PSP:Installing ARK-4 CFW

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Installing custom firmware on a PSP is a very simple process, and this guide will cover the steps on how to install the most modern CFW available.

Updating the Firmware (if applicable)

In order to use the most up-to-date custom firmwares, your PSP will need to either be on 6.60 or 6.61 firmware.

PSP:Updating your Firmware (OFW) covers how to update a console's firmware.

Installing Temporary CFW

When CFW is installed as temporary, it will act like a semi-teathered exploit where it has to be started every time the console is hard reset or shut down. Temporary CFW can also be installed as permanently with Infinity.

CFW Feature Comparison

Since ARK-4 is the most modern CFW available, this guide will focus on installing it instead of older custom firmwares.

When it comes to legacy CFWs, functionality is almost the same between ME and PRO, as each feature one comes with can be added to the other with plugins. You may want to use ME instead of PRO if you don't intend to use PRO Online, as it's a bit quicker to install (especially with cIPL) and the standalone npdrm_free plugins work better than PRO's NoDRM engine anyway.

ARK-4

  • Compatible with npdrm_free or npdrm_free_mod with nploader_mod, which can bypass the DRM on official PSN content.
  • Compatible with PRO Online and XLink Kai, which are both methods of playing local Ad Hoc multiplayer over the internet.
  • Compatible with Legacy Homebrew via eLoader and Leda (including the classic KXploit format).
  • Compatible with 6.60 Test/Development Tool firmware for testkit and devkit units (including CEX2DEX conversion units).
  • Ability to change the region of your UMD drive (including region-free playback support for all UMD movies).
  • Ability for external configurations and PS1 games with anti-mod/LibCrypt protection using the Popcorn controller.
  • Ability to have cIPL on any PSP model unlike legacy CFWs.

PRO

  • Comes with NoDRM Engine, which can bypass the DRM on official PSN content.
  • Comes with PRO Online, which is a method of playing local Ad Hoc multiplayer over the internet.
  • Open Source

(L)ME

  • Comes with NoDRM Engine, which can bypass the DRM on official PSN content.
  • Comes with LEDA, which allows legacy 1.50 kernel mode homebrew to work on modern firmware.
  • Features the ability to download PBOOT updates for ISOs from within the XMB, like with real UMDs or PSN EBOOTs.

Temporary Installation

  1. Download the latest ARK-4 CFW for your PSP.
  2. Plug your PSP into a computer. This will automatically enable USB Mode and mount the console's memory card to the computer. You can also plug the memory card directly into a computer if you have a Memory Stick compatible card reader.
    • If the console's USB mode doesn't automatically activate, it can be manually activated in the XMB settings.
  3. Extract the contents of your CFW zip file into the root of your PSP's memory card.
    • If you're installing ARK-4, extract the ARK_01234 folder to PSP/SAVEDATA on the PSP's memory card or PSP Go's internal storage. Then, extract the ARK_Loader folder to PSP/GAME on the console's memory card.
  4. Exit USB mode after transferring the files over. View your games list and there should be a new listing for the ARK Loader, along side its respective save file in the save data management.
  5. To install custom firmware, select the ARK Loader application and launch it.
  6. Once the PSP restarts, check in the system information page on your PSP and confirm you see the system software version along with the custom firmware version after it.
  7. Your PSP is now running temporary custom firmware. If you would like to install it permanently, continue to the section for cIPL installation.

Installing CFW with cIPL (Optional, recommended)

This is the preferred method of installing CFW, as it can run during bootup and can give you brick protection.

  1. Download the latest ARK-4 CFW for your PSP, if it's not downloaded already.
  2. Plug your PSP into a computer. This will automatically enable USB Mode and mount the console's memory card to the computer. You can also plug the memory card directly into a computer if you have a Memory Stick compatible card reader.
    • If the console's USB mode doesn't automatically activate, it can be manually activated in the XMB settings.
  3. Extract the ARK_cIPL folder into the root of your PSP's memory card if you haven't done so already.
  4. Launch the ARK cIPL installer application, and select the option for New cIPL.
  5. Your PSP will now have cIPL ARK-4 CFW. It can be seen in the system settings.

Full Flash Installation (Optional)

Normally, many functions of ARK-4 are kept in the ARK_01234 save data folder, such as the CFW settings or custom launcher. If this is undesirable for you, you can install these functions to the PSP's internal flash memory so ARK-4's save data file is no longer necessary. That being said, the ARK_01234 save file folder will still be prioritized for CFW settings if it's detected on the memory stick. It will also be re-created if you run an ARK-4 update from an OTA update or sideloading the ARK_Updater application.

Since the PSP's flash memory is also too small to store the custom launcher that comes with ARK-4's save data folder, PRO Shell will instead be used as the custom launcher with a seperate and more basic recovery menu if the save data folder is not detected.

  1. Download the latest ARK-4 CFW for your PSP, if it's not downloaded already.
  2. Plug your PSP into a computer. This will automatically enable USB Mode and mount the console's memory card to the computer. You can also plug the memory card directly into a computer if you have a Memory Stick compatible card reader.
    • If the console's USB mode doesn't automatically activate, it can be manually activated in the XMB settings.
  3. Extract the ARK_Full_Installer folder into the root of your PSP's memory card.
  4. Launch the application and follow the on-screen instructions.
  5. Your PSP will now have ARK-4 fully installed on the console's internal flash memory, allowing the reliance on having an ARK-4 save file to be no longer necessary for operation.
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