Custom Firmware Upgrade
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If you just downgraded your PSP to 1.50, or your PSP is now at a custom firmware by Dark Alex, versions 3.10 OE-A, 3.30 OE-A, or 3.40 OE-A, you can begin your step-by-step upgrade to 3.90 M33-3.
Please read Important Downgrading Information before you proceed.
This custom firmware upgrade is for the PSP fat (aka PSP phat, the original PSP,) and the new PSP slim.
Please note: While you are performing any update on the PSP make sure you have a full battery and an AC cable plugged in so that you do not run out of power during the update. You cannot turn off the PSP during the update process or you will brick your PSP.
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This process involves 14 steps that must be done in the correct order. If you skip any of these steps you will end up with a brick. Consider it a metamorphosis; all stages are necessary to turn into the best possible PSP.
**
INSTRUCTIONS:
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Step 1.
Restore your PSP back to default settings. Go to Settings –> System Settings –> Restore Default Settings
Step 2.
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Download the “3.90 M33-3 TOTAL UPGRADE PACK” to your computer and extract the files to your desktop.
Click here for Download Help.
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Step 3.
Connect your PSP to the computer with the PSP USB cable, and connect your AC adapter to the PSP. Open the “3.90 M33-3 TOTAL UPGRADE PACK” folder. Inside you will find a folder called PSP and a file called 150.PBP. Copy the PSP folder and the 150.PBP file to the root directory of your PSP. When asked to Overwrite select YES TO ALL. Disconnect your PSP from your computer.
Step 4.
If you are not at 1.50 just skip this step.
If your PSP is already a Version 1.50 or you have just downgraded to 1.50
go to Game –> Memory Stick and run “KXploit Permanent Patcher.” This will patch the firmware so it can load unkxploited eboots.
This is only for Version 1.50.
Step 5.
Upgrade to 3.52 M33
On your PSP go to
- Game –> Memory Stick.
Make sure your AC adapter is still connected. Run the 3.52-M33 Firmware update and follow the on-screen prompts to update to the 3.52-M33 firmware.
Step 6.
Upgrade from 3.52 M33 to 3.52 M33-4
On your PSP go to
- Game –> Memory Stick.
Make sure your AC adapter is still connected. Run the 3.52-M33-4 UPDATE and follow the on-screen prompts to update to the 3.52 M33-4 firmware.
Step 7.
Upgrade from 3.52 M33-4 to 3.90 M33
Go to the Recovery Menu and make sure that the Game folder kernel is set to 3.52. To enter the Recovery Menu: turn off the PSP and then turn it on while holding the right trigger button. Go to Configuration and select “game folder homebrew” and change to 3.52, if necessary.
Step 8.
Now go to Game –> Memory Stick –> MUX UPDATE 2.0 by KSBO At the menu select “UPDATE 1 : 3.90 M33″ by using the D-pad to move the X up and down. Now press the X-button to select that update. The Memory Stick light will blink. When it stops blinking select Exit at the bottom of the menu.
Step 9.
Now go to Game –> Memory Stick –> PSP Update ver 3.90. The picture to the left will indicate that this is 3.90 M33.
- Game –> Memory Stick.
Run the 3.90 update. Follow the on-screen prompts. You should have a successful update to 3.90 M33.
Note: The 1.50 kernel can only be installed on PSP fat (not the new PSP slim.) It is up to you if you want to install the 1.50 kernel on your PSP fat. The 1.50 kernel is for running Homebrew such as emulators and apps. You can run normal PSP games without it.Note that you do not add the 1.50 kernel until after you are done updating to 3.90 M33.
- Game –> Memory Stick.
Step 10.
Upgrade from 3.90 M33 to 3.90 M33-3
Now go to Game –> Memory Stick –> MUX UPDATE 2.0 by KSBO At the menu select “UPDATE 2 : 3.90 M33-3″ by using the D-pad to move the X up and down. Now press the X-button to select that update. The Memory Stick light will blink. When it stops blinking select Exit at the bottom of the menu.
Step 11.
Go to GAME –> Memory Stick –> PSP Update ver 3.90. The picture to the left indicates that this is 3.90 M33-3.
- Game –> Memory Stick.
Run the program. It should finish very quickly.
Step 12.
Now check your system information to confirm that you have the correct custom firmware. Go to Settings –> System Information 
Select System Information and you should see something like this (without the cute anime chick.) 
Step 13.
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When you have confirmed that you have the correct custom firmware delete KXploiter, both of the PSP Update ver 3.90 (the M33 and the M33-3) and the MUX 2.0 files by selecting each one in the menu, pressing the triangle button, and selecting delete.
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Step 14.
If you have any Plugins go to the Recovery Menu and reactivate your Plugins. To enter the Recovery Menu: turn off the PSP and then turn it on while holding the right trigger button. Scroll down to Plugins and press X. You will see a list of Plugins that are disabled. Highlight each Plugin that you want to reactivate and press X to activate. (At this point we are not certain if all Plugins can be reactivated, but we just tried SVCapture and it seems to work fine now.)
~~~
You are now done and your PSP
is updated to 3.90 M33-3,
custom firmware from Dark Alex.
Credits: All thanks go to the M33 Team for this custom firmware release, keeping custom firmware alive.
For those of you who requested the theme I used you can download it here:
Hatsune Miku Theme
Congratulations!
Now you should look into a Download Service.
Visit our Reviews of the Best Download Services.
~~~
hey thanks this help me out alot
Jason Wardlaw | September 8, 2007 | 7:44 pmhey thanks this help me out alot
Thanks a billion for everything, i took me so long
Rock | November 29, 2007 | 1:48 pmThanks a billion for everything, i took me so long just to find the correct site with easy instructions. You guys are great.
Well, i am a noob and was very wary of
mandy | March 17, 2008 | 6:08 amWell, i am a noob and was very wary of doing this downgrade to 1.50 but it was easy as pie, just make sure you check details over and over and only do these things when you are sure.
thanks so much.
Hi there! I got the 3.10 OEA firmware
Hector Cavazos | April 4, 2008 | 4:52 pmHi there!
I got the 3.10 OEA firmware in my psp, I’d like to upgrade it to 3.90 M33-3 but I got this question: could I do it even if the PSP was bought in mexico? or it’s got to be bought in the US? Thanks
Hey Hector, it should work just fine. I've never
Rikto | April 7, 2008 | 8:59 pmHey Hector, it should work just fine. I’ve never heard of anyone having trouble putting CFW (custom firmware) on a non-american psp.
I currently have 3.40 0E-A and trying to update to
5thgen | April 9, 2008 | 10:29 pmI currently have 3.40 0E-A and trying to update to 3.52-M33. I keep getting this error:
“The game could not be started.
(80020148)
Can someone please help?
Thanks
im going to do this later today. ive got
John | April 17, 2008 | 12:15 amim going to do this later today. ive got version 3.30 oe-a on my psp now. im a little confused by step #4 where it says “if you’re not at version 1.50 skip this step”
does this mean that i should skip the first 4 steps if im 3.30 already? i assumed the first 3 steps made sure you WERE version 1.50, so why would somebody NOT be at ver 1.50 at that point?
i really really really dont wanna brick myself here, and that looks confusing to me. if in doubt should i just do all steps in order, regardless of my current firmware?
I got the same problem as 5thgen (I have 3.40
Noam | April 17, 2008 | 8:20 amI got the same problem as 5thgen (I have 3.40 0E-A too)…
Please help… thanks.
in step 7 is it ok to turn of my
powersword88 | April 17, 2008 | 8:30 amin step 7 is it ok to turn of my psp?you said if i turn of my psp it will be bricked….pls NEED HELP!!!!
Just found a solution for the problem - downgrade to
Noam | April 17, 2008 | 8:41 amJust found a solution for the problem -
downgrade to 1.50 first and then it should work!
i get the same error, anyone? im at 3.30
John | April 21, 2008 | 8:07 ami get the same error, anyone? im at 3.30 oea
I've visited many site for an easy tutorial to upgrade
Roger | May 20, 2008 | 2:44 pmI’ve visited many site for an easy tutorial to upgrade from my 3.40 oe-a to 3.90 m33-3 This is just great!
Question= Will this upgrade help me with those problems when I try to load iso games (ej.80020148)?
Thanks
upgrading to 3.90 M33 will let you play all the
Big Monkey | May 21, 2008 | 11:25 amupgrading to 3.90 M33 will let you play all the newest PSP games.
If you keep getting that error (80020148) you should turn off “NO-UMD” in the recovery menu.
I went to the recovery menu and turned off the
Roger | May 21, 2008 | 8:32 pmI went to the recovery menu and turned off the NO-UMD but I keep getting the “The game could not be started.” (80020148). I have the 3.40 oea CF. Please help. Thanks
Hello. I was receiving the “The game could not
Roger | May 23, 2008 | 7:46 amHello. I was receiving the “The game could not be started.
(80020148)” when trying to upgrade using this tutorial from 3.40 oea to 3.90 m33-3 . To avoid this problem go to the recovery menu and change the kernel to 1.5 and then disable the “NO UMD”. This worked for me. The upgrade was sweet, now I have 3.99 m33-3.
hey, i have 3.71 M33-2. how do i upgrade it to
dale | May 26, 2008 | 3:47 amhey, i have 3.71 M33-2.
how do i upgrade it to 3.91 M33-3?
help pls
Hey Man thanks, nice background, could you email it too
mosh_monkey | June 4, 2008 | 11:15 amHey Man thanks, nice background, could you email it too me?
********@medway.org.uk
Thanks!
>.
you guys are the easiest upgraders ever... my friends all have
ryan | June 19, 2008 | 1:09 pmyou guys are the easiest upgraders ever…
my friends all have the same firmware plus i have themes aswell ~.^ thanks a bunch…
where could i donate? (im this happy ^^)
were is the recovery menu
osvaldo hernandez | June 24, 2008 | 12:10 pmwere is the recovery menu
Read this http://www.psp-monkey.com/plugins-and-the-recovery-menu/
Rikto | June 25, 2008 | 12:35 pmRead this
http://www.psp-monkey.com/plugins-and-the-recovery-menu/
i chked out many sites for firmware upgrade information. this
nel | June 27, 2008 | 3:08 pmi chked out many sites for firmware upgrade information. this is by far the clearest and easiest method i have come across. i followed the instructions exactly and from 3.40oe-a, its now 3.90 m33-3. Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!! Many thanks!!!!
Perfect instruction !! bravo. One more question do I need to
Niilartey | July 20, 2008 | 8:37 amPerfect instruction !! bravo.
One more question do I need to reformat my memory stick after completion ?
Niilartey: I don't think you have to format it, just
Rikto | July 20, 2008 | 4:30 pmNiilartey: I don’t think you have to format it, just delete the upgrade and downgrade files and you should be fine as far as I can remember at least.
Tanks. We have all the HOW TO instructions which works perfectly,
Niilartey | July 21, 2008 | 9:24 amTanks.
We have all the HOW TO instructions which works perfectly, is there a plan to for HOW TO put games on your PSP ? I mean homebrew games, I see lots of comments of where to put the downloaded games but I have not managed to get it to work, I ca’t see my game in the game menu.
ok step 3 its says put it in the root
John | July 21, 2008 | 12:19 pmok step 3 its says put it in the root directory is that the mp root
i firgued it out srry for the double post these
John | July 21, 2008 | 12:35 pmi firgued it out srry for the double post these directions are super easy
i have 3.40 OE-a and i want to upgrade, to
huh | July 25, 2008 | 12:49 ami have 3.40 OE-a and i want to upgrade, to the latest. do i have to downgrade to 1.50. i dont understand……..
a this my first time doing this does this atualy
art | July 25, 2008 | 1:11 pma this my first time doing this does this atualy work
omg best of the best tutorials ever! this really helped
Jon | July 30, 2008 | 5:20 pmomg best of the best tutorials ever! this really helped me thankyou
TNX GUYS UF THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YHELL | August 4, 2008 | 10:25 pmTNX GUYS UF THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@27 There is a link on the sidebar right below the
Rikto | August 11, 2008 | 1:39 pm@27
There is a link on the sidebar right below the link to this page that answers your question. It’s called “Upgrade from 3.10, 3.30, or 3.40 OE-A to New 3.90 M33-3″
thanks
daniel | August 17, 2008 | 12:13 pmthanks
I followed all the steps and everything worked fine except
kevin | August 20, 2008 | 8:00 pmI followed all the steps and everything worked fine except when i put iso files in the iso folder it says no games available! any ideas? I formatted the memory card with the psp and that didnt help! The version still shows 3.90 m33-3
wow thnx, i thought i was going to be stuck
kevin | August 30, 2008 | 3:53 pmwow thnx, i thought i was going to be stuck with 3.10 forever
My PSP bricked , is there any solution to unbricked
Alex Chia | September 6, 2008 | 4:45 amMy PSP bricked , is there any solution to unbricked it ?
Please i need help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did upgrade from 3.40 OE-A to 3.90M33 and not
Alisha | September 11, 2008 | 3:21 pmI did upgrade from 3.40 OE-A to 3.90M33 and not further
and i did see that my favorite game PES08 was now working
so i do not upgrade it further to 3.90M-3, and i did also did not install 1.50 kernel.
Thanks for this great upgrade, games are working great now with 3.90M33
Alisha
Hi guys. i no in the steps it says to
Tiny | September 17, 2008 | 7:16 pmHi guys. i no in the steps it says to delete some of the stuff..
ty!
how about the rest?? can i just reformat my memory card?? btw everything worked awsome soo happy.. awsome walkthough nice and clear.
i'm trying to get this upgrade to work, i have
roy | September 28, 2008 | 2:37 ami’m trying to get this upgrade to work, i have the TA-082 model and have custom frmware 3.40 OE-A, i to get the message could not start this game, how do i get this to work for me anyone?
P.S what is kernel and where can i find it
roy | September 28, 2008 | 2:38 amP.S what is kernel and where can i find it in the recovery menu?
hold it i fond it already soory for the hassel
roy | September 28, 2008 | 2:41 amhold it i fond it already soory for the hassel
hey thanks! it worked perfectly!
Blue Rebel | October 11, 2008 | 3:06 amhey thanks! it worked perfectly!
i have 3.50 OF and want to upgrade to
aj | October 23, 2008 | 12:27 ami have 3.50 OF and want to upgrade to CFW… How can i make it
when i dled this and checked i dont have the
nicholas | November 16, 2008 | 9:42 pmwhen i dled this and checked i dont have the 3.52 update . help?
okay, i found it. so sorry. but when i open
nicholas | November 16, 2008 | 9:48 pmokay, i found it. so sorry. but when i open games>mem stick, all it showed was that the 3.52 update was corrupted data
yea i got it, but when i started the 3.52
nicholas | November 17, 2008 | 5:05 amyea i got it, but when i started the 3.52 update it was like “loading 1.50 firmware….pbp signatures don’t match” help?
Got a Q I've been trying to do this but
JsPSP | December 6, 2008 | 9:37 pmGot a Q I’ve been trying to do this but I keep getting the Could not start game message, I tried to boot to the recovery as per the linked instructions but that did not work either any help greatly appreciated!
hi all my son keeps asking me to download games
david | December 11, 2008 | 9:13 amhi all my son keeps asking me to download games and put them on his card so i have and they dont play have i got to downgrade the psp first as iam a little bit thick lol can any one help thanks
hello. i tried to follow the steps posted above.
jeric | December 19, 2008 | 12:05 pmhello. i tried to follow the steps posted above. i am trying to update to 3.52 m33 and i always get the message ” the game could not be started”. i tried to go to the recovery menu and it always appear. but whenever i browse it the screen always turns to black. can anyone help me. my psp is 3.3 OE-A. thank you very much.
THNX A LOT MAN... THE UPDATE WORKS LIKE HELL!! (= IF
Cloud | December 24, 2008 | 2:45 amTHNX A LOT MAN… THE UPDATE WORKS LIKE HELL!! (=
IF THOSE GOT THE ERROR OF GETTING GAME CANNOT BE STARTED THN GO TO UR RECOVERY MODE AND CHANGE THE THING TO 1.50 kernell
TO JERIC: GO TO RECOVERY MODE AND CHANGE THE STH KERNELL
Cloud | December 24, 2008 | 2:47 amTO JERIC:
GO TO RECOVERY MODE AND CHANGE THE STH KERNELL TO 1.50 KERNELL
hi. I tried all the guides out there
DEsert SOUL | December 26, 2008 | 3:05 pmhi. I tried all the guides out there to upgrade my 3.40 oe a to a 3.52m33, but each one gave me this message: “The game could not be started (80020148)”.
I even followed a guide which disables this message ( by going to the recovery menu )
please help. Thanks.
nevermind.... i fixed it..... sorry
DEsert SOUL | December 26, 2008 | 4:15 pmnevermind…. i fixed it….. sorry
Can I play ISO-games after I`m done with the update?
Fredrik | December 30, 2008 | 11:16 amCan I play ISO-games after I`m done with the update?
how did you fix that thing with the message?
Fredrik | December 30, 2008 | 11:20 amhow did you fix that thing with the message?
Any CFW will let you play ISOs.
Rikto | December 30, 2008 | 12:38 pmAny CFW will let you play ISOs.
I got the game to start, but now there is
Fredrik | December 30, 2008 | 1:51 pmI got the game to start, but now there is another problem.
I`m playing GTA Liberty city stories, but it doesnt come any sound.
Does anyone know how to fix it?
Heyy wow that is one awesome theme!!! can someone please
Sabby | January 12, 2009 | 5:10 amHeyy wow that is one awesome theme!!! can someone please email the theme to me or email me the link please take the time i’ve been up since 2:00 trying to find an anime theme and now its 7:00 and i got nothing
Please email me this anime theme or equally cute anime girl theme
Email me at: xxxxxxx
Heyy it's me again, I found the psp anime theme
Sabby | January 12, 2009 | 5:37 amHeyy it’s me again, I found the psp anime theme if anyone else wants it here’s the link: http://www.psp-themes.org/theme-433-Anime
PS: registration required all it takes is 30 sec for pass, user, and email (no confirmation needed)
I put a link right at the bottom of the
Rikto | January 20, 2009 | 4:50 pmI put a link right at the bottom of the guide to download my theme, just so you know. I guess you just did not see it. ^^
hello...how will i know the version of my psp???
shadz | January 21, 2009 | 8:42 pmhello…how will i know the version of my psp???
After the 3.90 mm3 (not the mm3-3) my psp didn't
Kukali | February 18, 2009 | 8:12 amAfter the 3.90 mm3 (not the mm3-3) my psp didn’t regonize the apps that i’ve put inn there (in the game folder) my apps/programs is gone i need to update to 3.90 mm3-3
hi this webcite is amazing but my ver is 3.30oe-a
mohamed | February 21, 2009 | 1:18 pmhi this webcite is amazing but my ver is 3.30oe-a & i cant plz help