Archive for October 1, 2006

tehjay | October 15, 2006
3 comments

DevHook, probably the only utility you will use

So you have downgraded your psp to version 1.5 firmware and now you are wondering what you can do. First thing you should download is a utility called DevHook. I have found a link to the Ultimate Installer which includes some patches and extras. The current version as of the writing of this post is DevHook 0.46.

What is DevHook?

DevHook is a way of emulating different firmwares ontop of the 1.5 firmware. So you don’t have to upgrade your firmware to play a game, then re-downgrade it. DevHook also provides ways to modify and run a modified firmware. With certain mods you can take screenshots of games, load game iso’s from the USB port etc.

You can download DevHook by downloading the Ultimate Installer which will install DevHook 0.46 with the 2.71 firmware. There are also a couple mods included in this installer which include: the usb loader, Naruto Icon Set and Background, and Bleach Icon Set, Gameboot, and Background, X5 Web Portal, and the CISO Tools for compressing iso’s into cso’s.

Features

DevHook has some pretty amazing features. Aside from running the 2.71 firmware ontop of the 1.5 firmware, it allows you to:

- run homebrew apps/games on 2.71 firmware.
- change the clock speed of your PSP cpu from 133MHz to 333Mhz.
- boot into multiple firmwares (aslong as you have them installed)
- play UMD backups in .iso and .cso format

Installation

Installation is easy, once you download the Ultimate Installer hook up your PSP to the USB port of your computer and initiate the USB file transfer mode on your PSP. You will want to check “My Computer” to see what drive your PSP has been assigned to. Once you know this information, run the Ultimate Installer. Obviously the first thing you are going to install is “DevHook 0.46 with 2.71 Firmware” so choose this option and click on Next. Agree to the terms and conditions and then choose the drive letter of your PSP, and then click next.

The files will now be copied to your PSPs memory stick. You will have to exit the installer. Realistically you are done at this point, you can boot into DevHook 0.46 and play your games and your homebrew. However, you should at least install the USB Mod. This will allow you to mount isos on your computer over the USB cable.

Note: I had issues with DevHook crashing while loading alot of isos over the USB cable until I formatted my memory card and re-installed everything.

Another mod I downloaded was the Devhook Launcher/VSHEX Mod. I use this launcher all the time. It works for me, it should work for you.

Installation of this is easy, once again connect your PSP to the computer using the USB port, and initiate file transfer mode. If you are running 1.5 firmware copy the files from ms_root to your PSP memory stick. Just copy both directories from within the ms_root folder and paste right into the root folder of the PSP drive. When it asks if you want to overwrite files, says yes to all.

DevHook is a great utility for all PSP enthusiasts. It gives a whole new level of flexibility to your favorite handheld console.

Attention!
This is a brief outline of what to do, I followed the directions step by step. All of the instructions are included. Your pretty safe with this app as long as you don’t go changing any of the firmware settings in the last couple of menus.

Category: Hardware Modification | Tags: , , , ,
tehjay | October 11, 2006
26 comments

Howto: Downgrade PSP firmware 2.71 to 1.50

The easiest way to download your 2.71 firmware PSP would be to download the downgrader, plug your PSP into the computer using the USB cable, and run the executable you just downloaded. It will transfer all the proper files to your PSP in order to downgrade it to 1.50 firmware and also give audio commentary and some pictures of what to do while it is going through the whole process.

Why?

Why would you want to downgrade your PSP firmware you may ask? There are lots of reasons someone would want to upgrade their firmware. Homebrew software probably being the largest reason to upgrade. 1.5 firmware seems to be essential if you plan on doing development with the PSP, or running software developed and/or ported to the PSP platform.

Emulation is another reason. Sure alot of the stuff being emulated is technically illegal, there is legitimate uses for some of the emulators out there. Bochs for example runs linux, windows 95, and attempts to boot a couple of the bsds. Is there a use for this? absolutely not. Is it cool? Of course. Also, emulators play a large roll in development for other consoles. Most people cant afford the expensive development hardware that is needed to get their game on a console, so emulation is the best way of playing their work.

How?

Its easy really. Goto this url, and download the full version of the downgrader. I read you get the best results when you format your memory card pre-downgrade, and even better results when you use the default 32 meg card. So I did both and the downgrade started on the second attempt.

After you have your PSP setup, plug in the USB cable, and enable USB transfer in the Settings menu.

Go into my computer and find out which drive letter has been assigned to your PSP, then run the downgrader. Follow the onscreen directions. You will be asked which drive letter your PSP is, select the appropriate drive and continue on. All the files will be copied to your memory stick.

Once this is complete, goto the photo section and load up whats on the memory card. You will get 1 of 2 results, either a red screen which is good, or your PSP will lock up, which simply means you turn it off, and restart. Continue this process until you get the red screen. When you get the red screen let the PSP do its thing until it turns itself off.

Turn your PSP back on, you will be prompted with an error. Don’t worry about this error, just hit the circle button and continue on. You will have to reconfigure all of your settings, but once you are in, voila. 1.5 firmware.

Who?

Anyone running the 2.71 firmware can downlgrade their PSP, except for the people with version TA-082 PSPs. To check if you have one of these open up the UMD drive and look along the top, if you have a version TA-082 you will see writing along the top of the exposed motherboard. It may say ic10003. Do not attempt a downgrade if you have this version. All other versions will have no text and are good to downgrade.

Caution!

Proceed with caution. I may have succeeded with my downgrade, and so has many other people. However I am not responsible if you brick your PSP.

Category: Hardware Modification | Tags: , , , ,
tehjay | October 1, 2006
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Defcon – Everybody Dies

It looks like Introversion Software is going to be releasing their 3rd title to their amazing line of games. Defcon will be the name of this release. “It’s Global Thermonuclear War, and nobody wins. But maybe – just maybe – you can lose the least.”

DEFCON gives you and your friends the opportunity to settle disputes and nuke eachother back into the stoneage. The person who with the least ammount of loses in the end is crowned the winner.

This game looks like the game they played in the movie Wargames. With games like Uplink and Darwinia already being a success for the indie developers Introversion Software, this game will sure be a hit aswell.

Look forward to a review of the demo when I get home to a real pc.

Category: Gaming News |