Pandora's Battery by the Team C+D
-------------------------------------Please note that this Pandora's Set will only work in Classic PSPs (PSP-100* Model). If you're interested in a more advanced Pandora's Set which works for both Classic and Slim&Lite PSPs please
check this other guide.
What is it?
-----------A universal PSP unbricker / downgrader by the Prometheus project, also known as Team C+D (Create & Destroy).
It´s a set consisting of a Jigkick Battery and a Magic Memory Stick which will allow you to:
- Unbrick and downgrade any PSP-100* (TA-079 - TA-086) (Old "fat" PSPs).
- Downgrade any PSP-100* (TA-079 - TA-086) from any SONY official firmware (i.e. 3.71) or CFW back to 1.50
Requirements
--------------In order to obtain one you will need the following:
- A Fat PSP with a Custom Firmware such as OE, M33 or WC, or a fat PSP with the 1.5 original kernel. You can borrow your friend's, girlfriend's etc if yours is not homebrew capable yet.
- A spare PSP Battery. Not all makes will work (Read the Compatibility Section bellow). Using a spare is best, as it will not be possible to boot the PSP in its normal state with the modified battery, although there is a "trick" if you only have one battery (Explained further down).
- A spare Memory Stick Pro Duo of less than 4GB. 64MB should be enough for all the required applications.
- Pandora's Battery software by the Team C+D
- Official SONY v1.50 Firmware Update EBOOT:
IMPORTANT: This guide will assume that you are running a Windows XP Operative System in your PC. It´s well know Windows Vista may give a "open error (read)" error message when using mspformat.exe, if that happens to you, install and use Windows XP instead or try a Live Linux Distro (Knoppix, kUbuntu, ...) and try following the Unix instructions . For Unix and Mac users there are some
alternative instructions for the command line available (Just make sure you really know what you´re doing).[/li][/list]
Compatibility
--------------A) Memory Stick:
- They MUST be PRO Duo. As long as it's PRO Duo it should work. Memory Stick Duo will NOT work.
- They MUST be able to hold all the required files (At least 64MB, though it's recommended more). Also, they should be no bigger than 4GB.
B) Battery:
- Compatible:
- Sony PSP-100, 1800mAh, 3.6v - Normally bundled with PSPs.
- Sony PSP-280, 2200mAh, 3.6v.
- Datel Go Max GM100, Reusable Battery Pack. USes 3xAAA batteries. The serial resets itself to zeroes once the bateries are removed.
- Datel X2, 3600maH
- Datel MAX Power, 1800maH, 3.6v (Two models, Black [Model No LB1000] and Silver)
- Not compatible
- Sony PSP Slim Battery, 1200mAH, 3.6v, PSP-S110
- MEGA Lithium, 2600 mAh, 3.6v
- Sony (Fake) PSP-280, 2200mAh, 3.6v
- Unknown brand TYP-107, 3600mAh, 3.6v (Gold Letters)
- Unknown brand PSP-360, 3600mAh, 3.6v (Silver Letters)
Visit the following link for a
Visual Guide.
MS-DOS Prompt Window
-------------------------
You may need some DOS knowledge, since some of the tools required for the process come under the way of DOS executable. For a quick introduction on basic DOS commands, check this
TUTORIAL.
Uncompressing the software
------------------------------
Download Pandora´s Battery Software from the above link. Unzip the "pandora.zip" file with the help of your favourite compatible uncompressor (i.e. WinRAR, WinZIP) into your local hard drive. For the guide we are going to create first a folder called
PANDORA, in the root of our Hard Drive
C:\ and then we are going to uncompress the contents in it. Once done, you should have the following folder structure:
C:\PANDORA\battery\pandora_battery
C:\PANDORA\battery\pandora_battery%
C:\PANDORA\installer\pbfirm_install
C:\PANDORA\installer\pbfirm_install%
C:\PANDORA\msinst
C:\PANDORA\mspformat
If your Hard Drive is
D:\, make sure you do the approrpiate changes (swapping
C:\ for
D:\ from this point).
Creating the Magic Memory Stick and the Jigkick Battery
----------------------------------------------------------
1.- Insert the Memory Stick in the PSP.
2.- Format the Memory Stick via the Menu of your PSP within Settings.
3.- Connect the PSP to your PC through the USB Cable and enable the USB Mode in the PSP Settings.
4.- Open an MS-DOS Prompt window. To do that, click on the "Start" menu (at the lower left of your Windows screen) and select "Run...". Then type "cmd" (no quotation marks) into the box and click "OK"
5.- Type "cd
C:\PANDORA\mspformat" (no quotation marks) and press Enter.
6.- Type "mspformat
" (no quotation marks, and swap
for the
letter assigned to your PSP drive, i.e. mspformat
F) and press Enter.
7.- It will asks you to press Y to continue. Do it.
- After a few seconds you should see the following message
"Drive succesfully formatted, and partition moved", indicating everything´s gone OK. Go to the next step.
- If you see the message
"Pseudo format is not necessary" instead, it´s still OK. Go to the next step.
- If you see the following error message
"open error (read)" you are likely to be using Windows Vista. Mspformat.exe will NOT work in Vista, so you should find a Windows XP or MacOS or Unix (Linux) computer instead.
8.- Once finished, disable the USB Mode safely and remove the Memory Stick.
9.- Insert the Memory Stick again, and enable the USB connection of the PSP.
10.- Manually create the
/PSP/GAME folders on the root if the Memory Stick (Also, if you are in CFW, create
PSP/GAME150 as well).
11.- Copy the folders
pandora_battery, pandora_battery%, pbfirm_install and
pbfirm_install% and its contents (Remember we uncompressed everything into
C:\PANDORA already?) to the folder
PSP/GAME in your Memory Stick (If you are on CWF you should copy them into
PSP/GAME150 instead).
12.- Download the 1.50 Official SONY Update File from any of the download links above. Unzip the 1.50 update to a temporary folder. Rename the unzipped 1.50
EBOOT.PBP file to
UPDATE.PBP. Then copy it into the root of your Memory Stick.
13.- Disable the USB Mode safely.
14.- Go to the GAME Menu of your PSP, select the Memory Stick and press X, then select "Pandora's Battery Firm. Installer" and press X. This application will create the firmware files on the root of the Memory Stick, as well as another one called
msipl.bin.
15.- Enable the USB connection of the PSP.
16.- Browse to your Memory Stick Contents and copy the file
msipl.bin from the root of your Memory Stick into the folder
C:\PANDORA\msinst\ of your Hard Drive
17.- Go to the MS-DOS Prompt window we opened in the beginning or open a new one if you got rid of it.
18.- Type "cd
C:\PANDORA\msinst" (no quotation marks) and press Enter.
19.- Type "msinst
msipl.bin" (no quotation marks, and again swap
for the
letter assigned to your PSP drive, i.e. msinst
F msipl.bin) and press Enter
20.- It will asks you to press Y to continue. Do it.
21.- Once finished, disable the USB Mode safely.
22.- Go to the GAME Menu of your PSP, select the Memory Stick and press X, then select "Pandora's Battery Creator" and press X. This program will let you convert the regular battery into the Jigkick Battery. Once loaded the program will show some information on screen:
- Current Serial: It tells you the current serial of your Battery EEPROM.
- Options:
- X Button: Convert the regular battery into Jigkick Battery (aka Pandora´s Battery)
- Square Button: Revert the Jickick Battery into a regular one.
- O button: Converts the battery into a regular battery that auto-power on the PSP when inserted.
- Triangle button: Back up the serial of your battery EEPROM (eeprom.bin), to recover it at a later stage to its original condition.
- L+R Buttons: Flash the serial backed up previously from the eeprom.bin in the root of the Memory Stick.
- HOME button: Exits
- Since every Serial is specific for every battery, before you proceed to convert your battery to Pandora´s we recommend you to back up your serial first by pressing the Triangle button. It will be backed up into the file
eeprom.bin in the root of your Memory Stick and the program will exit to the XMB. Keep that
eeprom.bin file in a secure place in case you would like to convert your Pandora´s battery back to a normal one in the future. Finally you can run Battery Creator again, but this time you can press X and your battery will (hopefully) be converted to a Jigkick Battery.
23.- Congratulation, you are now in posession of a "Magic Memory Stick" and a "JigKick Battery".
Usage
------
- Just grab any bricked PSP-100* or a working PSP-100* running any firmware.
- Remove the regular battery and memory stick if applicable.
- Insert the Magic Memory Stick into the PSP
- Remove power cord and insert the JigKick Battery into the PSP.
- The PSP will boot up automatically showing a Menu on screen.
- Follow the on screen information and options:
- X Button: To downgrade using the ms0:/UPDATE.PBP file.
- O button: To backup NAND to ms0:/nand-dump.bin
- Square button: To restore NAND from mso:/nand-dump.bin. Another two options here:
- L+R+Start+Select to restore NAND with IDStorage Keys: Use this option ONLY if the nand-dump-bin file coms from your own PSP. Otherwise you will mess your IDStorage and the UMD Drive, Wifi, etc will stop working.
- X to restore NAND without the IDStorage Keys: This is the safe option if you are installing a nand-dump.bin file coming from a different PSP. Also valid if you just do not want to rewrite your own IDStorage keys.
- The restore NAND option won´t work straightaway and will give you a "Cannot Open File" error. Read the toubleshooting section for a simple workaround.
IMPORTANT NOTES
-------------------
- It is strongly RECOMMENDED to make a flash dump of the PSP before any downgrading operation.
- There might be a BSOD at the end of the downgrade. This is normal, and happens on the standard downgraders.
- All hardware revisions known at this day are supported.
- This release contains no Sony-copyrighted material. All required Sony data is generated from the v1.50 update files.
Troubleshooting
----------------- - Q - I get an "open error (read)" error when running mspinst.exe. What I am doing wrong?- A - You are trying to run a command incompatible with Windows Vista. You will have to find a Windows XP to do the process or alternatively a different OS with a
Unix based commandline (i.e. Linux).
- Q - Pandora´s Data in my Memory Stick shows only "Corrupt Data". What I am doing wrong?- A - You are not copying the required files in the appropriate location of your memory stick. Read the guide slowly and carefully and have another go.
- Q - Everytime I try to run Pandora´s Software in my PSP but it says it seems to start but hangs up right afterwards and shuts down.- A - You can ONLY run this software in a homebrew enabled PSP (1.50 or any Custom Firmware). Trying to run it via HEN or 3.60 M33 for PSP Lite will not work.
- Q - I´m getting the error "Can´t open the file" or "Can´t read the file" when running Pandora´s Firmware Installer.- A - Make sure you uncompressed the 1.50 Firmware Update File before renaming it into UPDATE.PBP and make sure it´s in the root of your Memory Stick. Also Windows has the option "Hide extensions for known file types" enabled by default and as a result some people commit the mistake of renaming the EBOOT(.PBP) file into UPDATE.PBP(.PBP), so ensure that´s not happening to you.
- Q - I´m getting the error " The Game Cannot Be Run (8002014C)" when running Pandora´s Firmware Installer.- A - You are trying to run the homebrew software in the PSP that you intend to downgrade but you need a homebrew-compatible PSP to run homebrew (1.50 or Custom Firmware based on 1.50 Kernel). If you´re trying this on a Slim PSP running CFW the original Pandora´s Software will NOT work since it requires to be run on 1.50 kernel, you have to use
Pandora Installer for 3.xx kernels by HellCat instead (Keep reading below).
- Q - I think I somehow bricked my memory stick. The Memory Stick led in blinks intermitently and it´s not recognised by the PSP anymore. Can it be fixed?- A - This is because between the logical format (mspformat.exe) and the execution of Pandora´s Firmware Installer you must remove and insert the Memory stick again. To recover the stick, just insert it in the PSP, boot to the Recovery Menu and enable the USB Mode (Alternatively you could use a Memory Stick Reader). Go to "My Compter" in windows, right-click in the PSP/Card Reader Unit and format the stick again. Once finished it should be OK. Carry on with the guide from the logical format of the Memory Stick.
- Q - I have already created Pandora´s Battery and the Magic Memory Stick, but it doesn´t work! I don´t know where i´ve gone wrong 
- A - If you have done the battery and the stick, but they do not work, chances are that either the stick, or the battery, or both were not done properly. Check the following table as to try to identify where the problem is:
Jigkick Battery | Magic Memory Stick | Symptoms |
BAD | BAD | PSP will load as usual. |
BAD | OK | PSP will load as usual. |
OK | BAD | PSP boots when battery is inserted. Power Led stays On forever. Nothing else happens. |
OK | OK | PSP boots when battery is inserted. All leds light (Power, WLan, Memory Stick) for 4 seconds. Then only the Power is on, Memory Stick Led blinks and Pandora´s Menu loads up after a few seconds. |
If you still think the battery/memory stick set are OK, but they still do not work, you can try them again ut this time in a
different fat PSP. If in this occasion, they DO work, there´s probably a hardware malfunction (memory stick reader perhaps?) or a really messed up IDStorage in the PSP you are trying to unbrick/downgrade.
- Q - I created the jigkick battery but after inserting the PSP boots as usual into the XMB.- A - The battery is still a normal battery. Some batteries are not compatible with Pandora, and despite Pandora´s Battery Creator claims that the EEPROM has been written successfully, it´s not. Just run Pandora´s Battery Creator again and check that the current serial of your Battery EEPROM, if it´s not set to 0xFFFFFFFF then it´s not a jigkick battery but a regular battery inspite the success message you may have got earlier. Check the compatibility list above and try obtaining a compatible battery.
- Q - Once I´ve got the set sorted, can I use the jigkick battery as a regular battery again?- A - Yes, but you will have to convert it back to a normal battery or otherwise it will keep working as a jickick. To do that remove the battery, connect your PSP to the mains (A USB charging cable will NOT work), turn the PSP on, insert the jigkick battery, go to Game -> Memory Stick, Select and run Pandora´s Battery Creator, you can now convert your battery back to normal by pressing L+R (Providing you backed the original EEPROM up previously and is still in the root of the Memory Stick) or pressing the Swuare button (In case you did not back the original EEPROM up).
- Q - Can I use the Magic Memory Stick for regular purposes or it will give me any problems?- A - Yes, you can use it for regular purposes. It will not give you any problems. The Magic Memory Stick should still work in the same way for savegames, homebrew, MP3, Videos...
- Q - What if I still want to convert it the Magic Memory Stick to a regular Memory Stick? Can I do it?- A - Yes, just format the Memory Stick from the Settings Menu of your PSP.
- Q - I dumped my NAND. Now I´m trying the Recover NAN option, but it gives me a "Cannot Open File" error despite I am completely sure that the nand-dump.bin file is in the root of my Memory Stick- A - This is due to a bug in the software. Just rename
nand-dump.bin into
nandimage.flash and try restoring the NAND again. It should work now.
- Q - Will Pandora work for TA-082+ PSPs?- A - Yes, and it will automatically take care of patching the key 0x0005 to make the compatible with 1.50 Firmware.
- Q - Will Pandora work for Slim PSPs?- A - This initial a guide for the initial Pandora version featured and it will NOTdowngrade/unbrick Slim PSPs on its own. Nevertheless
Dark_Alex has released an application called
"El Despertar Del Cementerio", which is a Universal Pandora´s Battery version capable of unbrick and/or downgrade ANY PSP (Both Fat or Slim) straight to Custom Firmware
3.71 M33-2 3.80 M33-5.
A little more information in
THIS POST.
- Q - I do not have access to a homebrew-capable fat PSP, but I do have a friend with a homebrew-capable Slim PSP. Can I make Pandora´s battery using my friend´s Slim PSP?- A - This initial Pandora version featured in this guide requires 1.50 Kernel to run, and since the Slim PSPs cannot run the 1.50 Kernel you will not be capable to run on a Slim PSP. Nevertheless, other homebrew developers have produced alternative Pandora´s Softwares compatible with kernel 3.xx, so they WILL run in Slim PSPs (providing they´re homebrew-capable) to produce the Pandora´s Battery Set. These options are:
- Pandora Installer for 3.xx kernels by HellCat will let you use a homebrew-capable Slim (or fat) PSP to convert a compatible battery into a jigkick battery (and back to its original condition as well) and it will also install the necessary files into the memory stick converting it into the Magic Memory Stick. The advantage is that it will create the partion in the stick (just like mspformat does), copy the IPL as well, and EVERY STEP is performed on PSP, no PC needed, so your OS dosen't matter either.
- Open Source Pandora Battery Tool by Cory149 will let you use a homebrew-capable Slim (or fat) PSP convert a compatible battery into a jigkick battery (and back to its original condition as well).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember that the Slim PSP battery (PSP-S110) CAN NOT be pandorised via software.
- Q - I do not have access to a homebrew-capable fat or slim PSP to run Pandora´s Software on. Is is possible to open the battery and convert it to jigkick battery manually?- A - Yes, that can be achieved. There´s a few topics in different forums discussing about it. Some people have even used a physical switch to turn the pandora mode on and off in the battery. But remember that Pandora´s Set consists in a jigkick battery and a Magic Memory Stick, so just the battery on its own will not be enough. You´ll need to create a magic memory stick as well!
- Q - I heard there´s a way to boot the PSP normally using a Jigkick Battery. Is that true?- A - Yes. Another homebrew coder called Booster released the
Multi boot loader for that purpose.
- Q - Could you point me into the direction of other software extending the capabilities of the original Pandora´s Battery?- A - Yes, check these out:
CREDITS
---------
- All work done by the Prometheus team aka Team C+D:
- Adrahil (VoidPointer)
- Booster
- Cswindle (Caretaker)
- Dark_AleX (Malyot)
- Ditlew
- Fanjita (FullerMonty)
- Joek2100 (CosmicOverSoul)
- Jim
- Mathieulh (WiseFellow)
- Nem (h1ckeyph0rce)
- Psp250
- Skylark
- TyRaNiD (bockscar)
- With thanks to everyone who has contributed to the PSPSDK, without which nothing would have been possible.
Basically these are the Instructions from the Pandora´s Release with a few additions / changes to make it more understandable.
If you have read the instructions but you are still having trouble to get the Pandora´s Battery working, we suggest that you reply to this topic with the question(s) that you may have rather than starting a new topic/thread instead. We'll try to help
.
Also we would like to produce a comprehensive list of battery models compatible with Pandora´s Software. If you get any successful or unsuccessful battery conversion, and your model is not included in the Compatibility section above, please notify me via Personal Message the battery details [Such as make (SONY, Third party or Unknown), model no, mAh, voltage, country of origin, error, and link to a picture if available) Thanks!.
