I was very new to PSP scene and modding. As many of you I tried to read all the tutorials, watch youtube videos etc. Some were easy some were complicated.
I wanted to start with just fresh custom firmware and then upgrade to latest from Dark-Alex. This will give you a base start for all your other mods.
Things USED:
1. PSP that you can modify (Mine is psp-2001 Daxter edition with 3.72 original firmware)
2. Pandora's battery (buy one or make one if you can)
3. Memory stick (look on forums for recommended brands/size. Mine was Sony 1gig that came with daxter pack).
3. Any of the following:
For Any PSP Fat or Slim:
Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 4.01
Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 3.90
Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 3.80
Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 3.71
Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 3.60
PSP fat ONLY!!:
Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 1.50
You can get the program on the net easy. Do google search.
I won't go into details on how to use the program because the readme.txt file is very easy to understand. Follow it and it will make Magic Memory Stick for you. I wil add, that you can either use a memory reader or psp hooked up via USB cable to create magic stick.
It ran ok on Windows XP but I am not sure about Vista. For each program version you will have to download the original firmware example:
I used Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 3.71 program that put 3.71 M33-2 on my psp so I had to download official 3.71. You can find it on the net. The readme.txt file tells you how to do it all. It will tell you how to boot up with pandora's battery.
Once you boot up to custom installation just follow screen instructions. It could not be any easier. Once done you will have custom firmware on you PSP.
What I noticed: PSP nickname will be rainsMMS. You can RESET to default settings and follow screens to change nickname back to whatever you want.
You can start playing your games/homebrew now!!!
If you want to update to higher verison read on:
Upgrading to higher custom firmwares:
Download Dark-Alex's custom firmware update. Read his readme.txt file. It is very simple to understand. Put the files on your magic stick, or any other memory stick but REMEMBER:
When using different memory stick that the magic stick to update firmware, format the new stick in your psp that has custom firmware. This will create all the necessary folders/files.
What I did I downloaded latest 5.00 M33-4 update from dark-alex's site and official 5.00 firmware since I was upgrading from 3.71 M33-2. It is all explained in his readme.txt file.
Once you transfer files to appropriate directory, you can go to XMB menu and access memory stick. You will see option on 5.00 update. Follow screens to run update. Once done, you will have 5.00 M33-4 update or any other update you want to install.
I found this to be the easiest way to update my PSP to latest custom firmware. ONLY one tool to create memory stick (everything is automatic!!!!)
To sum it up, I went from 3.72 original firmware -> 3.71 M33-2 -> 5.00 M33-4.
I hope this helps anyone that is a newbie.
LV44
I would appreciate any more pointers from anyone who is willing to contribute and I can answer SOME questions as I am still new to this whole thing.
Hi great guide! I'm wondering if you can tell me what i should personally do? I want to put CFW on both me and my sons psp but am not sure which cfw to put on and which way to do it, i've seen so much info i'm confused now! I have a psp phat 3.71 and a slim 3.72, please could you tell me what i should do. I've been reading for days but it's getting more confusing because some people say i should downgrade first, i have a datal tool battery and official memory card ready. Any help will be appreciated, thanks
Just do what I did for my PSP and follow the tutorial. 3.71 is very good firmware and once installed you can iso/cso games. If you want latest and greatest follow my instructions to update to latest firwmare 5.00 M33-4.
1. Download Rain's UltraLite MMS Maker for 3.71 or any other one (any firware 3.60 and above can be used on both slim/fat PSP)
2. Read readme.txt file and follow instructions.
This will get you a custom 3.71 firmware on the PSPs. If you feel like updating to the latest one follow my guide (get correct files from net).
i had a modded psp but then i upgraded the firmware to 5.0 straight from the psp but when i check sys. information it says i have 5.0 m33-4 and i dunno if it is still modded cause i upgraded straight from psp.
I connected it to the computer but there are all these weird files on the mem. stick and my regular ones are gone. I'm not sure how to fix this.
is it even possible to just downgrade without having to get it modded again?
You have the latest custom firmware on you psp 5.00 M33-4. If you want to downgrade you can use hellcat's recovery tool (I think that is the name) or use my guide from the beginning to put custom firmware on it. I personally like 5.00 and I had no problems playing any of the games. You can apply 3.71 fatmsmod for 5.00 M33 (on dark-alex's site) to speed up loading times and occasional freezing on 5.00 M33 firmware.
Usually when you format the memory stick in custom firmware it will create all sorts of different files and folders. Once formatted I think you cannot get the files back.
