Downgrader Test for 2.50/2.60 – There and Back Again

Latest Update: 6/29, 2:45pm EST

Yesterday we got the breaking news that Kernel mode in 2.5 and 2.6 had been unlocked by hitchhikr of “hitchhikr SoftWorks” and demo scene group Neural. This was a incredible accomplishment that was previously thought impossible. Fanjita and many other members of the PSP homebrew community have come together and been testing the functionality of the proposed exploit.

So far a few interesting things have surfaced. Fanjita has shown his progress with the newly found exploit and today we bring you another. Dark_Alex from our forums has released a “Downgrader Test” for 2.50 / 2.60 PSP’s. We have been watching carefully over this downgrader since its release and have got the entire scoop for you.

Dark_Alex’s Downgrader Test for 2.50 / 2.60 version firmware requires a few very specific steps to be taken in order to get a glimpse at the doorway to success. As listed in the title this is TEST software and by no way 100% functional on all PSP’s. With that said, we have heard a number of test reports on this Downgrader and have the brick count results after the jump.

Update #1: A new update has been released. This fixes a problem with the downdater not creating directorys. The creation of directorys is now fixed, however the iomanager check still needs to be handled for further progress.

Update #2: Dark_Alex has released the source code for his latest progress on the 2.50/2.60 Downgrader. This release is meant only for developers to analyze and possibly take it further so it is a functional process.
The downdater is mostly confirmed not to work. I update a slightly modified source code. It should be relatively more secure. I don’t provide the binaries.

I found two glitches in the code:

1) The restart function… Originally it was intended for a restart, but it did nothing, making possible that if some premature error before doing the real thing failed to continue the real downdate process. Now it will cause an on-purpose exception (this only will happen either at the begginiing before the unsecure code begins or at the end, when all is finished)

2) Now I’ve re-assigned the flash device after the logical format. Probably more secure.

Update #3: Dark_Alex has released v0.4 of his source code, containing the following changes:

1) Removed display: pspDebugScreen functions can freeze the psp 2.XX in kernel mode in any random moment.

2) A little bugfix. Tthe first file couldn’t be correctly created because the first directory was not created.

3) Removed the check for the AC adaptor. It will be added later again.

Current bugs: if the ioassign fails, it will result in a brick, because the flash was previously formatted.

Forum Release Thread: [ Downgrader Test 2.50 / 2.60 ]
Download: [2.60 Downgrade Test v0.4 – Source Code]

Note: In the current state this 2.6 to 1.5 Downgrader WILL brick your PSP. Do not try it unless you would like to have a PSP for a paper weight. While the prospect sounds quite attractive, we urge you to wait until a final version is completed so you can play it as well.

Read the Full Article for more details!

Latest Update: 6/29, 3:25pm EST

“Therefore downgrading from 2.6 to 1.5 could in fact become a reality.”

It wasn’t long after the release that a few brave souls stepped up to test this new release. users who claimed to have succeeded in downgrading from 2.6 to 1.5. PSPxNax announced that he had successfully downgraded from 2.6 to 1.5. Soon after 1 more report of a successful upgrade from the IRC room I was idling came in. Then the dreadful news struck. One PSP has succumb to the death brick. Suspense filled the room as we waiting for further confirmation. Not another 5 minutes then another report of another PSP taking the plunge into darkness.

At this point I turned to the forums which was already full of possible outcomes for PSP owners who were brave enough to take the stab at reaching towards that beautiful paradise of homebrew or laying their PSP on a death bed. TheMarioKarters, known hacking enthusiast was all over it. He then reported sadly a few posts later that his attempt had been unsuccessful. Note that owners of the TA-082 version PSP’s, like TMK’s should not attempt the downgrade as it will most likely fail.

One of our moderators Abe Froeman was determined to get to the bottom of this and setup his PSP to face the downgrade roulette. After getting fully setup he attempted the downgrade. He too was unsuccessful. However, something unusual happened while he was trying to downgrade and he was able to get his PSP to reboot again by shorting the battery as previously outlined by PSIX developer Naoneo.

With all of this such an surge of excitement slowly starting to dim I turned back to the dark dungeons of IRC to check on the latest developments. A smile started grew on my face as my assumptions were confirmed, not all hope was lost. The developers discussing this concept design were not totally pessimistic. New ideas on what might be able to solve the problem with the downgrader started filling the channel. Some shot down, other acknowledge and discussed. A collective of independent remarkably intelligent and creative developers apparently having no limits.

While speaking to one of the developers who was involved in the discussion he divulged information on what could be possible solutions to fix bugs in the this first Test Downgrader. “sceloManager and flash0 on 2.01+ dont get along very well…at all”, said Bri3d. “Calls to the Sony PRX upgrade functions format the flash and write the IPL. After that copying the files will fail [since] trying to remount flash0 read/write is a no go.” So at this point theres still more work to be done. However, he said it was very possible in the future. Downgrading from 2.6 to 1.5 could in fact become a reality. My jaw drops at the thought.

The downdater is mostly confirmed not to work. I update a slightly modified source code. It should be relatively more secure. I donÂ’t provide the binaries.

I found two glitches in the code:

1) The restart functionÂ… Originally it was intended for a restart, but it did nothing, making possible that if some premature error before doing the real thing failed to continue the real downdate process. Now it will cause an on-purpose exception (this only will happen either at the begginiing before the unsecure code begins or at the end, when all is finished)

2) Now IÂ’ve re-assigned the flash device after the logical format. Probably more secure.

Update #3: Dark_Alex has released v0.4 of his source code, containing the following changes:

1) Removed display: pspDebugScreen functions can freeze the psp 2.XX in kernel mode in any random moment.

2) A little bugfix. Tthe first file couldn’t be correctly created because the first directory was not created.

3) Removed the check for the AC adaptor. It will be added later again.

Current bugs: if the ioassign fails, it will result in a brick, because the flash was previously formatted.

Forum Release Thread: [ Downgrader Test 2.50 / 2.60 ]
Download: [2.60 Downgrade Test v0.4 – Source Code]

Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT READY FOR GENERAL USE. DEVELOPERS MAY FIND THIS USEFUL FOR TESTING BUT PLEASE TAKE NOTE AT THE CURRENT STATE THIS WILL BRICK YOUR PSP. Please read the information in the thread provided below. It is there for your sake. If you try out this Downgrader TEST you acknowledge that you are taking a risk and are the only one responsible for your own actions.

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