How-to for PSP 2.0-to-1.5 downgrade up on hack a day
by Dan Choi 
{ Sep 28th 2005 at 11:15AM }
A few hours ago, we reported the news that
a working PSP Downgrader was out and about on the
internet. Now we've got a step-by-step tutorial for the downgrade (with pictures!) from
TUAW's own C.K. Sample, III, on all the steps needed to downgrade from the 2.0
update to the 1.5 revision of the PSP firmware. Check out the
report currently up on hack a day for more, including a confirmation that upgrading back to 2.0 (and reverting once
more to 1.5) is also a reality.
Of course, we have to warn you again that not following directions can make your expensive Sony portable into a very
sad little paperweight, so be sure to watch your step should you decide to proceed any further.
[Thanks, C.K.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Badison @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I'm really glad to hear about this, I have a 1.5 and love up the emulators i have on it (nothing like busting out some Secret of Mana in the 10 mins between classes).
But, I was wondering, people who have done this 2.0 -> 1.5 has it been confirmed that you can again go 1.5->2.0? I heard rumors that this might not be the case.
junkmonkey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Badison,
You're pretty stupid, it mentions IN THIS TOPIC, that it has been done:
(from above topic) "including a confirmation that upgrading back to 2.0 (and reverting once more to 1.5)"
So don't ask stupid questions.
striegs @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
As the author demonstrates, it is possible to freely swap between 2.0 and 1.5 and back again. However, as one commenter points out, your PSP's internal memory might not last beyond the first few forced overwrites. Though apparently some people have managed to retain the browser functionality of 2.0 while still being able to run their homebrew apps by yanking the battery at a certain point in the process.
In any case, I'm more interested in hearing from the people who tried this hack and ended up with a dead unit. What's the success to failure ratio?
Vagabond Artist @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
worked for me, but I'm having more trouble getting homebrew working.
darryl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
"However, as one commenter points out, your PSP's internal memory might not last beyond the first few forced overwrites."
Most flash chips are good for 10,000 - 100,000 erase/writes.
"Though apparently some people have managed to retain the browser functionality of 2.0 while still being able to run their homebrew apps by yanking the battery at a certain point in the process."
Apparently they also enjoyed large amounts of LSD and other severely mind-alerting narcotics.
"In any case, I'm more interested in hearing from the people who tried this hack and ended up with a dead unit. What's the success to failure ratio?"
Well if you are "yanking the battery at a certain point in the process" then I would guess the ratio is not very good. You do NOT yank the battery at any time! That's just retarded! Yanking the battery will absolutely BRICK your PSP.
Otherwise it works perfectly fine, every time... over and over and over and... unless ofcourse, you yank the battery out.
Nick @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
On the sonyxteam.com website: "This as been TESTED howaver we are not responsible for the eventual dammages"
Eventual damages? Does anyone know what that refers to? Thanks!
C.K. Sample, III @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
If you do need to "yank the battery," make sure you do so when the PSP is unplugged; otherwise, the PSP may still work, but you won't be able to run it off of the AC or charge your battery any more via the plug. I fried one PSP that way while doing my hacking for the book. Now I charge it's battery with an external charger and the PSP still works fine, sans this one but of functionality.
Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Hi, can anyone help me with this. I followed the steps exactly as shown... with the Overflow.tif, the h.bin, and the index.data file, as well as the 1.50 pbp file in the UPDATE folder but when i go to the pictures and scroll down to Overflow.tif it doesnt give me a black screen.
Carbon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I really dont think that it is worth risking your psp just to get a few homebrews runnin... because the whole main part of a Psp is the games, and the update doesnt affect the games much at all. So why risk you 300$ PSP just to have a few programs that you will get tired of and forget about...
And 2.00 will be able to have homebrews soon (i hope) so dont risk you psp