[How to] Tell if you have a TA88v3 (The unhackable PSP)

[_l33t N00b Sn1p3r_]

Hey! DC7 isn't working on my PSP!! What's going on???

You might have different problems. For example, you might have done something wrong while making the DC7 pack (ms or battery), you might have a 0% of battery charge, you might be using AC cable and it goes directly to VSH instead of the DC7 menu... check those usual problems first. Also, it might be that your MS is a fake one, so check it also.

Well.. ok, already checked that, but it's nothing of that and i believe that i've made properly the DC7 pack.

Then we should ask us other stuff. What originalfirmware was your PSP firmware packed with?

Errr.. where should i look that?

Check it under the "System information" menu from your first menu of your PSP. If it has just a number without any letter behind, it will be that "number" original firmware. (Example: 4.01 v/s 4.01M33-2

Uhh.. well, i dunno, i think it came up with 4.01 or 4.05.

Well, then you might have a TA-088v3 mobo, if thats for real.

And whats the deal with it?

TA-088v3 mobo isn't compatible with DC7. That means that you won't be able to downgrade or use any of its features

Well, hold on a second, i've not yet bought it! What should i look for?

It looks like the 2000 series PSP (Slim) that have the letter "G" or superior on the boxcode are the ones that have this mobo.

Uhh... what letter?

Check this image: http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f1...p_version2.png

Ok then, but how should i know if mine is one of those being 100% sure?

We should work a bit with it then;

Download this pack. And follow this instructions:

First Step: You need to format your memory stick

- Connect your PSP via USB.
- Format it using the command "mspformat E", being "E" the letter of your PSP on your PC.
- Program will ask you to confirm it, press Y.
- Plug out your PSP. IMPORTANT: DO NOT format again the MS within the PSP until this test has finished.
- Connect again the PSP via USB, and manually create PSP and PSP/GAME folders.

Next step must be done on a PSP homebrew capable (with CFW). If you don't have it, ask someone else to do this step and give you the resultant files.

- Copy the GETIPL folder to PSP/GAME. Get the 3.90 and 4.05 updates, and put them onto the MS root with the following names: "390.PBP", "405.PBP".
- Run the GETIPL app from your PSP homebrew capable, and it will create a couple of files on the MS root, called "ipl390.bin", "ipl405.bin".
- Connect the PSP via USB, and use the "msinst" program that its included on the pack to install the 3.90 IPL on the MS.
- You must do it this way: "msinst E E:\ipl390.bin", being "E" your PSP letter on your PC. Program will ask you to confirm it, press Y.

Insert the MS with the 3.90IPL installed onto the PSP that you want to confirm if it's a TA-088v3 or not, and turn it on with a Pandora Battery plugged in. You'll have two possible results:

- PSP turns off inmediatly after starting - Your PSP is NOT a 88v3.
- PSP keeps turned on with a green light forever - Your PSP is a 88v3, or you have done something wrong. Next step will confirm it.


- Connect again the PSP via USB, and use again the msinst, but this time with the 405IPL. Remember, "msinst E E:\ipl405.bin", being E your PSP letter on your PC.

Try to load it again with a Pandora battery. You have two possible results:

- PSP turns off inmediatly. If PSP turns off inmediatly with this IPL and on the other test it had that green light forever, it will be 100% sure a 88v3.

- PSP keeps with a green light forever. This CANT be on any PSP, being 88v3 or not. If this is the case, youve done something wrong.
So, once you have done all this, youll know 100% sure if its an 88v3 or not.

taken from http://forums.exophase.com/showthrea...7672#post47672 which was translated from http://dark-alex.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=533

I saw a thread with the same issue and a shorter answer (not sure if hundred percent correct)
It says if you take out the battery there's a number and a letter (7A for example)
If you have 8C or 8D it is unhackable with the available methods. 8 means 2008 and C or D means the quarter of the year. 8B and 'less' shall be hackable.

[Cliche]

nice guide Phil.

[Kenny Spealing]

i downloaded the pack but neither of the exe's open for me...dunno how to fix that

[_l33t N00b Sn1p3r_]

did you happen to follow the directions

[Kenny Spealing]

I assumed the first thing to do was to open the program in order to format the stick.

[_l33t N00b Sn1p3r_]

theres some nice directions in the first post... might wanna read em...

For some reason i get a write error when i try to format.. any ideas on why ?

So, if it has the firmware 4.01 or 4.05 it is the TA-88-V3 motherboard? I am going to buy a used psp slim tomorrow. I was just informed to make sure that it isnt a TA-88-V3 motherboard. Is there any way to check and make sure it isnt a TA-88-V3 motherboard without buying it and without the box? "The Al" said to take out the battery and check behind it for the letters 8C and 8D. He said that if you have those it is unhackable. Is that true? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[_l33t N00b Sn1p3r_]

Originally Posted by Fuuijin

For some reason i get a write error when i try to format.. any ideas on why ?

could be a fake memory stick

Originally Posted by Blakeasaurus27

So, if it has the firmware 4.01 or 4.05 it is the TA-88-V3 motherboard? I am going to buy a used psp slim tomorrow. I was just informed to make sure that it isnt a TA-88-V3 motherboard. Is there any way to check and make sure it isnt a TA-88-V3 motherboard without buying it and without the box? "The Al" said to take out the battery and check behind it for the letters 8C and 8D. He said that if you have those it is unhackable. Is that true? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Its possible it might be a TA-88-V3, but if it had 3.95 or lower when it was bought, it has a older mobo. i dont know personally, but it might be true...

I checked on my psp's battery and i can't find a spot where there would be an 8C/D. Though i just got my PSP for X-Mas, so it's all too possible its one of the TA-88-V3's?

-sylvanmartyr

[Cliche]

I really hope not for your sake.. cfw is where all the fun is.

if it is, is there a way to hardmod the old mobo into my psp?

And i'm just gonna say this now, i am a hardware geek and would and probably will be building my own towers (and ones for my friends)

-sylvanmartyr

[P1220DRS]

O'RLY...

another like me, I been building gaming rigs for a few years now, my current PC is a beast...

[Cliche]

link the thread P, that rig is a monster. . . lol