How to upgrade firmware

Did you have a firmware upgrade? if you can detail your current firmware I might be able to help you. There are higher custom firmware (CFW) that has known issues with UMD reading. Don't worry, it's about your UMD, you can even try the same UMD to your friend's PSP and Im pretty it will run. It's your firmware that needs to be changed. However, you may need to downgrade first before upgrading to a new firmware again to solve your problem. Please get back here when you have the details...

Some Games require higher version of firmware. You need to make sure that the games you put on your stick is capable of running in 3.71 m33-2 else I would suggest upgrade it to the 5.x m33 version.

the easyest way is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsuUIDRRla4 or you can follow the instruction on this site http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-downgrade-your-psp-and-upgrade-to-a-custom-firmware-part-one/

5.00 m33-4 is a very old custom firmware and all the new games wont work. you need to upgrade to gen-d2 or higher.

if you have downloaded the firmware from the internet, that is really not advisable. it would be best to go the nearest gaming zone for updating firmware.
some firmware are not compatible and not updated. downgrade your firmware to a more stable firmware.

hi your previous psp version is 3.80 m33 if yes your using custom firmware that why you can play game to your memory stick the problem is you upgrade your psp firmware to sony official firmware 5.01 you reinstall your firwmware again using custom firmware like 5.00 m33-3 cfw below with m33 or OE

if you're running the official sony firmware (not a hacked version) you might as well forget iso's and homebrew for now. you'll have to downgrade your firmware first then go back to a custom firmware. i haven't been keeping up w/ the psp hacking scene lately, and i'm not sure what is the latest firmware that can be downgraded. a good place to check for more info is psp.qj.net as well as their forums. hope that helps!

Dangers of downgrading

1. Know that downgrading your PSP voids the warranty and can be quite dangerous to your hardware.
2. Downgrading often requires upgrading: You can only use a downgrader that goes from one firmware version to another, so most users will need to update their PSP to at least version 2.0 (USA) in order to then downgrade it to 1.5 or 1.0.

Find your firmware

1. Determine which version of the PSP operating system you are currently running:
   1. Navigate to the main menu on your PSP.
   2. Select Settings -> System Settings -> System Information.
   3. Look for System Software Version X.XX. Where X.XX is the version number of your PSP firmware.
   4. Now you will know which downloader and/or updater you will need.
      • Note that any version greater than 1.51 will prevent you from running Homebrew and other independent applications.

Use the tools

1. Be aware that your firmware updater and associated tools are located on the Memory card.
2. Know that there are many tools to downgrade your PSP, depending on the version number of your firmware:
   1. Version 2.0 and 2.01 can be downgraded with Easy Downgrader.
   2. Versions 3.0 to 3.03 can be downgraded [here]
   3. Search Google for other downgraders.

The .tiff image hack

1. Be aware that the hack below is dangerous. The developers who first found this hack bricked-up (destroyed) 6 PSP units before they got it working. A single miss-step can brick your machine and make it the most expensive coaster available. Please use at your own risk. These instructions will, however, technically allow you to downgrade any PSP that can display .tiff images.
2. Know that this process is for downgrading from 2.0 to a lower version. If you have a higher version you will need different software, and if you are running 1.51 or 1.52 you will need to upgrade to 2.0 before you can downgrade to 1.5
3. Download the original 1.50 EBOOT updater, version 1.5
4. Download MPHDowngrader. Be absolutely sure it is version 1.0.0.
5. Connect your PSP to your PC via USB cable.
6. Go to the directory /PSP/GAME/ on your memory stick.
7. Create a sub-directory named UPDATE which must be in uppercase.
8. Obtain the EBOOT.PBP file from the updater.
9. Copy the downloaded PBP file into the UPDATE directory.
10. Download the MPHDowngrader and unzip the program.
    • Inside the package you will find a Photo folder with an image inside named overflow.tif.
11. Drop overflow.tif into your /PSP/PHOTO/ folder.
12. Place both h.bin and index.dat in the root of your Memory Stick.
13. Disconnect your PSP from your computer and plug in the AC adapter.
14. Navigate to Photo and then Memory Stick via the PSP's menu system and start scrolling down through your photos until you reach the overflow.tif picture.
15. Everything will freeze, the screen will turn black and fuzzy white text will appear.
    • If your PSP freezes without going to this black text screen, then hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PSP shuts down, then hit the power button again to start it back up. Repeat this step until you get that black screen.
16. Hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PSP powers off.
17. Hit the power button again. Your PSP will start up.
    • Navigate to your System Information, and you'll discover that your PSP thinks it is running version firmware 1.0. It isn't, gthough, and you cannot yet run Homebrew.
18. Navigate to Game -> Memory Stick, hit the X button, and navigate to the 1.5 updater.
    • Make sure you have your PSP plugged in or the upgrade won't work.
19. Click the X button and update like you normally would. At the end of the upgrade you will receive an error saying that the upgrade failed and to contact Sony. Ignore this and again force your PSP to power off and reboot.
    • After the PSP reboots, you will receive an error screen in multiple languages. Find your language and read the corresponding line. It notes that your preferences are lost and that you need only hit the O button to restore some default settings.
20. Hit the O button.
21. The PSP will start back up and you will go through the initial setup like the day when you first bought your PSP. Do so and then go to the system info pane again, where you will see that you are running version 1.5.
22. Run homebrew at will.

[edit] Tips

• For a new firmware version to be downgradable crackers first have to decrypt any new security or authentication measures, and then create a downloader. This can take some time and is a process of constant change as new versions are released. If you attempting to downgrade a fully updated or brand new PSP you will need to work with the latest version of the firmware, current version 3.5 in the USA.
• Downgrade Your Psp to Version 1.5 just Using Your Psp Battery

[edit] Warnings

• There are many web sites out there that will sell you videos or instructions, but beware, the information is available and the tools needed are free or shareware.
• Do this at your own risk. This technique was created by modders and might not be 100 percent reliable. It may also void the warranty for your PSP.
• Anti-virus scanner and software will often identify PBP as potentially malicious. You may need to temporarily disable these security measures to obtain the updates.

[edit] Things You'll Need

• PSP
• USB cable
• Microsoft Windows ™ computer with usb support
• Internet connection

Hi,

The official Sony firmwares don't let you play downloaded/back up games.

In order to update, you need to have your psp FULLY CHARGED, I mean 100%, and have your psp setup to connect to the internet via wifi, after that, you can go to the setting section, select network update to update your psp to the latest version.

Alternatively, if you have a memory stick, you can download the firmware update from the internet to your memory stick.

Both method need a memory stick. If you already have one, I can give you the link below in order to download the firmware update.

http://www.us.playstation.com/PSP/About/SystemUpdate

Instructions was given in that link. If you have any questions please ask.

AGAIN. I HAVE TO WARN YOU TO HAVE YOUR BATTERY CHARGED 100% BEFORE PROCEED TO UPDATE, OR YOU WILL END UP WITH A BRICKED PSP!