Hey guys it's Admin 2.

I writing this article in the attempt to answer common questions for...well noobz. Belive it or not alot of people don't know the basic knowledje in order to rum PSP homebrew or what Custom firmware is/does. Hopefully this thread will help a-lot of people. If this thread helps at all let me know by posting a responce, or post any questions you have and I will be more than happy to help. Also before I get into explanation there are a few rulses I want to lay down...

1. Do NOT ask ask where to get psp isos/csos.

2.Do NOT ask where to get roms/isos for emulators.

With that said lets get back to buisness....
First off you need Custom Firmware (CFW) to run homebrew. Now you might be saying "What is 'Custom firmware?'. Well think of it this way...A computer has whats called an Operating System (OS). For people running PCs this would be, XP, Vista, ME, 2000, 98, 95, NT and DOS ect. For those of you running Macs this would be OS X and OS 7-9 and Panher and Tiger ect. The PSP as an OS as well. This "OS" is called Firmware. (FW) Now FW is in numbers not names. Like PSP FW 3.80 or 3.93. Now the PSP comes with firmware from sony when you buy it. This called Offitial firmware. (OFW) This can NOT run homebrew...yet. You see the psp also has whats called Custom Firmware (CFW). This firmware not provided from the develeper (SONY) it is actully made by someone just like you or me. His name is DarkAlex (DAX) He is the father of psp CFW. He is the reason you can run homerew at all. You see CFW is diffrent form OFW beacuse CFW puts the psp in an "Unlocked" Mode. Sorta like unlosking an Iphone to work with a phone carrier that does not support it. CFW adds features to the psp it was not made to do. Such as run hombebrew/emualtors. Now you may be wondering how to get CFW. This is easyer said then done. Firt off you need a psp with CFW to make what is called a "Pandora battery" And Magic Memory stick (MMS) These two items install the CFW on your psp. But like I said you already need CFW to make them, as well as a spare PHAT PSP battery and Pro Duo Magic gate card. I am NOt going to get into how to make a pandora battery and magic memory stick but if theres enugh deman I will write a tutoriel on how to make the PB & MMS.

Now If you already have CFW and want to know how to run homebrew it is quite simple. All you need to do is make sure the homebrew you downlaoded works with your PSP CFW. For example if you have CFW 3.80 M33-5 make sure your homebrew say it's 3.XX compatible. ( With "XX" being the varibles of diffrent psp firmwares starting with "3".) Now the easyest way to make sure your homebrew is in the right spot is to format your memory stick with your psp and do the following.

1. After formating your memory stick Pro Duo in your PSP connect it to you PC and enter USB mode.

2. Open your memory stick and you should see a folder called "PSP" (OPEN it)

3. Now you should see a folder called "GAME" (OPEN it)

4. All hombrew goes in here unless stated otherwise in a hombrews readme. PSX Eboots go here as well as PSP hombrew apps and FW updates.

Now Alot of people rip a umd they own (Or download a PSP ISO/CSO) And don't know how to use it. (Game could not be stated error) All you need to do is create an folder called "ISO" in the root of your memory card and put the iso/cso in there. Then in your Cross media bar (XMB) Press "Select" And the "VSH" menu should appear. Go to UMD drive and select "NO UMD MODE" Now play the game! (Do NOT ask where to get PSP ISOS/CSOS!!! You should only rip a umd you own or download a game you own!!!)

Now that is all the basic knowlede that I'm aware of in order to run homebrew. So Let me know what you think. Also Once again ask any questions you have and i'll get back to you ASAP!!!

I just got the supplies needed to add custom firmware to my psp, i just had two questions, what changes do i need to make to the settings in the repair menu so i can play iso/cso files, and do u have any further advice so i dont run into problems in the future? thx

etownhustla82 said
I just got the supplies needed to add custom firmware to my psp, i just had two questions, what changes do i need to make to the settings in the repair menu so i can play iso/cso files, and do u have any further advice so i dont run into problems in the future? thx

I would say dont change any settings, if the PSP game iso/cso dont work try changing "UMD ISO MODE" you can access the option via the recovery screen pressing select in the PSP XMB

etownhustla82 wrote:
I just got the supplies needed to add custom firmware to my psp, i just had two questions, what changes do i need to make to the settings in the repair menu so i can play iso/cso files, and do u have any further advice so i dont run into problems in the future? thx

Do this ...


1.Press Select to access VSH Menu
2.Go to UMD ISO MODE select M33 driver by pressing left to right
3.Now play the game!

enjoy