Its Shawn here again with another how-to.  This time we are going to walk-thru making a back-up copy of a Sony PSP game (UMD).  As with the previous post (read here) on PSP’s this one rates about a 2 on a difficulty scale of 1 – 10.  Basic requirements for this tutorial is a 3rd grade reading level (haha).

What you will need:

PSP – with custom firmware installed (must be version 3.80 M33 or later)

A PSP game – for this example we will use Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony

Step 1:

Verify that you have custom firmware installed on your PSP

• Navigate on PSP to System <  System Information

• Press X button and view information

Step 2:

Open the Recovery Console by pressing Select on the menu screen

The Recovery Console should open and look like this

Step 3:

Press Down Arrow button 2 times to select USB DEVICE

Change setting to UMD Disc by pressing Left Arrow button 1 time

Highlight EXIT and Press X button

Step 4:

Insert the UMD into the UMD slot

Attach USB cable to PC and then to PSP

Navigate on PSP to Settings < USB Connection

Press X button to establish USB Connection

Step 5:

In the Win Explorer window that opens you will see an .iso file named UMD9660.ISO

This is the image of the UMD

Copy this file to your desired location for back-up purposes

Step 6:

After file has completely copied press the O button to disconnect from the USB Connection

Unplug the USB cable from the PSP

Remove the UMD from the UMD slot

Step 7:

Open the Recovery Console by pressing Select on the menu screen

The Recovery Console should open and look like this

Step 8:

Press Down Arrow button 2 times to select USB DEVICE

Change setting to Memory Stick by pressing Right Arrow button 1 time

Step 9:

Highlight EXIT and Press X button

Step 10:

Navigate to the folder where you copied the UMD iso and change the name of the iso to something that you will let you know what game this is.  I usually prefer to use the proper title name.

Step 11:

Establish a USB connection between PSP and PC (see Step 4)

You should see a Window open like below (provided that you have properly formatted your memory stick)

Step 12:

NOTE:

All UMD iso files must be copied into the root of the “ISO” folder

If you place them in any other location the game will not show on the memory stick.

Now copy the “backed-up” UMD from your save location to the PSP

Step 13:

After file has completely copied press the O button to disconnect from the USB Connection

Unplug the USB cable from the PSP

Step 14:

Navigate on PSP to Game < Memory Stick

Press the X button to select

Step 15:

Highlight the game you wish to play from the Memory Stick and press the X button

That is all there is to it.  Sit back and play all your games from the Memory Stick.  It is so much easier than lugging around all those UMD’s.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  Please, leave comments with your opinions of questions.  Also, if you have any other ideas for PSP type posts, leave a comment and let me know.

Shawn

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