New PSP owner, need help with basic Homebrew - PSP3D.com - Sony PlayStation Portable News, Homebrew, Hacks, Reviews, Videos, Mods, Forums

Southrncomfortjm · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 04:35 PM

Hey all,

I'm thinking of getting a new PSP, one of the white Star Wars packs. I've been reading around trying to get answers to my questions but it hasn't been easy. There is plenty of information out there, but very little seems to be directed at new psp owners.

Here are my basic questions:

(1) With new firmware 3.90, or whatever will come with a white Star Wars psps, can I still run all the cool emulator software like SNES9x? I've read a lot about downgrading and e-loaders and what not, but I don't get it! Some places seem to imply that there is no problem at all with the new firmware as long as you have a good version of the emulator, but I just want to be sure.

(2) What basic stuff do I need to watch video files on my psp? From what I can tell from scouring the internet I just need the movie files and a converter, like pspvideo9, to convert the files to MP4 or whatever. Is that the basic idea? I was thinking of getting a 4gb memory stick to load homebrew and video files. Should be plenty of space right?

(3) Do I need to worry about firmware updates constantly? Do they come over the internet? or from games?

Any other beginning advice for a new psp owner looking to maximize his experience?

Many thanks!
Doubleposted Message Below:
Oh yeah, another question:

Does all this homebrew and video watching from a memory stick stuff mess with my ability to play my PSP online?

Thanks!

jsf · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 06:03 PM

Welcome to PSP3D. Here are some answers for you

(1) You cannot run emulators and homebrew on the official Sony PSP firmwares. you need to go to a custom firmware

(2) If the video is the right format you just put it in the video folder on the memory stick and it'll play. some movies you might need to convert to play so I would download a converter like PSPvideo9.

(3) Firmware updates add new cool features to the PSP sometimes but other times they are just stupid security update to stop homebrew and stuff so I would not update unless there is some great new feature coming to the PSP in the update. If you decide to use a custom firmware it's a bit different

and to your last question. No that stuff should not affect playing online

Southrncomfortjm · #3 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 06:12 PM

Hey, thanks for the response!

So, these custom firmwares, do I have to do crazy stuff to get them on? Like this Pandora stuff with the battery and specially formated memory stick?

jsf · #4 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 07:05 PM

sorry for the delayed response. Yeah you are going to have to use a Pandora battery and magic memory stick.

Southrncomfortjm · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsf

sorry for the delayed response. Yeah you are going to have to use a Pandora battery and magic memory stick.

Right. So I was thinking of buying this:

Datel Battery Slim PSP Tool - Pandoras Battery

Mostly because I have a distinct feeling that I would break the battery before I would be doing the process correctly.

I would probably use this guide to do the whole magic memory stick and custom firmware switchover:

Easy-To-Use Pandora's Battery Guide - PSPMod.com - Sony PSP Mod & Hacks Forums

If you have a chance, let me know if that is a good one or if you know of a better guide.

So once I have the pandora's battery, I need to do the magic memory stick thing. Seems easy enough that I could do it.

Is the pandora's battery still good to use as your everyday battery even after it has been used for the mod?

Yeah, I know, lots of questions.

Thanks for the help though!

jsf · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 04:52 PM

alright. Yes that will work if you buy it. That is a decent tutorial but you don't have to physically mod the battery if you buy the one you linked me to. The magic memory sick is easy to make so it shouldn't be a problem. Most batteries after you turn it into a pandora do not work right but the one you linked me too says it will still work the same. No problem happy to help. don't worry about asking so many questions.

splasher · #7 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 12:54 AM

Im trying to bring this thread back up by making it active. It is really helpful.

spydauk · #8 (**permalink**) 02-21-2009, 02:25 PM

So you can't use emulators unless you have a pandora battery?

gdspsp · #9 (**permalink**) 02-21-2009, 09:40 PM

incorrect, you cannot use emus unless you have cfw. on later fw's or certain mobos you use a pandobatt/mms to install cfw. currently not all psps can be hacked

jsf · #10 (**permalink**) 02-22-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spydauk

So you can't use emulators unless you have a pandora battery?

The Pandora battery is just a tool. Like said above to use emulators you require custom firmware which you install using a Pandora's battery. Certain motherboards on newer PSPs don't let you use the pandra battery though

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdspsp

incorrect, you cannot use emus unless you have cfw. on later fw's or certain mobos you use a pandobatt/mms to install cfw. currently not all psps can be hacked

Good explaination but I just wanted to clear it up a bit. hope you don't mind