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Custom Firmware P.O.C.

Josh | July 15, 2006

Well, Dark_Alex is on it again! I woke up this morning to find a nice little e-mail from reader “Michael” (Thanks for the tip!) pointing me to this Custom Firmware article.

Dark_Alex has released a custom firmware proof of concept! What is custom firmware you ask? It’s the ability to heavily modify and/or replace the PSP firmware to better work for us homebrew users. This is a big step in the homebrew scene; it was speculated if this was even possible! Well here you go doing it again Dark_Alex, the impossible! For more information on what this actually does, read below.

From Dark_Alex’s website:

Instructions:
(Note: this thing only works for 1.50)

- Copy the PSP folder to the root of your memstick.
- Execute the program “Custom Firmware – The proof of concept”
It will write to the flash some executable files.

Now you are done.

This program has ben tested on my psp. However, as all programs that write to the flash, there is always some risk of bricking the psp. Use it at your own risk.
IMPORTANT (to avoid confussion): the program includes a file called vshmain.prx. This file is NOT of Sony, it comes from me, the source of everything is released.

The features of this custom firmware – proof of concept are:

- Execution of normal pbp’s (1.00 ones, no-kxploited)
- Posibility 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)
- Posibility 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.
- “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)

- Autoexecution of a program at the startup. See the configuration file at /PSP/SYSTEM/config.txt to see how to use it.

Warning: Like anything that tinkers with the firmware, there is a chance of bricking your PSP. This is only for firmware version 1.5

via: dax.psp-tuts

Download: Here

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Comments (86)

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86 Comments »

Comment by SplinterCraig
2006-07-15 12:25:59

number #1 i did not even read what this is about yet

 
Comment by amexie
2006-07-15 12:29:18

what the fcuk is so important about the first post what do you get a cookie

 
Comment by iden
2006-07-15 12:34:23

i dont get it why would u want to have this whats can it do that 1.5 cant and more to that what does it have that can make us have more fun with the psp just changeing the sound and start up means nonething to me who cares about that anyway

 
Comment by SYSTEM_BUG
2006-07-15 12:36:02

This is incredible…
Go Dark_Alex, GO!
Try to work on ISO loading from the XMB, too. If possible. I know nothing of programming.

Keep up the great work!

P.S. Don’t let Sony ever hire you!

 
Comment by rjhduyru
2006-07-15 12:41:01

OH MY GOD.

 
Comment by rjhduyru
2006-07-15 12:42:04

iden > You’re an idiot. Do you realise what this means at least?

 
Comment by Gargantula
2006-07-15 12:47:59

Wow, this means total control of the Sony PlayStation Portable System. Sony barely has control of what can be done with a PSP. This might turn into a legal battle. I think Sony will sue someone here. Great job though.

 
Comment by BBsan
2006-07-15 12:48:26

it works very good i think.
I’ve got a question: What about this custom firmware which was relaesed for the UP? Maybe Alex ‘ll be able to flash it to NAND with his tool, that would be amazing^^

 
Comment by Combustolux
2006-07-15 12:50:26

omg 9th reply yea!

 
Comment by evlspcmk
2006-07-15 12:55:52

im just gunna jump on the band wagon. 10TH!!!

 
Comment by Chase
2006-07-15 12:55:57

YAAAY 10th Comment. anyway,what abot epsilion, that custom firmware is that out, cause Dark_Alex should try and make a tool that alos you to…well n/m

 
Comment by Brian
2006-07-15 12:58:13

Should I get it? can you go back to normal psp firmware?? can you do it with 2.71??

Say yes to all and i will…

 
Comment by Brian
2006-07-15 13:02:30

Me again… (from just above)

Mail me @ brianewing@hotmail.co.uk!!!

. .
|
|—-|

 
Comment by drmadcow
2006-07-15 13:07:45

hahaha dark alex kicks ass! After ZISO i didnt think anybody could top him but he keeps on bringing out the best psp shit u can find!

 
Comment by Michael
2006-07-15 13:25:25

Hell yeah, thats cool, who knows what features we might see tommorow!

 
Comment by Someone without WiFi
2006-07-15 13:26:39

Fuck ISO Gamers!

 
Comment by Polsky
2006-07-15 13:27:20

hmm this seems interesting but i would i take a chance to brick my psp when i already got a 1.5 with dev hook 2,71
did anyone used this already dos it work good?

 
Comment by lloyd
2006-07-15 13:27:46

this means that soon we can have DA ver x.x and potentally be homebrew capable psp/pda/mini laptop without having to load other programs, just load iso or rom from xmb (with the right plugins)

 
Comment by kersplatty
2006-07-15 13:34:17

i was the one who mailed him :P it sounds very promising this, since with the kernal exploit in 2.6/2.5, eboots can be run with this modification. but first we have to wait for him to bring out the 2.6 version. The only problem i see with future custom firmwares is that extra files have to be allocated to a new address so as to not brick the psp. THANK YOU DARK ALEX

 
Comment by Here Today
2006-07-15 13:37:24

Installed this and now :-” 1.0 files work on the 1.5 psp.. Nice.. No more converting files to 1.5

 
Comment by soulreaver
2006-07-15 13:41:31

ehhh not gonna download it yet not sayin it aint great hes still the best but ima wait for somthin a little better

 
Comment by Michael
2006-07-15 13:55:24

to run 1.0 files on 1.5, there is a program, called No K-Xploit, just run it once you start up your PSP and your are good to go!

 
Comment by fuk darkalex
2006-07-15 14:15:41

fuk dark homo he is da worst dev ive seen in a while…booster roks his socks! and dis sitee is even gayer den dark alex when it is compared 2 pspupdates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Comment by ducky2009
2006-07-15 14:35:59

hey fuk darkalex, i’m not gonna say that Dark_Alex is better than Booster, they both kick ass in the homebrew world, but i really don’t see you coming up with anything, so why don’t you make a custom firmware before you go around insulting people who give up their free time and don’t even get paid for it.
PS- Thank you Dark_Alex!!!You Rock!!!

 
Comment by mz8691
2006-07-15 14:43:12

wow, this is great..you can now update to 2.71 with a custom font..but please dont do it cuz you’ll lose 1.5 and homebrew.

 
Comment by loyx
2006-07-15 14:44:39

Has anyone tried this yet?

 
Comment by XXSUPERSAJINXX
2006-07-15 14:47:51

lol sony must be planning of assasignatin dark alex very soon cause he has been killing this mofos on all levels nice work though ;]

 
Comment by drmadcow
2006-07-15 15:09:33

I tried this, it worked pretty good too. I got alot of X-Flash mods on my 1.5 and it didnt effect them.

I like that recovery mode thing especially lol

 
Comment by loyx
2006-07-15 15:48:46

Hell yeah! I wanted to try this, and I did. It was funny, but my heart was like, pounding like crazy. but I tried it, and it worked! SCREW YOU AUTO BOOT, GOOD BYE FOREVER!

DARK_ALEX, YOU’RE THE MAN! THANKS!

 
Comment by loyx
2006-07-15 15:56:24

UPDATE: If you modify the config in the SYSTEM folder, the hacked firmware load it! Say you forgot to enable Bootscreen skip for the umds, you can after it’s flashed!

I’m going to be testing 1.0 eboots, and autoboots too!

This is truly amazing Dark_Alex, so much potential! Thanks so much!

 
Comment by loyx
2006-07-15 16:17:50

Bad news: I tested 1.0 eboots of both SNES emulator and NEO GEO emulator and they boot extremely slow. It takes about 30-40 seconds to load either. It does work though.

 
Comment by Metronomes
2006-07-15 16:20:55

so can you go back to normal 1.5 sony firmware>????

 
Comment by redd
2006-07-15 16:23:35

I can only imagine the faces of the people at Sony. The psp is totally hacked. Mad props to Dark Alex. Excellent work. For the record, has anybody bricked their psp by using this?

 
Comment by hypergreg
2006-07-15 16:24:38

recovery mode sound really promising, i will wait for when it has been verified for 100% prob free and when more features come out, could i not test this on my emulated firmware?

 
Comment by Jesus_Mofo's!
2006-07-15 16:29:18

this is really great, i only got it so that i could play 1.0 and 2.X eboots on my 1.5 psp!!!, thanks alot Dark_Alex!!! :D

this stuff really works :D

 
Comment by Raza
2006-07-15 16:29:48

I don’t know whether or not I should try this but I think I’m going to cuz I hate the damned auto boot. Thank you Dark_Alex’s mother for giving birth to such a brilliant underground developer, and thank you again DarK_Alex

 
Comment by kwastie
2006-07-15 16:31:03

Whoho, this 2 month’s are great , first 2.50/2.60 kernel acces ,then downgrader , then downgrader for 1.5 to 1.0, the devhook with 2.71 support, and now custom firmware,,:)

 
Comment by monkey
2006-07-15 16:44:52

go fuck your dog and suck his balls #1. whats so great in being the first poster ffs

 
Comment by Sky-Dragon
2006-07-15 17:00:11

w00t!!! Thank you Dark AleX!!!! Is there are any problem if i have a EU 1.5 FW? Can anyone confirm that Snes9XTYL 0.42 is loading slowly. Otherwise this sounds great. Not many changes, but quality matters^^

 
Comment by ehy
2006-07-15 17:03:33

wat the difference between this and 1.5?

 
Comment by philippecr
2006-07-15 17:03:54

Since dark_alex and booster work getting faster and faster, and they can manage to release all this alone, (correct me if i’m wrong) just wonder how many employees being fired in Sony everyday XD and I think not Sony gonna assasinate Dark_alex XD is the people who got fired will XD

 
Comment by dark_alex
2006-07-15 17:14:34

Thanxs for all ur comments i hope i am doing a good job and o yea i got a call form sony and they siad that if i keep making this psp hack shit that they well sue me and they want me to work for them to mak ethe psp none hackable so i dont no what to do …

 
Comment by ehy
2006-07-15 17:19:25

hey u mite get free psps lol

 
Comment by Michael
2006-07-15 17:20:32

Man, this is indded great month!

 
Comment by ...shadow...
2006-07-15 17:21:45

Dark alex is a fag.

 
Comment by Michael
2006-07-15 17:22:49

hehe, you know what I hink, that this is not Darl_alex who posted this actaully!
but if so, first doo all you can for homebrew then go to sony!

 
Comment by Sky-Dragon
2006-07-15 17:24:36

good joke ;) a call from sony^^ LOL

 
Comment by Chase
2006-07-15 17:32:16

You are a fucking fag shadow dark alex is awesome i hope you go to hell
ALL HAIL DARK_ALEX!!!!!!!

 
Comment by Dan-O
2006-07-15 17:48:15

I think Dark_alex has all these lil secrets up his sleves…and he just wakes up one morning and says “hmmm…maybe ill release my downgrader today; maybe ill release my custom firmware beta”…

once again u cease to amaze me Dark_Alex…U have truly made this summer the best in psp homebrew!!!! Keep up the great work!!!!

 
Comment by glen
2006-07-15 18:01:38

hahaha psp = sonys xbox they should just let it go they try to pedal umd movies while no one cares about them. thats the only real reason for those security patches damn UMD MOVIES sony nobody wants to buy 6 different movie formats from you. just let the homebrewers have fun. oh yea Dark_Alex dont give in if they try to bribe you ;p

 
Comment by Asuki
2006-07-15 18:21:50

Yes it works.. just did it 5minutes ago..
And even if you have modified your FW 1.5 it will still work.. (like if you have used the gameshark version the 1.5 modified one….if that even works? :O, or the XFlash(patches some prx files) since Dark Alex himself only edited some lines in the vsh file i presume..or whatever you did.. thumbs up for you anyway..and i wonder were u got the source from >.>

then it comes to those using iRShell.. will it show/run 1.0 Eboots? mm.. i guess not.. nor have i checked that out yet.. and since 1.0 Eboots goes by an diff route i can figure it out that for some (if not for everyone) will load/read them slower than “xploited” ones.

And for his tard guide/pack of DevHook for the newbies i say grats to them that have finally learned how to run isos or not…thumbs up for you agan here

And for those who has a bricked psp after this. I give you all a smack in the face and you can call yourself a n00b or whatever kids call themselfs theys days

p.s to the kids/tards with psp’s. When you noticed when you took out the umd from the drive and you could still run the game for a while did you even know at that time, that the psp had a ram about 16mb was it? or in other words what ram is/was? -.-

 
Comment by blimpie92
2006-07-15 18:27:53

can potinetally unbrick psps who needs the modchip now DARK ALEX YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!1

 
Comment by TM
2006-07-15 19:09:08

Has anyone tried running XMB with iR Shell after installing this? I can’t seem to get XMB working, it just goes to a black screen.

 
Comment by drmadcow
2006-07-15 19:09:39

lol damn i’d try that 1.0 eboot thing but I can’t find one anywhere nemore lol

BTW: To those ppl who are asking “can i turn it back or whatever” yeah just upgrade to 2.0 then downgrade to 1.5 agian OR wait for them to put a fix somewhere I seen one already in forums somewhere on here

 
Comment by Chris
2006-07-15 19:14:30

does this let you have 2.71 and homwbrew at the same time?

 
Comment by Dark_Alex
2006-07-15 19:16:38

Here it is the All New Firmwares , take a look and tell me what you think http://www.raysstores.com

 
Comment by hackman460
2006-07-15 19:22:28

this is awesome im not going to use it but this shows that soon we will beable to have anything

 
Comment by bgreven
2006-07-15 19:28:43

i have a problem after installing this my psp doesnt want to read the demo disk i the drive… could someone help…and because it cant run the disk…i cant start any game throug devhook….

 
Comment by bgreven
2006-07-15 20:22:25

i can not understand what happened… just when i was about to unflash…. i saw the icon of the umd beeing read….very strange bug.now everythin runs perfectly

 
Comment by philly
2006-07-15 20:58:04

great work! just one question, does removing the sony intro make the psp boot up any quicker? Many kudos to dark_alex.

 
Comment by Lloyd
2006-07-15 21:17:24

Dark_alex, dont worry about being sued, they cant actually sue you, what you are doing is free domain, if you were doing it to PSPs in the factory then it would be illegal, but you bought a psps and you are intitled to do anything you want to it, you can paint it, void the warrenty by taking off the face, you could piss and shit all over it, you can turn it into a brick, or you can modify the firmware as long as you are not maleventoly doing it to other peoples PSPs (giving the programs freely is legal) so dont let them push you around, they cant legally do it

 
Comment by Dont trust the system
2006-07-15 22:00:27

How do we know this guy dude? maybe he has done very good homebrew but, sony will bribe him, booster or somebody like devhook 0.45 take the 271 eboot, and then u suddenly see your psp is 271 4ever!! U NEVER KNOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! :| DONT TRUST THEM EVERY TIME!

 
Comment by lloyd
2006-07-15 22:37:50

maybe nothing, he has made good homebrew, and booster and chaos_zero have done excelent work with DEVHOOK, its true some people can be bribed, but some of us have moral codes that we stick to, and i want to belive in the best in everyone, as for DA and Booster and CZ, they are people i can trust more than some of my friends, because they are not asking for money or doing any of this to get something in return, they are doing it to make things better for other people, so please have some faith (and i dont mean in god, god died when the mankind was still young and was replaced by men who can think for themselves, BTW if it screws anything the first people to try it will be the ones to report it to this page or the other homebrew pages and then you can stop trying to download it

 
Comment by Polsky
2006-07-16 00:14:49

what kind of video files psps play on 2.7???
.pmp and mp4 are those the only ones? and whats the best free video psps making prog?
and wich are smaller mp4 or .pmp???

 
Comment by Bob!!!
2006-07-16 01:24:13

I wud like to see the USB to PC (or even thumb drive) updated in dax. Wud be coool. Com’ on whos with me?

 
Comment by aaa
2006-07-16 01:37:00

THIS SCREWED UP MY 2.71 EMULATION WITH DEVHOOK, ANYONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM?

 
Comment by This Kicks Ass
2006-07-16 02:02:37

This Kicks Ass!!

 
Comment by dark_alex
2006-07-16 02:56:35

I pooped my pants

 
Comment by juan2320
2006-07-16 04:22:17

How did it SCREWED UP your 2.71 EMULATION WITH DEVHOOK? What dose it do?

 
Comment by tetris999
2006-07-16 04:54:48

i try 2 avoid flashing as much as i can so ill wait 4 the woopass revolutionary ware 2 come out gj man u have a world cheering u on

 
Comment by Asuki
2006-07-16 06:41:16

Once again..only tards are left out with problems or unawnsered questions…

why would someone in the first place use an “iso” loader that also requires an umd in the drive thats kinda old school now

 
Comment by Statianzo
2006-07-16 10:28:23

Can you say PSP Linux?

mmm… makes me hungry.

 
Comment by barnes8
2006-07-16 13:21:39

Damn if i got a job offer from sony id take it. I mean, no reason to hack a psp and run free psp games if you work for them.

 
Comment by none
2006-07-16 13:26:37

O
|\ /
|_/_
| |
| |

 
Comment by ehy
2006-07-16 14:40:00

I’m waiting for the epsilon bios to come out!

 
Comment by In The Shadows
2006-07-16 15:47:10

i say take the jobso u get free stuff and still hack the psp but under a differnt name/ ipp adress

off topic but what ever happended to fanjita (sp?)

 
Comment by cadaber
2006-07-16 16:19:45

very good app, havent tried it yet, but props go out to dark alex. and as lloyd said they cant sue you for changing something that you own if that was true any time you altered a patent protected item you would be sued

imagine getting sued for cutting a pair of patent protected pants into shorts

its the same concept

 
Comment by cadaber
2006-07-16 16:23:10

the pants anology sucked this one is better;

imagine being sued for taking a remmington shotgun and sawing off the stock and barrel its the same concept you are alltering your own property

PERFECTLY LEGAL

The only way it would be illegal is if stole sonys intellectial property (patent protected ideas) and passed it off as your own

 
Comment by Asuki
2006-07-16 18:17:21

“off topic” fanjita has been for about 3months is it?
so if you still hang around with 2.0.. dont count on frequently updates as the majorities (kids and tards) use /have either a bricked or a psp with Fw higher than 2.0…

And since most users “excluding” europeans since they have have either 2.0 or higher (about 80% of them, those not even know about homebrew nor will they ever do)

and a small number say 1k did either import or went to the states or asia and bought a 1001 or an 1000. whoch in thise case contained a psp with a 1.0/1.5 fw..

then we have the spanish side of europe which in this case have about 20+ sites were the have to reg(reging there ip addreses ..perfect with ppl that has an dynamic one ;D ) and then donwloading psp games (yes unlegal backups) i bet that they dont own ..from either an ftp or torrent tracker.. were they make crap rips from other release groups and take it as there own “crap” (nor did i really mean to call the orignal groups releases crap but something more better than theys funny looking releases from spanish: solops2 and shit like that black-cat games also i think

well..well..shine!

 
Comment by Asuki
2006-07-16 18:18:53

EDIT:

“off topic” fanjita has not been updated for about 3months is it?

 
Comment by cadaber
2006-07-16 20:03:39

asuki u dont make much sense, maybe u should take some time, think through what u want to say

and ARTICULATE

 
Comment by prominator
2006-07-16 20:27:20

here is a video that i made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcYz6tyfpgI

 
Comment by Nand
2006-07-17 22:57:30

HEY, PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP ME, WHY DOSENT THE 2.71 JAPAN REG X AND O SWAP WORK FOR ME!? WHEN I TRY TO INSTALL IT DONT INSTALL IT!?!?!

 
Comment by Nand
2006-07-18 07:43:25

HEY, PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP ME, WHY DOSENT THE 2.71 JAPAN REG X AND O SWAP WORK FOR ME!? WHEN I TRY TO INSTALL IT DONT INSTALL IT!?!?!!

 
Comment by Profound
2006-07-19 15:19:30

Ay can this custom firmware work on devhook?

 
Comment by Th3 R33PR
2006-07-25 00:53:20

great stuff, you don’t know what you’ve done though. You set a 10 kiloton yield in the middle of NYC. You like to fcuk with sony. Great intentions, but this could turn legal, we might have to go underground. Illegal firmware. Well, not illegal, really. I didn’t see the sc so I don’t know. That nokxploiter only had to be run once? shite everytime I boot up, I run it. No one EVER said not to run it again. oh well

 
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