How to Install Custom Firmware (CFW) on PSP 1000(PHAT) & 2000(Slim)

In this PSP tutorial, you will learn how to install custom firmware of your PSP 100x (Phat) and PSP 200x(Slim) using TIFF exploit – ChickHEN.

IMPORTANT: This will NOT work with PSP-3000s [TA-090v2] or new PSP-2000s [TA-088v3]

Update 1: How to Check PSP Motherboard Model

Update 2: Follow the link Below to install CFW on PSP-3000s or new PSP-2000s [TA-088v3]:

Install Custom Firmware 5.03 GEN-C

Rest of the users please continue. Before starting please make sure you fulfill the following requirements:

  • Firmware: 5.03 or below
  • Have a Memory Stick
  • Battery charged to more than 76%

Required Material

Create a folder on your desktop and name it CFW. Download the files linked below and extract them into CFW folder.

Now your CFW folder will look like this:

install custom firmware on psp

How to Install Custom Firmware (CFW) on PSP

Step 1 – Update PSP Firmware to 5.03

Skip this step if your PSP is already on Firmware 5.03.

If your PSP firmware version is below 5.03 you need to update it to firmware 5.03 first.

Connect your PSP to computer via USB. Your PSP memory stick will appear in your computer.

install custom firmware on psp (1)

Open the Memory Stick drive from your computer and copy EBOOT.PBP from PSP_Firmware_503 folder to the following directory on your memory card:

/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/

(Create the directory if not available. Make sure you name folders in CAPS)

install custom firmware on psp (2)

Now Press the O button of your PSP to disconnect it from USB. Now go to Game > Memory Stick on your PSP. There you will find the PSP firmware version 5.03. Press the X on PSP button to execute it. It will install firmware 5.03 on your PSP.

install custom firmware on psp (7)

Step 2 – chickHEN R2

Assuming that your PSP is on Firmware 5.03, now is the time to load chickHEN R2. Reconnect your PSP to your computer via USB.

Copy h.bin file from ChickHENR2 folder to the root of your PSP. (ms0:/)

install custom firmware on psp (3)

For Phat (PSP 100x)

Go to PHAT folder in chickHEN R2 folder and copy eggsploit.tiff file to the following directory on your PSP:

/PSP/PHOTO/FAT

(Create the directory if not available. Make sure you name folders in CAPS)

install custom firmware on psp (4)

For Slim (PSP 200x)

Open the SLIM folder from ChickHENR2 and Copy folder ChickHEN to the memory stick under:

/PSP/PHOTO/

install custom firmware on psp (5)

Step 3 – Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher

Copy RECOVERY folder from Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher folder to the following directory on your PSP memory Stick:

/PSP/GAME/

install custom firmware on psp (6)

Step 4 – Load chickHEN R2

Now it’s time to unplug your PSP from the computer and load ChickHEN R2.

From your PSP, Go over to Photo > Memory Stick and click on the FAT folder (if you have a Phat) or ChickHEN folder (if you have a Slim). The screen should blank out then flash green, showing that ChickHEN has loaded. The PSP will then reboot automatically.

If it just hangup and shutdown PSP then your got to retry until it automatically reboot your PSP. It may take a few tries to work, in fact it took me 7 tries to get it to work. Here are few tips to get it working:

  • Make sure there is no UMD in the drive
  • The USB cable is unplugged
  • Restore default settings under System Settings may help

Phat (PSP 2000)

install custom firmware on psp (8)

Slim (PSP 1000)

install custom firmware on psp (9)

Step 5 – Load Hellcat’s CFW Recovery Flasher

Assuming that ChickHEN has successfully loaded.

Now on your PSP scroll over to Game > Memory Stick and load Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher. When it loads, choose I agree to the notice informing you that the program touches internal flash.

install custom firmware on psp (10)

A brown screen menu will appear. Scroll down to Install M33 CFW and press X button. Then you will be asked if you want to reset your settings. Choose the first option (reset).

install-custom-firmware-on-psp-(12)

Then it will start install Custom Firmware on your PSP. When all done, press the X button and turn ON your PSP manually.

Go to Settings > System Settings > System Information and see what:

install custom firmware on psp (11)

Congratz! You have successfully installed Custom Firmware (CFW) on your PSP. Input your desired settings again and enjoy 5.00 M33 on your PSP.

You may also be interested in:

How to: install ISO games on PSP

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Comments:

  1. Zxcr6 9 October 2009 at 11:26 am #

    Really good guide for PSP custom firmware, Thanks.

  2. gonzo 12 October 2009 at 1:16 pm #

    Worked like a charm..Now I have CFW 5.00 M33 on my PSP

  3. hack 16 October 2009 at 10:11 am #

    Is there any other way to hack psp?

  4. DSF 16 October 2009 at 2:26 pm #

    I am newbie and tried 1st time, thanks for the help to install custom firmware

  5. Rayan 17 October 2009 at 2:31 pm #

    working smoothly on my psp. thanks

  6. Hijazi 18 October 2009 at 6:08 pm #

    thanks for this PSP article

  7. harry 27 October 2009 at 2:48 pm #

    just to say to people, it took me 10 goes!, if it doesnt work at first keep trying!!! love x

  8. cool 30 October 2009 at 7:06 am #

    Thanks for help to install custom firmware

  9. uhh... 5 November 2009 at 11:50 pm #

    how does it go to 5.00 m33 if we started with 5.03? :o

    im trying to do this on my psp 1000

    • trickYguY 7 November 2009 at 3:01 pm #

      Good Q :p
      yeah you updates ur firmware to 5.03..
      but the one living inside Recover flasher is 5.00 M33-6 which is CFW. and is installed in the end..
      that’s why you get 5.00 M33-6

  10. niceblokedave 6 November 2009 at 4:32 am #

    Looks like a great easy guide !! just 1 question though before i try it :-) . On the PSP phat if the psp is powered off after the install is finished will you have to install again ? . I have read on the PSP 3000 you can only put it in standby to avoid this happening but not clear on the phat

    • trickYguY 7 November 2009 at 2:57 pm #

      it happens with partially unlockable PSPs like 3000
      PHAT is completely hackable so there’s nothing to worry abt :)

      • niceblokedave 8 November 2009 at 12:48 pm #

        Just wanted to say THX !! . I have been looking around the internet for a couple of weeks for a guide on installing custom firmware and was picking up bits and pieces but nothing i could string together clearly from start to finish that i was convinced would work( pandora battery or not, which custom firmware etc). Your guide worked a treat and i’m now on 5.03 m33-6 !! . Happy happy happy . Thx once again for your clear guide and links to software . Top job ;-)

        • trickYguY 9 November 2009 at 3:18 pm #

          Stay tuned for more upcomings for PSP

          • christophe 31 January 2010 at 6:28 am #

            Hello i’ve got chickhen installed and then the cfw 5.00 M33-6, everything worked !!! But when i tried to play homebrew games (iso) my psp says (this game can not be started these data are damaged) what can i do about it? I can’t find a sollution.

      • niceblokedave 8 November 2009 at 12:59 pm #

        oops . Meant 5.00 m33-6 of course

  11. lisod 6 November 2009 at 9:58 am #

    Thanks for the PSP guide

  12. Bala 11 November 2009 at 11:06 pm #

    HI,
    I was using firmware 5.00 M33. Recently i upgraded it to 6.00. Now the problem is, I cannot play ISO file from M:\ISO\.
    Whether i can degrade it back to 5.00 M33 or any other software has to be installed to play ISO files in version 6.00 itself?
    Please someone help me to solve it out.

  13. Anders 16 November 2009 at 4:48 pm #

    You guys are a great inspiration! Keep up the great work.

  14. Kk 16 November 2009 at 11:06 pm #

    Thanks trickYguY for the help! just want to know after installing the custom firmware there are new files created like egghunt.bin and old ones h.bin and recovery should we keep the files or delete them? and having trouble loading games it says ‘game could not be started (80020321)’(final fantasy Dissidia) is this because I need to upgrade to a different version of this firmware? the ISO folder is on the root of my memory stick. Thanks

    • trickYguY 17 November 2009 at 6:08 am #

      @Kk

      Try this
      1. Hold the power button for 4 seconds to Turn off the PSP
      2. Turn on PSP while holding the R trigger to enter into the recovery mode
      3. Open Configuration settings and locate UMD Mode setting
      4. Keep press X button until you get this option UMD Mode (currently: m33 driver – no UMD -)
      5. Go Back and Exit from recovery mode

      • Kk 17 November 2009 at 11:47 am #

        Thanks for the fast reply. Its all working fine now also I didn’t have a UMD inside before but when its inside it works too^^ and I have notice that some games don’t work because it’s a bad file lucky I got afew different versions of the same game haha. I still haven’t deleted any of the h.bin, egghunt.bin files just incase something goes wrong hope this doesn’t affect the firmware??

        • trickYguY 17 November 2009 at 3:30 pm #

          @Kk

          Great, Yes you can delete now h.bin and egghunt.bin files

  15. Liamsell 29 November 2009 at 10:07 am #

    will this work on all psp 2000?, or only the select few which are hackable? ive been trying to get the tiff exploit to work. no luck so far after about 20 tries

    • trickYguY 30 November 2009 at 2:16 pm #

      This will NOT work with PSP-3000s [TA-090v2] or new PSP-2000s [TA-088v3]

  16. champ 8 December 2009 at 4:50 am #

    great tutorial. confirmed working on psp phat (1000 series). can now play homebrew and iso games :) thanks!

  17. [...] other way is to hack PSP by installing custom firmware on PSP, download games from the internet, put them into your PSP memory stick and then play games on PSP. [...]

  18. aduldulao 14 December 2009 at 1:11 pm #

    thank you so much for the guide..this is the easiest guide I have found on the net and it is clear and detial..thank you again. a few questions for you sinc ei am PSP virgin…lol. My PSP is psp2001 slim (silver body). It has the version 4.02U on it. So can this be done. what do you suggest I do first?if it bricks can I fix it? Is what you listed on here an emulator too? Confused with all this…lol…basically what you have us doing is what? Sorry for being so dumb about this…
    tony

    I have ISOs and CSOs on my comp.

  19. leonmayank 16 December 2009 at 12:24 am #

    if some of the isos n csos r not working in ur custom firmware it is because the game requires greater firmware…but i hav a software which decrypts the iso/cso file n rebuild it according to ur firmware..i wanted to play fifa 2010 but it wasnt working on my 3.90 m33-3…but i decrypted the iso file n rebuilded it…n yipee its working…if anyone need this software let me kno..i will be glad to help!!
    chao!!

  20. So.. 16 December 2009 at 4:23 am #

    How do i know if my PSP2k is [TA-088v3] , And If it it, and i did this process will it damage my PSP?

    • trickYguY 16 December 2009 at 4:30 pm #

      Follow this guide to the installation of ChickHen but do NOT perform the custom restore via hellcat..
      Install PSPIdent on PSP.. it will tell you the motherboard model..
      A guide on how to check motherboard is coming soon

  21. [...] PSP guide you’ll learn how to install ChickHenR2 on your PSP that let your hack your PSP and install custom firmware on PSP. Once you’ve install custom firmware with the help of ChickHEN hack, you’ll be able to [...]

  22. [...] you know your PSP motherboard model it really helps in deciding whether you can install custom firmware on PSP or not. In this PSP guide you’re going to learn how to check your PSP motherboard model in [...]

  23. kuku 20 December 2009 at 7:27 pm #

    it was pretty good but i cant seem to open it it says curupppted data

    • trickYguY 24 December 2009 at 2:19 pm #

      corrupted data???

  24. TON 25 December 2009 at 6:53 am #

    is it okay to delete the egghunt.bin and h.bin files after installation? thanks. :)

    • trickYguY 26 December 2009 at 10:21 am #

      Yes..

  25. antiq 26 December 2009 at 11:34 pm #

    thanks man
    successfully installed custom firmware on PSP 2000

  26. REAPERS 27 December 2009 at 3:16 am #

    hello again!

    maybe i’m not lucky to have PSP-2000s [TA-088v3], the flasher won’t work. any suggestions to make this model play ISO games?

    thanks

    • trickYguY 27 December 2009 at 4:29 am #

      Just published a new guide to install CFW on partially hackable PSP (3000, 2000 TA-88v3).. check out the PSP hacks category

  27. mh2538 27 December 2009 at 3:49 am #

    Hi
    i have a psp2000 slim i did all step to lunch hellcat. but when i run hellcat it prompt me “Recovery flasher detected a not cfw capable psp model. Unfortunately, due to added/fixed security measures by sony this ,pdel of PSP is NOT capable of having a CFW flashed toit. ….
    Theredore, all flash writing functions will be DISABLED!”
    now wht can i do ?

  28. [...] NOT run chickHen on OFW 5.50.  If you can’t install ChickHen it means you can NOT hack PSP and install custom firmware 5.03 GEN-C on your [...]

  29. :DD 29 December 2009 at 4:29 am #

    Hey. I downloaded the PSPtm Update Ver 5.03 but when i press o it says The game could not be started (DADADADA).

    Help ;_;

    • trickYguY 30 December 2009 at 4:12 am #

      Did you install custom firmware after installing official firmware ver. 5.03?

      • :DD 30 December 2009 at 5:48 am #

        Nope. o.o My systems says SYSTEM SOFTWARE 3.52 M33-2

        • :DD 30 December 2009 at 5:49 am #

          Actually I dunno if i installed the official one. ._.

  30. :DD 30 December 2009 at 7:24 am #

    Another question.

    My System Software is 3.52 M33-2. The thing is i can play The Sims Castaway, a CSO file but i cant play Naruto Akatsuki, the one that i downloaded from bit torrent. I changed it to a CSO but still. It says game could not be started (80020321)

    Help ):

    • :DD 30 December 2009 at 7:38 am #

      Sorry its (80020148)

  31. Mobius 30 December 2009 at 10:22 am #

    if i dont reply, i feel like an asshole
    best guide on the planet : D

  32. heinz_04 31 December 2009 at 8:10 pm #

    i can’t run chickhenr2 on my psp phat what seems to be the problem?

  33. clark 1 January 2010 at 8:04 pm #

    i have a really big problem.. i cant upgrade my software to 5.03. my current version is 3.02 EO-B. whenever i click the update in memory stick it says.. the game could not be started (DADADADA).. by the way i have psp 1002… thanks in advance

  34. jayke21 3 January 2010 at 4:33 pm #

    i have done all the steps… but when i am in the hellcat’s and i choose install m33 and choose reset there is an error.

    flsh 2 wasnt assigned
    error opening 500.pBP

    please tell me what to do

  35. Darkkewlz 4 January 2010 at 8:21 am #

    Please Help.
    everything seems to work great up to the Reboot to Accept Terms screen..
    i run the Eggsploit image a million times till it works. then i go to the games folder and run the Hellcats recovery flaser, The PSP reboots to the accept terms screen, but is frozen there. i cant move the “X” to accept, or do anything else.
    i restart and the screen comes right back. I have to remove the battery and start the whole process over again, only to get the same resulsts.
    HELP.
    its a fully compatable PSP PHATy. and i checked the motherboard model info with the supplied tools from this site.
    all should be ok.
    thanks for your help

  36. tm77rad 4 January 2010 at 8:07 pm #

    i do all this things and the games give me error… and i want to do again,to see if i do it good and now i cant install CHICKEN…first time i did it but now i don’t can. i cant with that program and i cant manualy :( please somebody help me… sorry my bad english

  37. Hitman 5 January 2010 at 9:44 pm #

    thnks for the guide. hey can we delete the recovery n chicken files copied on the memory stick

  38. Hitman 9 January 2010 at 1:00 am #

    if we want to use a new memory stick on a psp that has cfw on it can we just bsimply format it from the system settings to make it work like the old one

  39. johno 22 January 2010 at 5:03 am #

    this isnt working… i tried like 50 times and it just doesnt work …. i have a psp phat and im having trouble … CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE!!.. sorry for caps but im in desparte need :D thanks alot

  40. Cory 28 January 2010 at 1:22 am #

    Will the ChickHENR2 + Recovery work on any filmware (My psp is a 1002 with 4.05 filmware) Will it work?, This is because i have not got a battery for the install of the 5.03 filmware. Thanks.

  41. heyou. 13 February 2010 at 9:52 am #

    hey. i’m done with hen something. my firmware is now 5.03 chickhen something then now when i try to use the hellcat recovery flasher then i try to install the fw 5.00 it says error

  42. anil 1 March 2010 at 12:51 pm #

    hi thanks for the post
    i am all done but got stuck at a final point while working withh hellcat
    it throws me a error in detecting fm while installing cfw
    plzzzzzzzzzzzzz help me out
    every thing else went well
    i am using psp slim 2000 ta 085v1

    • sirhc 10 March 2010 at 10:33 am #

      Had difficulty also running hellcat recovery.
      But i figured it out that it requires OFW 5.0.
      Copy EBOOT.PBP of the OFW 5.0 to MS ROOT,
      then rename the EBOOT.PBP to 500.PBP
      Run again hellcat.

      bdw, the system will reset to VERSION 5.03
      if you fail to load hellcat properly.
      If hellcat recovery fails, “Do NoT EXIT”
      choose >Launch another app from /PSP/GAME…
      and if you have PSPident, click it so that the
      system will not reset and you will not again
      run chickHEN.

      Hope this helps.

      Thanks trickYguY for the instructions.

  43. thgink 11 March 2010 at 3:32 am #

    I’m done converting my psp from OFW Version 5.03 to CFW 5.0 M33-6

    Now, there are too many files in my ms.
    File > Location
    h.bin file > ms root (ms0:/)
    eggsploit.tiff > ms root (ms0:/)
    chickHEN Folder > /psp/photo
    recovery folder > /psp/game
    etc…
    Which should i delete?
    or can i just format my ms?

    Thanks!


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