdaters) "if you know HowTo use and can take the Risk". But just because it's risky, it doesn't mean we'll leave you all by yourself as you do this. We would help you in the best way we know how.

With that said, Klm Software reported and released an "easy" version of 0okm's TA-082 - TA-086 FW2.8 to 2.71 downgrader. The devs provided six steps for you to have a 2.71 PSP in your midst. The first step is to download the "easy" downgrader which is about 13 MB in size, then install xLoader.

When you're done with that part, install the downloaded easy downgrader, then start xLoader, and run the downgrader. Wait, those are just five steps, what's next? The last, and to some the most important, step is to pray that this thing works. So just to avoid any confusion, we'll outline the steps for you again.

1. Download the "easy" downgrader
2. Install xLoader
3. Install downloaded easy downgrader
4. Start xLoader
5. Run downgrader
6. PRAY

Yup, it is important for you to follow those steps (especially the last one). Anyhow, Vincent who is one of our readers, told us that he followed all the necessary steps in using this one and it worked for him. So it is really important to really follow 'em procedures.

With that said, if you want to know more about xLoader, you could read these articles: the first one is about the eLoader v.0995 "Kriek" release, and the other is basically a xLoader clarification from the Noobz crew. If you missed the first link to 0okm's FW 2.80-2.71 downgrader for TA-079- TA-086 PSPs, here is the article link again.

Now on to the download links, it is important that you read the file description when you're downloading files at dl.qj.net. They might teach you a thing or two. Unfortunately, we couldn't host the easy downgrader file due to some legal issues, so we leave it up to you if you will get it or not. But if you choose to use it, here are the files that you may need.

Download: [NET 2 Framework]
Download: [eLoader 0.995 "Kriek" Windows Installer] (for xLoader)
Download: [eLoader 0.995 "Kriek" ZIP files]

We've just barely recovered from the awesome news about the new 2.80 downgrader from 0okm, now we're stumped with another make-you-type-like-your-granny-cause-you're-trembling-in-excitement kind of update - developer csfreakno1 has just concocted his own version of Easy Downgrader for 2.80.

Alright. Now that we're cleared with that, we're pausing for a little, ok, a huge disclaimer. First, we're putting up this post not to encourage 2.80 PSP owners to immediately use it, but because we want to inform the community that things are moving in the right direction and it should be only a matter of time before we have in our hands a fully stable downdater app. So for those guys who already have their PSP and USB cables on hand, it might be wise to sit and wait for now.

Second, this one came out a little late cause we here at the QJ labs all had to do some rethinking if it's safe to release to the public so soon. As you might have known by now (duh!), we've decided to share this with you guys to show that we trust your own judgment over its safety.

Now we got that cleared, let's get on with the unveiling of the great news. csfreakno1, despite the poor web translation, explains it best in saying:

Hello, has I mean first EASY Downgrader young here about 2.80. I have already enough experience with Downgrader, but this is also new for me. This is all first version and can still errors contain. A detailed README file is contained. IMPORTANTLY This Downgrader writes on the Flash0. Use on own danger! First RELEASE, REQUEST WATCHING OUT! After the installation of the Datein on the PSP, only the PSP start again then the Downgrader a starting!

As mentioned above, this app is in its very early and unstable stage. The results are as unpredictable as Sony's marketing schemes, so again, it's best that you read, reread, and reread the readme file some more that comes along with the download. Right now, the main concerns are: THE PSP MUST NOT HAVE A TA-082 BOARD and the owner must use the recently released xloader instead of the earlier eLoader. Cause if not, you would end up having one useless piece of gaming device.

The full article awaits after the jump!

Xtrusion from our forums has released another Easy Downgrader for those who want to downgrade a 1.5 PSP to version 1.0, the PSPs original System firmware. Just like Easy Downgrader for 2.5/2.6, this Easy Downgrader uses Dark_Alex Yoshihiro and Mathieulh's original downdater, this time for 1.5 --> 1.0 and adds a nice GUI, sound instructions and complete installation (apart from the dumped firmware files) needed to downgrade your PSP from firmware 1.5 to 1.0.

A voice will explain to you how to do things along with text, and the automatic installer will install all the files required to downgrade for even the biggest PSP homebrew newbies. You will need someone with an original 1.0 PSP in order to get this to work.

Instructions

1. Find someone with a 1.0 PSP and get them to install the downhelper program from the downdater download.
2. Copy the downhelper100 folder to /PSP/GAME/ and start the program.
3. It will dump your flash and your ipl to the memory stick. After finished, the program will exit.
4. Send the folder created at the root of your memory stick called "DOWNDATER" to someone with 1.50 to allow them to downgrade using the Easy downgrader app.

Remember that PSP firmware version 1.00 still hasn't got any special applications or uses, so there isn't any reason to leave 1.50 (unless you're a developer) at the moment. You will receive this warning when you run the Easy Downgrader.

Download: [1.50 to 1.00 Easy Downgrader]