Although there are quite a few users who have almost forgotten about the PSP in favor of the PSVita , still many people are still playing with it. And is that the PlayStation Portable continues to be a very popular portable console among gamers, especially among the smallest of the house.
Since it is no longer possible to buy new PSPs, one of the latest available versions of firmware (the console’s operating system software) is 6.61 , which was originally released on January 15, 2015. Although this version provided an improvement On the stability of the system, especially while using the PlayStation 3 format software, while other updates add new functions, some problems or inconveniences may also arise.
In case of some kind of problem with the latest updates, one option could be to downgrade the PSP , which means downgrading the updated version to the previous version, which in theory worked better.
Some risks to consider before starting
We must bear in mind that downgrading the PSP voids the warranty , as well as being quite dangerous for the hardware.
In fact, it is also necessary to know that a downgrade often requires an update , so it is only possible to carry it out when the downgrade goes from one firmware version to another, so, for example, it will be necessary to update the PSP to at least version 6.61 if we want to go back to a previous version.
Downgrading our PSP
First, it is critical to determine what version of the PSP operating system is currently running . To find out, it is necessary to go to the System Information section, which we will find in Settings and finally the System Settings . Once we find the version, we will know which version we need to download.
Of course, you must bear in mind that, before starting the process, we must proceed at our own risk, since there is the possibility that the procedure that is followed to perform the downgrade could block the portable console, so even when it is follow the necessary steps, it is not a guarantee that a problem cannot arise.
1. Determining the PSP module
The first thing we must do is determine which PSP module we have. To do this, we can use a module checker. Then, we connect the console to the computer, and open the “PSP” folder, and then the “Game” folder. Inside this we create a new folder under the name “Mod”. We put this window aside, and we open a new window with the file Module Checker.
It is not necessary to extract the files, we just have to open the file itself. Now we will see the file “EBOOT.PBP”. We must choose it and drag it to the “Mod” folder that we have just created, and then safely eject our PSP.
Now, on the home screen we go to the “Game” icon, and we go to the “Memory Stick” option. Press X, and click on the option “Module checker”. We press x again, and a screen with text should appear. Here we will see a number that represents our particular module.
If we observe the absence of “08” (for example, our PSP is “07” or “09”), then we will not be able to downgrade to a version lower than 6.3x.
2. Downloading the Downgrader and firmware
Next, we need to download two more files. First, we will need the application that will take care of the installation of our previous firmware. In this case, it will be the file that will be downgraded to any PSP with 6.xx.
Otherwise, we must first start the update to have the latest version installed on the system. With the downgrade version downloaded, now we must choose which firmware we want to install. For most cases, version 6.20 would be sufficient (the truth is that any value less than 5.00 could cause instability problems in the system, so it is not a highly recommended option).
3. Preparing the PSP
Once we have the two files we need, we continue with the process and reconnect the PSP to the computer. Again, we access the “PSP” folder and then “Game”, leaving this window aside. We now open the downgrade file. No need to extract any files, just drag the folder labeled “6.xx Downgrader v4.1” to the “Game” folder.
Now we create a new folder inside “Game” with the name “UPDATE” (this time it is important that it be capitalized), we open the previously downloaded firmware file, and drag “EBOOT.PBP” to the new folder “UPDATE” . We disconnect the PSP from the computer.
4. Proceeding to downgrade
We now return to the “Game” icon on the home screen of our PSP, and we go down until we reach “Memory Stick”, as we did before, pressing with the X. Now two options should appear. We will select the one with the custom background (instead of the one labeled “PSP Update”.
We follow all instructions, including the update home screen, and accept the terms and conditions. It is possible that at some point you will get a blue screen, similar to what Windows usually displays when there is a problem with the system. Don’t worry, it’s normal. Just press O, and the PSP will restart again. In case the screen turns white after startup, press Start, Select, Triangle, and Square all simultaneously.
Clever! To make sure that everything has gone correctly, we must return to the system options where we will check which is the existing version installed. If the previous version has been installed, then everything has gone perfectly. Once we have finished, it is advisable to reconnect the PSP to the computer and delete the folders and new files added to “Game”.
