Am I able to downgrade KMEAW 3.55 CFW from 4.85 CFW without flashing as long as I have QA flag on?

weanoob · 2024-10-20T02:17:20+0100

Trying to avoid accidentally bricking my PS3.

I have a PS3 with some 4.85 CFW from years ago, probably REBUG. Most old tutorials seem to indicate that you can't downgrade to 3.55 without flashing, but some other things I've read indicate that as long as the QA flag is set, you can just install 3.55 CFW (or OFW) via the offline installation as long as the QA flag is set. Is this correct, completely wrong, or is there something else that I have to do in order to do this?

(I do have reasons for specifically downgrading to 3.55.)

master801 · 2024-10-20T02:54:02+0100

Yes you are able to downgrade if you have the QA flag turned on.

I recommend doing a NOR / NAND backup before downgrading as a safety precaution, however.

I shouldn't have to say this, but make sure your console is actually compatible with firmware 3.55. Sony started manufacturing PS3s with firmware 3.56 and higher (CECH250XX and newer), since 3.55 private keys were cracked and released.

weanoob · 2024-10-20T04:10:58+0100

master801 said:
Yes you are able to downgrade if you have the QA flag turned on.

I recommend doing a NOR / NAND backup before downgrading as a safety precaution, however.

I shouldn't have to say this, but make sure your console is actually compatible with firmware 3.55. Sony started manufacturing PS3s with firmware 3.56 and higher (CECH250XX and newer), since 3.55 private keys were cracked and released.

This is a CECHA-01 console, I'd be surprised if it couldn't.
NAND backup is what I flash (pay a flasher) to do if I brick it, right?

master801 · 2024-10-20T04:13:44+0100

weanoob said:
This is a CECHA-01 console, I'd be surprised if it couldn't.
NAND backup is what I flash (pay a flasher) to do if I brick it, right?

Yes.

If you brick it during the process, you'll be able to flash the backup using a hardware programmer (Teensy2++, etc) to make it work again.

Hayato213 · 2024-10-20T04:38:26+0100

weanoob said:
Trying to avoid accidentally bricking my PS3.

I have a PS3 with some 4.85 CFW from years ago, probably REBUG. Most old tutorials seem to indicate that you can't downgrade to 3.55 without flashing, but some other things I've read indicate that as long as the QA flag is set, you can just install 3.55 CFW (or OFW) via the offline installation as long as the QA flag is set. Is this correct, completely wrong, or is there something else that I have to do in order to do this?

(I do have reasons for specifically downgrading to 3.55.)

Since you have a CECHA-01 you should be able to downgrade to 3.55

weanoob · 2024-10-20T08:54:06+0100

Well, it won't even install Kmeaw 3.55, it just says "This update data is not supported on this system."

master801 · 2024-10-20T09:06:00+0100

weanoob said:
Well, it won't even install Kmeaw 3.55, it just says "This update data is not supported on this system."

Make sure the QA flag is on and you install 3.55 OFW, then that CFW.

weanoob · 2024-10-20T09:20:18+0100

master801 said:
Make sure the QA flag is on and you install 3.55 OFW, then that CFW.

OFW won't overwrite the QA flag, and it'll let me install CFW from the USB immediately after?

master801 · 2024-10-20T09:21:41+0100

weanoob said:
OFW won't overwrite the QA flag, and it'll let me install CFW from the USB immediately after?

In the olden days, all CFW required OFW 3.55.

Just remember to enable the QA flag after installing CFW, if you're that paranoid about it.

Am I able to downgrade KMEAW 3.55 CFW from 4.85 CFW without flashing as long as I have QA flag on?

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