Ultimate Downgrader Guide 2.00-3.50 *Updated 6/27/07*

julie · 10-13-2006, 10:53 PM

Ultimate Downgrader Thread

Articles By QJ.NET - QuickJump Home - PlayStation Portable News - PSP Updates, dark_alex, Hack a Day, and many of the talented people who helped create the programs we use

Disclaimers:
1. any downgrader has potential to brick your psp, so proceed with caution and at your own risk
2. always downgrade with a fully charged battery pack and the psp plugged into the ac adapter
3. only download the software from well known sites such as pspupdates.qj.net and psp-hacks.com
4. follow the directions carefully to avoid possible damage of your psp
5. check to see which hardware version you own before trying to downgrader by visiting this SITE
6. pspmod, QJ.NET - QuickJump Home - PlayStation Portable News - PSP Updates, and PSP Hacks Ã‚Â· Hacks, PSP Downloads, Cracks, Mods, Homebrew, Utilities Ã‚Â· Hack Sony Play Station Portable.com is not responsible if you harm your psp while attempting anything on this thread
7. for safety reasons, please use a reformated empty memory card when attempting to downgrade. ive heard 32mb is enough but if you have a larger one, use it
8. throughly read the README files that come with all software. most questions can be answered there instead of asking in this thread

Summary:

2.00 requires the MPH downgrader
2.01 isnt downgradable, so update to either 2.60 or 2.71
2.50 and 2.60 are downgradable, but require Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
2.71 requires the "red screen" downgrader
2.80 is the latest downgrader
2.81-3.03 Can be downgrader with the use of an unpatched GTA"LCS (unpatched has 2.0 update on the disc, patched copies have 2.60 update on the disc)
3.03-3.50 Can be downgraded with a copy of Lumines (US or EU version of lumines only at this time, not JAP)

2.00 Downgrader (Old Method) Tutorial By. Elliot Phillips @ Hack-A-Day.com

Step 1: Download the downgrader from either HERE, or HERE. Then make sure you get a copy of the original 1.5 firmware upgrader. HERE

Step 2: Connect your PSP to your computer via USB. On your memory stick, create a folder called UPDATE inside /PSP/GAME/ and place the EBOOT.PBP file from the 1.50 update inside this UPDATE folder.

Step 3: Unzip MPHDowngrader.zip. Drop overflow.tif into your /PSP/PHOTO/ folder. Put both h.bin and index.dat in the root of your Memory Stick.

Step 4: Disconnect your PSP from your computer and plug in the AC adapter.

Step 5: Navigate to Photo then Memory Stick via the PSP's menu system and start scrolling down through your photos until you reach the overflow.tif picture. You'll know you've hit it when everything freezes and you get a black screen with a bunch of white text output. If your PSP freezes without going to this black text screen, then hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PSP shuts down, then hit the power button again to start it back up. Repeat this step until you get that black screen

Step 6: Don't panic. Hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PSP powers off. Hit the power button again. Your PSP will start up, and if you navigate to your System Information, you'll discover that your PSP thinks it is running version 1.0 of the firmware. It isn't and you cannot run homebrew (yet).

Step 7: Navigate to Game-->Memory Stick, hit the X button, and navigate to the 1.5 updater. Make sure you have your PSP plugged in or the upgrade won't work. Click the X button and update like you normally would. At the end of the upgrade you will receive an error saying that the upgrade failed and to contact Sony. Don't panic. Ignore this and again force your PSP to power off and reboot.

Step 8: After the PSP reboots you will receive an error screen that is scary and confusing because it is in multiple languages. Don't panic. Find the language you can understand and read the corresponding line. It notes that your preferences are fragged and that you need only hit the O button to restore some default-ish settings. Hit the O button.

Step 9: The PSP will start back up and you will go through the initial setup like the day when you first bought your PSP. Do so and then go to the system info pane again, where you will see that you are rocking version 1.5. Run homebrew at will

2.00 and 2.01 Downgrader. GTA Not Required (Does NOT work on TA-082 Motherboards) Tutorial By. pspupdates.qj.net and noobz.eu

1. First you need eLoader 0.98 or later (get it from Here .
2. Install eLoader, and make sure that it is working for you by loading some nice safe homebrew (e.g. Squarez).
3. Next unzip this downgrader package onto your memory stick. You should end up with the EBOOT.PBP file copied to /psp/game/201downgrader/EBOOT.PBP.
4. Also copy the v1.5 Update EBOOT to /psp/game/update/EBOOT.PBP.
5. Now run the downgrader via eLoader. Assuming that your PSP passes the safety checks, you should be given a menu of options.
6. To downgrade, you need to select the 'set to v1.00' option (the Circle button).
7. This will fake your PSP to version 1.00. Once you've completed the process, you can run the v1.5 Update EBOOT, directly from your PSP's Game menu.
8. Note that when the v1.5 Update is 99% complete, it will display an error message that it has 'failed - contact Sony customer support, error code FFFFFFFFF'.
9. This is OK! Just power off your PSP, and reboot it. You then get a blue screen, saying "Press O to reset your settings" in several languages. Press O, and your PSP reboots again - voila! You now have a v1.5 PSP.
10. Note that, before you install the 1.5 Update, your PSP is still really a v2.0 or v2.01 PSP, but it will claim to be v1.0. If you've changed your mind about downgrading, you can choose to rerun the downgrader, and restore your old version number, with either the Cross or Square button, as appropriate.
11. Alternatively, if you changed your mind about running the downgrader, you can just press Triangle to exit without changing anything.

Download: Easy Downgrader

2.50/2.60 Downgrader (Does NOT work on ta-082 motherboards) Aslo Required GTA

Manual Method:

Instruction for the 1.50 user
-----------------------------

Downloads:

1.50 Helper

1.50 Update File

1) Copy the folders downhelper and downhelper% from the folder 1.50 HELPER folder to /PSP/GAME/ in your memstick.

2) Obtain the 1.50 updater and put it in /PSP/GAME/UPDATE in your memstick.

3) Init the downhelper program.
It will dump your flash and some files from the updater eboot to the memstick.

4) After that, the program will exit. You can now delete the updater from /PSP/GAME/UPDATE

5) You'll notice that you have a new folder in the root of your memstick called "DOWNDATER".
That's the folder you'll have to send to a 2.50/2.60 to let him test the downgrade.

Instructions for the 2.50/2.60 user
-----------------------------------

1) Copy the folder the DOWNGRADER/2.50/DOWNDATERTEST if you have 2.50
or DOWNGRADER/2.60/DOWNDATERTEST if you have 2.60 to /PSP/GAME/ in your memstick

2) Wait someone with 1.50 to pass you a folder called DOWNDATER and copy it to the root of your memstick.

3) Init gta and the eLoader

4) In the eLoader menu, choose the downdater test. WARNING: the program won't output any display and any warnings, it will init the downgrader process inmediatelly.

5) You'll see the your memstick flashing. That means that your psp is being flashed from the memstick.
You won't see any type of output in the screen (this is for safety). When the memstick finishes of flashing, WAIT at least a minute, and then reinit your psp by holding the power button.

6) That's all. If all went right, you'll have 1.50. If it went less good, you'll still have 2.50/2.60. If all went wrong, you'll have a bricked psp(except in the case you have the modchip) Remember that you have accepted that risk

- Users with TA-082 psp's shouldn try this. Also, it may be better that at the beginning, only users with a 2.50/2.60 NOT from factory (they updated from a below firmware)

This version also performs logging so be sure to have at least 16MB more on your memory stick before performing the downgrade.

Easy Downgrader Method By. Xtrusion

1. Download the FULL version of the 2.50/2.60 version HERE
2. Connect the USB cable to your psp and to your computer
3. Activate the usb connection by scrolling to the left in the XMB and clicking Circle
4. for best results, backup your memory card and use a empty card for the downgrade
5. Run the .EXE you downloaded and follow the instructions

julie · 10-13-2006, 10:53 PM

2.71 Generic Downgrader (TA-082 motherboards should not downgrade below 2.5!) Does not require GTA.

So how does it work? Well, all you need is Dark_AleX's 2.71 Homebrew Enabler Rev.C, and the EBOOT.PBP file of the firmware you want to downgrade to. So you can downgrade from a 2.71 to just about every other firmware including 1.50,2.0,2.01,2.50 and 2.60.
Get all the available updates here (Newb here!)

Instructions:

Download Homebrew Enabler for FW 2.71 using the Link below.
Follow the instructions in the readme file of Homebrew Enabler for 2.71 Rev.C to install HEN-C
Once done, reboot your PSP and run the Homebrew Enabler using the Photo Menu.
Now simply extract the files in the downgrader archive below to your PSP and paste the EBOOT.PBP file of the updater into the PSP/GAME/UPDATE folder.
Now just run the updater using the Game menu!

Here's what Dark_AleX had to say:

"This downgrader lets a psp running firmware 2.71 and HEN C to downgrade to any version from 1.50-2.60, or even reflash the 2.71 version. This downgrader is safer, faster, and a lot easier to use than the previous downgraders. It also makes a clean firmware install, since this time there is a format of flash0 (just like sce updaters do). A firmware dump is not needed, only the eboot.pbp of an update.

Ta-082 users can downgrade to 2.70/2.60/2.50. TA-082 users, DO NOT downgrade below 2.50. Youll Need To Use To Downgrader In The Next Section To Downgrade To 1.50

So all of you who've been waiting for a simple solution, I don't believe there can be one simpler than this. If you're still on 2.5/6, you can safely update to 2.71 and either wait it out for more homebrew, or downgrade to 1.5...But looking at all these developments, I feel that 2.71 might just just replace 1.50 as the golden firmware soon. Anyways, enough of talk, here's the download link below. Enjoy!

Download Link: [2.71 Generic Downgrader]
Download Link: [Homebrew Enabler for 2.71 Rev.C]

2.71 Downgrader For TA-082 Motherboards (For Downgrading TA-082's To 1.50 Firmware)

This program is specifically designed for 2.71 HEN-D users with a TA-082 motherboard. HEN-D, which enables 2.71 users to execute homebrew via the XMB, will be required for this downgrade process, and if you do not have it you can download it at the link provided below. Dark_Alex has also provided a detailed installation of this process detailed in the readme (please read the readme after you download).

1. Copy the UPDATE and idstoragechange folders into /PSP/GAME/
2. Get the official sony 1.50 eboot and put it in the /PSP/GAME/UPDATE folder with the name of UPDATE.PBP
3. Run HEN-D if you are not already running it.
4. Execute the idstoragechange. It needs 75% battery. It will change some keyes of your idstorage needed to downgrade the ta-082.
5. The program will exit to the XMB. Now execute the generic downgrade, which will show in the xmb as "Update X.YX" in the psp language.
6. The generic downgrader will also need 75% battery. IT will downgrade your psp to 1.50.
7. At the end, it will ask you to press X to restart the psp. Do it.
8. If all went fine, you'll receive a blue screen telling you to press O. Do it, and reenter your settings. Welcome to 1.50.
9. If things didn't go that fine, you'll have a non-functional psp, aka brick.

Warning: As always, there is a chance that you may brick your PSP running a downgrader, so please try this at your own risk and follow directions exactly.

Download: [1.5 EBOOT]
Download: [HEN-D]
Downlioad: [2.71 TA-82 Downgrader]

Easy 2.71 TA-082 Downgrader

Filename: 2.71_TA-082_EASY_Downgrader_0.1_by_csfreakno1.zip
Size: 13.47MB
Downloads: 2,078

Description:

This is for people who are unsure how to install the TA-82 downgrader. This program will install all the downgrade files neeeded and put them in the right place so you dont need to do it yourself.

csfreakno1's 2.71 TA-082 Easy Downgrader. Connect your PSP via USB and run this Windows executable. Downgrader developed by Dark_AleX, Mathieulh, and Harleyg. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! ONLY USE ON 2.71 TA-082 WITH HEN-D!

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROGRAM EXACTLY, DONT SKIP A STEP

Instructions
------------

- (Edit by csfreakno1: READY)
- (Edit by csfreakno1: Start the 2.71_TA-082_-_1.50.exe. Install the Files to the PSP)

- Run HEN-D if you are not already running it.

- Execute the idstoragechange. It needs 75% battery.
It will change some keyes of your idstorage needed to downgrade the ta-082.

- The program will exit to the XMB. Now execute the generic downgrade, which will show in the xmb
as "Update X.YX" in the psp language.

- The generic downgrader will also need 75% battery. IT will downgrade your psp to 1.50.

- At the end, it will ask you to press X to restart the psp. Do it.

- If all went fine, you'll receive a blue screen telling you to press O. Do it, and reenter your settings.
Welcome to 1.50.

- If things didn't go that fine, you'll have a non-functional psp, aka brick.
You accepted that risk, remember.

Download:2.71 TA-082 Easy Downgrader

2.80 Easy Downgrader (DOES NOT WORK ON TA082 PSPS!)

As mentioned above, this app is in its very early and unstable stage. The results are as unpredictable as Sony's marketing schemes, so again, it's best that you read, reread, and reread the readme file some more that comes along with the download. Right now, the main concerns are: THE PSP MUST NOT HAVE A TA-082 BOARD and the owner must use the recently released xloader instead of the earlier eLoader. Cause if not, you would end up having one useless piece of gaming device. The full instructions are:

Download Link: PSP Downloads | Easy 2.80 Downgrader

1) Format memstick with a 2.8 NON TA-082 PSP.
2) Connect PSP via USB and run easy installer.
3) Select PSP drive in the easy installer and let it install the files.
4) Turn off your PSP.
5) Turn on your PSP and goto PHOTO -> Memory stick -> xLoader 280
6) You should see two icons in the xLoader 280 folder. If xLoader loads correctly then nothing should happen. If it fails then MS will blink and then PSP will crash.
7) Once xLoader is run successfully, goto GAME -> MEMORY STICK and run the downgrader.
8) You should see the DG menu.
9) Pray to God and cross your fingers.
10) Hit O to start DG.
11) Wait for it to say "Finished. PowerOff to exit"
12) Hold Power switch up until psp is completely off.
13) Pray again.
14) Turn on PSP, you should now get a Blue Screen Of Death so press O to reset settings.

THIS IS A EARLY VERSION. USE WITH CAUTION

julie · 10-13-2006, 10:53 PM

3.03 Downgrader Tutorial

Things Needed:

1. PSP running 3.03 Firmware (motherboard version doesnt matter)
2. UMD of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories w/ 2.00 Patch (2.60 patch doesnt work)
3. 3.03 Home Brew Enabler (download at bottom of tutorial)
4. NOOBZ Official 3.03-1.50 Downgrader

Notes Regarding GTA UMD's:

Unpatched versions of Liberty City Stories contain the 2.0 update, whereas patched versions contain higher updates. If your copy of LCS has an update higher than 2.0 on it, then you will have to find an unpatched UMD to proceed. There's no need to worry if you have a TA-082 PSP as the downgrader will check your motherboard and patch it if necessary. Note the downgrader will not let you proceed without patching if your motherboard requires it.

How To Use:

To use this simply download the 3.03 HEN files from the download links below and copy them to your PSP. Then run your unpatched version of GTA:LCS and the patch will apply itself. It will be stored in RAM and will stay there until you reset your PSP. Putting the PSP in sleep mode will not remove the patch.

One Disclaimer: Can you also note before use that it is possible to brick using this downgrader if you downgrade and then update to 3.03 and then downgrade again. The advice from Fanjita right now is to only use this once.

1. Update to firmware 3.03. If already have this firmware then proceed to step 2.

2. Open the 3.03 downgrade file and copy the contents of the folder MS_ROOT to the root of your memory stick.

3. Open the 1.5 update and rename the EBOOT.PBP to UPDATE.PBP then copy it to /PSP/GAME/UPDATE/
Make sure not to overwrite PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP

4. Load Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (unpatched)

5. It should get to loading save game, clear the screen, the screen should fill with a light blue color and then reset the PSP
(If this does not happen see below)

6. Check that HEN is running by going to system settings then System Information and it should show up as system version 303 HEN

7. If it is showing up as 3.03 HEN then go to the memory stick and run the x.yz update

8. Before the downgrader does anything to your PSP it will ask for you to agree to what it is doing
If you no longer want to continue press the Right Shoulder Button (R-TRIGGER).

9. Once you have agreed to start the downgrade do not unplug the PSP

10. Once finished the PSP will ask you to press X, after pressing it will reset it self.

11. If it comes up saying that the settings are corrupt press X to continue.

12. Enjoy your new shiny 1.5 PSP.

Downloads:

NOOBz 3.03 Homebrew Enabler
NOOBz 3.03 to 1.50 Downgrader
1.50 Firmware Update

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got rice?

Here is a guide for downgrading any current PSP hardware version
(TA-079 - TA-086) from firmware 3.10-3.50 to 1.50.

Disclaimer: This downgrader flashes your PSP so there is a small chance of bricking, me, PSPMOD, or the NOOBZ team cannot be held responsible if your PSP bricks.

Requirements:

- Lumines (EU or US version only currently)

- 3.50 Downgrader
*Edit: fixed the downgrader link
- 1.50 Update

- 3.50 Update if you are on firmware 3.10-3.40

Instructions

Here are the steps to downgrade any 3.50 PSP to 1.50:

Part 1 (Setting up the files needed)

1) If you have a 3.50 PSP skip to step 6

2) Download 3.50 update from here:
File Details-PSP-Firmware-3.50-(North-America)-PSP -

3) Unzip and place the file in <pspdrive>:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE

4) On the PSP, run the 3.50 update from the memory stick under the Game menu.

5) Delete <pspdrive>:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE

6) Copy the contents of the folder MS_ROOT from the 3.50 downgrader ZIP to
the memory stick

7) Unzip the 1.50 update to a temporary folder. Rename the EBOOT.PBP to
UPDATE.PBP and copy it to <pspdrive>:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/ . DO NOT
OVERWRITE PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP!

Part 2 (Enabling HEN)

8) Load Lumines and press x to start the game

9) The screen will clear to black and fill with a light blue colour, then
the PSP will reset itself

10) Check that HEN is running by going to system settings, then to
"System Information" and it should show up as system version
350 HEN

Part 3 (Downgrading)

11) If it is showing up as HEN then go to the memory stick and
run the x.yz update

12) If you have an unpatched TA-082 or higher motherboard, you will be
prompted to allow the downgrader to patch your motherboard so it
can be safely downgraded. The downgrader will not let you proceed
without patching, if your motherboard requires it.

13) Before the downgrader does anything to your PSP it will ask
for you to agree to what it is doing, if you no longer want to
continue press the Right Shoulder Button (R-TRIGGER).

14) Once you have agreed to start the downgrade do not unplug the
PSP, or try and restart it

15) Once finished the PSP will ask you to press X, and reset itself

16) If it comes up saying that the settings are corrupt, press x
to continue, this will mean you will need to re-enter the
settings for network connections into your PSP, otherwise go to
step 18

17) Load the included NetConfigBackup application in your PSP, and select to
restore, this will take the backup that was done of the network config
that was done automatically during the downgrade.

18) All done now :-) Hopefully you now have a 1.50 PSP. Enjoy it responsibly.

drizzle · 10-14-2006, 02:26 AM

Awesome. Very nice work Juliet.

EDIT: I added the 2.71 generic downgrader to your 2nd post (wouldn't fit in the first anymore) and made the section headers bold and larger.

Arby_3000 · 10-14-2006, 10:40 PM

Nice job, julie.

Damn my Motherboard.

julie · 10-14-2006, 10:42 PM

thanks go to drizzle too. he added a section and made some cosmetic changes

Neiso · 10-20-2006, 05:04 PM

Hi I tried following the direction in those files and in your posts though I hva erun into a problem. When I run the Update file from the memory stick part of the game section the screen goes black and simply restarts. Is there anything I am doing wrong?

spikyhunter3 · 10-20-2006, 09:56 PM

which firmware are you trying to downgrade..?

Sullivan · 10-20-2006, 10:10 PM

when that happened to me, that meant i successfully downgraded...Did you check to see if youre f/w was the same?

i never even saw this thread before.