[Breaking News] 2.50/2.60 Downgrader – v5 Beta Released

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Yes, you have read the title right – 2.50/2.60 Downgrader. Dark_Alex, along with Mathieulh and Yoshihiro from SonyXTeam, have released the first working 2.50/2.60 downgrader. Most credit goes to Dark_Alex (as said by Mathieulh) as he is the founder of the downgrader. Also, we would all like to give our thanks to Hitchhikr for the exploit that made this all possible. We have seen several betas over the past few days, several of which have been confirmed as non-working. However, just a few moments ago, Mathieulh released a beta version of the upcoming v5 of the downgrader. Dark_Alex is currently asleep as I am typing this, and thus cannot release the final version (non-beta). If you choose to use this downgrader, use it at your own risk!! This is still a beta version!! A lot of people are reporting success, but please, try at your own risk!

The IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is full of discussion about this downgrader and we are right there, getting every bit of information for you. The main discussions occur at Fanjita‘s channel (join #fanjita on Toc2rta). Now, you are probably wondering how the downgrader works after the previous attempts failed. Mathieulh says it best in the release thread – “It uses some Sony libraries found in the 1.50 updater to perform the most critical steps, the logical format of the flash, and the ipl writing. See technical details for more info about how it works.” The technical details can be found in the release thread.

Now, you are all wondering – “Well, how the “hell” do I use this?” Here’s your answer.

The downgrade process is separated between two people, a 1.50 user and you (2.50/2.60 user). The 1.50 user must own a 1.50 firmware PSP and will have to follow simple steps to obtain some files for you. The instructions are as follows.

Before downgrading, make sure you meet the following requirements –
Your PSP is not a TA-082 (If you do have this PSP version, it may result in a brick). [Find out if you have one!]

1.50 User Instructions

Copy the folders downhelper and downhelper% from the folder 1.50 HELPER folder to /PSP/GAME/ in your memstick.
Obtain the 1.50 update and put it in /PSP/GAME/UPDATE in your memstick. You may find the 1.50 update in our download site here.
Init the downhelper program.
It will dump your flash and some files from the updater eboot to the memstick. (These files are illegal under US copyright laws, so please do not distribute them in the comments or on our forums)
After that, the program will exit. You can now delete the updater from /PSP/GAME/UPDATE
You’ll notice that you have a new folder in the root of your memstick called “DOWNDATER”.
That’s the folder you’ll have to send to a 2.50/2.60 to let him test the downgrade.

2.50/2.60 User Instructions

Copy the folder the DOWNGRADER/2.50/DOWNDATERTEST if you have 2.50
or DOWNGRADER/2.60/DOWNDATERTEST if you have 2.60 to /PSP/GAME/ in your memstick
Wait for someone with 1.50 to pass you a folder called DOWNDATER and copy it to the root of your memstick.
Init GTA and the eLoader
In the eLoader menu, choose the downdater test. WARNING: the program won’t output any display and any warnings, it will init the downgrader process inmediatelly.
You’ll see that your memstick flashing. That means that your psp is being flashed from the memstick.
You won’t see any type of output in the screen (this is for safety). When the memstick finishes of flashing, WAIT at least a minute, and then reinit your psp by holding the power button.
That’s all. If all went right, you’ll have 1.50. If it went less good, you’ll still have 2.50/2.60. If all went wrong, you’ll have a bricked psp(except in the case you have the modchip) Remember that you have accepted that risk.
If your PSP is showing up as v2.01, this is fine. Just use Wab Version Changer and change it to v1.50

Update: For those of you wondering why your UMDs say “Disc cannot be read,” take your battery out of your PSP (for up to 5 minutes) and then put it back in your PSP. Your UMDs will then work! Thanks to ZFB8 and Pranav for the information. Pranav has also successfully downgraded his 2.60 White PSP (originally 2.50 JP) to 1.50, upgraded to 2.00, and back down to 1.50 sucessfully as well.

Update #2: This will be sticky for awhile to ensure that everyone will see this amazing breakthrough! Interested in viewing our members success rate?

Update #3: Dark_Alex has informed everyone that he will release the “final” version tomorrow. The changes in this version are best to be heard from the man himself – “Well, really, there is no much that it can be done to the downdater. I’ll add a check for the AC adaptor, it will display a red screen if it’s not connected and return to eloader (note: that will be done in user mode because of the problems of the display functions with this kernel mode exploit). Also, remove the logs, since they could end the free space of a 32 MB ms, and that will be the latest version that will be released tomorrow. I prefer not to touch the “real thing”. If something works, better not to change it”

Password for downloads (when you extract) is – I_USE_AT_MY_OWN_RISKS
Download: [2.60 Downdater (Downgrader) v5 Beta]
Download: [2.50 Downdater (Downgrader) v5 Beta]
Download: [1.50 Helper]
Download: [North American 1.50 Eboot Update]

Thanks to Fluff/Naoneo for the exclusive banner and everyone in Fajita’s IRC (and PlanetPSP) for informing me of this breakthrough, FreePlay and everyone else for all your time and help as well during this awesome release.

Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]
Digg the Downgrader? Click here!