Hi Everyone

[ephesay]

Hi everyone,

I just recently bought a PSP with CFW 3.80 - m33. I just would like to know if there is a way to brick proof my PSP. And also what Custom apps would be useful.

Thanks,

[Darksidehearts]

Well your PSP is kinda brick proof already with a CFW on installed on it. Just remember to back up your F0 and F1 folders in case it semi bricks so that you can restore it back to normal. Also if you make the Pandora battery then anytime you brick it severally you can restore it to it's former glory, heck the new versions allow you to fresh install the latest CFW so you don't have to go about looking stuff up to do it again. As for homebrew, it depends on what you want on your PSP. What are you looking for specifically?

By the way you can go here to make the battery
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[ephesay]

Thanks darkside, if i am going to back up my flash0 and Flash01, how do i do it? And what purpose does it serve? Does updgrading my CFW 4.01 required?

[Darksidehearts]

No it does not require you to downgrade a thing. Your F0 folder holds all the nessacery files in order to make the PSP run, without these files your PSP is nothing but a brick. The F1 folder while not as important as the F0 does serve a purpose. All your settings from the way you have the PSP light to the actual internet connects are stored there. You should back them up to unless you want to create and edit the settings all over again if your PSP bricks.

What you'll need
Nothing but a few seconds and a USB cord, oh also a computer
Difficulty


What you will need to do is go to your recovery menu, hold the power button until the PSP fully shuts off, then restart it while holding down the button.

Once the "Recovery Menu" shows up go down to:
Advance->
-from withing that menu you should see the following options

Back

Advance configuration ->
Toggle USB (flash0)
Toggle USB (flash1)
Toggle USB (flash2)
Toggle USB (flash3)
Format flash1 and reset settings

What we need to use here is Toggle USB (flash0) & Toggle USB (flash1)
-

1.The first thing your going to do is hook up your USB cable to your PSP and plug it in to your computer.

2.On the screen go down to Toggle USB (flash0) and click the button

Now you should have an external drive that has been connected *Assuming you have a PC it should be a drive letter that's wasn't there before. For me it's E:, if you have a Mac it should be on the desktop with the name "UNTITLED"*
[Never name the drive, remember not to do that no matter what!]

Once you have opened the drive you should see these 3 folders *Don't mind the shaded ones because I have my computer set to view hidden files for editing purposes*



The folders you need to focus on are [font]+[km]+[vsh]

Obviously the files in the font folder are, well the systems font but none the less without them the PSP will semi-brick so unless you know what your doing in there don't delete or change anything.

Same goes with the km folder.

What's inside the vsh folder is all the plugins that make the PSP do what it does, in essence it's the PSP's brain. Editing and replacing files inside the vsh folder are how we add "themes" to the PSP.

*In this guide we will not go into the actual editing process but the backing up*

[We are creating 2 folders named F1 with your PSP's name]
Example: [DSH F1 Files]

3.Copy the contents from the drive (every folder you see) into the folder on your computer. Now make sure to put that folder on your computer somewhere you can find it, after your down placing make a copy of it and either place that copy on an external drive (Firewire, USB, ect) or burn it to a RW CD or DVD, it all depends on what you use for extra space. Of course you could upload it online as well, not to here but to a site like Megaupload.

4.Once you have finished copying that feel free to eject the PSP. Now on the screen scroll down to Toggle USB (flash1) and click the button now you should again see a new external drive hooked up to your computer and again on a Mac it will be labeled "UNTITLED".

5.Open the drive and you'll see these 6 folders and a config file.


Now following the same process that you did for backing up the F1 folder you'll be making a folder with the PSP's name and the F1.
Example:[DSH F1 Files]

And once again you'll be placing the copied folder on your computer and external source.

While the F1 isn't as valuable as the F0 folder it still is good because you will not have to redo system settings such as the PSP's name, to screen brightness or have to remake the internet connections.

Now what I would suggest is making a folder labeled your firmware and PSP's name, add Flash files to the title.
Example:[DSH 4.01M33 Flash Files]

Put both appropriate folders into this one and then you will have only 1 folder to look for instead of 2.
-


It's a good idea to back up your firmware files in case your PSP ever does brick, even if you don't theme your PSP it's good to have a back up as you do not know when you'll need it. If all else fails use the Pandora battery.

(This guide is recommended for a semi-brick only)

Now there is another way of doing this that I'm sure you'll have heard, so let's go over that right now.

In order to access the F0 & F1 folders without having to go to the "Recovery Menu" each time all you need to do if you have a CFW 3.80M33+ is hit the and you'll see a screen like this


Now what you need to do is go down to the USB Device option and using the Left and Right keys on the D-Pad and you'll see this


And all you'll have to do is go to the USB option on the XMB or if you have some other plugin setting for the USB use that. I use CFE (Custom Firmware Extender) and set up my USB to work with +Note Key.

Then follow the same backing up process from there and you should be set on the F0 front. Eject the PSP and then change the USB option to this


[It's important to remember to disconnect the PSP from your computer before changing the USB device as it will have issues reading while still connecting.]

Now hook that back up with the USB connection and follow the backing up process again and you'll be all set with the F1.

Well now that should have you all set up to back up your PSP. While in your time owning the PSP you should not have to deal with a bricked one it can happen so having the proper back up on your computer will help get you out of a jam.

[ephesay]

Thanks a lot Darksidehearts I enjoy this forum, it really is going to help me maxmize my psp.

[Darksidehearts]

Glad to help, feel free to ask help here any time!