In the following I will write a detailed guide on how to update your PSP to the newest hackable Firmware and how to install the newest (Light) Custom Firmware.
This will not be a fancy guide. Don't await any fancy graphics, this will be a simple text guide with a few screenshots to help you.

Foreword:
This guide will be divided into 5 parts. A Custom Firmware for Firmware 6.20, one for Firmware 6.35 and one for Firmware 6.39. I also added the downgrading option for the people who want to have the permanent 6.20. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU BRICK YOUR PSP. This tutorial was created by me, but every program in this thread was created by others.

Differences between 6.20 PRO, 6.35 PRO and 6.39 PRO:
The main difference between those two is, that the 6.20 PRO can be installed permanently. That means, if you turn off the PSP, that it is still installed. The 6.35 PRO and 6.39 PRO can only be installed temporarily and will be erased as soon as you turn off your PSP. This is due to the new checks that were build in the 6.35. A permanent patch for it would require a lot of work. If a permanent patch for 6.35 get's released, I will update this thread to reflect the new changes. The compatibility should be nearly or exactly the same for backups, homebrew and plugins. The 6.20 PRO can't be installed permanently on every PSP. Some new models of the PSP 3000 (9g) doesn't allow you to install it permanently. On this PSP's, you can only install the 6.20 PRO temporarily or the 6.35 PRO 9g is limited to PSP 3000, so if you have a PSP 1000, 2000 or Go, you don't need to worry about it.

Information about 9g's:
Newer PSP 3000 models come with Firmware 6.35. They have the modelnumber 9g and new drivers. These PSP's can't be downgraded to 6.20 (DON'T TRY IT, YOU WILL RECEIVE A BRICK) and you can't install the 6.20 PRO permanently to the PSP. If you have a PSP 3000 and installed your PRO, always look into the System Information and notice what g you have. If your g is something else than 9, you can downgrade and install the 6.20 PRO permanently. If your PSP is 9g, you can only install the Custom Firmwares temporarily.

Advantages:
The PSP Scene developed a lot. We came a long way from downgraders, different Exploits and the discovery of the Pandora Battery. Today, we can put a Custom Firmwares on our PSP with very small effort. Old Custom Firmwares were mostly limited to older Firmwares that were patched very fast. Today, things like the easy install of Custom Firmwares are possible due to signed eboots. In my opinion, these new Custom Firmwares are better then the old Custom Firmwares. They are much easier to install and games that needed patches to work on old Custom Firmwares, work without problems now.


Meet the requirements:
First, you need to know on what Firmware you are right now.
To do this, turn on your PSP,scroll all the way to the left and scroll down until you see the System Settings and press X. Scroll down again until you see the System Information and press X again.

There are 3 points right now
System Software: X.XX
Nickname:
MAC Address:

If your System Software is lower than 6.35 or is exactly 6.35, this tutorial can help you on your way to homebrew.

Next you download the PSP Module Checker, put it on your PSP's memorystick and run it. It shows what kind of PSP you have (only important for PSP 3000, others can be ignored). If your PSP has 9g, you can't install the 6.20 permanent and can't downgrade to 6.20. PSP's with 9g can only be downgraded to 6.35 to run the 6.35 PRO or the 6.39 PRO (without the need of downgrading).


Now comes the most important part. If you want the 6.20 Custom Firmware, which can be installed permanently, please look at the first part. If your Firmware is over 6.20, but under or exactly 6.35, you can install the 6.35 Light Custom Firmware. For this, look at the second part. I reflected the installation of the 6.39 one on the third part.

THIS IS FOR 6.20​

What you need:
Firmware 6.20 (PSP Go)
Firmware 6.20 (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000)
6.20 PRO-B9
A memory stick with enough space/enough space on your PSP Go.


If your Firmware is below 6.20:
Download the 6.20 update. It comes as an EBOOT.PBP, if not, rename it this way. Connect your PSP to your Computer and copy the EBOOT.PBP into the folder PSP/GAME/UPDATE. This means that you create these folders, if they are not presented. When you open your PSP, there should be a folder called PSP, inside should be a folder called GAME, inside the folder should be a folder called UPDATE. If one of these folders are not presented, just create them. Copy your downloaded EBOOT.PBP in the UPDATE folder. It should look like this:

When it looks like this, just turn your PSP on, go to the memory stick and start the UPDATE. Follow the explanation and your PSP is updated to Firmware 6.20.


If your Firmware is 6.20 and you want to install the Custom Firmware permanently:
The permanent patch is only installable if you have a PSP belog 9g. Trying to install the permanent patch on a PSP 9g will brick the PSP. To know what g you have, install the 6.20 PRO-B6 (but not the permanent patch) and look into the system information. At the very bottom, you can see what g you have. Download the 620PRO-B9.rar I linked above. Extract the RAR File (if you don't know what I mean, google for Winrar and Install it.) and copy the folders
PROUPDATE and 620PRO_Permanent
inside your PSP/GAME folder. If they are not present on your PSP, create a folder called PSP, and inside, create a folder called GAME inside it and copy these two folders inside it. If you have a PSP 3000, you should look into the System Information now. On the screenshot above, you can see that your Xg is listed at the bottom of the information. If you have 9g, then you are finished now. You can only install it temporarily on the 3000 9g. If your g is not 9g, you can process onward. After you installed the PROUPDATE, run the Permanent Patch and Press X and after you read the brick warning, press X again.

If your Firmware is 6.20 and you want to install the Custom Firmware temporarily:
Download the 620PRO-B9.rar I linked above. Extract the RAR File (if you don't know what I mean, google for Winrar and Install it.) and copy the folders
PROUPDATE and FastRecovery (FastRecovery starts the Custom Firmware again if you turned your PSP off. Just needs a few seconds)
inside your PSP/GAME folder. If they are not present on your PSP, create a folder called PSP, and inside, create a folder called GAME inside it and copy these two folders inside it.

This is how your folder should look like after extracting the file you downloaded above:

Copy the correct folders I stated above on your PSP.

Turn your PSP on and go to the memory stick. Start the PRO Update.

The Firmware should install automatically. If not, hold L and press X.

After you started the PROUPDATE on 6.20, start the Permanent Patch to install your 6.20 permanently. When you start it, press X, read the brick warning and press X again. After the PSP restarted, start the permanent patch again and press X and the O. Now it will be installed.

THIS IS FOR 6.35​

What you need:
Firmware 6.35 (PSP Go)
Firmware 6.35 (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000)
6.35 PRO-B9
A memory stick with enough space/enough space on your PSP Go.


If your Firmware is below 6.35:
Download the 6.35 update. It comes as an EBOOT.PBP, if not, rename it this way. Connect your PSP to your Computer and copy the EBOOT.PBP into the folder PSP/GAME/UPDATE. This means that you create these folders, if they are not presented. When you open your PSP, there should be a folder called PSP, inside should be a folder called GAME, inside the folder should be a folder called UPDATE. If one of these folders are not presented, just create them. Copy your downloaded EBOOT.PBP in the UPDATE folder. It should look like this:

When it looks like this, just turn your PSP on, go to the memory stick and start the UPDATE. Follow the explanation and your PSP is updated to Firmware 6.35.

If your Firmware is 6.35:
Download the 635PRO-B9.rar I linked above. Extract the RAR File (if you don't know what I mean, google for Winrar and Install it.) and copy the folders
PROUPDATE and FastRecovery (FastRecovery starts the Custom Firmware again if you turned your PSP off. Just needs a few seconds)
inside your PSP/GAME folder. If they are not present on your PSP, create a folder called PSP, and inside, create a folder called GAME inside it and copy these two folders inside it.

This is how your folder should look like after extracting the file you downloaded above:

Copy the correct folders I stated above on your PSP.

Turn your PSP on and go to the memory stick. Start the PRO Update.

The Firmware should install automatically. If not, hold L and press X.

THIS IS FOR 6.39​

What you need:
Firmware 6.39 (PSP Go)
Firmware 6.39 (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000)
6.39 PRO-B9
A memory stick with enough space/enough space on your PSP Go.


If your Firmware is below 6.39:
Download the 6.39 update. It comes as an EBOOT.PBP, if not, rename it this way. Connect your PSP to your Computer and copy the EBOOT.PBP into the folder PSP/GAME/UPDATE. This means that you create these folders, if they are not presented. When you open your PSP, there should be a folder called PSP, inside should be a folder called GAME, inside the folder should be a folder called UPDATE. If one of these folders are not presented, just create them. Copy your downloaded EBOOT.PBP in the UPDATE folder. It should look like this:

When it looks like this, just turn your PSP on, go to the memory stick and start the UPDATE. Follow the explanation and your PSP is updated to Firmware 6.39.

If your Firmware is 6.39:
Download the 639PRO-B9.rar I linked above. Extract the RAR File (if you don't know what I mean, google for Winrar and Install it.) and copy the folders
PROUPDATE and FastRecovery (FastRecovery starts the Custom Firmware again if you turned your PSP off. Just needs a few seconds)
inside your PSP/GAME folder. If they are not present on your PSP, create a folder called PSP, and inside, create a folder called GAME inside it and copy these two folders inside it.

This is how your folder should look like after extracting the file you downloaded above:

Copy the correct folders I stated above on your PSP.

Turn your PSP on and go to the memory stick. Start the PRO Update.

The Firmware should install automatically. If not, hold L and press X.

THIS IS FOR 6.60​

What you need:
Firmware 6.60 (PSP Go)
Firmware 6.60 (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000)
6.60 PRO-B9
A memory stick with enough space/enough space on your PSP Go.


If your Firmware is below 6.60:
Download the 6.60 update. It comes as an EBOOT.PBP, if not, rename it this way. Connect your PSP to your Computer and copy the EBOOT.PBP into the folder PSP/GAME/UPDATE. This means that you create these folders, if they are not presented. When you open your PSP, there should be a folder called PSP, inside should be a folder called GAME, inside the folder should be a folder called UPDATE. If one of these folders are not presented, just create them. Copy your downloaded EBOOT.PBP in the UPDATE folder. It should look like this:

When it looks like this, just turn your PSP on, go to the memory stick and start the UPDATE. Follow the explanation and your PSP is updated to Firmware 6.60.

If your Firmware is 6.60:
Download the 660PRO_B9.rar I linked above. Extract the RAR File (if you don't know what I mean, google for Winrar and Install it.) and copy the folders
PROUPDATE and FastRecovery (FastRecovery starts the Custom Firmware again if you turned your PSP off. Just needs a few seconds)
inside your PSP/GAME folder. If they are not present on your PSP, create a folder called PSP, and inside, create a folder called GAME inside it and copy these two folders inside it.

This is how your folder should look like after extracting the file you downloaded above:

Copy the correct folders I stated above on your PSP.

Turn your PSP on and go to the memory stick. Start the PRO Update.

The Firmware should install automatically. If not, hold L and press X.

DOWNGRADE FROM 6.3x TO 6.20/6.35​

What you need:
The downgrader
Firmware 6.20 (PSP Go)
Firmware 6.20 (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000)
or
Firmware 6.35 (PSP Go)
Firmware 6.35 (PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000)
A memory stick with enough space/enough space on your PSP Go.

If your Firmware is 6.3x:
Download the Downgrader I linked above. Check your PSP with the Module Checker posted at the top. Is your PSP a 9g ? Copy the 6.35 Firmware I linked above to X:\PSP\GAME\UPDATE\EBOOT.PBP (X is for your Drive Letter, the Firmware itself should be named EBOOT.PBP. If not, rename it). Every other g can be downgraded to 6.20, so use the 6.20 Update instead. Copy the folder PSP that you've extracted from the Downgrader to your Memorystick and overwrite the folder.

When you've set up your Stick like this, run the downgrader! from the PSP Menu (not the PSP Update). Wait a bit and the Update should start. Install it like a normal Update and after restarting, your PSP should be on Firmware 6.20 or 6.35. Support for every PSP and Generation has been added. You can downgrade every PSP out there with this downgrader. Newer PSP 3000 with 9g and 7g only can be downgraded to 6.35. If your PSP came with 6.35, it can be downgraded to 6.35, but not to 6.20.



How to use Homebrew and Backups of your PSN Games and UMD's:
Backups of your PSP Games go into the folder ISO. If it is not there, create it.
Homebrews come as a EBOOT.PBP file in a folder. Copy this folder into the PSP/GAME folder.
PSN Stuff also goes into the PSP/GAME folder.



Congratulations, now you have a Custom Firmware on your PSP. I hope that my tutorial helps you and shows you the wonderful world of homebrew. If you have any questions or have any improvements for my tutorial, please message me. I am eager for your experiences with this tutorial. Many many thanks to Coldbird and VFlame. They are the creators of this superb Custom Firmwares. It is really one of my favorites. I can understand all the people who'd like their GEN and M33 firmwares, but sometimes you just got to change a running system to make things better

Credits to aminemaster for the two pics from the 6.20 permanent installation.

 

[aznblitz]

That's what I heard yes. That's actually what I did with my Go before, some people put a 6.35 CFW on it and removed the uninstaller and I was a noob then, so I just updated to 6.39, overwriting the CFW by an OFW update. Worked fine, I'm on 6.39 PRO-B8 now.

I'm not sure about a 6.20 to 6.20 "update" though, but if it would work then it would re-flash the nand to the official files only.

thanks zygie and everyone here for the help...

i guess to take it one step futher one can always upgrade from 6.20 ==> 6.30 and downgrade to be 100% sure...or maybe i could just update to 6.39 and install the cfw then....

but can anyways tell me if i should stick with 6.20 and not upgrade?

 

[zygie]

Everyone says there's no problem with 6.20 perma on the Go. Games run just as fine as on 6.39, as well as pro cfw features themselves, and you don't have to run the FastRecovery every time you shut down your PSP. You'll miss out on Qriocity (came with a later OFW,) but do you use that?

If not, then for practicality's sake, go 6.20 perma. As long as your PSP meets the requirements, and you're careful about the procedure, you'll be fine.

 

[aznblitz]

Everyone says there's no problem with 6.20 perma on the Go. Games run just as fine as on 6.39, as well as pro cfw features themselves, and you don't have to run the FastRecovery every time you shut down your PSP. You'll miss out on Qriocity (came with a later OFW,) but do you use that?

If not, then for practicality's sake, go 6.20 perma. As long as your PSP meets the requirements, and you're careful about the procedure, you'll be fine.

hey thanks for the advice there..will try to upgrade and re mod the psp go when i get it later on today...

just wanted to ask another question to uninstall pro b ..what does one have to do say if a future update from the pro series is out...is it as simple as clicking the pro b icon in the xmb?? and going about the uninstall??

thanks everyone

 

[Rydian]

Run the PRO-B icon and press triangle to uninstall it (it'll uninstall the permanent patch as well), then run the installer for the new version and the new permanent patch and have fun.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

I am wondering if I should upgrade to 6.39 ME to play the new Final Fantasy Type-0 demo that going to be released to today. I am currently on 5.50 Prom-4 and have a PSP 1001.

 

[aznblitz]

another question i am confused about the downgrading procedure...so you download the downgrade file in it there is a psp folder once you extract it...you put that on your psp overwriting the existing psp folder?....where does the ofw 6.20 go when you download it?..do you put it in the folder that you just overwritten?

update: i think i understand now ...so i take the ofw and put it in the update folder and then i copy just the downgrade folder to put into the psp/game folder not the whole psp folder that is extracted from the downgrade file as says in the tutorial on page one right?

also, can anyone tell me if the downgrade option is only for which ofw? only 6.30 ? can you say downgrade from 6.35 ==> 6.20??

thanks

 

[hunter291]

I am wondering if I should upgrade to 6.39 ME to play the new Final Fantasy Type-0 demo that going to be released to today. I am currently on 5.50 Prom-4 and have a PSP 1001.

I was on 6.20 PRO-B8 the time the demo came out. I had no problems with it, so changing your Firmware isn't necessary.

QUOTE(aznblitz @ Aug 10 2011, 08:23 PM) another question i am confused about the downgrading procedure...so you download the downgrade file in it there is a psp folder once you extract it...you put that on your psp overwriting the existing psp folder?....where does the ofw 6.20 go when you download it?..do you put it in the folder that you just overwritten?

update: i think i understand now ...so i take the ofw and put it in the update folder and then i copy just the downgrade folder to put into the psp/game folder not the whole psp folder that is extracted from the downgrade file as says in the tutorial on page one right?

also, can anyone tell me if the downgrade option is only for which ofw? only 6.30 ? can you say downgrade from 6.35 ==> 6.20??

thanks

DOWNGRADE FROM 6.3x TO 6.20/6.35 means you can downgrade from any 6.3x firmware to 6.20 or 6.35. So if you have 6.39, you could downgrade to 6.35. But trust me, it isn't that important

You have the possibility for the cfw on 6.39 and now even 6.60, so downgrading is only important if you really want it to be installed permanently.



I updated the guide to reflect the newest changes and the new 6.60 PRO-B9

 

[RetroVortex]

Okay so I've done something pretty stupid.

So yesterday I bought a used PSP 2000 and today I bricked it.

Well, I think its a semi brick.

What I was doing, stupidly, enough was testing the 6.60 Pro on it.
It worked well.

The CIPL patch didn't brick it, so I'm certain I have an early slim model.

Then I uninstalled it. Its all going fine.

However, I accidentally launched quick launch after it was uninstalled which has caused it to brick.

(So when you turn it on, the power light stays on for a few secs, then turns itself off)

I'm hoping a Pandora battery will fix it. I've ordered on from amazon just in case.

 

[xist]

Since you didn't have any active CFW a Pandora is your only option. Do you just get a green power light and the backlight on when you power up?

 

[RetroVortex]

Since you didn't have any active CFW a Pandora is your only option. Do you just get a green power light and the backlight on when you power up?

I don't think the backlight comes on. (May need to double check that)
But the green light comes on for a few seconds, then turns off.

EDIT: I don't see it come on. And the green light is on for about 15-18 seconds.

 

[xist]

At this point it doesn't really matter. The only other thing you can do is to remove the battery, leave the PSP for a couple of hours to discharge any internal power, and then try again. If it's still bricked you're going to have to test that Pandora.

 

[RetroVortex]

At this point it doesn't really matter. The only other thing you can do is to remove the battery, leave the PSP for a couple of hours to discharge any internal power, and then try again. If it's still bricked you're going to have to test that Pandora.

Thanks for you help. I'll do exactly that!

(I sound like a newb but I had a fat psp before with custom firmware, but it fell in a toilet and its unstable (and the screen is water damaged.. :/)

 

[jrronimo]

Sorry if this is a well-answered question, but: If I install this CFW, can I still access PSN / play games I've purchased through PSN? Has anyone been banned from PSN after connecting their system with a CFW?


I have a PSP Go that's at 6.60 with no mods whatsoever right now. I also have a PSP-1000 that I think is also at 6.60 and clean; I can always leave one on PSN and one not; I'm just trying to figure out what I want to do.

 

[Rydian]

PRO lets you play online, bans just for having CFW haven't been done as far as we've seen (but are possible).

 

[kevrool]

hello, i did everything as you said, i have psp 3000 6.35 model 01g (lol its old i know) and i hacked my psp as you said, step by step. i can see the game (god of war: ghost of sparta) on my game section in the psp (ISO game, not legit game from a psp disc) but when i try to play it, it just turn off my psp, can you tell me if i did something wrong or its the game's problem?

 

[toptenmaterial]

Hi everyone,

I am new here, and joined after reading this tutorial. I currently have a PSP-1001 running 6.39, and am trying to hack it based on this tutorial. I downloaded the stuff for 6.39, and extracted it with Winzip. I ended up with four folders: FastRecovery, sdk, PROUPDATE and CIPL_Flasher. Then, I made a folder called GAME on my desktop, because my PSP does not have a GAME folder. I moved the four folders into the new GAME folder, and with the USB connection, put the GAME folder in my PSP folder (next to two other existing folders). I go to update the firmware, and.... nothing. Could someone please pinpoint what I am doing wrong? Thanks!

 

[toptenmaterial]

Hi everyone,

I am new here, and joined after reading this tutorial. I currently have a PSP-1001 running 6.39, and am trying to hack it based on this tutorial. I downloaded the stuff for 6.39, and extracted it with Winzip. I ended up with four folders: FastRecovery, sdk, PROUPDATE and CIPL_Flasher. Then, I made a folder called GAME on my desktop, because my PSP does not have a GAME folder. I moved the four folders into the new GAME folder, and with the USB connection, put the GAME folder in my PSP folder (next to two other existing folders). I go to update the firmware, and.... nothing. Could someone please pinpoint what I am doing wrong? Thanks!

Nevermind! I got it to work! The issue was that I wasn't going to Games on the memory stick when the PSP was on. Great hack, great guide, thanks!

 

[balin453]

I just got a 3001 with 6.60. Just wondering if this will work on the 3001. Thanks.

 

[Rydian]

This thread's tutorial's outdated it seems.

Use this guide instead.
http://gbatemp.net/topic/293978-how-to-softmod-hack-your-psp/

 

[Iji]

yo
I havent hacked my psp yet i have the offical 6.60 firmware and would really like to be able to take screenshots is there a plugin i can use or does the 6.60 pro-b9 come with a screenshot abilaty built in? if not is there one avalible?