Installing Custom Firmware 5.00 M33-6. This article assumes that you have custom firmware (OE/M33) installed on your PSP and want to upgrade to version 5.00 M33-6.
If you have OE/M33 firmware lower than 3.52 M33 please start from Section A.
If you have OE/M33 firmware equal or greater than 3.52 M33 and lower than 3.52 M33-4, please start from Section B.
If you have OE/M33 firmware equal or greater than 3.52 M33-4 and less than 4.01 M33, please start from Section C.
If you have OE/M33 firmware equal or greater than 4.01 M33 and less than 4.01 M33-2, please start from Section D.
If you have OE/M33 firmware equal or greater than 4.01 M33-2 and less than 5.00 M33 please start from Section E.
If you have OE/M33 firmware equal or greater than 5.00 M33 and less than 5.00 M33-6, please start from Section F.
If you have followed the instructions in my previous post Installing PSP custom firmware 5.00 M33, please start from Section F.
Downloads:
(DL.C.1) Custom firmware 3.52 M33
(DL.C.2) Custom firmware 3.52 M33-4
(DL.C.3) Custom firmware 4.01 M33
(DL.C.4) Custom firmware 4.01 M33-2
(DL.C.5) Custom firmware 5.00 M33
(DL.C.6) Custom firmware 5.00 M33-6
(DL.O.1) Official firmware update 1.5
(DL.O.2) Official firmware update 3.52
(DL.O.3) Official firmware update 4.01
(DL.O.4) Official firmware update 5.00
Section A – Install custom firmware 3.52 M33
Files to be downloaded and extracted:
(a) Custom firmware 3.52 M33 (DL.C.1)
(b) Official firmware update 1.5 (DL.O.1)
(c) Official firmware update 3.52 (DL.O.2)
Steps to install:
(A.1) Copy the folder M33CREATOR and its contents to your PSP’s memory sticks’s /PSP/GAME150/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME150/).
(A.2) Rename Official firmware update 1.5 (EBOOT.PBP) to 150.PBP.
(A.3) Copy the file to your PSP’s memory stick’s /PSP/GAME150/M33CREATOR/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME150/M33CREATOR/).
(A.4) Rename Official firmware update 3.52 ((EBOOT.PBP) to 352.PBP.
(A.5) Copy the file to your PSP’s memory stick’s /PSP/GAME150/M33CREATOR/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME150/M33CREATOR/).
(A.6) In your PSP, browse to your Memory Stick and run the program 3.52 M33 CREATOR.
(A.7) After it completes, run the the program 3.52 M33UPDATE.
(A.8) Your PSP is now running custom firmware 3.52 M33. You can now delete the folder M33CREATOR folder from your PSP.
Section B – Update to custom firmware 3.52 M33-4
Files to be downloaded and extracted:
(a) Custom firmware 3.52 M33-4 (DL.C.2)
Steps to upgrade:
(B.1) Copy the folder M33Update4 and its contents to your PSP’s memory sticks’s /PSP/GAME150/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME150/).
(B.2) In your PSP, browse to your Memory Stick and run the update (the icon has a grey background, with red letters saying 3:33:33 in the foreground).
(B.3) Your PSP is now running custom firmware 3.52 M33-4. You can now delete the folder M33Update4 folder from your PSP.
Section C – Install custom firmware 4.01 M33
Files to be downloaded and extracted:
(a) Custom firmware 4.01 M33 (DL.C.3)
(b) Official firmware update 4.01 (DL.O.3)
Steps to install:
(C.1) Copy the folder UPDATE and its contents to your PSP’s memory sticks’s /PSP/GAME/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME/).
(C.2) Rename Official firmware update 4.01 (EBOOT.PBP) to 401.PBP.
(C.3) Copy the file to your PSP’s memory stick’s /PSP/GAME/UPDATE folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/).
(C.4) Go to Recovery mode (Power off your PSP by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Turn on your PSP while holding the right shoulder button to go into recovery mode). Revert your kernel to 3.52 (or any kernel above 3.52 like 3.90). Exit the Recovery mode.
(C.5) In your PSP, browse to your Memory Stick and run the program 4.01 M33.
(C.6) Your PSP is now running custom firmware 4.01 M33. You can now delete the folder UPDATE folder from your PSP.
Section D – Update to custom firmware 4.01 M33-2
Files to be downloaded and extracted:
(a) Custom firmware 4.01 M33-2 (DL.C.4)
Steps to upgrade:
(D.1) Copy the folder UPDATE and its contents to your PSP’s memory sticks’s /PSP/GAME/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME/).
(D.2) In your PSP, browse to your Memory Stick and run the program M33-2.
(D.3) Your PSP is now running custom firmware 4.01 M33-2. You can now delete the folder UPDATE folder from your PSP.
Section E – Install custom firmware 5.00 M33
Files to be downloaded and extracted:
(a) Custom firmware 5.00 M33 (DL.C.5)
(b) Official firmware update 5.00 (DL.O.4)
Steps to install:
(E.1) Copy the folder UPDATE and its contents to your PSP’s memory sticks’s /PSP/GAME/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME/).
(E.2) Rename Official firmware update 5.00 (EBOOT.PBP) to 500.PBP.
(E.3) Copy the file to your PSP’s memory stick’s /PSP/GAME/UPDATE folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/).
(E.4) Go to Recovery mode (Power off your PSP by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Turn on your PSP while holding the right shoulder button to go into recovery mode). Revert your kernel to 4.01. Exit the Recovery mode.
(E.5) In your PSP, browse to your Memory Stick and run the program 5.00 M33.
(E.6) Your PSP is now running custom firmware 5.00 M33. You can now delete the folder UPDATE folder from your PSP.
Section F – Update to custom firmware 5.00 M33-6
Files to be downloaded and extracted:
(a) Custom firmware 5.00 M33-6 (DL.C.6)
Steps to upgrade:
(F.1) Copy the folder UPDATE and its contents to your PSP’s memory sticks’s /PSP/GAME/ folder (eg. Z:/PSP/GAME/).
(F.2) In your PSP, browse to your Memory Stick and run the program M33-6.
(F.3) Your PSP is now running custom firmware 5.00 M33-6. You can now delete the folder UPDATE folder from your PSP.
Posted on 18:32, February 4th, 2009 by 
Posted in 
my psp now update v. 5.03 (firmware) but i can’t play game or open file, but i already install & save on my memory to. cant you suggest how & downgrade the version & soft the problem. please help me.. tq
zaide, assuming you are not having the latest PSP model (the 3000 series), you can downgrade your PSP using a Pandora’s battery. Search the internet for it. I have not used it before and therefore, I cannot post any instructions or how-tos.
hi yk, I am currently using 4.01m33-2,is there any risk my psp will brick if I upgrade to 5.00m33-6?
If yes,what is there risk my psp will brick?
I am too worried =/
Is it really recommended for me to upgrade?
Hi mryandao, I’ve help several of my friends to upgrade their PSPs and I’ve never encountered a brick. It should be a very safe.
If I were you, I will upgrade only when there are certain games that I wish to try that will only run on newer version of firmwares.
Yes yk, I do have a problem playing a new game which is DJ Portable Max Fever, the game will auto shut down my PSP in few minutes or sometimes the music will appear chipmunk like music,but playing other games do not have this problem.
Do you think upgrade to 5.00m33-6 will solve this problem?
Mryandao, I haven’t tried the game before but since it’s a pretty new game, a newer firmware might be more compatible. Maybe it’s time to go for the plunge and install the newest custom firmware? You can always downgrade back to 1.5 and upgrade back to 4.01 again.
Ok yk. Thank you very much for your guide and comments. =)
You’re most welcome mryandao. I hope all goes well with your upgrade.
i just installed cfw 5 m33-6 and it all seems to work except for my save files. When i start up a game and try to load them an error dialogue pops up saying that the files are corrupted. Can/should i just re-install 5 m33-6?
Hi dReas, I found people who had the problems with their save files when they upgraded to CFW 5.00 M33-6. There are two things you can try:
(1) Try to downgrade to CFW 5.00 M33-3. You can refer to Section F of the following link: http://www.snoozingdragon.com/gaming/psp/installing-psp-custom-firmware-500-m33-3-83.html. Then launch the game and see if the save files are ok.
(2) Someone managed to fix the save files so that they can be used in CFW 5.00 M33-6. You can have a look at the steps here: http://forums.maxconsole.net/showpost.php?p=1122026&postcount=3
Hope to hear if the above options work for you. Good luck!
Awesome thanks a lot. I’ll check it out
Me again
None of the tips worked unfortunately. How do I go about and downgrade from cfw 5 m33-6 to 5 m33-3? When I tried to run the update it said that I didn’t need to because I already had the latest version.
Might I have to wait for a new cfw vers. perhaps?
Hi again dReas, there is one more method to fix the save files using Deemer mentioned here: http://forums.maxconsole.net/showpost.php?p=1062324&postcount=5
If it still doesn’t work for you, you can downgrade your CFW using Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher: http://forums.exophase.com/showthread.php?t=8383. In order to use the save files, you might have to revert to the CFW version that you were previously on. It seems like the problem occurs when you play a game that requires a higher version of Official firmware on a lower version CFW. From the sound of it, this problem will still be around in the future CFW releases, so you might be better off starting a new game if you want to be on newer version of CFW.
Thank you so much for all your help. I think I’ll go with the third option and just create a new save file. ;P
No worries, dReas. Have fun!
Hi Yk,
I have the same problem as mryandao.
Been trying to fix the problem from DJ Max Fever which freezes/flashes/auto shut down on the third song. I have updated my FAT PSP to newest firmware 5.00 m33-6 but still not fixed. Also tried to put in a patch 3.71 fatsmod but seems to not work (will try again later though)….
Any suggestions?
Hi April, DJ Max Fever has a software protection mechanism that is in place to counter piracy. You will need a patch for it to work. Try this one out:
http://www.consolespot.net/forums/psp-help-tutorials/21027-help-dj-max-fever-patch-2.html#post196680
Thanks yk!
Although did the patch, file came out as “fever-compressed.cso” but when I put the game in the psp the game does not appear! Tried renaming it to “fever.cso” and it read it as corrupted data.
Please help!!
Hi April, did you rename your original ISO file to fever.iso before doing the patch?
Yes. The CSO file became an image file once I changed it to fever.iso.
Hi yk,
To elaborate these are the steps I carried out for the patch;
Place djmf.cso in the same folder as the patch>renamed file to “fever.iso†(file type changed from CSO file to an image file)
Ran patch.exe>pressed enter>done
Ran windows bat>compressed file>then generated file named “fever-compressed.cso†(similar file size as the original)
I then tried to put this “fever-compressed.cso†game in PSP but either says ‘corrupted data’ or file does not show up at all.
Also tried to rename file to “fever.cso†– no success.
Anything I did wrong here?
Appreciate all your help.
Just another thought…
Would the reason of the patched game not working because the file was initially a CSO file? Would I need to get the game as ISO and then do the patch?
Hi April,
Correct, you will need an ISO file to do the patch (renaming djmf.cso to fever.iso before running the patch won’t work).
Instead of getting the game in ISO format, you can try to decompress the djmf.cso into an ISO with a CISO tool (here’s one with windows GUI: http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?t=21374). After you get the ISO format file, you can rename it to fever.iso and run the patch.
Good luck April, I hope it works!
Thanks a lot for your help Yk.
I got another dilemma. We’re also trying to update our other PSP Phat to the latest firmware 5.00 m33-6 but nothing seems to work! Current firmware is official 4.01. We are now unable to see ISO files as well.
Tried updating to CFW 5.00 so we can update to the m33-6 but we get the error “game could not be started” (80020148).
Need your help =)
Hi April, when you tried to upgrade to CFW 5.00 M33, did you do step E.4 (go into recovery mode to change the kernel version)?
Nope! Tried but there is no recovery mode for this one. Would you know the reason why?
Hi April, I only realised that your PSP Phat is running OFW 4.01 after I re-read your comment. I’m sorry to tell you that there is no way to upgrade to any CFW without using a Pandora battery. Search the net about Pandora battery and see if you want to get one.
As for your other PSP, did you get DJ Max Fever to work?
I had a feeling it was something to do with the official firmware. I guess we’ll try to make it one, if not buy one. Thanks so much for all your help. Appreciate it!!
We’re having problems with the Utility program compressing CSO to ISO. It won’t let us compress it (error message)! I’ve found a packed version of the game. I’m seeing if that’ll work instead.
Hello,
I had a quick question regarding running UMD ISOs off of the memory stick. I recently upgraded to 5.0 m33-6, and have never tried to rip a UMD and play it on the psp before. The guides I have read are all for previous versions of the CFW. I managed to rip the UMD to my computer, and copy it back to the PSP, although I wasn’t sure which folder to put the ISO in. (It’s currently in the PSP > GAME folder). However, the game will not show up when I go to access it on my PSP. I tried changing the umd mode to Sony NP9660, but still no dice. I hope this question isn’t too confusing, any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks! ^_^
Hi demon_candy, you need to put your ISO or CSO files into the ISO folder in the root of your memory stick. For example, if your memory stick shows as G:\ drive when you plug in via USB, you need to copy the ISO or CSO files into G:\ISO folder.
Hey yk, I’m new to CFW and the like so bear with me. I own the game Need For Speed Underground Rivals, but my disc drive stopped working. Rather than getting a new PSP I had a friend hack it and I updated to 5.00 m33-6. I can still play FFVII I have on there but I d/l’ed NFS because I wanted to play it but I can’t get it to play on my system. There’s a ton of different files I had to download and so I don’t know what ones I should be putting on the PSP and I don’t know where to put them. Can you help?
Hey jimboboklashaur, by saying that there’s a ton of different files you have to download, do you mean the ISO or CSO is split up as multiple archives (like *.rar)? If that is the case, you need to extract the ISO/CSO from the file using WinRar or some other archiving software and copy the resulting ISO/CSO file into the ISO folder in the root of your memory stick.
I have a mac, which hasn’t kept me from getting the files I want because the FFVII I have was downloaded on my machine. There’s an ISO but it’s set up like a DMG file that I have to extract, and then when that’s done I have a file that’s named “UMD_DATA.BIN” and then a folder named “PSP_GAME” and has all the game’s files in it.
I’ve copied it under PSP/GAMES and it says corrupted file. I’ve put it in the MP_ROOT folder and it doesn’t even show up on my PSP, and the same thing with the ISO folder the PSP automatically created when I put FFVII on there. Now I’m lost again. Any ideas?
I need help my psp wont install the update ,33-6
i downloaded the palystation upgrade5.03 mybe thats it
the file keep say corrupted and i tried to recover but i dont see no recovery menu
wat is i need to do inorder to in stall the firmwear
Hi devon Kelley, do you mean you’ve installed the Official Firmware 5.03? If you did, I’m sorry to tell you that you will need to use a Pandora Battery to downgrade to 1.5 before you can upgrade back to CFW 5.00 M33-6.
WONDERFUL guide!
BUT!
1) Your 4.00 Firmware is corrupted.
2) You should say that after installing firmware 5.00 there will be a BLUE SCREEN and you have to press the circle button.
that freaked me out so bad.
that’s all.. but wonderful guide
I tried upgrading to 5.00 m33-6, but as soon as i boot, irshell starts apparently by default, and when i try to exit to the xmb – i get at blue screen. Bricked?
Hi sieken, which version of iRShell are you using? You should probably use version 4.92 since it is the newest.
For the blue screen problem, you can try to format flash 1 and reset settings in recovery menu. To disable iRShell from running during start up, you can disable the autostart feature in the recovery menu.
hello sir. can i skip steps in upgrading to 5.00 m33 and go directly to m33-6. I have a 4.01 m33-2
Hi shakes. No, you can’t skip 5.00 M33.
hi yk, just wan to ask if i upgrade my 4.01 m33-2 to 5.00 m33 will i not be able to play my old games such as liberty city,nfsuc etc.. cause’ i want to play sunday magazine which requires 5.00 m33…
Hi negrome, you should not have any problems with older games if they are ISOs that are ripped properly.
my psp was on 3.90 m33-3, then i upgraded to 4.01 m33, but now all games don’t appear and my saves are gone too…i also try to put de upgrade 4.01 m33-2 UPDATE folder on my psp.. but it doesn’ t show as well…can you help me??
Hi drake, did you perform step C.4?
Hi, thx firstly, its very useful.
but could anyone please make a mirror link for the DL.O.2 please, cant download it, sry before
Hi New Folder, you can also download OFW version 3.52 from exophase.
thx, the previous link was broken (i guess)
i think you should get a new one.
Hi,
Do these instructions work for both psp slim or just psp phat?
Dear Mike,
These instructions will work on the PSP Slim if your device meets the prerequisite requirement (having a version of customer firmware already installed).
i got an issue wit h downgrading my firmware it keep sayin that it cannot be started the data is corrupted is there so how do i get it to start.