PSP Hacks · Hacks, Cracks, Mods, Homebrew, Utilities

All [unpatched] versions of Lumines are now supported when it comes to downgrading a PSP running firmware 3.50. The N00bz have provided an update to their 3.50 Homebrew-enabler (HEN) / Downgrader which adds final support for the Korean version of Lumines, ULKS46005. At last we can all enjoy homebrew! Except those who have updated to 3.51 — tsk tsk.

Running a lower firmware version (< 3.50)? Update to 3.50, then downgrade! Running a later version (> 3.50)? You’re out of luck, sorry. :(

Download: 3.50 HEN / Downgrader ALL Regions

- source: noobz.eu

I was anxiously awaiting the release of a piKey update, and thanks to Bob Joe (for the news tip) I’m now updating my PSP as I write this… piKey 0.3, oh yes! Now supporting firmwares 3.30 and 3.40 OE. Fanjita also mentions piKey 0.3 includes small enhancements to deal with compatibility issues.

There are 2 main changes for compatibility:

1. You can configure πKey to be disabled for v1.50 kernel homebrew (ie. homebrew running from the GAME150 folder, or GAME if you have OE configured to run GAME as v1.50). This may be easier for some users than changing the config in flash.
2. You can configure a hotkey that will disable πKey when the PSP reboots. So, if there’s a homebrew or game that has problems, just hold down the hotkey (configurable as any key or combination, but SELECT by default) while the Sony logo is showing, and πKey will unload itself until next rebooted.

Huh, what’s piKey?

A keyboard driver for the PSP developed by Fanjita and harleyg. piKey aims at providing full keyboard control anywhere — games, homebrews, the XMB, etc… Supported are various infra-red keyboards and the ability to wire one via the PSP’s serial port (the headphone socket). Have a look at the included user guide (docs/user_guide.html) to get started.

Download: piKey 0.3

- source: Noobz

Update: After downgrading back to 3.03 OE-C, from 3.30 OE-A’, I am proud to say piKey 0.2 works flawlessly with my Palm Universal Wireless Keyboard!

The N00bz Team, Fanjita and harleyg, have released an update to their PSP keyboard driver — πKey! piKey aims at providing full keyboard control anywhere — games, homebrews, the XMB, etc… Supported are various infra-red keyboards.

v0.2 comes bundled with a series of fixes & additions; below are the major updates:

• A new keypress mode, which allows more natural use of the keyboard in action games etc. The default mode is now keypress mode, and the keyboard will switch automatically to text input mode when required.
• Custom key-to-button assignment - so now you can define WASD buttons for FPS game movement, as well as cursor keys for XMB movement, for instance.
• Support for mapping keypresses to analog joystick movements.
• Support for converting keypresses into Danzeff OSK presses - so now you can use your physical keyboard with homebrew that uses the Danzeff virtual keyboard - e.g. AFKIM.
• Installer now fixed to correctly install to flash0, to support GAME150 homebrew.
• Palm UW keyboard ought to at least partially work, but I can’t test it myself.
• Optional on-screen status information.
• Various minor bugfixes.

I can personally confirm the Palm Universal Keyboard still doesn’t function quite yet, on 3.30 OE, that is. :(

Ensure you read “readme.txt” & “docs/user_guide.html” for complete changelog history and instructions.

Download: piKey 0.2

- source: N00bz!

They said it was coming within the week, and as promised, here it is! The long awaited 3.03 easy-to-use downgrader!

The almighty Noobz have laid out some specific ground-rules:

• This downgrader is for v3.03 firmware only. But if you have v2.81 - v3.02, no problem - you can just upgrade to v3.03 to use the downgrader.
• You need a copy of the unpatched GTA:Liberty City Stories UMD. No ISOs, no patched UMDs, not Vice City Stories. The most reliable way: the unpatched disks have the v2.0 firmware update on them.
• This downgrader is intended to enable homebrew. Homebrew is NOT the same as piracy. Don’t be a thieving loser - buy the games you play.
• The downgrader will work on all current PSP hardware (TA-079 - TA-086). Patching of TA-082+ is automatic in the downgrader.
• You downgrade at your own risk. There is always a chance of bricking, although we have done everything we can think of to make this process safe.

Everything you need to know concerning a successful downgrade can be found in “Downgrader_HOWTO.txt.” Read them carefully!

Also, for those who fear messing with their PSP’s flash, can take advantage of the full homebrew experience with Homebrew Enabler (HEN) for 3.03. “HEN 303 - the Duff release” works in the same manner as Dark_AleX’s HEN. The requirements: a firmware 3.03 PSP and an unpatched version of Grand Theft Auto: Libery City Stories. Details on installation and usage are inside README.txt.

Warning: After downgrading from 3.03 to 1.5, there are some remnants of 3.03 left in flash. If you later try to re-upgrade to 3.03 and repeat the downgrade, things will break. At some later point, we will work on a cleaner that will remove these extra files. Until then, enjoy! (Don’t worry, upgrading to 3.03 OE firmwares still works fine).

Have fun!

Download:
3.03 Downgrader
1.50 EBOOT Update (to downgrade back to 1.50)
3.03 EBOOT Update (to upgrade your 2.81-3.02 PSP, if necessary)
Homebrew Enabler for 3.03 FINAL

- source: noobz.eu

The Noobz have released a new and improved version of Dark_AleX’s TA-082 2.71 downgrader. In addition to supplying a safe and simple method to downgrade your 2.80 [to 1.50] hand held, Homebrew Enabler Revision D (HEN-D) has been ported to the 2.80 platform — in case you don’t care to take the risk that comes with downgrading.

The quoted advantages:

* safety - this downgrader has plenty of safety checks in place to try to avoid accidental bricks (but read the warning below)
* convenience - because this downgrader works with an official firmware EBOOT.PBP file, and includes the TA-082 idstorage changer and HEN files, you don’t need any other files (except for a v1.5 update EBOOT) to perform the downgrade. No more finding a v1.5 owner to get dumpfiles!
* latest TA-082/086 support - the bundled TA-082 registry fixer includes the latest fixes to make sure that USBHost support won’t be messed up.

Here’s how to use it:

• Install HEN-D (see the readme)
• Confirm HEN-D is working, i.e.) run the included cube demo.
• If you have a TA-082 or TA-086 PSP, run the “TA082 IdStorage Changer”, via HEN, to patch your registry before downgrading.
• Download the 1.5 update EBOOT, rename to UPDATE.PBP, and copy it to the ms0:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE on your memory stick
• Launch “PSP Update ver X.YZ” program via HEN-D, and follow the instructions.

That easy!

Download:
2.80 HEN-D
Improved 2.80 Downgrader
1.50 Firmware EBOOT

- source: Noobz!

It’s no Becks, but it is Kriek, and it’s awesome! Firmware 2.80 users will be happy to know Kriek supports… *sips his Becks* ah… forget it, here’s the changelog from the Noobz website:

1. The biggie - support for v2.80 firmware. v2.80 is still only user-mode support, and there are some minor syscalls that can’t be resolved. But in general, the vast majority of user-mode homebrew works fine.
2. Another biggie - this release includes an experimental new way of using eLoader, called xLoader. xLoader allows you to run homebrew directly from the PSP’s XMB menu, just like on a v1.0 PSP. Usage is a lot like Dark Alex’s HEN C, but the underlying technology is very different. Because it’s experimental, and a lot of work to fix up for each firmware, it’s currently only supported for v2.80 firmware, and compatibility is a little lower than standard eLoader. Make sure to view the README file (displayed during installation) for more information.
3. You can now use the power switch to enter suspend mode in any homebrew that normally supports suspend mode on v1.5 firmware. This works in eLoader on firmwares 2.5-2.71, and in xLoader.
4. The built-in PSP on-screen keyboard now works in xLoader.
5. The Installotron is now included in the eLoader installation, so that in principle, you may never need to manually install any homebrew ever again. Installotron also now includes an option to automatically modify EBOOTs to make
   them suitable for xLoader.
6. Stability and compatibility is mostly improved over v0.99, although some homebrew is less stable, especially on v2.00 firmware. You may want to keep 0.99 and 0.995 side-by-side on firmwares that can run both.

Beautiful! Now, download it, and enjoy! The README covers the remaining details.

Download eLoader 0.995 “Kriek”
- Windows installer
- ZIP (Manual install)

- compatiblity list -

- source: Noobz

And the weekend finale…. drum-roll please… GTA-less “Hello World” on firmware 2.0, 2.01, 2.50, 2.60, 2.70, 2.71, and… 2.80! Yes, you read correctly - all 2.XX firmware! What does this mean? Well, I’ll just quote you the entire readme:

Finally, it’s here! As of today, the world of homebrew is no longer restricted to owners of Grand Theft Auto.

Following the publication of a new proof of concept TIFF vulnerability by NOPx86, a team of PSP developers has been working hard to turn it into an opening for homebrew on the PSP. We’re pleased to announce that the wait is over, with the release of a Hello World demo that runs on all PSP firmwares that are capable of viewing TIFF images!

To install, just unpack this ZIP file to your PSP’s PHOTO folder, and then attempt to view hello_world.tif. Hello World will launch automatically. You may find that occasionally the full screen doesn’t show - this is a known problem, just restart your PSP by holding the power button until it turns off, then open the image again. To quit, hold the power button until the PSP turns off.

So what happens next? This shows that we can run code via this exploit. It won’t be too hard to develop an eLoader that can use this exploit on v2.0 - v2.6. v2.7+ will be harder, due to extra security, but will happen a little later. Kernel mode is unavailable on v2.8, but it is likely that a downgrader is possible on all other firmwares. But then, with the possibility of kernel homebrew running without the need for a game UMD, why would you need to downgrade?

Full credit is given in the Hello World, but repeated here: Thanks to NOPx86 for the initial proof of concept on the x86 processor, and psp250, Skylark, Joek2100, CSwindle, JimP and Fanjita for the PSP work. Thanks also to Ditlew, HarleyG and our families for general support during this work.

’nuff said. My personal thanks to all the developers and people who contributed to achieving this remarkable feat!

Download: Hello World for FW 2.00-2.80

- source: noobz