How to Make Your Fat or Slim PSP More Advance?

1) A PSP (Obviously.....)

2) A Memory Stick (1GB or better)

3) A Computer with Internet Access

4) A Second Battery (Optional) (It's not required, unless you take your PSP everywhere)

5) PSP Charger

6) A Pandora Battery (Optional) (I will explain this later on)

Now that you have all of the hardware listed above, it's time to get the "software" (programs).

I bet you're thinking to yourself, "What are you talking about?" or "Where can I find this "software"?

Well, if you do a search on Google, (or any search engine), about PSP apps, you will have a lot of results. But, to save time and effort, I have already done the research for you and have narrow it down to three main sites:

1) PSP Hacks

2) PSP Slim Hacks

3) Quick Jump

I will explained later why I choose these three, but for now, let's continue on talking about the software that's needed.

All PSPs originally have "Official Firmware", (a.k.a. "OFW"), that was made by Sony. On the other hand, "Custom Firmware, (a.k.a "CFW") is a PSP operating system that was made by one, or more computer programmers, which is not made by Sony.

In order to get all of those "cool apps" that you heard about or saw, you "MUST" change the firmware to a custom firmware, (otherwise you can't install the apps, like in the picture.)

1) The first step on getting custom firmware to your PSP is to choose and download the CFW files on your computer. (Put it in a place where you can find it later, like the "desktop")

Remember the three websites I told you about? Well, they have all of the custom firmwares that were previously made and they always keep their sites updated with the newest ones.

Here are the links that will take you directly to the "Custom Firmware" section, and you can pick the one that best fits you:

1) PSP-Hacks' CFW List

2) PSP Slim Hacks' CFW List

3) QJ's CFW List

(Note: Files will be in RAR or ZIP format. You will need to use a program like WinRar to open it)

All three websites pretty much have all of the CFWs, but variety is good. :)

2) The second step requires you to have a "Pandora Battery"

(To those who don't know what a Pandora battery is or what it does: It's a PSP battery that brinks your PSP, so that you can change the firmware.)

There are actually two choices to obtain a Pandora battery:

A) You can buy one online (you won't find it in a retail store. The price may be between $5 - $10, but will vary, depending on where you going to buy it [like Ebay or Amazon])

B) You can make one yourself by turning your regular battery into a Pandora battery.

(This is the hardest way to get it, but it's free.) (I also recommend you to have an extra fully-charged PSP battery, or to keep your PSP plug into the charger)

The best way to learn how to make one is to go to Youtube and type "How To Make A Pandora Battery"

Note: Before you begin creating one, you will need to know the model of your psp, (whether it's a "1000", a "2000", a "3000", Fat or Slim.) Also, when you search for a video on Youtube about making a Pandora battery, don't forget to specific your search:

For example, instead of typing "How to Make A Pandora Battery", you should add the model of your psp, like "How to Make A Pandora Battey For PSP Fat, or "How to Make A Pandora Battery For PSP Slim 2000", etc.

This will quickly get you to the right video tutorial.

If the video tutorials are too complicated, then try using a program called "Pandora's Battery Creator" (I never used this method, but it should still work. ) Follow the instructions "CAREFULLY", and everything will go well for you!

Now that you have your Pandora battery, it's time to change your regular memory stick into a "magic" memory stick. (I honestly don't know why it's called a "magic" memory stick, but it basically just has the custom firmware folders inside, instead of the original ones.)

Remember a couple of posts ago, when you downloaded the custom firmware folder, (it's under "How to Install Custom Firmware"), well in this post, you're going to start using it.

(Note: Don't use your Pandora battery yet. Only use an extra fully-charged PSP Battery, or your charger)

This step is really easy to complete, but you have to follow it step-by-step:

1) Connect your PSP to your computer via USB, (or plug-in your memory stick adapter card, if your computer has the memory stick adapter installed)

2) This is "VERY IMPORTANT": Save any files that you would like to keep that's in your PSP, (like music, video, pictures, or game files), to anywhere in your computer, (somewhere that you can find the files later, like on your "desktop")

3) After you saves your files on your computer, "erase everything on your memory stick" (All the folders, and files that you don't want)

4) Now open (or extract, then open, if it's in RAR or ZIP format) the CFW folder that you downloading, and copy all the folders inside.

5) Paste the folders into you memory stick, and now your done!

You can now put back all of the files that you saved on your computer (To do that, go inside your memory stick, PSP folder, and then you can choose the folder that your files, (music, pictures, etc), need to go.

Now that you have the Pandora battery and the "Magic" memory stick ready, it's finally time to change your firmware!

Here is the moment you have been waiting for! The very last step of making your PSP more advanced.

1) Completely turn off your PSP. (Not on Stand-by mode)

2) Remove your extra regular battery and put in the Pandora battery, (or just put in the Pandora battery, if you changed the regular battery into a Pandora battery, and had your PSP plugged into the charger)

3) Make sure that your "magic" memory stick is in your psp

4) Now turn on your PSP, and after a few seconds (or minutes), a screen should appear with a list of different tasks (depending on the CFW you're installing)

5) Just go to the one that says "Install (whatever CFW)" and press the X button (or the O button, depending on the CFW)

6) After the installation is complete, remove the Pandora battery, (you should have the PSP plugged into the charger when doing this, or just turn off the PSP and remove it, then turn it back on.), and put in your extra fully-charged PSP battery, (or keep it plugged to the charger)

7) And That's It! You now have an advance PSP!

Now that you finally have CFW on your PSP, it's time to download those "cool apps" that you always wanted!

You can find a list of homebrew apps and custom themes at these three websites:

1) PSP Hacks

2) PSP Slim Hacks

3) Quick Jump

I hope that you enjoy your fully advanced PSP, and maybe one day, the brand new PSP might look like this: