The PSPHacks community is an unofficial sister subreddit of r/3DSHacks aimed at reviving the popular portable handheld console that rocked worldwide gaming communities.
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