Hacking [Release] ARK-4 CFW port for PSP.

[Acid_Snake]

That's the issue I'm having but according to @godreborn it's my fault.

Never have you mentioned cwcheat in your reports. Please stop sending incomplete or improperly redacted bug reports that nobody else can reproduce, it only makes it harder to pinpoint actual issues.

 

[Windows_10_User]

Never have you mentioned cwcheat in your reports. Please stop sending incomplete or improperly redacted bug reports that nobody else can reproduce, it only makes it harder to pinpoint actual issues.

So, now you stopped ignoring me? Because I don't even have it but I did report I had the same problem with every game I tried (and I also do with any homebrew I tried) and you didn't say a thing and I was talking about his last phrase. Incomplete and improperly redacted? I think I actually said too much and what about the other GitHub user which also has a C1-2858-3 error message issue I do and even showed photos of it? Also, other users in this thread reported this issue. If nobody can reproduce it, then why does @Magician and others on this thread and the GitHub user have this issue as well?

 

[RealYoti]

Hey guys, new HUGE release here

Also, ArkFast update: https://disk.yandex.ru/d/XMJpxf7RD79VLw

 

[Windows_10_User]

Also, ArkFast update: https://disk.yandex.ru/d/XMJpxf7RD79VLw

I just noticed the FastARK link mentioned in ARK-4's GitHub repository instructions redirects to a version which it seems was used to install ARK-2 in 3.60 HENkaku and not to install + ARK-2 (like ARK-4) in + 3.60 HENkaku (like 3.65) and was last updated in 2021.

 

[Acid_Snake]

So, now you stopped ignoring me? Because I don't even have it but I did mention I had the same problem with every game I tried (and I also have with any homebrew I tried) and you didn't say a thing. Incomplete and improperly redacted? I think I actually said too much and what about the other user on GitHub which also has the boot and C1-2858-3 issues I do and even uploaded pictures and even uploaded photos showing the latter issue? Also, other users in this thread also reported these two issues. If nobody can reproduce then why does @Magician also have this issue and other users on this thread and the GitHub user also have the boot and C1-2858-3 issues?

- You only ever reported having issues when exiting the game, you never mentioned cwcheat in those reports.

- You've been reporting that Vita doesn't work since we used the OLD kernel exploit, the github user reported an issue using the NEW kernel exploit. It is IMPOSSIBLE that you report same issue on both the NEW and OLD kernel exploits, they are completely different. So no, your report is not the same as the other report.

 

[Windows_10_User]

- You only ever reported having issues when exiting the game, you never mentioned cwcheat in those reports.

- You've been reporting that Vita doesn't work since we used the OLD kernel exploit, the github user reported an issue using the NEW kernel exploit. It is IMPOSSIBLE that you report same issue on both the NEW and OLD kernel exploits, they are completely different. So no, your report is not the same as the other report.

Again, I didn't mention CWCheat because I didn't even have it (and I still don't) since I don't want it, so how could I know the same problem would happen with it? Also, you ignored me when I reported I had this issue when running PSP games and you ignored me as well when I said I still had it but now when exiting PSP games after pressing the "PS" button and clicking "Yes".

How come it's impossible since I said I had the same issue on both OLD and NEW kernel exploits because I said I'm having it for a long time and the GitHub user also said it had it since the first PS Vita's standalone ARK-4 version (so that includes BOTH kernels), even posted photos of the issue and you even admitted the NEW kernel exploit was a bit unstable in nature (also, you've been ignoring this GitHub user too)? So, yes, my report is the same as the other one.

Also, what about "4.19.8 Infinity" appearing in "System Software" and in ARK-4's Custom Launcher's "CFW Settings" and "Settings" on the PSP and in ARK-4's "CFW Settings" and "Settings" on the PS Vita/PS TV instead of "4.19.9 Infinity" and the "UMD Region Change" setting not appearing in the Custom Launcher's "CFW Settings" and inside XMB's "Custom Firmware Settings".

EDIT: PS Vita's/PS TV's standalone ARK-4 still often crashes in the "#ChovySign" part with a C1-2858-3 error message after installing ARK-4 via the new FasterARK method and running it, and when it doesn't, it still often crashes when running PSP ISOs with a C1-2858-3 error message. This method unlike the previous FastARK one doesn't install the Sasuke vs. Commander game if no PSN game/demo is installed and doesn't require a PSN game/demo (like Ape Quest's demo) to be installed before being run as well, at least.

EDIT 2: Now, the ARK-4 version that appears in "System Software" and in the Custom Launcher's "CFW Settings" and "Settings" on the PSP and in "CFW Settings" and "Settings" on the PS Vita/PS TV matches the latest ARK-4 version.

EDIT 3: After reinstalling PS Vita's/PS TV's standalone ARK-4 via the new FasterARK method and running it, it still often crashes in the "#ChovyProject" part with a C1-2858-3 error message, and when it doesn't, it still often crashes when running PSP ISOS with a C1-2858-3 error message. I have this issue if PS Vita's/PS TV's standalone ARK-4 "Memory Stick Speedup" is set to "Always" (it is by default). I'll set it to "Disabled" and delete Adrenaline and its plugin installed via AutoPlugin II. This method unlike the previous FastARK one doesn't install the Sasuke vs. Commander game if no PSN game/demo is installed and doesn't require a PSN game/demo (like Ape Quest's demo) to be installed before being run as well, at least.

EDIT 4: I bought another used PSP, installed the latest OFW, then ARK-4, afterwards the cIPL Flasher and finally made the full flash install.

EDIT 5: It seems PS Vita's/PS TV's standalone ARK-4 crashing issue was finally fixed and "Memory Stick Speedup" may be set to "On" (it is by default. "Always" no longer exists, only "On" and "Off").

"OverClock" was renamed to "CPU Clock in Game" and is set to "OverClock" by default (I set it to "Auto" on the PS Vita to not wear its battery and kept it as "OverClock" on the PS TV since it doesn't have a battery), "Use Extra Memory" is set to "Auto" by default, "Memory Stick Speedup" is set to "On" by default (like I said) and "Inferno Cache" is set to "LRU" by default.

On the PSP, "OverClock" was renamed to "CPU Clock in Game" and "CPU Clock in XMB" and they're set to "OverClock" by default (I set them to "Auto" to not wear its battery), "Use Extra Memory" is set to "Auto" by default, "Memory Stick Speedup" is set to "On" by default and "Inferno Cache" is set to "LRU" by default.

EDIT 6: I installed PS Vita's/PS TV's standalone ARK-4 new NoPspEmuDrm (which bypasses all PSPEmu DRM Checks so that digital PSP and PS1 game backups can be played or those that are legitimately owned but on another PSN account. This plugin is needed for ARK-4 to work) and ef2uma (which according to this, maximizes the amount of storage space that can be used simultaneously) plugins on the PS Vita and PS TV.

EDIT 7: XMB and "Custom Launcher"/PS Vita's/PS TV's standalone ARK-4 often don't find a new ARK-4 version when it was just released and I have to wait some time for them to do it or manually install it. According to what I read in ARK-4's GitHub repository, it seems the stable release server has to be manually updated and the person in charge of the server isn't always available exactly on release. Also, when scrolling games on PS Vita's standalone ARK-4, the console makes noise even with no sound.

EDIT 8: Pressing "SELECT" on the XMB does nothing for some seconds when returning from sleep mode, when exiting a game and after restarting the PSP or the "VSH MENU" so the latter doesn't appear. The PSP's "Memory Stick PRO Duo access indicator" blinks and only once it finishes I can access the "VSH MENU" (among other things).

EDIT 9: I installed the nploader_mod (which allows direct reading and loading of DLC [EDATA/PGD/SPRX] files in either their encrypted or decrypted form, so I don't need to reactivate my account and/or switch between them while using my purchased DLC from different regions. I can mix decrypted/encrypted files without problem too, since the plugin takes care of it) and npdrm_free_mod (which is a plugin to run official NPDRM PS1/PSP content without the need of a valid RIF license or act.dat file) plugins on PSP's ARK-4 and enabled them for both "Game" and "VSH (XMB)" only like said here.

EDIT 10: Now, PSP's ARK-4 comes with the LEDA plugin enabled and with the bsd one disabled. The former is designed to provide compatibility with legacy software/homebrew that uses the 1.50 kernel and the latter (when enabled) makes a message show up for some seconds when running games and homebrew and when exiting them via "PS" button saying:

"Starting BSoD
ERROR loading user module: 80020148"

EDIT 11: TnA got banned in many Discord servers and kicked as a moderator from r/PS2 (Reddit) like said here. Serves him right. It seems he was in PS2-Home too when he said to not download OPL Daily Build forks (that are in it), which is ridiculous. I don't know if he got banned from there, though, but he's still in PSX-Place and in Reddit, even if on the latter he's no longer a moderator on the PS2 subreddit. Regarding HWNJ, it seems he is @Chelsea_Fantasy and he answered me in this GBAtemp thread.

EDIT 12: I installed ARK-5 on the PSP, PS Vita and PS TV. PSP's ARK-5 comes with LEDA plugin enabled and without the bsd one.

To install ARK-5 on the PSP, I used Chronoswitch Downgrader to install OFW 6.61 on the PSP, downloaded PSP's FasterARK (the full version), copied the "CustomIPL", "FasterARK" and "ARK_01234" folders to the PSP's microSD card, ran "FASTer ARK", ran "cIPL Flasher" (to make ARK-5 permanent) and then deleted "FASTer ARK" and "cIPL Flasher" from the PSP's microSD card (I didn't have to enable both nploader_mod and npdrm_free_mod plugins like before since I didn't touch the "SEPLUGINS" folder [where the plugins were] and didn't change disable or remove them from the XMB in "* Plugins Manager").

To install ARK-5 on the PS Vita and PS TV, I deleted ARK-4, downloaded PS Vita's FasterARK, uploaded it via FTP to the PS Vita/PS TV, uninstalled and deleted the NoPspEmuDrm and ef2uma plugins, installed the NoPspEmuDrmArkMod via AutoPlugin II, installed PS Vita's FasterARK, ran it, only installed ARK and then deleted FasterARK.

 

[xFlesk]

what a great update (4.19.9) i love the idea to have a xmb custom firmware options menu in xmb, but ... it completly ruins xmbih plugin compatibility (the one for hiding unused assets in xmb). im doomed, since probably no one will ever update this plugin again
cheers

 

[godreborn]

what a great update (4.19.9) i love the idea to have a xmb custom firmware options menu in xmb, but ... it completly ruins xmbih plugin compatibility (the one for hiding unused assets in xmb). im doomed, since probably no one will ever update this plugin again
cheers

maybe an option to hide it in the recovery menu or something? that might work.

Post automatically merged: Feb 9, 2023

wait, I just remembered. that's controlled by the xmbctrl.prx. you can safely delete it from the savedata folder if cfw settings is affecting a plugin you use. no need to reinstall the firmware.

 

[xFlesk]

no no no im not using xmbctrl. thanks to THIS plugin i was able to hide thing that i never use on my psp making my xmb clean and neat. now (since new xmb menus appear) all of it is back, like SenseMe, Skype, PSN etc.
wish to have an option to hide all of it again

 

[godreborn]

xmbctrl is the cfw settings plugin, part of ark. you can delete it from its save folder Ark01234 without having to reflash. it won't hurt the system.

 

[xFlesk]

xmbctrl is the cfw settings plugin, part of ark. you can delete it from its save folder Ark01234 without having to reflash. it won't hurt the system.

so or xmbctrl or xmbih ? harsh life

 

[godreborn]

xmbctrl is cfw settings plugin. if you delete it, cfw settings will no longer be in the systems' column, so I don't know if you want to do that. I could ask acid snake if he could add hiding things in the xmb. I don't know if he will, but I'll just link him to your original post about this. then, I guess you wouldn't need that other plugin.

Post automatically merged: Feb 9, 2023

I sent him a message and link over discord, so he'll probably respond here. I just now did it, so give it some time.

 

[Acid_Snake]

what a great update (4.19.9) i love the idea to have a xmb custom firmware options menu in xmb, but ... it completly ruins xmbih plugin compatibility (the one for hiding unused assets in xmb). im doomed, since probably no one will ever update this plugin again
cheers

I'll try to figure out why they break.

 

[RealYoti]

thanks to THIS plugin

This is outdated version without 6.61 support.

 

[Acid_Snake]

no no no im not using xmbctrl. thanks to THIS plugin i was able to hide thing that i never use on my psp making my xmb clean and neat. now (since new xmb menus appear) all of it is back, like SenseMe, Skype, PSN etc.
wish to have an option to hide all of it again

can you try this one?
There's no need to reflash anything, just repace this file in savedata folder and do a soft reset.

 

[xFlesk]

can you try this one?
There's no need to reflash anything, just repace this file in savedata folder and do a soft reset.

unfortunately this one freeze and crash the console when "xmb waves" appear. (PSP 2004, OFW 6.60, CFW ARK 4.19.9 cIPL main branch)

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2023

This is outdated version without 6.61 support.

yes i know im using moded version. i pasted it only for overal information what this plugin do

 

[Acid_Snake]

unfortunately this one freeze and crash the console when "xmb waves" appear. (PSP 2004, OFW 6.60, CFW ARK 4.19.9 cIPL main branch)

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2023

yes i know im using moded version. i pasted it only for overal information what this plugin do

Try one of these pre-releases:
https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-4/releases/tag/v1676040400

I tried it myself using the latest version of the plugin (1.3-fix3) and it works fine, I can see and use XMB Control and have stuff hidden in the XMB.

 

[xFlesk]

my version is 1.3-fix2. hmmm, i cant find fix3 version. could you please share it ?
console still freezes, but im happy yours works fine i think it can be a xmbih issue

 

[Acid_Snake]

my version is 1.3-fix2. hmmm, i cant find fix3 version. could you please share it ?
console still freezes, but im happy yours works fine i think it can be a xmbih issue

Here's the one I'm using:

 

[xFlesk]

ok. version you gave me still crash the psp, so i decided to turn off all my vsh plugins and left only xmbih and it works.
weird, it means it is not a xmbih problem probably but other plugin
im going to set my plugins on one by one and then i post an update