PSP firmware versions 2.5 and 2.6 now downgradeable

So if you made the "mistake" of upgrading your PSP to firmware version 2.5 or 2.6 just to find out that your precious homebrew would no longer load, it seems you now have a questionably-legal way to downgrade back to version 1.5 and all the emulation fun that goes along with it. Several forums dedicated to Sony's portable console are reporting that hackers using the handles Dark_Alex and Hitchhikr have succeeded in creating a workaround that exploits files from the 1.5 updater to overwrite the current firmware, although owners of so-called "TA-082" PSPs are warned not to attempt the procedure unless they fancy a bricked device. Furthermore, since you're required to either download the necessary 1.5 swag or get it from a friend, you're probably breaking some anti-piracy laws here, so of course we can't put our stamp of approval on this hack. That's all for now, but the battle between Sony and the homebrew community is far from over, so keep your eyes peeled for the next installment in this exciting saga.

[Shaun B @ Jul 2nd 2006 5:09PM]

Can someone say , psp BRICK time.... hahahaha.

[iceatcs @ Jul 2nd 2006 5:37PM]

So PSP have been really great month. DS hack have been very very quiet.

- 2.5 Fireware loader for 1.5FW users (to play latest UMD games, and internet browser)
- N64 and GBA emulators for PSP have been very active around. There are 3 updates for GBA emulator.
- Now new downgrade for 2.5/2.6 to 1.5

[DarkPenguin @ Jul 2nd 2006 5:39PM]

I think it's funny that the interaction between producer(sony) and consumer(people who want to use their device freely) is discribed as a "battle". In economics a battle is something the producers rarely win.

[aaron @ Jul 2nd 2006 5:43PM]

guys, be really aware of it, today a friend of mine, doing every step of this downgrade really fine, converted his psp into a useless brick. the version was fine, the firmware too, and all was downloaded from reliable pages.

now he is only able to hack it with the chip and paying the 75 euros(about 100 bucks.

Now just don't say that no one told you about the danger:-)

[iceatcs @ Jul 2nd 2006 5:51PM]

Yeah noobies shouldn't try it out really.

ONLY ADVANCED PSP USERS!

[Justin B @ Jul 2nd 2006 6:31PM]

Everyone, this downgrader is safe if you meet the requirements. All you have to have is a PSP that is NOT a TA-082. If you are unsure, check your PSP's UMD door (open it up) and check inside and look at this pic - http://pspupdates.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/56713/ta82spot1.jpg


This is very safe, thousands have downgraded on forums and in IRC channels. If you follow the steps illustrated after you go to the PSPU article, you should be fine. Just do not downgrade if your PSP motherboard is a vTA-082 this will result in a brick.

[Shaun B @ Jul 2nd 2006 6:32PM]

thats true.. but people can put trojans of some sort for psps so people can download and sadly,... brick

[Kyozabe @ Jul 2nd 2006 6:43PM]

Lol, the pretty banner also has pretty hex

[Mitch @ Jul 2nd 2006 6:50PM]

Just be careful I bricked my psp today and I've even downgraded from 2.0 to 1.5 on my other psp. I did everything to a T and it still bricked it. I know how to do it and i followed both the readme and the instructions on the net. It is just too bad because i am going over seas tommorow and now i have to sit 9 hours with no PSP. Be careful!! Now i have to order that chip, god damn 100 bones

[Archijs @ Jul 2nd 2006 7:05PM]

hi. im kinda new to this(2 days ago bought a psp, 2.0 version). i am wondering - is there some kind of FAQ on the net about "how to run homebrew game isos"?

[weatherman @ Jul 2nd 2006 7:13PM]

This is bad for Sony. The people who should be the biggest advocates for the system are intentionally 'crippling' their hardware so that they can't play the latest games and trading that addded functionality of running mostly legitimate homebrew software.

Sony needs to meet this halfway. They need to create a signed-homebrew program to bring all the energy from the PSP community in, rather than continually fighting (and losing) the battle that ultimate hurts them and the platform more than any emulator ever could.

[t10 @ Jul 2nd 2006 8:10PM]

Shaun B, this is why you check the md5 hash string to verify the authenticity.

Is everyone 12 here?

[iceatcs @ Jul 2nd 2006 8:34PM]

Archijs

"is there some kind of FAQ on the net about "how to run homebrew game isos"?"

Not for anything over 1.5FW
But you can downgrade 2.0 to 1.5 which it is more safely way than 2.5/2.6 downgrader.

[J. Evans Turner @ Jul 2nd 2006 8:50PM]

The article makes it sound like it's illegal to distribute the 1.5 firmware. Unlike the Playstation or PS2, Sony has made PSP firmware updates available online for users to download. It is not illegal to distribute these firmware update files because it was never a product that Sony charged for. Because Sony made the downloads available, they were not "protected" and did not require reverse-engineering to obtain, so they are 100% legal to redistribute as long as you do not profit from Sony's IP.

[Jonathan Fung @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:53AM]

Actually, I'm pretty active on the official Playstation Forums, and it would seem that everyone who tried this downgrader has had success. In fact, according to Al2x of PS Forums:

The only 4 ways to brick your PSP:

- The battery goes down during the process
- There is no more memory during the process
- You botched the files before actually downgrading
- You have the TA-082 motherboard

Otherwise, the downgrader works flawlessly.

I actually believe him here. So basically, keep your battery at full when you start, use a big stick with a lot of space, check to see if you have TA-082, and make sure you download the file properly. It shouldn't brick your PSP.

But then again, don't come at me with a bat if I'm wrong. You're still downgrading at your own risk.

[Jonathan Worrel @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:15AM]

============================================
Yep, yesterday I successfully downgraded my 2.60 to 1.50 using the version 5 beta of this downgrader, not even the final release. Now I can seamlessly use 1.50 homebrew games and then benefit from all the features in 2.50 using the MPH Firmware Launcher.
============================================

[David @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:36AM]

Justin B, i have read your comment about the pic that shows if your psp is a TA-082 or not, my cousin and I had a look at our psp inside the tray it shows no text on the top right corner but on the left side just hidden it has a text " IC9001 " does that claim the psp is a TA-082 or not?

thanks

[Shaun @ Jul 3rd 2006 4:34AM]

Yup, take a look at/read this...

http://pspupdates.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/56713/ta82spot1.jpg

[Frank @ Jul 4th 2006 2:29PM]

Do this....

Collect all your PSP stuff. Take some pictures. And throw it on eBay and get rid of it.

I bought mine at launch, ended up buying three or four games right around launch, and that was it. The system just sat around.

I sold the stupid unit. Just recently I bought the DS Lite. It's so much more FUN. Thanks Nintendo for paying attention to gaming and delivering great gaming experiences.

PSP is already a brick. Sony has blown it. They had the hottest piece of hardware since the iPod and they blew it.

[David @ Jul 5th 2006 2:21AM]

hmm i was wondering does this downgrade work for white psp 2.5 (jp) " psp - 1000 " when i brought it, it was already on 2.5 then i upgraded it to 2.6 so would i be able to downgrade my psp to 1.5?

[Nick @ Jul 5th 2006 11:39PM]

actually its impossible to brick your psp with this unless you dont read the directions or have a psp that doesnt fit the reqiurements

[MojoJojo @ Jul 11th 2006 8:46PM]

If this thing should fail, wont i then be able to send my psp to the shop where i bought it and pretend it just crashed, and get a new unit on the warranty?

[Demrok @ Jul 12th 2006 7:05AM]

"I sold the stupid unit. Just recently I bought the DS Lite. It's so much more FUN."
Comments like that are just.. (sigh)
Nintendo's handheld plays kiddie games, PSP is a MEDIA CENTER.. yes it plays games.. as well as movies MP3s has a web Browser.. it has so much MORE then a DS that it can't be compared on the same level..
all anyone can ever say about DS is that it has 2 screens and one is a touchpad! ... I'm not impressed..
go to Gamespot.com and look at the PSP section.. all you see are cool games made for people above the age of 16.. the DS section.. kiddie games like "Cooking Mamma" "Big Brain Academy" and "Monster House"... So if those are the kinda games you like.. cool *thumbs up* Me? I'm going to play Monster Hunter Freedom over X-link Kai...

[WoW @ Jul 13th 2006 9:59PM]

I have a TA-082 psp and do you think there will be a chance for any downgraders in the future.

[Jasper @ Jul 16th 2006 10:26AM]

ok, so the question now is.. is there a 2.6 downgrader for people with the TA-082 PSPs? i managed to rip off Best Buy and sony (i took in my 2.71 PSP and said "it had a faulty memory card drive" and got a new one. Good: Its 2.6, apparentally some Homebrew can run on 2.6, Edison Carter's CheatDevice for GTA is excelent, one of the best things out there, but i havent found any 2.6 Homebrew
Bad: Its a TA-082 PSP, which i suppose means theres no downgrader? If there is could someone please tell me? Also *quiet slightly suspicious whisper* if anyone has those 1.5 files that are "illegal" (i put it in quotes because its a crime that Sony is blocking off Homebrew) could some one email them to me? [e-mail], greatly appriciated

Cheers for now!

~J.T~

[DaveDave @ Aug 9th 2006 7:55PM]

^^^Real Slick!! I'm looking for thw ceramic white psp but I'm afraid to get that daggit TA-082...maybe I'll just throw caution to the wind n if i get the "bad apple" brick it n send it back to sony!(maybe more than once till I get the right one) heh heh heh

[griffin @ Aug 28th 2006 2:57PM]

hello, im wanting to downgrade from 2.6>1.5, i have psp 1000, original firmware 2.0, i do not have the ta-082 board, will the downgrader work succsesfully?

[vato_loco911 @ Nov 6th 2006 8:02PM]

does anyone know how to play videos on my version 2.8 psp. i already made the MP_Root folder and the one that goes inside it. converted the videos to mp4. but still my psp wont let me play videos. I need big help. and can i downgrade my psp cuz it sucks!

[andrew @ Mar 15th 2007 9:43PM]

ok well lemme tell you a little bit about this downgrader, im an active member on the www.psp-spot.com site, and that is where this downgrader originated, stupid me of course didnt read about the ta-082 mobo and tried to downgrade and bricked it, called sony up and told them i was upgrading it to 2.71 and had a powersurge in the middle of the upgrade, they send me one brand new for free, no ta-082 mobo and fw 2.6, used the downgrader successfully and now im a proud owner of a 1.5 fw psp with all the bells and whistles ;p