h-encore hack for PlayStation Vita 3.65 - 3.68 released by TheFloW

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PlayStation Vita owners have been waiting with bated breath for Vita scene hacker TheFloW to release his latest exploit: h-encore. This marks the second ever major exploit for the Vita, following the 3.60 Henkaku hack. For the first time, OFW 3.65, 3.67, and 3.68 can be modified to run backups, run homebrew, and more. Adrenaline, which lets users exploit the PSP side of the Vita, has also been updated as of two days ago, to support the latest firmwares.

To use h-encore, you're going to need a PS Vita on firmware 3.65 or above, be linked (though not activated) to a PSN account, and if you're using a OLED Vita, you'll also need a memory card.

Enso can also be installed, but only for those who are on 3.65--there's no current support for Enso on higher firmware. TheFloW's instructions note that this installation is far more complex than previous Henkaku releases, and will require more work to ensure that it works correctly.

Note that the following guide is for advanced users and a bit more complicated than the previous hack that only required you to visit a website. If you don't understand the guide below or how to use these tools, you should neither file an issue here nor annoy me on twitter, but rather seek help on /r/vitahacks (check for duplicated questions first!) or wait for an easy installer.

  1. Download and install qcma, psvimgtools and pkg2zip (check the releases section).

  2. Download the vulnerable DRM-free demo of bitter smile (yes, that's the user entry point).

  3. Download h-encore and extract it on your computer.

  4. Extract the demo using:

    pkg2zip -x PATH_OF_PKG

    This will output the files to app/PCSG90096.

  5. Copy the contents of the output app/PCSG90096 to the folder h-encore/app/ux0_temp_game_PCSG90096_app_PCSG90096(such that the files eboot.bin and VITA_PATH.TXT are within the same folder).

  6. Copy the license file app/PCSG90096/sce_sys/package/temp.bin to the folder
    h-encore/license/ux0_temp_game_PCSG90096_license_app_PCSG90096 and rename the just pasted file temp.bin to 6488b73b912a753a492e2714e9b38bc7.rif. Again, this file should be in the same folder as VITA_PATH.TXT.

  7. Start qcma and within the qcma settings set the option Use this version for updates to FW 0.00 (Always up-to-date).

  8. Launch Content Manager on your PS Vita and connect it to your computer, where you then need to select PC -> PS Vita System, and after that you select Applications. If you see an error message about System Software, you should simply reboot your device to solve it. This should create a folder at PS Vita/APP/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on your computer (see qcma settings where this folder is), where the folder xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx represents the AID (account ID) that you need to insert here. If the AID is valid, it will yield a key that you can now use to encrypt the demo.

  9. Change directory to the h-encore folder in terminal and use the key to encrypt all folders that are listed below using:

    psvimg-create -n X -K YOUR_KEY X PCSG90096/X

    Where X is (yes, repeat it 4 times or write a script for that):
    • app
    • appmeta
    • license
    • savedata
    The folder h-encore/PCSG90096 should then contain sce_sys and all 4 folders from above, and within these folders you should find files called X.psvimg and X.psvmd, where X has the same name as the folder. Backup this folder, since if everything has been done correctly, you don't need to redo all the steps to install it onto another device with the same PSN account.

  10. Copy the folder h-encore/PCSG90096 to PS Vita/APP/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/PCSG90096 and refresh the database under qcma settings.

  11. The h-encore bubble with a size of around 243 MB should now appear in the Content Manager and that's what you finally need to transfer to your PS Vita.

  12. Launch h-encore to exploit your device (if a message about trophies appears, simply click yes). The screen should first flash white, then purple, and finally open a menu called h-encore bootstrap menu where you can download VitaShell and install HENkaku.

  13. Enjoy. Note that you have to relaunch the exploit everytime you reboot or shutdown your device. Of course if you only put your device into standby mode, you don't need to relaunch.

:download: GitHub
:arrow: TheFloW's Twitter
:!: For those on 3.60
 

AmyGrrl

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Oh. I thought I was on Henkaku Enso 3.65 on my Vita & PSTV haven't used them in a while so forgot what was installed... but was actually on 3.60-11. Is there a complete guide on how to upgrade from Henkaku Enso 3.60 to Henkaku Enso 3.65. Would like to at least do this before I decide later on if I want to upgrade to 3.68. Thanks!
 
Last edited by AmyGrrl,

RealPetChicken

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Hi guys. Quick question. Do I still need the memory card after I've done the hack cos I am using a sd2vita card. Thinking of using my memory card on my friends psv who doesn't have a memory card

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3010 using Tapatalk

Did you figure this out? i am having the same issue where if i remove the sony card from my vita, it won't show h-encore or vita shell on my homescreen, even contentmanager won't recognize my microsd inside sd2vita, but as soon as i put the sony card back in it recognizes the sd2vita microsd storage.
 

Priestiality

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Did you figure this out? i am having the same issue where if i remove the sony card from my vita, it won't show h-encore or vita shell on my homescreen, even contentmanager won't recognize my microsd inside sd2vita, but as soon as i put the sony card back in it recognizes the sd2vita microsd storage.
This is because h-encore is stored on the memory card. For the 3.67/3.68 version, you need to keep h-encore on the Sony card (1000 models) or internal storage (2000 models) so you can re-run the exploit. Vita Shell won't show up without Henkaku running. Without Henkaku running none of your plugins will run. Without plugins running, the PS Vita doesn't know what SD2Vita is.
 
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KentaZX

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I cannot get any legit backups working on my 3.68 h-encore PSTV. I've installed the nonpdrm, the plugin itself in the ux0:/tai folder, and wrote the line "ux0:tai/nonpdrm.skprx" under KERNEL, and I've transferred my game that I've obtained with QCMA from my psvita 1000 model into the PSTV's ux0:/app folder. I've refreshed the Live area and licenses as well, rebooted my PSTV, re-installed henkaku, and the game will not show up no matter what I do. Can anyone help me with this?
 

Purple_Heart

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not ux0....ur0

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

if u have a config in ux0:tai...copy it to ur0:tai ..delete it in ux0:tai and install it again in ur0
 

Naster

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Spend all day on this bullshit.

By some miracle, games run. Sd2vita (content mgr) works too. Plugins don't, only kernel plugins do. Trying a screenshot in dumped games gives an error. Scene is a mess.

How to run plugins? I tried everything -- changed directories, tried different launch modes in maidump tool, edited game.txt/config.txt like thousand of times. And how to fix a screenshot error?

upd.: Never mind, started it all over again and it works. Looks like I messed up with Sd2vita.
 
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KentaZX

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not ux0....ur0

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

if u have a config in ux0:tai...copy it to ur0:tai ..delete it in ux0:tai and install it again in ur0

ah I see, I thought ur0 was only if you have an SD2vita.

anyways I've done that but my game is still not showing up, the live area isnt refreshing anything either... do I need to convert my game into a certain format or something? Because I've tried adding the game into ux0:app/, both unextracted and psvimg tools extracted versions. I can't tell if the plugins are not running correctly or I'm not placing the backup properly.
 

godreborn

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ah I see, I thought ur0 was only if you have an SD2vita.

anyways I've done that but my game is still not showing up, the live area isnt refreshing anything either... do I need to convert my game into a certain format or something? Because I've tried adding the game into ux0:app/, both unextracted and psvimg tools extracted versions. I can't tell if the plugins are not running correctly or I'm not placing the backup properly.

you may need nonpdrm.skprx on ur0. normal games won't appear without it.
 

KentaZX

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the config.txt must have that location as well. don't move the app folder. it's extremely unlikely to fit if you do. ur0 is between 1-2GBs only iirc.
the config txt is there and ive written the line "ur0:tai/nonpdrm.skprx" as well. or are you saying I need to have the line "ur0:tai/nonpdrm.skprx" in BOTH ur0 AND ux0 config files?
 

godreborn

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the config txt is there and ive written the line "ur0:tai/nonpdrm.skprx" as well. or are you saying I need to have the line "ur0:tai/nonpdrm.skprx" in BOTH ur0 AND ux0 config files?

delete the ux0 one. I think there's a scan order, so ux0 may be before ur0. either that or it causes a conflict I think. ;)
 

KentaZX

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delete the ux0 one. I think there's a scan order, so ux0 may be before ur0. either that or it causes a conflict I think. ;)

okay the ux0 one is deleted, and the ur0 have the plugin and the config file with the line written as well. How does one transfer a legally purchased PSN game from QCMA to the hacked PSTV? because I cannot ever get the game to show up the live area at all so I can't even run it so I could do the whole "license into work.bin" part.

UPDATE: okay I dont think im having a problem with nonpdrm, I'm just having an issue with dumping a digital psn game to my hacked PSTV. okay so I grabbed super meat boy (that I bought from the PS Store) out of my psVita 1000, transfer that from that system to PC with QCMA, and then I tried sending that game to my USB stick, THEN mounting that to my hacked PSTV. the game bubble never shows up or refresh. How do you prepare qcma backups properly before transferring into the PSTV?
 
Last edited by KentaZX,

BORTZ

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I keep thinking I should get a PSTV but then I remember that I have a Vita and should just do this to my Vita. Lol. Sometimes I am an idiot.
 

Mark1381

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I finally got h-encore installed on my PSTV 3.65 using the Vita Update Blocker however whenever I try to run h-encore (I've uninstalled and installed twice with the same results) it gives me the message "Insert a PS Vita card that contains this application". Was I suppose to legit install that demo prior to doing all this?
 

Crashdummyy

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Hey there,

I hope I am right here but don't know where to put my post:

I am currently on 3.60 with Enso.
I am using SD2Vita, where I have some MaiDumps installed.

Here is my question.
If I update to h-encore can I still use those MaiDump games? Do I need to edit anything ?

I dont have the backups on PC anymore, just the installed ones on the vita.
If the dumps won't work, do I have a way to take a Backup from them and install them afterwards?
I read that I can't do a Nonpdrm Backup of it, is that right?
 

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