Hacking Wanting to update my old hacked PS3

[Goofy Time]

Hey there. I figure I'd ask this forum for help and additional information that can help me get my PS3 up to date on the current situation of hacks and features that the community has made over the years. I say years for a reason; I hacked this a long while ago when the first mainstream hacks were a thing so around the time of Geohot and the PS3Jailbreak scene. To put this into perspective, I hacked this system before Tales of Graces F was announced for localization. Actually, according to Gaia Manager, it was installed January 30th 2011, so we're talking nearly four years ago. I know I was able to play MvC3 off of my USB, presumably due to Gaia Manager, but I have no idea if that's still the current method.

I don't know what's current on this system - probably little - but I know I am on firmware 3.55 (it just says this; I don't remember if you had to launch the system in a certain way for a CFW name to appear), have a folder called /app_home/PS3_GAME/ and an Install Package Files folder. I believe Gaia Manager was what I had to install stuff, but I really forget (this crashed the system when I tried to boot it, which is why I assume the system has to be booted in CFW). So, I figure I'd ask the community plainly: what do I need to get this CFW'd PS3 up to date with the latest launches, updates, and any little modern state of progress to play and use current content? I have no idea if modded systems have online access, but if they do or don't matters little to me; I'd at least like to update the thing and be able to use whatever the modding scene has been able to offer.

Sorry if this post seems out of line here: most posts I would imagine involve more current stuff, but as you can imagine, I am coming from a point where I am far from current. I remember hacking the system, but at the same time just slowly losing interest in the PS3, so I didn't really do much with it. I figure I'd like to be able to tinker with it for the time being, at least until PS3 emulation makes major progress on PC.

 

[Deleted User]

Safest thing to do if you have no clue is download a copy of OFW 3.55. Install that and reboot the system. Once on 3.55 - download any CFW of your choosing (reccomend anything 4.46 and up) and install it. Make sure internet is off and no discs are in the drives before updating.

Multiman works well for a all-in-one package for loading backups and file management.

 

[Goofy Time]

I am on 3.55 like I said before, and I assume by having the additional options on the Games tab - as well as the ability to directly install .pkg files - that I am absolutely on CFW. The issue is I know this has to be updated to something to play current games, but what? The fact I was able to install and run Bionic Commando Rearmed with no online connection would confirm to me I have CFW. The thing I was puzzled by was the black screen I got with Gaia Manager, but I think it was because I had no game in the disc drive. I believe this was a requirement to that software, or at the least the earlier versions.

Would updating to Rogero CFW 4.46 V.1.00 be good enough for all major games? It would only be an issue of actually using a loader to load the content then, no?

 

[Plstic]

I am on 3.55 like I said before, and I assume by having the additional options on the Games tab - as well as the ability to directly install .pkg files - that I am absolutely on CFW. The issue is I know this has to be updated to something to play current games, but what? The fact I was able to install and run Bionic Commando Rearmed with no online connection would confirm to me I have CFW. The thing I was puzzled by was the black screen I got with Gaia Manager, but I think it was because I had no game in the disc drive. I believe this was a requirement to that software, or at the least the earlier versions.

Would updating to Rogero CFW 4.46 V.1.00 be good enough for all major games? It would only be an issue of actually using a loader to load the content then, no?

Yeah that would be fine. I'd recommend a cobra firmware though. It lets you run your games off of a ntfs drive in ISO form.

 

[CarefulCrysis]

Hey there. I figure I'd ask this forum for help and additional information that can help me get my PS3 up to date on the current situation of hacks and features that the community has made over the years. I say years for a reason; I hacked this a long while ago when the first mainstream hacks were a thing so around the time of Geohot and the PS3Jailbreak scene. To put this into perspective, I hacked this system before Tales of Graces F was announced for localization. Actually, according to Gaia Manager, it was installed January 30th 2011, so we're talking nearly four years ago. I know I was able to play MvC3 off of my USB, presumably due to Gaia Manager, but I have no idea if that's still the current method.

I don't know what's current on this system - probably little - but I know I am on firmware 3.55 (it just says this; I don't remember if you had to launch the system in a certain way for a CFW name to appear), have a folder called /app_home/PS3_GAME/ and an Install Package Files folder. I believe Gaia Manager was what I had to install stuff, but I really forget (this crashed the system when I tried to boot it, which is why I assume the system has to be booted in CFW). So, I figure I'd ask the community plainly: what do I need to get this CFW'd PS3 up to date with the latest launches, updates, and any little modern state of progress to play and use current content? I have no idea if modded systems have online access, but if they do or don't matters little to me; I'd at least like to update the thing and be able to use whatever the modding scene has been able to offer.

Sorry if this post seems out of line here: most posts I would imagine involve more current stuff, but as you can imagine, I am coming from a point where I am far from current. I remember hacking the system, but at the same time just slowly losing interest in the PS3, so I didn't really do much with it. I figure I'd like to be able to tinker with it for the time being, at least until PS3 emulation makes major progress on PC.

The last time I used a PS3 cfw I used rogero, you can find his latest one here with step by step instructions - http://www.tortuga-cove.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=127&t=6053&sid=9add8bb5c34c0bf23ca75cee2f3f24ae

 

[Deleted User]

I am on 3.55 like I said before, and I assume by having the additional options on the Games tab - as well as the ability to directly install .pkg files - that I am absolutely on CFW. The issue is I know this has to be updated to something to play current games, but what? The fact I was able to install and run Bionic Commando Rearmed with no online connection would confirm to me I have CFW. The thing I was puzzled by was the black screen I got with Gaia Manager, but I think it was because I had no game in the disc drive. I believe this was a requirement to that software, or at the least the earlier versions.

Would updating to Rogero CFW 4.46 V.1.00 be good enough for all major games? It would only be an issue of actually using a loader to load the content then, no?

That's understood, if you're truly on a CFW, you can just upgrade straight to whatever firmware you wish. If you can't - then do the OFW route. They both accomplish the same thing.

Black screens are generally because you're running a game which requires newer FW or eboots to be resigned to your CFW level. Easiest solution is just upgrade to a 4.66 CFW. Otherwise any games after your 4.46 would have to be patched or resigned for a lower FW.

 

[Goofy Time]

That's understood, if you're truly on a CFW, you can just upgrade straight to whatever firmware you wish. If you can't - then do the OFW route. They both accomplish the same thing.

Black screens are generally because you're running a game which requires newer FW or eboots to be resigned to your CFW level. Easiest solution is just upgrade to a 4.66 CFW. Otherwise any games after your 4.46 would have to be patched or resigned for a lower FW.

I got a black screen when launching Gaia Manager, it had nothing to do with a game. If I recall, you needed to have a game in the disc tray when booting the program, as it uses that to trick the system to run games. I didn't have anything in the tray at the time.

Also, how would I know I'm on a CFW? I thought the new folders for USB installation would confirm it...

 

[Deleted User]

I got a black screen when launching Gaia Manager, it had nothing to do with a game. If I recall, you needed to have a game in the disc tray when booting the program, as it uses that to trick the system to run games. I didn't have anything in the tray at the time.

Also, how would I know I'm on a CFW? I thought the new folders for USB installation would confirm it...

Programs still need to be signed with an eboot regardless. If you have install packages on your XMB - then you have some sort of CFW as it isn't available on OFW. Though would be hard to test as not much runs on 3.55 anymore. Your best bet is as other's stated. If you're truly on CFW - just put your choice of CFW on a flash drive (X:\PS3\UPDATE\PS3UPDAT.PUP) and stick it in and update from external storage. (remove any discs and disconnect any internet before doing)