Posted by 
June 7, 2009 •
Thanks to Davee and Team typhoon, custom firmware can now run on PSP-3000 or PSP-2000 with TA-088v3 via the chickHen hack. Using chickHen(or in this case ChickHen R2), you can run custom firmware to play ISO/CSO games and run homebrew applications.
So what is chickHen?
ChickHEN is an loader for all Sony PSP models (1000, 2000 and 3000) to run homebrew apps on official Sony 5.03 firmware. Everything runs on the onboard memory of the PSP so there’s no risk of damage (unless you stray away from the instructions). The current version of chickHen is chickHen-R2.
Update: This guide is sorely outdated.
Please refer to this new guide instead : Install Signed 5.03 Hen + 5.03 GEN-C on your PSP. It’s much simpler to follow and will help you install 5.03 GEN-C and the Prometheus-4 module.
Important: If you have official firmware 5.50 installed, stop now. You can’t install the chickHen hack which means you can’t install any of the custom firmware for your PSP (5.03 GEN-A or Custom Firmware Enabler). As of 5.50 OFW, the TIFF exploit that the chickHen hack runs on is already patched.
Requirements:
- A PSP-3000 or PSP-2000 with TA-088v3 motherboard.
- A firmware version of 5.03 or lower. If you have anything higher, you can’t install chickHen.
- Download: 503.pbp | 503.pbp
- Download: ChickHEN R2 | ChickHEN R2
Update your PSP to OFW 5.03
Skip this step if you already have official firmware 5.03 installed.
- Connect your PSP to the computer in USB Mode
- Copy the 503.pbp to folder PSP/GAME/UPDATE
- Disconnect the PSP from USB
- Run the Update via XMB
- When the update finishes proceed to installing chickHen R2.
How to Install chickHEN R2 on your PSP
- On the Settings menu of your PSP’s XMB, do the following
- Restore to Default Settings’ of PSP
- Turn off UMD Auto-Start and UMD Cache
- Character set to us
- Revert theme for classic
- Connect your PSP to the computer in USB Mode
- Unzip ChickHEN R2.zip on your computer
- Copy h.bin to your memory stick root, this is where the VIDEO, PICTURE and PSP folders are.
- Copy the chickHEN folder (use the contents PHAT folder for PSP-1000s, SLIM folder for PSP-2000s and PSP-3000s) inside the PHOTO folder of your PSP (X:/PSP/PHOTO is the root of the memory stick, manually create this if you don’t see one)
- Disconnect the PSP from USB.
- Turn OFF (not standby) your PSP and turn it on again.
- Go to XMB >> Photo >> Memory Stick and wait (YES YOU NEED TO WAIT) an Options menu appear (Right Bottom)
- Hit X to open ChickHEN folder
- If you’re successful ChickHEN-R2 load up, you’ll see flashing colors, and your PSP will reboot automatically into ChickHEN. Check your Firmware version and you should see :
5.03 ChickHEN R2
Easy installer for ChickHen R2
For you lazy bums out there, you can use these programs to install chickHen R2 will just one click.
- Download the installer for your PSP Model:
- Download for Phat (PSP-1000): HEN for PHAT
- Download for Slim/Brite (PSP-2000/-3000): HEN for SLIM/Brite
- Extract the zip file to your computer
- Run the included program (it’s an exe, but don’t worry, it’s virus free)
- Connect your PSP to your PC.
- Hit the install button.
- If you’re successful ChickHEN-R2 load up, you’ll see flashing colors, and your PSP will reboot automatically into ChickHEN. Check your Firmware version and you should see :
5.03 ChickHEN R2
installer by ADePSP
Running custom firmware on ChickHen
After successfully loading chickHen, you can now proceed to run custom firmware on your PSP. You can choose:
Troubleshooting
If you’re experiencing trouble (and yes, a lot of people are having trouble running ChickHen) try these:
- Go to system settings, and choose Restore Default Settings option. Don’t change your PSP’s name from default.
- Turn off the Umd Auto load
- If you have PSP-2000 or PSP-3000 turn off UMD cache.
- Change the character set code to the US (437) or Multilingual latin 1 (850), this code are used for system access of some file types.
- Adding 1 to 2 extra gif images, copy and paste with name e.g. ChickHENe.gif, ChickHENf.gif. Its most happen on High Speed memory stick pro duo. Fake MS or Not
- Don’t use the chickHen folder other than for pictures used for chickHen.
- Try to use a different memory stick or reformatting your memory stick (after backing up it’s contents).
If you need a video:
If you still have a question, post it in the comments.
I’ve got OFW 5.03 and i’ve got the ChickHEN folder of images, i’ve done everything in the troubleshooting list and it still just freezes and shuts down. Then when i reboot it’s the same.
It’s a psps slim 2003.
I got prob with psp after installing v.6.31 that i downloaded from this site : (http://us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/psp/pc/index.htm.) all of my previous games aren’t being detected.Pls i need help…..
You’ve installed the official firmware, check here if your PSP is hackable (downgradable):
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/03/how-to-check-if-your-psp-can-have-cfw-installed/
Done downloading both Requirements:
* ChickHEN R2 enabled PSP
* Download PSP Ident | PSP Ident
but for ChickHEN (Unsupported Data) and for Ident (The data is corrupted) error accured. Pls guide me…..
*facepalm*
No, i didn’t mean to retry running ChickHen, check if your’s PSP model.
If it’s a PSP-3000, no way around it.
Sorry dude,mine is PSP-2000
back to this guide:
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/03/how-to-check-if-your-psp-can-have-cfw-installed/
Read the Manually Checking your PSPs hackability part.
it didn’t work on my psp. i keep on trying to the left-right2x thing but it just hang, and turned off. y is that so?
What’s your firmware version?
I’ve copied everything with the installer for dummy’s. The bin file is there and the ChickHen folder with content is in the photo folder. When I restart and go to the mem stick, I see the ChickHen folder witch 7 images 6 GIF pictures ChickHENa till f and the slim tiff image. The tiff is shown as incomplete data… The ChickHen is not getting installed. Do I miss files or am I doing something wrong?
Currently running software version 6.2
Regards,
Jelle
You’re on 6.2, Chickhen specifically requires your firmware version to be 5.03
guys help me with my psp. i have a 5.03 ChickHEN R2 system software..but i cant run any games..what should i do?
You still need to install 5.03 GEN-C:
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/12/install-psp-custom-firmware-5-03-gen-c-via-chickhen-r2/
im scared to install it coz it might brick my psp.mine is psp-3000. and once i already upgrade it to ver 6. then i spend 5000 peso to downgrade it to ver 5. and now the file has been corrupted once again. so i dont know wat to do..
5000php?! O.O
Wow, I didn’t know it took THAT much to downgrade. You can already buy another unit with that, probably 2nd-hand in good condition. XD
yup..its too damn expensive..but i have no choice..i have too pay it..or ill buy umd..hehehehe
How in the world did the shop you went to manage to downgrade your PSP-3000 o_O.
There currently is no way to do that O_O
they change the whole mother board of my psp.
blade i need help..i installed chickhen r2 already in my psp-3000. but there is no cfw loader.i cant see any of the games i copied to my mem. stick. what should i do in order to run the games?
Install 5.03 GEN-C:
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/12/install-psp-custom-firmware-5-03-gen-c-via-chickhen-r2/
I remember reading from a tutorial somewhere that you can’t have any other images in the X:\PICTURE folder if you have the ChickHEN images. I was able to run ChickHEN even with other images.
I’ve got psp-3000 with 5.03 soft.
I can’t just install the chickhen. I’ve done everithink needed, the console doesn’t crash like it should. Even used the easy installer wich says: “installed successfuly” but nothing happens.
My console was hacked in past but it isn’t anymore and now i can’t hack it again.
Help!
Hey sylv3r,
Maybe you can update the post to include download links for [b]ChickHEN Mod[/b] and [b]ChickHEN Mod2[/b] by m0skit0?
Also something I discovered through numerous testing:
ChickHEN R2/ChickHEN Mod2 – does [u]not[/u] run if there are other images in the ms0:\PICTURES folder
ChickHEN Mod – [u]runs[/u] even if there are other images in the ms0:\PICTURES folder (just make a sub-folder for your personal images e.g. ms0:\PICTURES\YourFolder)
Thanks for the heads up. Will upload them in a bit.
i asked what if my psp2004 is upgraded firmware of 5.50 how can i downgrde to 5.03gen a
You need a Pandora Battery to downgrade your PSP.
As of 5.50 OFW, the TIFF exploit that the chickHen hack runs on is already patched.WHAT IT IS MEANS?
That means you can’t run Chickhen on 5.50 OFW.
how long is it gona tak 2 find a way to hack psp 3000 wit ofw 6.00???? is there any now????
Still no way to downgrade a PSP-3000. You can thank sony for that.
A friend’s friend’s friend modded my psp for me a while ago. I can’t get in touch with them anymore, but I need to check if my psp has chickhen now.
How do I check if my psp has chickhen?
Check your current firmware version. It’s indicated thee (via the firmware you have installed)
I have psp 3600 earlier i had version5.02 .i installed the 5.03 version.
Then i downloaded chickHEN.rar and unziped the the files to my computer. then i copied the chickhen folder from slim folder to PHOTO in my PSP folder. I also copied the h.bin file to the root of my psp. then i restarted my psp and went to photo>memorystick. but then when i open the folder my system hangs. i tried all of the above mentioned trobleshooting techniques but the problem still persists. please suggest a way to solve this.
Blade I need your help. It’s not working for me. I’ve got a phat PSP and I’ve tried to install using both methods but each time it just freezes and then turns off :S Then when I turn it back on it’s the same as it was before. Please help?
iv upgraded to 5.03 firmware, iv put the phat folder in photos and the h.bin file in the root of the memory stick, but it hasnt worked for the last couple of hours! it always freezes when i actually open the tiff file in the folder.
plz someone hellllp me!
It won’t work for me, I have a PSP2001 (the red GOW PSP). I’ve tried installing ChickHen a few times manually, & I even tried the Easy installer for ChickHen R2. The only thing that happens is my PSP freezes & then shuts off. When I turn it on I still have the OFW 5.03.
Is my only option to get a pandora battery, or is there another way?
Try reformatting your memory stick.
Thanks for the quick reply! I have already tried reformatting my memory stick.
I have a only have a 1GB MS that came with my PSP, maybe that’s the problem?
That’s probably it. Not every memory stick works with Chickhen, try borrowing one from a friend or purchase one (bootleg ones work too)
I have a PSP 2000 with hackable motherboard (HJ serial code) and OFW 6.31. Tried installing ChickHen R2 using the easy installer but it doesn’t reboot and system info remains unchanged. Any advice?
Help I upgraded my psp chicken to ver 6. Then my psp turn black but still the power was on.was should I do ?
Chickhen only goes up to version R2. Did you mean that you upgraded your PSP’s firmware to 6.xx?
i have psp 2006 v5.03 i put chickhen in (PICTURE folder) but chicken pictures are not coming???????why????????
Use this tutorial instead: http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/12/2011/01/install-signed-5-03-5-03-gen-c-on-your-psp/
so i can’t use this if i have a psp 1001 with 6.20 OFW
Nope. But since you’re on 6.20 OFW, just install 6.20 TN-E:http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2011/04/total_noobs-6-20-tn-e-hen-now-available/
hey I got a psp 2000, updated from 4.05 and now it’s 5.03
every time i try and load or even get close to the ChickHen folder, my psp just freezes and shuts off without rebooting.
I’ve put slim.tiff into the photo/ChickHen folder and h.bin into the root.
there something that i’m missing or timing it wrong?
Use the updated guide: Install Signed 5.03 GEN-C
ummm sir. my ofw is 5.00. i tried installing the chickhen2 for lazy bums. but i saw that there’s a hen error notepad file. it say it only supports 5.03 firmware. the problem is. the big problem is i cant update my FW 5.0 to 5.03. please i need help badly. is my psp bricked? i tried updating my psp to 5.03 but it freezes, it stays on the psp logo (the one where there are colors around) :’(
Try following this guide instead.
my chickHen r2 will not run… What do i do?
It’s been doing that a lot of times. My version is ofw 5.03. Please help me.
Follow this guide instead
HI! i just can’t have the chickHEN soft it always fails at the picture phase : / i have psp 3004 and 5.03
Please follow this guide instead.
I need some help. My cousin accidently formatted my memory stick and I’m stuck at my grandparents’ house without a PSP cable. All I have is a Sony Ericsson W810i which supports MSPD. So I tried putting the ChickHen photos in the memory stick. Ok. But when I try to access the photos, it IMMEDIATELY freezez, unlike when trying to ‘flash’ the PSP like before where there is a moment of pause before previewing the folder content. I’m used to Gen-C installations and this problem is something new to me. Help please..
The problem could simply by the memory stick. Try following the new guide instead.
sir, ask ko lang, meron ako psp 3001 5.50 OFW, tnry ko update 5.03, may lumabas na prompt hindi na daw kelangan mag-update dahil 5.50 naman daw ako. so ok, ngayon ginawa ko nag-download na ko nung chickhenr2, pag-unzip ko nilagay ko sa yung h.bin sa xmb, tapos gumawa ako PHOTO folder sa loob ng PSP folder tapos dun ko pinaste yung ChickHen R2 galing sa SLIM folder, tapos binunot ko na sa USB, Restore Default Settings na, UMD Auto Start off na, UMD Cache off, Character Set US, tnry ko din Multilingual Latin, Theme Classic, tapos in-OFF ko na PSP, pag-ON ko punta ko PHOTO, Memory Stick, hinintay ko muna Options tapos pinidot ko X, punta ko sa pinakababa tapos left right etc. WALANG NANGYARI, sinubukan ko na format mem.stick tapos inulit ko ulet wala pa din. PLEASE HELP PO.
Yep. Please read the guide above.
I got it! Now to see if I can make these ISO’s work with the pandora stick.