Posted by 
July 18, 2009 •
The usual way of installing custom firmware is to do it via Pandora Battery and that’s where the problem begins. You have to HAVE a Pandora Battery in order to make one (which means you need 2 batteries. One that’s already a pandora battery and one that you want to convert to pandora). The easy way out of this is simply buy a Pandora battery online. If however, you have a hackable PSP (one that can install custom firmware natively), you can install custom firmware without a Pandora Battery.
Important: If you have a PSP-3000 or a PSP-2000s with TA-088v3 (and versions above it) DO NOT TRY THIS ON YOUR PSP. If you do, congratulations, you now have a PSP paperweight. This method WILL BRICK your PSP.
Also, if you’re already on 5.50 ofw, then this guide won’t work. You really need Pandora to flash your PSP.
If you want to check if your PSP can use this method for installation READ: Can my PSP have custom firmware installed?
Using Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher
Requirements:
- ChickHEN R2 enabled PSP
- Download: Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher
- Your Choice of firmware to flash
Before you proceed to installing custom firmware on your PSP, you need to install and successfully run the chickHen hack. Read the guide and come back here to finish the installation.
How to install custom firmware without a Pandora Battery?
- Connect your PSP to the computer in USB Mode when you have loaded ChickHEN R2.
- Unzip the file for the firmware you want installed (if you want 5.00 M33 you have do download and extract PSP_500_FW_UPDATE.zip on your computer
- Copy Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher (RECOVERY folder) to PSP\GAME folder
- Copy the firmware (it’s an EBOOT.PBP file) you want to update to PSP\GAME\RECOVERY folder and rename it as follows:
- If you’ve downloaded 3.71 firmware rename it to 371.pbp
- If you’ve downloaded 3.80 firmware rename it to 380.pbp
- If you’ve downloaded 3.90 firmware rename it to 390.pbp
- If you’ve downloaded 4.01 firmware rename it to 401.pbp
- If you’ve downloaded 5.00 firmware rename it to 500.pbp
- Run Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher in XMB
- Hellcat’s will now install custom firmware for your PSP
A few other things about Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher
What is the Recovery Flasher for?
- Recover semi-bricked PSP (PSPs that can ONLY enter the recovery menu and little else)
- flash *ANY* CFW directly to almost any other
- Upgrade or downgrade your CFW. Supported custom firmwares are as follows: 3.71 M33, 3.80 M33, 3.90 M33, 4.01 M33, 5.00 M33.
- Backup/restore firmware flash (not NAND dump)
- Make and restore NAND dumps
FAQ
Can I use it to install custom firmware on my 5.50 ofw psp? No.
If you have a hackable PSP (check this guide for that), you can use pandora to downgrade your PSP and install custom firmware. If it’s not hackable. NO. Sorry.
Simple right? If you’re still having problems, specifically when installing the ChickHen hack, just post a comment on the ChickHen R2 installation guide. If you have comments or questions on the whole process, post here.
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and this is where I feel stupid because while sitting in my thinking closet I remembered hearing that pandora’s can’t normally power a system. Got it booting from the AC, now to magic stick it and CFW it!
Wait.. so you’ve managed to revive your PSP?
I wouldn’t say revive, I’d say I’m an idiot, I think it didn’t do anything it tried to unpack but didn’t correctly so it didn’t do anything but I had converted my battery to a pandora, which I had heard from someone else won’t actually run a system. So it booted once without noticing but when it booted again it noticed the battery is a pandora and it is looking to go into the special mode but I didn’t make a magic stick. If I take the battery out, boot from AC then it works. I’m trying to make a magic stick now so I can just pandora flash and be done with it.
This should explain what needs to be done:
hi.i have a psp with a cfw 5.50 gen d-2 installed.can you give me tips on how to upgrade it to gen d-3 without using a pandora battery?
You don’t need a pandora to upgrade to gen d-3. You can install gen d-3 directly.
I have a phat psp (1001) with 6.20 firmware. I know it is completely hackable, but since it is on 6.20 can I still convert to CFW without a pandora?
i have installed 5.50 gen d via x gen updater and everything run smoothly until it asked me to reboot or shutdown and i chose reboot and since then on homepage keypads dont function anymore except for the volume button.
plz plz help me..plz plz help me….
my psp-2007 cfw is 5.00 m33-6 and recently i accidently updated my firmware to ofw 6.20. is there anyway to downgrade back to cfw 5.00 without a pandora?
Nope. The only way you’ll be able to downgrade is with a Pandora Battery.
Hello, i have a PSP Slim with a ta-085 motherboard. i have installed 5.03 GEN-A on it. can i upgrade it 5.50? would there be any problems? thanks.
Does “above” in “and versions above it” meaning the succeeding version? or does it mean above the table over here: http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/03/how-to-check-if-your-psp-can-have-cfw-installed/
Thanks!
It meant versions above the model/numbers indicated.
Sorry I meant above TA-088v3 in the table?
you can upgrade ta-085 mobo to 5.50 gen d3 no problem. I did that to mine. I have ta-085 as well
can i do this on a psp with ofw 5.03 and a TA-088v1/v2 motherboard that has been previously flashed with 3.80 M33 then install gen-d3?
Theoretically yep but I’d recommend upgrading to 5.00 M33 then 5.50 GEN-D3 instead.
can i do this on a psp 2001 who is allready flashed with 3.90 m33-3 custom firmware, i dont know what verson of motherboard is?
Yep. Since your PSP has 3.90 M33, it’s a hackable PSP.
Thank you
)
I have a PSP Fat that has OFW 6.20, Can I use this method to convert my PSP to custom firmware without a Pandora Battery?
hi there, i have a problem here. 1st i checked my psp if it is hackable or not using ident and chickHEN. i thought i bought a psp 2000, the information given to me by ident is this,
filipino here. 
motherboard type: brite
motherboard model: TA-090v1
PSP version: Slim v3.0
given the information form “is my psp hackable?” i thought this is psp2000. so i proceed to recovery flasher for a cfw. but when i run it, says its cant proceed because i have a brite psp. good thing it didnt brick. so my question is, do i have a brite psp3000 then? psp that cant be hacked? because i tot TA-090v1 is hackable. help.
You can check if your PSP is a Brite via it’s hardware:
Check if it fits THIS description: http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2008/08/psp-3000-confirmed-and-shipping-soon/
hey thanks for the help.
i bought the unit they say that they changed the housing of the unit making it 2nd hand and selling it at a cheaper price. you know what i think? the inside is a 3000 but the housing is a complete 2000. this one is refirbished. now im having problems. maybe ill just install 5.03genA is it?
What problems are you experiencing? If possible I’d recommend 5.03 GEN-C for compatibility.
actually the only problem here is the cfw. there is no cfw when i bought it. so when i get to your site, first thing i did was to check the hackability, then the chickHEN and PSPident for the motherboard (your posts works well, the problem is my unit) then i ended up knowing that this unit is actually BRITE from the inside but a complete SLIM LITE from the outside (even the box). such a headache since i get hold of this. now ill just go with 5.03 genC for cfw. thanks for all the help!
Wow… I guess refurbs really have the insides changed
Anyway, gl on installing 5.03 GEN-C 
Update us on what happens 
Hi,
I have spent a lot of time reading whether my psp is hackable or not. I read that mine is fully hackable. It is a PSP-2003 (UK produced), currently having 5.50, most probably (OFW) – but not sure. The interesting thing that shows me that it is hackable is because the DATE CODE is 8B, with a SERIAL: HB2777xxx, it is a second hand the the guy before me may have updated the firmware to 5.50, so it is a guess to me whether this is the official.
Now, I need help: I would like to use PSPTube and as an extra be able to play UMD backups. I do not have a Pandora battery nor Magic Memory stick. I would like to know what to read to get some custom firmware and which one exactly. What is the difference between the 5.50 GEN-A/GEN-B/GEN-D? Which one do I need? Should I downgrade to 3.90 M33 – I read it is possible? Can I install a 5.50GEN-A to my (possibly) OFW 5.50 and where do I get it from? Can I do it without a Pandora battery?
Thanks in advance! I really appreciate your time spent here.
can i install this on my ta88v3 motherboard psp with ofw 6.20 on it
No. There currently isn’t a way to installl cfw on a PSP with ta88v3 on 6.20 ofw.
what version would this update into?
You can install any CFW from the choices given in the downloads. I do advice going with 5.00 M33 though.
i have s psp 2000 with 6.20 system version. possible to hack? if yes , how? thanks….
recently i upgraded my cfw 4.01 m332
to ofw 6.31
i have lost my crack and no games are working
i have a psp 2002 ‘
plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz help
You need to acquire a Pandora Battery to reflash your PSP to a lower firmware version and install CFW
i have psp 2004 and has a 5.03 firmaware update it to chken r2 and running a 5.03 gen-c cfw, the question is i cant play phantasy star 2 and kingdom hearts birth by sleep. they say that it can run from a 5.50gend3, can i possibly be able to upgrade my psp 2004 starting with a serial number of HCXXXXX and has 5.03 to 5.50??? thanks i need an answer asap…
the safest way to check your PSP is to install and run PSP ident. Check that out here:
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/03/how-to-check-if-your-psp-can-have-cfw-installed/
Please don’t skip this as you may brick your PSP if you proceed to 5.50 GEN-D3.
Also, if you want to run KHBBS, simply install the prometheus module on your PSP for 5.03. That way you don’t need to risk upgrading. Check that out here:
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2010/06/install-psp-custom-firmware-5-03-prometheus/
can i use psp 100
ver 6.31
hey, i accidentally install OFW 5.00..my previous FW is 3.90 M33..how can i have the CFW again??
Follow this guide:
http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/07/convert-your-psp-to-custom-firmware-without-pandora-battery/
yup, i follow the guide and it says that i need to upgrade my OFW to 5.03 but when i copy 503.PBP on my psp, it is corrupted
Wait, So I can I still CFW My PSP1000 6.20 with this method?
The other guide only mentioned up to 6.00 and I cant pandora Battery…
Yes, with the latest version of Hellcat’s Recovery flasher, 1.65, you can downgrade from 6.20 TN to any custom firmware you want.
Download: Hellcat’s Recovery flasher v1.65
Ohh mate, Thank you made my day,
Now I can use the XLINK KAI plugin
Wait, Do I still need chickenHEN for mine? or can i directly use RF?
uum RF?
Ohh
Recovery Flasher
Ah lol, it’s early morning here so my brain wasn’t really working when I read that lol (and most of the time we refer to Hellcat’s Recovery flasher as just hellcat’s
). Just run 6.20 TN-C Hen then install and run Hellcat’s Recovery flasher.
Yea, Mate thanx, just got it back to 5.00 m33-6 and gonna get it up to
5.50 GEN-D3 Prometheus.
thanks again!
you can flash directly to 5.50 GEN-D without going to 5.00 M33-6
Ahh oh well, Im already reading your other guide.. and already doing it aha
Its ok
Oops,
I meant to ask if I can still put CFW on my psp1000 on 6.20
Was getting excited~
wtf? why does it tell me that my psp is not hackable when i can use prometheus on it? the recovery flasher told me that my model is “PSP BRITE” does anyone know a solution for this?
A psp brite is not completely hackable so you can’t use hellcat’s recovery flasher. You’ll brick your PSP.
i cant downgrade from 6.2 tn-c to 3.71m33! when i run program on my psp 2k ta-85-v2 , psp stuck in the loading of the home brow! nd the only choise is to turn of psp… what should i do?
(one more question, does psp-3k scanlines fixed ìn newer vertion? do all psp 3k less than 5.03 have scan line problem?)
Hmm, is it the loading of the Hellcat’s Recovery that’s failing?
Also, all PSP-3000 have the scanline problem. It’s a hardware issue.
hi i have a psp phat 1004 with 5.00 m33-6 cfw on it < can i upgrade to 5.50 gen d3 and install prometheus without pandora battery??
thanks
Yes. Just follow this guide: http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/10/upgrade-gen-cfw-with-xgen-updater/
If I have a hackable PSP with 5.03 Signed HEN+5.03 GEN-C (Full) and downgraded to 5.00 M33-6 and then upgraded to 5.50 GEN-D3, will my Savedata be affected? Anyone Pls. reply, thanks.
If you have been playing a game that requires 5.50 or higher and had it patched to work with your current firmware or use the prometheus module, yes it could end up corrupted.
But if I didn’t patch the game to work with my current firmware, It won’t end up corrupted? And I am currently using Prome-3, so will that have an effect? Thanks.
Yep, if that’s the case you’re in the clear.
It worked! Thank you, sylv3rblade!
I installed chickhen r2 on my psp(version-5.03) when i installed it came(version-5.03 chickhen r2) after its shutdown its gone and again when i installed second temi it did not came
What can i do now plzzzzz reply sir…………….??
Follow the installation for the Signed version of 5.03 GEN-C: http://www.atmaxplorer.com/2009/12/2011/01/install-signed-5-03-5-03-gen-c-on-your-psp/
It’s much easier to do.
hi…
i have a psp 2006 slim having 3.91 m33-3 cfw and upgraded to 5.0 m33-6 cfw..
problem is that when starting games, the system always says that the game cannot be played..but occassionaly it is running the game..like patapon2..
..any suggestions
Have you tried switching UMD modes into the VSH menu?
Also, you can upgrade to newer firmwares like 5.50 GEN-D3.
Hi, I have a PSP 1000 that I’d like to put cfw on without Pandora. It’s ofw is 3.80. If I follow your guides and put chickenhen on it, will I then be able to put 5.50 Prometheus V4 or 6.39 PRO-B6 on it (the cfw’s I need)? I am new to psp cfw’s and I don’t want to brick my psp.
Thank You!
hello i have a psp 1000 and its firmware is 4.1.Can i download firmware 5.00 without any risk of brick and wihout any of this confusion.i dont know much because im new to psp
Yes you can. Also you can follow this guide if you want to install 5.00 M33-6 or 5.50 GEN-D3 without a pandora battery.
Hi, can you now install CFW on psp3002?
Thanks.
Hi i have a psp 2004 hackable i have a cfw 5.50 gen a (full) can i upgrade it to 5.50 GEN-D3? I’ll appriciate your help.. Tnx…
Yes you can, just run the installer, for 5.50 GEN-D3.
what if I upgraded to 6.60 OFW by accident? will it work?
Hi,
I have a fat psp with chkHEN R2 enabled. I followed your guide to flash firmware 500.PBP using Hellcat’s Recovery rflash160.zip. My psp now say System Software 5.00 M33-6. However, I cannot install Prometheus-4 or play any games. The games and Prometheus software show up normally in the memory stick. However, when I X on any of them, the psp just reboot and shut down after few seconds. Please help.
Thank you much.
That sounds like a bad flash. Either reinstall 5.00 M33-6 using Hellcats or upgrade to 5.50 GEN-D3 then install the prome-4 build for your chosen firmware.
Hi sylv3rblade,
Thank you for replying. This is what I did:
. I can only install CFW 5.50_gen_A and 5.50_gen_B and 5.50_gen_B2. However, I could not get 5.50_GEN_D3 to be installed, the error message was “mso:/550.PBP not found on root of your ms”.
. Hence, I reflashed back to firmware 5.00 M33-6 (via Hellcat’s rflash165.rar) and stuck with the same problem from the beginning.
I short, my choice now is either firmware 5.50_gen_A or 5.50_gen_B or 5.00 M33-6. And none of them will let me play any games, even homebrew. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you much.
The error you experienced with 5.50 GEN-D3 can be resolved easily actually, just check if you installer has put the 550.PBP on the root of the memory stick.
As for CFWs not being able to play games, press select and check what the UMD Mode is set to.
Hi sylv3rblade,
Thank you. That was a great tip. I missed the 550.PBP file at the root. The 5.50 GEN-D3 was installed successfully.
Next step, after several tries, I found out that the SEPPLUGINS folder was the reason that stopped me from playing games and installing prometheus-4. I don’t know how it got there, but after deleting it, I was able to install prometheus-4 and get on with the games.
Thanks a lot sylv3rblade for your time. You’re a real life-saver.
Not a prob.. It’s probably one of the plugins that got loaded via the seplugins folder.
In any case, enjoy and I hope you’ll stick around
.