Pandora's battery unbricks all PSP systems

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 23rd 2007 at 11:41AM }

The fine folks at N00bz have crafted yet another ingenious work of homebrew. This time, it's a program that can recover lost, "bricked" PSP systems from the void -- an unbricker called "Pandora's Battery." According to N00bz, "It's the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes research and development by some of the top names in PSP hacking, under the name of the Prometheus project."

It appears that the Prometheus project has the top names in the PSP scene: Adrahil, Booster, Cswindle, Dark_AleX, Ditlew, Fanjita, Joek2100, Jim, Mathieulh, Nem, Psp250, Skylark, TyRaNiD. The release of Pandora's battery was supposed to come later, around the time of PSP-2000's launch. However, it appeared that the program was leaked early, and being sold for profit, something that irked the team greatly. "In order to prevent small fortunes being made by leeches, we are giving this unbricker away for free."

Make sure to follow the instructions included with the package carefully. Once you successfully run this unbricker, you'll have a PSP with firmware 1.50 which is ideal for homebrew.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Tags: n00bz, pandora'sbattery, unbricker

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

moony @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:55AM

wow i hope that sony doesnt do something to the slims to stop us from using the magical battery!!

moony @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:59AM

i really wish they could have found a way to get it out around slim release!!!:((
stupid "leeches"

GoBob @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:16PM

This is a great development for the PSP community. I nearly shat myself last night.

What will be interesting to see is Sony's reaction to this. The PSP Slim is being released(at least in the U.S.) on Sept. 10th. This is two and a half weeks away. I'm pretty sure Sony has already shipped out it's stock, or at the very least, it's ready to be shipped. Will Sony delay the release?

Consider this possibility: what if the PSP Slims will possibly not be able to go below firmware 3.60?

tl;dr The next few weeks will be interesting.

required @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:44PM

"what if the PSP Slims will possibly not be able to go below firmware 3.60?"

I'm guessing this will be the case and I don't see a problem as you'll still be getting what you paid for (a PSP). If you want to "hack" and run "homebrew" why not buy something designed for doing so (not a PSP)?

Alien @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:48PM

Nice work again from the homebrew scene :)

GoBob @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:01PM

@required

"I'm guessing this will be the case and I don't see a problem as you'll still be getting what you paid for (a PSP). If you want to "hack" and run "homebrew" why not buy something designed for doing so (not a PSP)?"

*Groan* That's an insult to all the people who write homebrew for the PSP.

rockeranimefreak @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:08PM

your welcome =)

required @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:31PM

GoBob, your asterisk groan asterisk is/was an insult to all the people who do not write "homebrew" and/or write it for systems designed and sold as such.

GoBob @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:32PM

@required

Pissing in an ocean of piss. I'd prefer that this not turn into a flame war.

rockeranimefreak @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:37PM

Andrew if you guys have a slimline psp at your disposal can you check to see if it works with this??? =)

GoBob @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:40PM

Oh and required, I forgot to mention that by your logic people shouldn't be allowed to write programs for computers with Windows installed and only have Microsoft applications. It's our hardware, we can do what we please. If the PSP is not meant for homebrew, then why is homebrew possible and popular?

Xarek @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:55PM

Hmmm... what could this mean? Homebrew has officially won.

Larz @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:25PM

GoBob, your comment is retarded.

These are completely different things because Microsoft makes a huge profit on the OS alone... they don't give away or sell the OS under cost, banking on the hope people will buy their other software for it. But it is in fact just the opposite with the PSP.

...but I do agree with you in some ways.

I do think "homebrew" is a great thing. And if it wasn't for the fact that people who use homebrew-enabled PSP's also often use stolen ISO's, then it would be very beneficial for Sony to support it. But alas, that is not the case.

required @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:25PM

GoBob, your analogy is flawed and your assumption that I oppose writing code is wrong. What I said is that there are devices that are designed and marketed for doing so such as your "computers with Windows installed". The PSP is not designed and marketed for doing this, hence my guess that the PSP2000 will ship with the latest firmware and won't be compatible with "pandora's battery".

By the way, it takes two to tango.

GoBob @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:46PM

Yes, my analogy is flawed, but you still understand my point. This debate in general will unfortunately continue until Sony is able to make a firmware that supports homebrew, while preventing piracy. For the record, Sony LIKES homebrew coders, but they don't like pirates and malware producers.

ali @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:05PM

wait im confused so if i had a spare battery n my memory stick i could boot up my bricked psp yeh or is this somethin else my psp is a full brick not semi my recovery screen wont show

pbssbp @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:11PM

required

"...I don't see a problem as you'll still be getting what you paid for (a PSP). If you want to "hack" and run "homebrew" why not buy something designed for doing so (not a PSP)"

If you spent $200 on a paper clip, knowing it was just an ordinary paperclip, you’d be getting what you paid for. A lot of people want more value for their money. People who use computing devices often expect to be able to run arbitrary software on them. They might justifiably feel they’re getting less than full value for their purchase if this were artificially restricted.

"The PSP is not designed and marketed for doing this..."

Americans like to talk about freedom, but so often they use it only in the patriot sense, and they forget the literal sense. When you buy a PSP, you have freedom to do with it as you please. It doesn't matter how Sony designed it or marketed it.

You are free to use your PSP as a doorstop; a paperweight; as a projectile to destroy your fine china; as a mirror; as a flashlight; and even to install arbitrary software that you are legally licensed to use. Restricting the use of your PSP to the activities it was marketed for is certainly your prerogative, but don't go telling others they should give up their freedoms just because you voluntarily gave up yours.

Lummox @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:12PM

I would fully expect that the new PSP-2000s will not be able to drop back to old firmware without consequences. And when you think about it, why would you really want to? The big draw for many on the new slim PSPs is the video out, just edging out better battery life and more svelte form factor which were a given in any updated release. An older firmware would most certainly 86 the video out functionality.

You open firmware folks had best hope for a motherboard that's hackable (and there is good reason for believing Sony is using an updated motherboard design here as lots of things have moved around/been updated), and M33 to release an OE of 3.60 or higher.

BMS @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:30PM

Im going to brick my system just to see how this works....

I MAKE JOKE!

-BMS

fil @ Aug 24th 2007 12:25PM

as in, this repairs ALL cases of PSP "brickness"?! then if so, this is the greatest homebrew ever for the PSP!

Julian @ Aug 25th 2007 1:07AM

Hmm, I'm sure hackers will find a way to edit the idstorage. The OS file arrangement couldn't have changed much since firmwares will be compatible for both new and old systems.

RobGroove @ Aug 30th 2007 7:36AM

can anyone help me make my pandoras battery & mem stick ????
whenever i try to run DOS
all i get is "not recognised as an internal or external command
operable program or batch file"

i really want this to work so i can unlock all my friends psps

i thought it was because i was using vista so i tried it again on XP ive tried countless times and i still dont get any result.

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!!!!!!
http://www.robgroove.com

ibadmd @ Aug 31st 2007 7:18AM

i am really confused. i am not sure whether to wait for the slim psp which comes with Daxter + family guy + 1GB memory stick but which isn't going to play backed up ISOs or an old PSP-1000 which can play ISOs but its the old model and aint gonna come with any game or memory stick. is there any hope that the new PSP Slim firware 3.60 gets cracked? please anybody give me some advice! :(