Article:
How to Downgrade to Firmware 1.5

By PSPHUB - 01.03.06

So you want hack your PSP? Well the first thing you have to do is downgrade your firmware to version 1.5. If you upgrade to firmware 2.1 or higher, you are screwed. If you are at 2.0, then you are fine. This will only work if you are at firmware 2.0 (so if you are at firmware 1.51 or 1.52 then you have to upgrade to firmware 2.0 and then downgrade to 1.5...got it?)

The following two files are necessary for downgrading from 2.0 to 1.5

• MPH Downgrader (files to help with the downgrading)
• 1.50 Update EBOOT (this is the 1.5 update file)
• 2.0 Update EBOOT (this is the 2.0 update file, use it if you are at 1.51 or 1.2 now)
  you'll need to upgrade to 2.0 first, if you're using 1.51 or 1.52 firmware now

* Please note Norton AntiVirus and/or other virus scanners will incorrectly detect the MPH Downgrader as a virus, but it is totally safe to use.

Remember...this will ONLY WORK on a PSP with firmware 2.0.

1. You need to unzip the files MPHDowngrader.zip and EBOOT_1.50.zip (this is only if you are at firmware 2.0 now, if not, use the EBOOT_2.0.zip). Once they are unzipped, you're ready to begin.


2. Set up a USB connection with your PSP and your computer.


3. Once the connection is set up, open up My Computer and browse to the removable disk that is your PSP. You'll need to set a few things up here.


4. When you first double click to open up the PSP on your computer, you'll be in what's called the root menu. There will only see a PSP folder showing if you are in the right place.


5. Copy over to your PSP the following files to THIS location in the root folder...NOT in the PSP folder or any other folder. "Index.dat" and "h.bin" should both be in your root directory.


6. Once this is done, open up the PSP folder and then open up the Photo folder. Here, you will copy "overflow.tif" over, keeping it in the Photo directory and not a sub directory.


7. Now, go back to the PSP directory and go into the Game directory. If there is not already, create a folder called UPDATE. It MUST be called UPDATE and nothing else.


8. Open up the new UPDATE folder and then copy "EBOOT.PBP" into this folder from your computer. The "EBOOT.PBP" file is basically the update file, and will show up as such on your PSP. Once all of this is done, you're ready to downgrade. So far, so good.

Double check that you followed the above instructions before continuing.


9. Now, disconnect the USB connection from the computer and plug the AC adapter into the PSP. As with all upgrades, you must have a certain percentage of battery life as well as the AC adapter plugged in, or this will not work.


10. Go to the Photo icon on your PSP and scroll through the pictures to get to "overflow.tif". You do NOT have to press anything. It will start automatically. Two strings of letters/numbers will appear. This is normal and good.


11. Wait AT LEAST 30 SECONDS and then turn off your PSP by holding the power button up until it fully shuts down. Then, start your PSP again. TIP: If you can't shut off the PSP with the power button, unplug the AC plug, and take out the battery. Then put back in the battery and start up the PSP again.


12. You will now go over to the Game icon and scroll down to memory stick. Select it and you should see the 1.5 update (unless you are at 1.51 or 1.52, then you should be upgrading with the 2.0 update and then go back and do the 1.5 update. Remember, you only can do this from firmware 2.0!!!!).


13. Select it and start it up. Go through it as you've done before with your 2.0 update and follow the prompts. When the update reaches 99% it will crash and show an error. THIS IS OKAY. DO NOT PANIC. Once again press the power switch up until it fully turns off.


14. Now, turn the PSP back on. You will get another error. Just press the "O" button and it will restart after rebuilding the system data. Then just set it up as you did when you first got your PSP and you have a brand new 1.5 PSP.

Congrats! You are now at firmware 1.5 and now ready for a wonderful world of hacking. You are now ready to load items onto your PSP like game emulators, bootleg games, and personal screensavers. To download any of this stuff, check out this site PSP-Hacks.com for free downloads and other cool stuff.