How to Install 3.52 M33-4 on Your PSP
As I promised Fat Of The Land and a lot more other people around the net, I’ll be writing a guide on the installation of 3.52 M33-4 custom firmware for the PSP. If you’re wondering what in the world 3.52 M33-4 is, it’s a custom firmware built by russian hackers that enables you to play homebrew and also enjoy the features of the official 3.52 sony firmware.
Before we begin with the process, here are a few simple things to do first.
Check your existing PSP Firmware.
On your XMB (Cross Media Bar), go to Settings > System Settings > System Information. Press circle or x (it depends on what PSP version you have) to view your existing firmware. If you have a 1.5 or any custom OE/SE firmware, you are in luck. You can proceed to the next step, otherwise, you must downgrade your PSP first. I suggest you use Pandora’s battery for the downgrade.
Obtain a USB Cable
If you don’t know what a USB cable is, I assure you won’t be successful with the installation. A USB cable is a connectivity tool between your PC/Mac and PSP.
Download the 3.52 M33-4 Installer Package
I packed all the files into a RAR file so you won’t have any trouble locating the files around the net. After downloading the file, unpack it using WinRAR. I’ve separated each step into separate folders so everything will be organized.
Download the 3.52 M33-4 installer pack.
Check Your Battery
I suggest you must have more than 75% battery to avoid bricking. And also plugin the adaptor.
If you have correctly followed the few simple steps above, then we are ready to go on to the installation process.
Warning: I have succesedfully installed 3.52 M33 on 3 PSPs already but there is a slight chance of bricking your PSP, only if you won’t follow the instructions step by step. Don’t worry if you brick your PSP, you can always use Pandora’s battery.
3.52 M33-4 Installation Procedures
- If you have are running on an OE or SE custom firmware, SKIP this step and proceed to STEP 2. Connect your PSP to your computer. Open the STEP 1 folder and copy kxploitpatcher and kxploitpatcher% folders to ms0:/PSP/GAME/. Disconnect your PSP from your computer and then on the XMB go to GAME > Memory Stick > KXploit Permanent Patcher. Run it. Once done, delete the kxploitpatcher and kxploitpatcher% folder from your ms0:/PSP/GAME/ folder. Proceed to next step.
- Connect your PSP to your computer. Open STEP 2 folder then copy the M33CREATOR folder to your “ms0:/PSP/GAME” (for 1.50 Firmwares) or “ms0:/PSP/GAME150″ (for SE/OE Firmwares). Disconnect your PSP from your computer then on the XMB menu go to GAMES > Memory Stick and execute 3.52 M33 CREATOR. For noobs, the screen will normally go black so don’t panic. Once the process is finished it will automatically go back to the XMB.On your XMB, go again to GAMES > Memory Stick on your PSP, and execute 3.52 M33UPDATE. You’ll have to press X at your own risk to agree to the installation. Don’t you turn off your PSP until the process is complete or you’ll end up bricking it. When finished, you’ll have to press X again and reboot your PSP manually. Reboot by turning of your PSP and then turning it on again.You’ll then have a 3.52 M33 PSP. You can now delete the M33CREATOR folder form your “ms0:/PSP/GAME” folder on your PSP.
- Open STEP 3 folder and then copy M33Update4 folder to mso:/PSP/GAME150. On your XMB menu go to GAMES > Memory Stick then execute the update. After the update you will be back on the XMB and you now have 3.52 M33-4 PSP. Delete the M33Update4 folder from mso:/PSP/GAME150. From the STEP 3 folder, copy the seplugins folder to the root of your memory stick.
- Turn off your PSP then turn it on again while pressing the R button. This will take you to the recovery menu. Go to Plugins and enable popsloader by pressing x. After enabling it, go to back and then exit.
- Enjoy your PSP 3.52 M33-4!
You have PSP 3.52 M33-4, now what? Get those cool homebrew apps! You can either stick with this firmware for some time or upgrade it to 3.71 M33. I had mine installed with 3.71 M33 already and I say it’s really cool. There are new features like changing themes from XMB and a new kind of Video search.
Special credits go to Dark_Alex (he is the M33 team) M33 team, the Russian Hackers who created this neat piece of software. Please do check out his website for the latest updates.
UPDATE: After installing this firmware, you’ll probably be wanting to install 3.71 M33. So here’s the 4 Easy steps on installing 3.71 M33 on your PSP.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Just wanted to drop a quick line to thank you for keeping the support alive on a thread that’s now pretty old.
Props stylemo
March 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
@Jordaz: redownload the needed file my friend.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:15 am
one of the folerds in step one does not work it says corrupted data how should i do it?
March 29th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Hi…i have got psp fat with 3.71 version.I just want to know how to convert it to m33??? Also i want to upgrade my psp psp to 3.71 m33…???can u tell me pleez!!!thanks
March 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
i’m using a 3.51 M33 firmware… i just cant upgrade to firmware 3.52 although i follow exactly wht the steps are.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Very much appreciated, worked like a charm for me with one snag. The memory stick I put in my old fat psp came from a slim psp running on 3.90official firmware. Step 2 would not execute or even appear in my game section of the psp screen untill I performed a format of the memory stick using the psp. I then placed step 2 in the 150 directory where your instructions said to and it worked perfectly, thanks!
March 28th, 2008 at 9:47 am
@white bre: haven’t you read the requirements?
The only way you could get your PSP running 3.52 M33 is to downgrade it first to 1.5
March 28th, 2008 at 4:08 am
thanks for a;; these thinks yeah but i have a problem. i have PSP the fat one. it has 3.93 firmware. i try to do step one but at soon as i try to run the Permanent Patcher it says ‘The game could not be started (8002014C). can you help me with this one plz. thanks a lot. if you need my email
‘mystic-boy@hotmail.co.uk’
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Hi Stylemo,
I am about to try to upgrade my phay psp frm 3.40 OE-A to 3.52 M33. But I am still doubt on Step 3. Pls help. As you mentioned ” From the STEP 3 folder, copy the seplugins folder to the root of your memory stick.” which is on the last sentences. Can you tell me exactly what you mean by root of the your MS? Shall I replace my current seplugin folder, to the new seplugin from you? Pls help? I am still really new to this. By the way, I am using Mac OS. Does that make any different? Thanks
March 18th, 2008 at 5:22 am
if i execute the m33 creator.. how long will it take to go back to the xmb menu?:)