Hello All,
I am back with another “How-To” post. I know it has been a long time since my last post but I have been busy with school, work, and most importantly playing all the new PC games that have come out in the past month and a half. Its a great time to be alive!
Anyway, today we are going to install custom firmware on a PSP 2001 (the Slim). This will allow you to copy “back-up” copies of your games to your memory stick and play them from there, rather than lugging around all those UMDs.
On a difficulty scale of 1 thru 10, this project is about a 2. If you can read, then you can do this project.
Tools and Materials:
PSP Slim 2001
Pandora Battery
Memory Stick (with custom firmware on it) – For this project we will be installing 4.01M33
I recommend checking out pandorasales.com. I bought the pandora battery and a 512MB memory stick with the firmware on it for $25. Follow link here.
OK, let’s get started.
Step 1:
Open battery cover and remove factory battery.
Open cover and remove original memory stick.
Step 2:
Insert new Magic Memory Stick and close cover.
Insert Pandora battery and close battery cover.
Step 3:
Turn on the PSP. Let PSP boot to this screen.
Step 4:
Highlight the first option:
Install 4.01 M33
Press the X button
Step 5:
Sit back and relax while the firmware installs itself.
Step 6:
When installation is complete press the O button to shutdown PSP.
Step 7:
Open battery cover and remove the Pandora battery.
Open cover and remove Magic Memory Stick.
Step 8:
Insert original memory stick and close cover.
Insert factory battery and close battery cover.
Step 9:
Boot PSP into Service Mode.
This is done by holding down the Right Bumper and turning PSP on.
You should get a screen that looks like this.
Hit the down arrow button and select Configuration
Press the X button
Step 10:
Highlight Hide corrupt icons (currently: XXX)
Ensure that this is set to Enabled
If not, press X button to cycle through options
Step 11:
Highlight UMD Mode (currently: XXX)
Ensure that this is set to M33 driver – NO UMD-
If not, press X button to cycle through options
Step 12:
Highligh Fake region (currently: XXX)
Ensure that this is set to Disabled
If not, press X button to cycle through options
Step 13:
Highlight Back
Press the X button
Step 14:
Back on the Main Menu highlight Registry hacks
Press the X button
Step 15:
Highlight Activate WMA
Press the X button to activate (Notice at bottom of screen activation message (not pictured here))
Step 16:
Highlight Activate Flash Player
Press the X button to activate (Notice at bottom of screen activation message (not pictured here))
Step 17:
Highlight Back
Press the X button
Step 18:
Highlight Exit
Press the X button
The PSP will now restart
Step 19:
Lets confirm the successful install of the new custom firmware.
Once in the PSP OS navigate to:
System
System Settings
System information
Press the X button
Ensure that System Software = 4.01M33-2
If not, you must have had an ID 10 T error!
There should be no reason this would not work. I have tried it several times and it works flawlessly everytime. From here you can load your “back-up” copies of your games and movies to your memory stick and have fun!
Stayed tuned for a “How-To” on formatting the Memory Stick and loading games and movies to it.
Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoy this tutorial. If you visit, we encourage you to leave comments on the post.
Shawn
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 am
Thanks a lot dude!
January 12th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
i just bought a new 2001 psp this weekend and we cant get it to mod no matter what we try could it posibly have the new motherboard that wont mod or do u have ne advice
thnx ed
January 14th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Hey ed,
Sorry for the late reply. I have been busy (read that as goofing off). Anyway, this is the first time that I have seen a PSP2001 that wouldn’t mod using the pandora battery. What version of custom firmware were you trying to install? It may be an issue with that. Reply and let me know and we can trouble-shoot from there.
Shawn
February 17th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Hello i have a question do you have to have a firmware memory stick because i went to go mod my psp and i didnt need a firmware memory but now my psp somebody upgrade my psp 2001 and i need to mod it again
Mohamed , thanks
February 25th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Hey Shawn,
Do you know how to mod the original PSP 1000 series the (PHAT one)
I have version 2.71 firmware, just bought it off someone for $75.00. I would like to be able to mod it so I can download the PSP games to the memory stick. Any adivce would be awesome.
Thanks!
February 27th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Hey Troy,
Modding the PSP1000 (PHAT) is pretty much the same as modding the Slim. There may be some difference in the screens but I think that the process would be the same as this post. There is a special pandora battery for the PHAT (which is also compatible to mod the Slim).
I bought my Slim battery from pandorasales.com. It came with a printout of step-by-step instructions on how to install the custom firware. Very, very easy.
Also a great site to check out for more detailed questions is http://www.psp-hacks.com/.
Let me know if you get it working.
Shawn
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Thanks Shawn,
1 more question. I got it modded, and it works great. I made a folder called ISO, and downloaded GOW from Mininova .org, I unzipped it, but I did not see any ISO files. What do I need to transfer to the PSP to play the downloaded games, and do you know a good site to get them from.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hey Troy,
When you unzipped the files what type of files do you now have. Is is a .cso ? A .cso file is the same as an .iso when using them on the PSP.
Also, I noted that you said that you had to create a folder called ISO. Did you use the PSP menu to format the Memory Stick? If not, I would recommend that you do this first. Reply back if you didn’t use the format and need to know how.
Also, I don’t condone downloading games from the internet, if you haven’t paid for them. And I will swear this in a court of law if need-be. However, some of my unscrupulous friends recommend using the newsgroups. Specifically they would recommend using EasyNews.com.
Shawn
March 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
i have a PSP2001 and tried mod with pandora battery & Magic MS. It did not work, the green power light is on, but black screen. Do you know why?
March 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Hey Wilson,
Sorry, I have totally missed your comment! My apologies.
Anyway, there are some PSP2001’s that have a new motherboard in them (TA88v3 motherboard) that are not able to be hacked with the custom firmware. You can tell if you have this new mobo by:
1 – You bought a PSP with OFW 4.01 & higher
2 – You bought a PSP with a serial number that starts with AB02
If either one of these are true then as of now (to the best of my knowledge) you cannot install the custom firmware on the PSP.
I know this sucks a big one but just give it some time and someone will figure out how to hack it.
Shawn
March 16th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Hi Shawn,
tks, mine is TA88v3.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Hey shawn
I have a psp2001Pb (2000 series) and my freinds tried to mod it and said it didnt work because the motherboard was new. will i have be able to ever mod it? and why is it that it can not be modded?
March 26th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Hey Charlese,
I have read that there have been some breakthroughs in modding the new TA88v3 mobo on the new PSP’s. I am sure they will successfully hack it just like the previous two versions. When will that be? Hmmm, your guess is as good as mine.
As far as why it cannot be modded is a little too technical for my limited brain power. However, if you want the technical details check here for a good explanation.
http://www.psp-hacks.com/forum.....t-t226610/
Hope this helps.
Shawn
April 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Is this mod done using a SLIM pandora’s battery or a PHAT pandora’s battery? If so what is the voltage or w/e it is (usually around the thousands) I just bought a Silver PSP (slim) and my friend tells me theres 3 type of motherboards for it, and so far i knocked out one now it’s only a matter of getting a pandora’s battery or not, but my question is because today my friend put his fat 1800mh (w/e) into my psp and it wouldn’t even turn on! i was guessing because my battery is 1300 and his is 1800 but i’don”t know… so if anyone could reply to this that would be great
April 14th, 2009 at 3:22 am
Hi Shawn,
I have a Psp 1004 with the serial number FC1897625…can I hack it ??
PLease reply asap because I will try and hack it soon……so will it work ? (I have version 5.03)
my email is : kavisingh@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks in advance !
April 19th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
yoo sup shawn!!!
i have a psp 2001 currently running on version 5.03
will the process still work?
oo yeah how do u put custom firmware on a psp2001?
PLZ HELP !!!
May 16th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Hi, I have followed all your instructions but I have CFW version 5.03 and it doesn’t work, it still says “File is corrupted”.
What do I do??
And also, with those settings, I can’t play my UMDs.
WHAT do I do for that?????
PLEASE HELP
THANKS
May 19th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Yo0 Shawn I really need help with hacking PSP’s. I had mines hacked by my friend and since he moved away I don’t know who to ask my questions to. I have many many many questions. E-mail me lmailova@yahoo.com
please respond soon
June 10th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Yo Shawn ive got a BIG problem..
My PSP has OFW 5.50…i have a Memory stick with Custom firmware on it
and i have a Pandoras Battery from my Phat..wat should i do
I try to hack i t and it dont work.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
elow..can u please help me about my psp i have a pandora battery when i turn in on its a block screen only the green are on..please help me im doing this almost 2 weeks now
June 18th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
im using psp 2001 firmware 5.03 how can i downgrade it.. do u have step by step instruction.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:03 am
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September 11th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
that psp is like my psp there are a lo of green stripes but i need to push the memory stick and keep pushing to it works. doe anybody knows how to fix it?
September 18th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Hey Shawn
I am having the same problem as Ed. My psp is a 2001 and has a software version of 4.05 and i also have the pandora battery and magic memory stick and nothing seems to happen with it.
can you help me?
thanks
Jess
September 25th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Jess… I think you have the new PSP-2001s with the cursed Ta88v3 motherboards… It can run on the Pandora Battery but it tells the Memory Stick to f*ck off of booting the installer so…
If it came with any software higher than 4. something and it was bought in 2009 chances are you can’t mod using Pandora way
Another way is the ChickHEN way
Update to 5.03 and run ChickHEn then install CFW Installer
contact me justinxtreme@yahoo.com for more info
December 13th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Hi to all,i have a psp 2001 ser # AB007871245 and installed a CFW 4.01 m33,when i reboot the psp it wont do nothing is froze.I need some help.
Thanks
Efra
February 10th, 2010 at 4:00 am
Hi I have a PSP 2001 with TA 88v3 and ab2 serial number motherboard with 5.51 ofw, i play only demo games and cant buy umds, so its feb 2010 has any body been able to hack it yet?