[TUTORIAL] noob friendly way to upgrade to higher custom firmware

[flash670]

Welcome All PSP Owners out there worldwide. Welcome to my tutorial.
This tut is a noob friendly way to upgrade your custom firmware to any higher version of your choice.
I made this tutorial as an alternate way to upgrading your custom firmware manually other than the using grader option, upgrading through a magic stick, or via network update option. Hope it helps

I am providing you with 3 different ways on upgrading your custom firmware.
Option 1 = Manual Upgrade
Option 2 = Recovery Flasher Upgrade
Option 3 = Via Network Update
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU UPGRADE YOU MAY NEED TO RESET YOUR UMD ISO DRIVERS BACK TO M33 DRIVER OR SONY NP9660
Please Read All Steps Before Doing Anything.


Option 1 On Upgrading Custom Firmware
-The Manual Upgrade

(MAKE SURE TO SET THE KERNAL TO 3.XX/4.XX OR IT WILL FREEZE THE UPDATE AND POSSIBLY BRICK(unless your upgrading to 3.52M33 in which kernal must be set to 1.5)
( : Have your battery fully charged or with AC plugged in : )

(You may need winrar to extract these files)

If you're psp's CFW is 3.52M33, u need patch 3 or 4 installed before u can continue upgrading to any higher custom firmware.
Download the 3.52m33-4 patch here = http://dax.allroms.nl/files/psp/M33-1234.zip
install/run it.
Once your psp is 3.52m33-4, you can upgrade to any CFW of your choice.


*Upgrading to 5.00M33-4
Step 1. Download the 5.00 official sony update here = http://www.psphero.com/download/official_500.rar
Step 2. Download the 5.00M33 update here = http://www.psphero.com/download/m33_500.rar
Step 3. Rename the official 5.00 update as 500.PBP and place it in the UPDATE folder
Step 4. Place the UPDATE folder into your GAME folder (ms0:/PSP/GAME)
Step 5. Run the update [to skip the (your psp must be atleast 78%) hold L + the triangle button while the update loads]
Step 6. After the update has completed, download the 5.00M33-4 patch here = http://rapidshare.com/files/170591048/500m33_4.zip
Step 7. Run the update (hold L + triangle if you wish to skip the 78% battery charge option)

(For Fat PSP's Only)
Installing the 1.50 Kernel Addon
*This Is Used To Run Older Versions Of Homebrew On The Fat PSP ONLY.
Download the 1.50 kernel addon for 5.00 here -->http://dl.qj.net/dl.php?fid=24408
Copy to ms0:/PSP/GAME5XX and run
You might need to have the 1.50 eboot in the root of your memory stick.
Download 1.50 eboot here -->http://www.psphero.com/download/official_150.rar and rename as 150.PBP

If you're psp FW is 1.5
do as below but run the kxploit patch first before the 3.52M33 installer
If you're psp CFW is BELOW 3.52M33(2.71SE-3.40OE)
*Upgrade to 3.52M33(set ur kernal to 1.5 first before running upgrade)
Step 1. Download the official 3.52 update here = http://www.psphero.com/download/official_352.rar
Step 2. Download the 3.52M33 update here = http://dax.allroms.nl/files/psp/3.52M33.zip
Step 3. Rename the official as 352.PBP and place it in the UPDATE folder.
Step 4. Run the UPDATE (it would create the M33 Update for you, after created run it)
Step 5. After you have created and installed the 3.52M33 update into your PSP's firmware, download the 3.52M33-4 patch here = http://dax.allroms.nl/files/psp/M33-1234.zip
Step 6. Run the update (hold the L button + triangle button while update is loading to skip the 78% charge greeting)(kernal set to 1.5)
And there you have it, your psp is now on 3.52M33-4 and can upgrade to any higher firmware




Option 2 On Upgrading Custom Firmware
-Using Hellcat's Recovery Flasher

Step 1. Download Hellcat's Recovery Flasher v1.50 here = http://dl.qj.net/dl.php?fid=25281
Step 2. Download either or all of the required official updates that you need for the program to upgrade/downgrade you.
(371 official = http://www.psphero.com/download/official_371.rar , 401 official = http://www.psphero.com/download/official_401.rar , 500 official = http://www.psphero.com/download/official_500.rar)
NOTE: It Is NOT required to have all these updates downloaded.
Step 3. Rename the updates as 371.PBP, 401.PBP, 500.PBP
Step 4. Place the updates in the RECOVERY folder.
Step 5. Place the RECOVERY folder in your GAME folder.
Step 6. Run the program and click the I agree option. (either is fine)
Step 7. Choose the option to flash the custom firmware of your choice or the option with the update that you placed in the folder.
Step 8. It will then ask to reset or keep settings, you may choose either.
Step 9. It will then starting flashing your psp to the custom firmware of your choice.
Step 10. When it is done, check your system info and leap with joy.

*Optional use of Hellcat's Recovery Flasher
(This Option is to be used if you have Semi-bricked your psp and HAVE access to your recovery menu)
Step 1. Go to recovery menu
Step 2. Click the "Run program at PSP/GAME/RECOVERY" option
Step 3. It will then load just as a normal usage.
Step 4. Run the same way as you would normally.
Step 5. You have successfully unbricked your recently semi-bricked psp.


Option 3 Upgrade Via The Network Update
(Can only be used if you have wireless)
(can only be used if u have 3.80M33 or higher custom firmware)
Step 1. Go to recovery mode (fully turn off the psp and boot while holding R)
Step 2. Go to configuration.
Step 3. Scroll down to the "Use m33 network update" and make sure that is ENABLED.
Step 4. Go to network update.
Step 5. Make sure you have atleast 25MB of free space in your psp.
Step 6. It will say to have atleast 1mb of free space, that is just the m33 update. When that is done click X to run it.
Step 7. After you run it, it SHOULD say "incorrect or inexistent 500.PBP" It will then ask you to download it. Or it will just start downloading it.
Step 8. When it is finished downloading continue with the update.
Step 9. Remember to NOT turn off the psp or remove the memory stick/AC charger or you will cause a brick.
Step 10. When it finishes reboot the psp.
Then run around kicking and screaming with your upgraded custom firmware.



(!I DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU UPGRADE TO OFFICIAL FIRMWARE!)

HAVE FUN


*If You Thought This Guide Was Useful, Please Add To Rep By Clicking The Silver Scale In The Top Right Corner Of The Thread.

Special thanks to
Dark_AleX and Team M33 for creating cfw
BCman for the help
And all others unmentioned that have helped me in the past
Long Live The Dash Hacks Society!

[Fayeanthonette]

I have a PSP and its version is 3.52 m33-4, i wanna upgrade my PSP to 4.01 m33-2.
When inside the update, what can the select button do?
My select button is automatically pressed even i did not do something.

[flash670]

i dont think the select button does anything. you should be fine updating. enjoy

[Hijackxx]

This tutorial helps me alot as I am very noob on upgrading cfw.. although it took me up to four days, this tutorial really works!! Thanks alot flash670

[mr. psp-ADDICT]

mr. flash670. thanks for this tutorial. !!!YOU ROCK!!!

[flash670]

thanks, appreciate it.

[BCman]

um, major point to add to that is:
SET THE KERNAL TO 3.XX/4.XX OR IT WILL FREEZE THE UPDATE AND POSSIBLY BRICK(unless ur upgrading to 3.52 in which kernal must be set to 1.5)
and to have a full battery with AC plugged in.

DOWNGRADING/UPGRADING TIPS:
Before any upgrade/downgrade, a few things to keep in mind,
Charge ur battery so its 100% full, AC power plugged in when u run the upgrade/downgrade, backup any valuable files/savedata from ur psp, restore psp to default settings, format memstick before coping files to psp, remove any umd from ur psp, read readme file, NEVER TURN OFF PSP DURING DOWNGRADE/UPGRADE!


other then that, good job.

also wouldnt hurt to add the option of installing the 1.5 kernal addon for each corresponding CF for fat psps

[Jae]

Ty it worked, but i had a super close call ..my Kernel was set at 1.50 and i went to update it and it didnt start, so iprayed and restarted went into recovery mode switch to 3.52 and tryed again ..all went well.. i went to change my theme it errored out, i hit O and it fixed it.. and it seems to be running fine, thanks heaps

[flash670]

Originally Posted by BCman

um, major point to add to that is:
SET THE KERNAL TO 3.XX/4.XX OR IT WILL FREEZE THE UPDATE AND POSSIBLY BRICK(unless ur upgrading to 3.52 in which kernal must be set to 1.5)
and to have a full battery with AC plugged in.

DOWNGRADING/UPGRADING TIPS:
Before any upgrade/downgrade, a few things to keep in mind,
Charge ur battery so its 100% full, AC power plugged in when u run the upgrade/downgrade, backup any valuable files/savedata from ur psp, restore psp to default settings, format memstick before coping files to psp, remove any umd from ur psp, read readme file, NEVER TURN OFF PSP DURING DOWNGRADE/UPGRADE!


other then that, good job.

also wouldnt hurt to add the option of installing the 1.5 kernal addon for each corresponding CF for fat psps

thanks a bunch bcman for the tips.

[aerojade]

pls. anyone there, I need help, I cant upgrade my firmware,
I always end up to an error stating (401.PBP Incorrect files)
during file verification when I update my Firmware.

my current firmware is 3.80 M33-5

Thanks..