3.03 OE-A/B/C Question and Answer
In this guide I have used some quotes from DarkED.
DEVHOOK OR CUSTOM FIRMWARE??
What Devhook does is, it allows you to 'emulate' firmware. Say you have firmware 2.71 official on your PSP and you want to run a homebrew that is made for firmware 1.5 or you wanted to play a new game that needs firmware 3.0 and you don't want to upgrade. Devhook would allow you to emulate firmware 1.5 to run that homebrew, or emulate 3.0 to run that game, with no downgrading/upgrading needed.
Basically, if you run 3.02/3 OE, you DON'T need Devhook to run your backups from the memstick. I'm 99% sure they just 'run' from the XMB. A custom firmware(because it is reading from the flash memory, and not from the memory card), and you get tonnes of customization options...
Oh yeah, just to note. Downgrading and upgrading to custom firmware can be dangerous! If you need any help just ask. We also have some really good tutorials floating around here, so a search would get you some love.
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Question and Answer
Starting steps: To install this custom firmware, first you need to get your psp system software(from here refered to as firmware) to 1.50. First, check which evrsion your motherboard is. Go here: http://www.pspmod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9250 (ph34r m3!)
After you know which mobo your psp has, get the appropriate downgrader and files here:
http://www.pspmod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8718 (Madd Kat IS HERE)
After downgrading your psp, read through this FAQ, and then download the files you need. The links are right at the bottom of this guide.
Q: To install 3.03OE-C do I have to install any other versions?
A: NO! 3.03OE-C is a FULL INSTALL which means that you can have 1.5, or 2.71SE, or 3.03OE. You can install it on any of these firmwares
Q: To install the version 3.03OE-B, do I have to install any other versions before?
A:YES! As it is an update, you should install 3.03OE-A, then the A' revision, and then finally the 3.03OE-B. ALso, being an update, the flashing time will be much faster, as it isn't writing the entire firmware, just some filez...
Q:After I install 3.03OE-A or B or C can I revert back to 1.5?
A: YES! First you need to make sure you have a RECOVERY folder in you PSP/GAME directory
to get hold of the recovery files, you can either
1: download the 3.02OE-A manual installation rar file. Extract that and you will see PSP/GAME/RECOVERY. Just copy that folder(RECOVERY) to the PSP/GAME folder on your 3.03OE psp.
or
2: install the custom firmware with the easy installer and select the option that says install recovery folder..
or
3:Recommended download http://ul5.rapidshare.com/files/417075/RECOVERY.zip and run the executable file (recommended)
SO THE ANSWER IS YES! All you do is boot the PSP in recovery mode(holding the right trigger as you start up), and then toggle the usb connection. After transfering the files, just exit USB mode, and select the option to run the eboot in PSP/GAME/RECOVERY.
Q:Should I use an EasyInstaller? or use the manual install?
A:Although EasyInstaller programs do generally work, recently there has been a scare with the 3.03OE-a Easyinstaller: a corrupt file was causing partial bricks. This has been fixed, but there may be some old versions still floating around there. I always use manual install: it only takes a couple more minutes, and you can be sure that all the files go to the right places, and that you have all the files that you need...
FinalVerdict: If you are a risk taking person, by all means use the easyinstaller, but if you really like your psp, use the manual installer.
Q: Is 3.03OE-A' and 3.03OE-A2 the same thing?
A:YES!
Q:Then, is it ok with me if I just install /recovery folder later on using this 3.02 OE-A installer only when and if I want to go back to 1.50?
A:Yes, it is. If you ever want to go back to 1.5, just goto usb mode and create the necessary folders in your ms. You do NOT NEED these files to run the custom firmware
Q: TO access the recovery mode(holding R while coldbooting), do I need a /RECOVERY folder on my ms??
A: NO!! The /recovery folder on your ms is only necessary if you want to revert to 1.5. You can use the other options on the recovery menu(SPU speed, SCE logo on/off etc) without the folder.
Q:Before installing 3.03OE-A, do I need to install 3.02OE-A, then 3.02OE-B first?
A:NO!! As 3.03OE-A is a full install, you need not flash 3.02OE-B first. Although you can do it if it puts you at ease.
Note:To install 3.03OE-B, you need to first flash 3.03OE-A, then the Update.
Q:I would like to use 3.03 OE-A easy installer since I am not familiar with PSP file system and everything. I found it at http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/999. Is this ok if I run it after formatting MS?
A:YES, but there have been cases of recent partial bricks using the easy loader(although this problem has been fixed). I personnaly used the manual install, it's just a simple case of drag and drop, execute, drag and drop, execute, and your done .
Q:After installing 3.03 OE-A, do I need to format the MS again to upgrade it to 3.03 OE-A2 or 3.03OE-B?
A:NO, although just to be totally sure you should(to avoid conflicting files)
Q:I ran the PSP 3.03 OE-A easy installer, and it gave me two options; Install in GAME and Install in GAME150. What should I choose?
A:If you are already using 2.71SE OR 3.02OE-A OR 3.02OE-B you should install into the GAME150 folder. If you are installing from 1.5 you should put it in the GAME folder.
Q:After the installation of my custom firmware, is it ok to format the memstick again?
A:OF COURSE: your custom firmware is now saved on the psp flash memory. Format the card at your will.
Q:Which folder should I put iso/cso files in?
A:To play ISO/CSO files goto the root of your memory stick and make a new folder called ISO. Just slam all your iso's here and they will play directly off the xmb(you go to Game>MemoryStick> and you can play your game right from here: no need for fastloader...)
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Download links
File necessary for manual install:
3.03OE-A manual install: http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/998
3.03Firmware update EBOOT: http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/958
1.50Firmware update EBOOT: http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/4
EasyInstaller
3.03OE-A easyinstall: http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/999
Update(s)
3.03OE-A' (the update): http://www.psp-hacks.com/file/1002
3.03OE-B (needs botgh 3.03ÃÆâ€â „¢ÃƒÆ’¢â‚ƚ¬?E-A and 3.03OEA' to be flashed first): http://dl.qj.net/index.php?pg=12&fid=12202
Cheers
Gameunreal
Originally Posted by Gameunreal 
