<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>PSP-Spot FAQ</span>

[Edit by adw888]
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Just to note that this thread is over 2 years old, and although some of the information remains useful, a lot is out of date.
There is a new FAQ section here: http://www.psp-spot.com/forums/index.php?showforum=159
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[End Edit]

In this thread you will find information about the PSP and its usage. Please check this first and/or use the search function before asking questions in the forums, as you may be asking something that has been seen many times before.

We hope this is helpful, and hope you find PSP-Spot a friendly and helpful forum!

Thanks to Lik-Sang for the base for a lot of this.

Terminology/abbreviations:

MS = Memory Stick
FW = Firmware
XMB = Cross Media Bar (The PSPs menu system)
PSP = PlayStation Portable

<span style='font-size:17pt;line-height:100%'>Index</span>

1) PSP Specifications

2) Using your PSP

3) LCD Screen, dead/stuck pixels.

4) Battery & Charging

5) Memory Stick usage

6) Firmware (Versions, functionality, homebrew)

7) Fastloader

PSP Information

PSP PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

PSP CPU Core:
PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)
32MB Main Memory
4MD Embedded DRAM

Media:
UMD Drive (Playback only)
Region Code
Parental Control

Format:
PSP Game, UMD Audio, UMD Video

Input/Output:
IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
USB 2.0 (Target)
Memory Stick PRO Duo
IrDA
IR Remote (SIRCS)
5V DC OUT
Terminals for charging built-in battery
Headphone/Microphone/Control connector

Control:
Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Analog pad
Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
Left, Right keys (shoulder buttons)
START, SELECT, HOME
POWER On/Hold/Off switch
Brightness control, Sound Mode, Volume +/-
Wireless LAN On/Off switch
UMD Eject

Dimensions: Approxately 170mm (L) x 74mm (W) x 23mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 260g (including battery)

Other Specifications

Screen: 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD
480 x 272 pixel (16.77 million colors)
Max. 200 cd/m2 (with brightness control)
Built-in stereo speakers
128 bit AES encryption
Individual ID for each PSP hardware unit (MAC address)

Standard included items:
Lithium-Ion battery
AC adaptor (Universal, detachable power lead varies by country)
32Mb MS-Duo (Value pack only)
Soft-pouch (Value pack only)
Hand-strap (Value pack only)
Headphones with detachable remote (Value pack only)

For the layperson, exactly how powerful is the PSP?

For those not able to understand the techno mumbo-jumbo spelled out in the PSP specs, what it all boils down to is that the PSP has a whole lot of power, portable system or otherwise. At GDC 2004 in April of 2004, Christ Charla (of the development outfits Digital Eclipse and now Backbone Entertainment) said at the handheld's tech demonstration unveiling conference: "Polygon for polygon, PSP has more power than PS2 ... A huge number of effects that are given to you in software on PS2 are available in hardware on PSP." And all indications at the E3 unveiling were that the system would indeed meet those lofty heights -- the preliminary box for Gran Turismo 4 Mobile stats that the game quality, "...is not at all inferior to its PS2 counterpart."

While most familiar with the hardware say it would still be unfair to put the typical PSP and a PS2 or current-generation console game side-by-side in a professional test and expect the two to match up or favor the handheld version in technology terms, the advanced graphics processor technology of the PSP used to draw just enough to fill the pocket-sized screen means that PSP games will have more than enough power to create the kinds of vast 3D worlds, humanistic characters and cinematic effects that today's advanced games require.

What media does the PSP use?

The PSP uses a proprietary Sony disc called the UMD, or Universal Media Disc. Capable of storing up to 1.8GB of data (a CD holds 0.650GB, a DVD holds 4.7GB), the UMD is a disc format enclosed in a small cartridge (similar to the Sony Mini-Disc format.)

Are PSP discs writeable or rewriteable?

No, the UMD cannot be written to. Only Sony will be able to create UMD media -- the company has no plans to make external UMD writers devices, and even third-party publishers will not be able to create their own discs without Sony's ability to press the data to UMD.

Q. What's the difference between PSP versions?
A. Any functional differences are minor. The original PSP (PSP-1000) was the Japanese market model which had the functionality of the O and X buttons the other way around from newer models (O for Yes/Select and X for No/back), the same reversal that is present on Japanese-market PS/2. Earlier models sometimes varied in the type of LCD screen they used, earlier Japanese models used screens made by Sharp which were allegedly of higher quality, newer models have LCDs made by Samsung. The only other meaningful difference is Region encoding (see below).

General PSP usage:

Q. Why is my background color different from the blue one on the box?
A. The background color of the PSP changes depending on the month. In the coming months, it will change to the following colors:

Janurary: Light Blue
February: Yellow
March: Green
April: Pink
May: Dark Green
June: Purple
July: Aqua
August: Sky Blue
September: Violet
October: Gold
November: Light Brown
December: Red

Sony could conceivably change these colours in a future upgrade.

Q. Can I use my own image as a wallpaper?
A Yes, and no. For a semi-transparent temporary one on pre-2.0 firmware, view the image you want as a walpaper and press "SELECT" or "HOME" to enable it as a background. This settings is only active while your PSP is active or in sleep mode. If you shut your PSP down completely or perform other functions that change the display, you will find that your PSP defaults to the original coloured background the next time you boot up. There are also applications to replace the built-in background wallpapers (PSP-Personalise for example), their use can be risky as they modify software on the PSP that wasn't intended by Sony to be modified.

The 2.0 version of the firmware added proper wallpaper functionality.

Q. I want to change the language on my JAP PSP. Is this possible?
A. Yes, when you first get your PSP you will be given the option of changing the language. If you need to change it later you can still hunt through the settings menus and look for a list of languages.

Q. My imported PSP has non-english characters in the on-screen keyboard.
A. Update to 1.5 firmware. It improves the keyboard functionality and removes the keys not-related to your selected language.

Q. I've updated my PSP with newer firmware. Do I need to keep the huge update file or can I delete it?
A. Once the update has completed successfully you can safely delete the update file from the memory stick, it is no longer needed.

Q. Are PSP Games and UMD Movies region locked?
A. PSP Games are currently region free. It is possible Sony may change this in the future, but it is highly unlikely. The only barrier may be that of language differences. Some games may require also updated firmware.

UMD Movies on the other hand are a different matter. They are region coded using the same region table use for DVD's. Japan and Europe are both Region 2, but it has been reported that some UMDs intended for Japan do NOT play on European PSPs. There are some inconsistencies in region-coding, some UMDs (particularly Zone 2 and 4) seem to be region-free. There's no reliable way to tell how any individual UMD is encoded though, so best to rely on what it says on the box.

PSP UMD regions are the same as those for DVDs which are:

REGION 1 -- USA, Canada
REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
REGION 3 -- S.Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia
REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
REGION 6 -- China

Movies can be region-free or support multiple regions.

Q. Can I change my import games to English or do I have to learn Japanese?
A. It depends on the particular game. If it doesn't support multiple languages, then the short answer is "No".

Q. Can a game have more than one save profile?
A. Yes they can, some games may choose not to however.

Q. What are some of the first accessories I should buy?
A. The first thing you should treat your PSP to is a screen protector. It's an expensive investment and you don't want it scratched! There are many products that perform this function so shop around. Other essential accessories are a USB cable and a bigger memory-stick to put music, movies and photos onto.

Q. Is there a keyboard available for the PSP?
A. Not at this stage (at least, not officially). It is inevitable that one will eventually be released.

Q. Are there any other interesting accessories available, like a camera, for example?
A. Sony have mentioned that there will be a whole range of accessories for the PSP and with the inclusion of the USB port there is no doubt of this. The chances of a camera add-on are high so I'd say soon.

Q. How far is the wireless range on PSP?
A. Line-of sight gives optimum range of around 25 metres. The more solid objects between PSP and the WiFi point or other PSP(s), the less the range will be. The weaker the reception, the greater the power drain to try and maintain a connection. When not in use, turn the WiFi switch off to save power.

Q. Can I challenge players from other regions over wifi?
A. Yes, but only if they have a copy of the same region game. For example, you can only challenge someone who has a copy of the Japanese version of Ridge Racer if you have a Japanese version of Ridge Racer but not if you have US Ridge Racer.
The reason behind this is firstly language differences and sometimes subtle differences in gameplay for different regions. It is possible for developers to release 'universal' games in due time though.

Dead Pixels

What is a dead pixel and how can I check my PSP for dead pixels?

Dead Pixels are common on LCD screens, here is a more precise definition referring to the technical aspects of what we commonly refer to as 'Dead Pixels'.

A dead pixel is a defective pixel that remains unlit, permanently lit, or a solid color on an LCD screen.

In LCD manufacture, it is common for a display to be manufactured that has a number of sub-pixel defects (each pixel is composed of three primary-coloured sub-pixels). The number of faulty pixels tolerated before a screen is rejected is dependent on the "Class" which the manufacturer has given the display (although officially described by the ISO 13406-2 standard, not all manufacturers interpret this the same way, or follow it at all). Some manufacturers have a zero-tolerance policy with regard to LCD screens, rejecting all units founds to have any number of sub-pixel or pixel defects, meaning the display is a "Class I" display. Others reject them according the number of total defects, or the number of defects in a given group, or other definitions.

In some cases, the manufacturer sends all screens to sale, and then replaces the screen if the customer reports the unit as faulty and the dead pixels meet their minimum requirements for return.

In the case of the Sony PSP, dead pixels are common, as in all LCD display electronics. The question that needs to be answered is wether or not the dead pixels are interfering with your gaming experience. You may have several dead pixels and not even realize it. In such a case, it is clearly not interfering with your gameplay and is not considered a defective product.

There is a difference between "stuck" and "dead" pixels.

Basically a single pixel is made up of 3 sub-pixels which are red, blue and green. A "stuck" pixel occurs when one or more of these sub-pixels either fail to light up or are permanently lit. A "stuck" pixel is usually a noticable colour.

Most of the time these pixels are located at the edge of the screen and do not affect general viewing. They are only noticeable when the screen is very dark.

A "dead" pixel is where the electronics that light that particular pixel have failed completely. This is irrepairable. "dead" pixels are black.

"Stuck" pixels are sometimes repairable, there is a video that flashes different colours quickly to try and force the pixel-switch to un-stick. This sometimes works, it can't hurt to try.

Sony and LCD manufacturers will argue that a stuck or dead pixel is not a fault, depending on where you purchased your PSP and relevant retail law in your area, you may be able to return your PSP if it has any dead or stuck pixels and exchange for another one. Sonys warranty only officially covers PSPs with significant amounts of dead/stuck pixels.

Battery and charging

Q. I've got my PSP and I really want to play? How long
should I let it charge? Can I play it immediately with the power adaptor?
A. You can use your PSP while it is charging though it will take longer to fully charge. I know it's hard but the best thing to do when you get your PSP is to let it charge fully before use. This takes about 2 - 2.5 hours. The power indicator light will turn off when fully charged.

Q. I've heard that the battery needs to be maintained in a certain way to ensure optimum performance? What does this mean?
A. The battery in the PSP is a Lithium-Ion. Li-Ion batteries don't have "memory" like older Ni-Cad batteries. Typically they can be expected to do 1000 full cycles (run flat then recharged). It is best not to run the batteries completely flat more than necessary as this can potentially shorten their life expectancy.

Q. How long does the battery last?
A. Depends on what you're doing.
If you're playing games then it is game dependant. The more graphically intense the game, the more power is needed. Also turning the screen brightness and sound volume down will help. If possible play using headphones.
UMD Movies will generally drain the battery as they constantly access the disc.
Mp3's will generally get you around ten hours of play time. Remember to turn off the display when not in use by pressing the "Display button"

Q. Does the "Sleep Mode" consume a lot of power?
A. Not really, current reports are that it consumes less than 1 percent of power and tests have confirmed this. Due to this it is in fact better to use the sleep mode rather than shutting your PSP off completely. Resuming the system is much faster than having a complete boot.

Memory Stick usage & information

The Memory Stick (MS-Duo) is a proprietry Sony product that is almost solely used in other Sony products (primarily digital cameras, and now, the PSP).

There are 3 main types of Memory Stick:

1) Memory Stick - The original, relatively slow data transfer and only available in small capacity (only up to 256Meg)
2) Memory Stick Duo - 2nd generation and the type of the 32Mb MS that comes with the PSP. Faster data transfer and higher capacities available (2Gb+)
3) Memory Stick Duo Pro - The latest type. The same size as the MS-Pro but faster data transfer speed. Also available in high capacities.

Sony is the primary producer of Memory Sticks, the main competitor is SanDisk. SanDisks 3rd party product is generally considered to be better value as it's cheaper, faster and works as well as the original.

Sony also produces "High speed" memory sticks. These are a lot more expensive and provide no worthwhile benefit on the PSP.

The PSP uses Duo sticks only. Duo sticks can be used in non-duo devices with an adaptor.

As Memory Sticks are designed to be used in several devices, the PSP has been designed to be compatible with data that these device produce, unfortunately this results in quite a complicated process for putting non-PSP files onto the sticks.

To access the memory stick you will need either a USB cable to plug the PSP into the computer with (You need to enable "USB mode" in the menu on the PSP), or a dedicated card-reader (available from online stores or any shop that sells the cards)

What files are on the PSP memory stick?

By default, the likely files/directories you may have are:

/ (Root directory, the one you first see when you plug your PSP into the PC and open the explorer window for it)
/PSP - The directory PSP-specific data goes into.
/PSP/GAMES - Where games go. Currently Sony has not released anything for this except the firmware update.
/PSP/PHOTO - Where you put JPeG files etc. to view in the "Photo" menu.
/PSP/MUSIC - Put your MP3s in here to play from the "Music" menu.
/PSP/SYSTEM - For firmware 2.0+ only, browser data.
/MP_ROOT - Where movies go for the "Video" menu.
/MEMSTICK.IND - A file that identifies the memorystick as a standard MS-Duo. Created when formatting with PSP.
/MSTK_PRO.IND - As above, but identifies as a MS-Pro Duo.


How do I put pictures in the Digital Camera folder?

You can view pictures in this folder while still having them be compatible with a Digital Camera and related software/devices. Create a folder called DCIM in the main directory of the MS. Inside this DCIM directory create another directory called 101MSDCF which identifies the directory as a Sony Digital Camera image directory. Put your images in this folder, but the first 3 characters of each file name MUST be DSC and the next 5 characters must be numbers. The extension must be .JPG

Images will then be viewable from the 'Digital Camera Images" selection in the "Photo" menu on the PSP.

How do I use the PSP Game Saves ive downloaded?

It's quite simple. First off, you may need a compression utility, downloaded saves may be in a zipped (.zip) or Rared (.rar) format. (WinRAR is a popular application)

Once compressed, you will see a folder, usually with 3 files in it

Simply copy the folder, usually named something similar to 'ULUS10007001' into the 'PSP/SAVEDATA' folder via a USB connection or a card-reader. That's all. Load up the save with your favorite game and you'll have all of the benefits of the save downloaded and available to you on your PSP!

How do I watch my own videos?

Inside the /MP_ROOT directory there must be a 100MNV01 directory for the MP4 video files to go into. If you have a 2.0+ firmware, there can also be a 100ANV01 directory for the superior AVC/H264 format movies. By far the easiest method to create movies for these directories is to use an application such as PSP-Video 9 to convert your movies to a PSP compatible format.

How do I play ATrac3 files?

The PSP will not accept .AT3 files copied anywhere onto the MS. You must use Sonys own "SonicStage" software to convert your audio files into a format for the PSP. This creates several directories and a number of files that don't immediately let you identify the contents.

What media formats can be used from the MS?

On firmware version 1.0, 1.5, 1.51 and 1.52, the following formats are supported:

Video - MP4 format
Audio - MP3, Atrac3 (MS-Duo only, not Pro)
Image - JPG

From 2.0 firmware onwards, additional formats are supported:

Video - AVC/H264
Audio - Atrac3 support for MS-Duo Pro, MP4 (AAC), WAV
Image - TIFF, PNG, GIF and BMP

Firmware

What are the differences between the various firmwares?

The original release firmare was 1.0. This was only on Japanese PSPs but also supported English and other languages. The 1.0 firmware had almost no security in it and enabled any PSP-compatible binary to be run from the MS. This began the PSP "Homebrew" scene.

The next firmware was v1.50. This added support for more languages and better recognition for the language in use. Sony also patched in some security to stop non-Sony binaries from being run from the MS. It did not take hackers long however to find a way around this and develop the "KxPloit", thus enabling running homebrew again by way of formatting the programs in a certain way and creating the right directories.

Following that was 1.51 and 1.52. These didn't add anything much of any significance and were primarily used for patching security holes and stopping the "KxPloit" from functioning.

Changes in the 1.5 series were:

Revisions to strenghten security (aka - stop homebrew working)
German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian were added as options to [System Language] under [Settings], [System Settings].
Support to retain the screen mode setting was added under [Video].
(This applies to video data saved on Memory Stick.)
Support to allow resume play after recovery from sleep mode was added under [Video]. (This applies to video data saved on Memory Stick.)
Support to allow resume play of audio tracks after recovery from sleep mode was added under [Music].
UMD Music can now be played under [Music].

2.0 was the "big" update. The main feature of which was the new web-browser. The full change-list is:

An Internet browser was added.
Go To was added as a feature under [Video]. (UMD)
A-B Repeat was added as a feature under [Video]. (UMD & MS)
4:3 Screen Mode was added as a feature under [Video]. (UMD & MS)
Audio Options was added as a feature under [Video]. (MS)
AVC was added as a codec that can be played under [Video]. (MS)
Support for Memory Stick PRO Duo was added to [Music].
MP4 (AAC) and WAV (LPCM) were added as formats that can be played under [Music]. (MS)
Image transfer was added as a feature under [Photo].
Wallpaper was added as a feature under [Photo].
TIFF, PNG, GIF and BMP were added as image formats that can be displayed under [Photo].
Korean was added as an option to [System Language] under [Settings], [System Settings].
[Character Set] was added to [System Settings] under [Settings].
[Theme Settings] was added under [Settings].
WPA-PSK (TKIP) was added as a security method under [Network Settings].
Settings for Infrastructure Mode under [Network Settings] were revised to be easier to use.
Input modes were added to the on-screen keyboard.

2.1 and 2.5 firmwares fixed security holes that enabled downgrading and added support for Sonys TV transmitter.

It is possible to "Downgrade" a 2.00 firmware to 1.50 so that homebrew can be run on it. It is NOT currently possible to downgrade any firmware newer than 2.00 or run non Sony authorised software on it.

Using Fastloader (FAQ based on fastloader v.07)


What is fastloader?
Fastloader is the first ISO loader released into the PSP world.


What does that mean?
ISOs are "images" of CD-type media, eg. dvds, cds, anything! So basically, its a virtual PSP UMD


Are there any requirements to use it?
Yes, it requires a 1.50 Firmware PSP. Specifically 1.50, it will NOT work on 1.0 and like all homebrew, it wont work on 1.51/1.52/2.00 for the time being until somebody cracks them.


Where can i get it?
Right here!


How do i put fastloader on my PSP? - (Based on fastloader v0.7)
First off, you'll need to extract the file you just downloaded "Fastloader.V0.7.rar"
It requires an un-RARing program such as WinRAR

Once unpacked you will be presented with the folder "Fastloader V0.7". Go into "Fastloader V0.7\PSP\GAME" and delete the folder "1.0FW EBOOT MADE BY MODILLER".

You will then need to copy all the folders into your PSP careful not to copy the entire "PSP" folder or you may replace your own PSP folder and lose valuble game saves/homebrew already on your PSP.

Copy over "FASTLOADER" and "FASTLOADER%" from "../Fastloader V0.7/PSP/GAME" to "X:/PSP/GAME" (X: being your psp's drive letter)

Copy over the folders "ISO" "ISOMISC" and "ISOSPLIT" into your PSP's root directory (X:/)

You're done setting up Fastloader!


How do i put games onto fastloader?
You are required to have your game in ISO form (***.iso), you will need to put them in "X:/ISO"


I downloaded a game and its come in file.001 file.002 file... What do i do with it?!?
You will require WinRAR (i noticed 7zip didnt work).
Browse over to the directory in the WinRAR browser where your .001, .002, .003, .00X files are located and double click the .001 file. You will be able to extract its contents from here.


I downloaded a game and its come in file.rar What do i do with it?!?
You will require WinRAR or a similar extracting program
Browse over to the directory in the WinRAR browser where your .001, .002, .003, .00X files are located and double click the .001 file. You will be able to extract its contents from here.

ho

guys hw do i shrink isos? peb jb

thks for the help

Great Post

good work guys I really appreciate it!!!!!

how long did take you to write that

Kool!

This was the best psp-overview I found in the web so far! Congratulations!

thanks! this taught me alot

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Extremly hepful FAQ.

Thanks a lot guys

yea, great post. this probably help the people who just got a 1.5 on what to do.

thanks very much for the faq it was helpful

thx very helpful

*closed*