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?
Requirements:
- ChickHEN R2 enabled PSP
- Download: Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher | 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.
Tagged with: ChickHEN, Custom Firmware, HellCats, Playstation Portable
Filed Under: Playstation Portable
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….