I have a launch-era Vita that I got used ages ago, mostly was ignoring the games I got for it just to download demos off PSN, so it didn't get much use. I want to actually start using this again, and at this point I might as well hack it as well to load CFW. That's where I am running into a bit of a problem.
So as I mentioned, I used to just play demos I downloaded off of PSN on it, so my PSN account is on there, and I don't want to risk it. The hacking guide I found says I need to be on minimum firmware version 3.65, and I am on 3.36. Problem is they say that I need to connect it online to update it off of PSN, even if I avoid that by using my PC to update it (No idea if using that app connects it online through the PC anyway) I need to connect to a website through it's browser to hack it.
This would initially not be a problem if the system was stock, but it's not, I had tried homebrew years ago in the past well before current CFW existed. I don't fully remember the details, but I recall it entailed installing a Unity SDK on it. I can see something called "PlayStation Mobile Development Assistant for Unity" under my list of installed Applications and "PSM Dev for Unity" on my home screen, I have no idea if this could cause problems nor do I remember if I ever did anything further with this.
I can't even try out the demos still left on it because anything other than my cartridge games just tosses an error, I assume some kind of license expiring from not having turned it on for several years.
So I wanted to ask advice on what to do to keep my account safe. Would I be able to perform a data backup first using that Windows data management app? Is there some way I can remove my PSN account or otherwise prevent it from connecting before I attempt to update it's firmware and hack it? Or if there is no other way, can I somehow reset it without wiping the memory card? (Would I be able to perform a backup first then with the PC app without letting it connect online?)
Looking for any advice on what to do here.
UPDATE: Seems the demos not loading thing wasn't due to licenses, but apparently my memory card has gone bad. I don't know if the card is fine but just the data has gone corrupt from many years of it not being turned on, or if the card is actually damaged. Some games started slowly working again, though with very long loadtimes and stuttering FMVs, most did not, and when I attempted to rebuild the database it just deleted about 2/3rds of the games off the card, and the few games left some load and others get stuck and require me to force-shutdown the system. They were just demos so I don't care, but now I am worried if this card can be trusted to install CFW. I would never buy a MicroSD card off ebay because it's full of fakes, but are faked vita cards also a known thing or would I be safe buying one off there? I can't exactly just go to a videogame store and buy a new Vita card in 2026.
So as I mentioned, I used to just play demos I downloaded off of PSN on it, so my PSN account is on there, and I don't want to risk it. The hacking guide I found says I need to be on minimum firmware version 3.65, and I am on 3.36. Problem is they say that I need to connect it online to update it off of PSN, even if I avoid that by using my PC to update it (No idea if using that app connects it online through the PC anyway) I need to connect to a website through it's browser to hack it.
This would initially not be a problem if the system was stock, but it's not, I had tried homebrew years ago in the past well before current CFW existed. I don't fully remember the details, but I recall it entailed installing a Unity SDK on it. I can see something called "PlayStation Mobile Development Assistant for Unity" under my list of installed Applications and "PSM Dev for Unity" on my home screen, I have no idea if this could cause problems nor do I remember if I ever did anything further with this.
I can't even try out the demos still left on it because anything other than my cartridge games just tosses an error, I assume some kind of license expiring from not having turned it on for several years.
So I wanted to ask advice on what to do to keep my account safe. Would I be able to perform a data backup first using that Windows data management app? Is there some way I can remove my PSN account or otherwise prevent it from connecting before I attempt to update it's firmware and hack it? Or if there is no other way, can I somehow reset it without wiping the memory card? (Would I be able to perform a backup first then with the PC app without letting it connect online?)
Looking for any advice on what to do here.
UPDATE: Seems the demos not loading thing wasn't due to licenses, but apparently my memory card has gone bad. I don't know if the card is fine but just the data has gone corrupt from many years of it not being turned on, or if the card is actually damaged. Some games started slowly working again, though with very long loadtimes and stuttering FMVs, most did not, and when I attempted to rebuild the database it just deleted about 2/3rds of the games off the card, and the few games left some load and others get stuck and require me to force-shutdown the system. They were just demos so I don't care, but now I am worried if this card can be trusted to install CFW. I would never buy a MicroSD card off ebay because it's full of fakes, but are faked vita cards also a known thing or would I be safe buying one off there? I can't exactly just go to a videogame store and buy a new Vita card in 2026.
Last edited by Cyber Akuma,
