PSP Troubleshooting

Here's my final post: How to tell when you need Pandora to fix your PSP/PSP Slim, and when you can fix it yourself.

Step 1
Can you switch on your PSP and go to the XMB? This is what the XMB looks like: Link

Yes: Proceed to Step 2
No: Proceed to Step 3

Step 2
Check the firmware of your PSP/PSP Slim. Go all the way left to the Settings Icon, and scroll down to the System Settings Icon. Press X or O (depending on your settings) and scroll down to System Information.

If your firmware is in this format: Version X.XX
- You have official firmware. You will need Pandora if you want to install custom firmware on your PSP/PSP Slim.
If your firmware is in this format: Version X.XX M33-X / X.XX OE-X / X.XX SE-X
- You already have custom firmware. No need to do anything else.

Step 3
Try holding R-trigger and switching on your PSP.

If you see the recovery menu: Go to Step 4
If you still see a black screen: Go to Step 5

Step 4
Old PSP or PSP Slim?

PSP Slim:
You will need someone with Pandora to fix your PSP.

Old PSP:
Through the recovery menu, we can easily reinstall custom firmware. There is no need for Pandora.

Download this file to downgrade back to 1.50: FILE 1
You will also need Sony's official 1.50 firmware update file: FILE 2
Enter the recovery menu, and use Toggle USB (first option) to connect your PSP to your PC.
Open FILE 1 and double click on the UPDATE folder.
Copy the five files to X:/PSP/GAME/RECOVERY
Extract the EBOOT.PBP out from FILE 2 and rename it to "150.PBP". Copy this to X:/PSP/GAME/RECOVERY
When you've finished copying, press Toggle USB again to close the connection.
Now select the third option "Run program at /PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP" to downgrade to 1.50.

Once done, you can update to 3.71 M33-2.
Download the 3.71 M33 update: FILE 3
You will require Sony's official 3.71 firmware EBOOT.PBP, which can be found here (PSP-Hacks): FILE 4
Open FILE 3 and double click on the UPDATE folder.
Copy the two files to /PSP/GAME/UPDATE
Extract the EBOOT.PBP out from FILE 4 and rename it to "371.PBP". Copy this to X:/PSP/GAME/UPDATE
Run the update from the GAME menu.

Once the update is done, you can update to 3.71 M33-2 using this file: Link
Also install the 1.50 addon v2 if you are using the old PSP: Link
Instructions for usage of the two files can be found in the README.TXT.

Step 5
You will need someone with Pandora to help you fix this.

Fin