Hacking [Help] Moved Tai Folder - Vita Wiped?

WaffleBonker · Apr 8, 2019

Hello there GBATemp. I'm a long-time browser, first-time poster here. I have a conundrum regarding my Vita that I was hoping someone here could help me out with.
Just as a preface: I've helped with some second-hand modding on my Vita, Switch, and 3DS with my friend who is the real modder here, and he spearheaded a lot of modding on my handhelds. I'm somewhere between noob and modding novice, so I apologize if my knowledge on my own Vita isn't sufficient for help.

Alright, so here's my issue: I've had my Vita modded with Henkaku initially before we modded it into enso, I believe is how it went. I had been trying to figure out why NoNPDRM wasn't refreshing any items (I had tried to get two different dumps of Phantasy Star Nova to work, to no avail), and none of the solutions I had found online so far worked. After an arduous few hours, I tried a method I found on a forum where someone suggested moving the tai folder from ur:0 to ux:0. Upon doing that and rebooting however, I came to find out that it removed all of the homebrew and plugins, and my Vita appears wiped.

Yes, in hindsight I'm a dumbass for doing that; I was frustrated and mentally exhausted from nothing making NoNPDRM work. However when I boot up my Vita, it still shows the homebrew boot logo (attached picture) before going to the screen saying I needed to update my system software. I believe my version is still 3.60, but the system information says 3.65 and I think that a version spoofing still in effect. Assuming that is indeed the case and the boot logo being what it is makes me believe that I can still revert my Vita's homebrew status if I can access MolecularShell. The issue there is that I can't download henkaku from the website installer.

I hope someone here can advise me on what to do to fix my Vita, and I hope you guys can excuse my noobiness and syntax in the process. Thanks in advance.

Madridi · Apr 9, 2019

Hold L on boot. It should disable any plugins it is trying to load. Once that happens, go to vitashell and move tai folder from ux0 to ur0 again. Then make sure no tai folder exists in ux0. Reboot your vita and everything should be back to normal.

If that’s done, post your config from tai folder here so we can see if there is anything wrong with it or not

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

Argh, I should have mentioned that - I've tried holding L during boot before and it doesn't do anything. I have no Vitashell bubble or anything in my Livearea, it basically acts as a wiped Vita.

Madridi · Apr 9, 2019

Because you use SD2Vita I assume, right? Yes because vitashell (and everything else) is installed on the ux0 which is SD2Vita, which is not recognizable since there is no plugin enabled for it to be recognized.

Your vita is still hacked, and your content is still there and they will all reappear once you put the plugin folder back where it is.

But for now, reinstall vitashell. Assuming you are still on 3.60, you can forceably install molecularshell through the browser exploit by holding R (or L? Can’t remember) once the black installation screen appears. If that doesn’t work, install hencore (search final-he program for the pc which makes it much easier, which has support for memcore which is basically hencore for 3.60)

If you are indeed on 3.65, then do hencore is your option to reinstall vitashell.

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

I've done as you suggested up to installing h-encore. Upon connecting with Content Manager, I keep being prompted to update my system software, and it doesn't allow me to connect to my PC without updating. Last I remember I was advised to not update the Vita, and since h-encore only works up to 3.68 I'm very hesitant to do so in case it screws me out of modding like with henkaku.

EDIT: I didn't read far enough in the h-encore instructions. I'm a derp. I'm going through again.

EDIT 2: So I followed the Blocking Updates instructions to the letter, but I'm still getting the message to update my system software. I don't want to throw myself out of the modding scene by updating to 3.70.

Ozito · Apr 9, 2019

Now that you've added 212.47.229.76 to the DNS settings, see if henkaku works, make sure to clear cookies on the browser first.
Otherwise what kind of error do you get when trying to install henkaku from the browser?

WaffleBonker said:
EDIT 2: So I followed the Blocking Updates instructions to the letter, but I'm still getting the message to update my system software. I don't want to throw myself out of the modding scene by updating to 3.70.

Reset the vita after changing the settings for update block, once it has rebooted try finalHE again.

Madridi · Apr 9, 2019

WaffleBonker said:
I've done as you suggested up to installing h-encore. Upon connecting with Content Manager, I keep being prompted to update my system software, and it doesn't allow me to connect to my PC without updating. Last I remember I was advised to not update the Vita, and since h-encore only works up to 3.68 I'm very hesitant to do so in case it screws me out of modding like with henkaku.

EDIT: I didn't read far enough in the h-encore instructions. I'm a derp. I'm going through again.

EDIT 2: So I followed the Blocking Updates instructions to the letter, but I'm still getting the message to update my system software. I don't want to throw myself out of the modding scene by updating to 3.70.

Are you using final-he to install it? Make sure you use that since it minimized as user input errors.

As for the update system msg. That (randomly?) happens. What I do is, delete my internet settings to begin with (you don’t need internet for hencore.. you can put it back after everything works again), then reboot the system, and try again.

Keep trying a few times.

Also, did you try the browser exploit to see if you can reinstall molecular shell?

Hayato213 · Apr 9, 2019

What you have? Phat or slim model, you didn't have to install h-encore. Your problem was that you probably point to the ux0 to the wrong objects, by default you should use the config in ur0:tai, not ux0:tai. The reason you see nothing you pointed to a ux0 point that has no file on them.

In the case of phat model, default ux0 is the sony memory card, you have to switch what ux0 is pointed to, in the case of SD2vita or PSVSD you need to point them to the correct one, if you point it to the wrong one you will see all your files missing, it is not too hard to fix, if you are still on 3.60.

Ozito · Apr 9, 2019

Here's your solution https://github.com/soarqin/finalhe

Usage

For common use just open the executable binary and follow instructions. Supported firmwares: 3.60/3.61/3.65/3.67/3.68

If you want to update PS Vita to firmware 3.60, 3.65 or 3.68 through USB connection, just download related Update Packages from here and extract the normal PSP2UPDAT.PUP to the same folder of this tool

If you want to install VitaShell or enso by transferring in Content Manager, just download prebuilt zip from releasestab and put in the same folder of this tool

You want option 3!

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

Ozito said:
Now that you've added 212.47.229.76 to the DNS settings, see if henkaku works, make sure to clear cookies on the browser first.
Otherwise what kind of error do you get when trying to install henkaku from the browser?

Reset the vita after changing the settings for update block, once it has rebooted try finalHE again.

I have indeed rebooted my Vita multiple times. Clearing cookies and attempting to download henkaku still gives me the message about my firmware being 3.65 and unsupported.

Madridi said:
Are you using final-he to install it? Make sure you use that since it minimized as user input errors.

As for the update system msg. That (randomly?) happens. What I do is, delete my internet settings to begin with (you don’t need internet for hencore.. you can put it back after everything works again), then reboot the system, and try again.

Keep trying a few times.

Also, did you try the browser exploit to see if you can reinstall molecular shell?

I have attempted a few times to download henkaku as mentioned above, but it's still showing my firmware as 3.65. I'm starting to think that it's most likely updated since when my friend and I installed h-encore it was updated properly to 3.65.

But now when I attempt to connect using flight mode/update blocker settings/no wifi, instead of the system update screen, it gives me a generic "Could not connect to PC" after a few seconds of being connected to my PC and giving me the "Connecting..." sign message on the Vita.

Hayato213 said:
What you have? Phat or slim model, you didn't have to install h-encore. Your problem was that you probably point to the ux0 to the wrong objects, by default you should use the config in ur0:tai, not ux0:tai. The reason you see nothing you pointed to a ux0 point that has no file on them.

In the case of phat model, default ux0 is the sony memory card, you have to switch what ux0 is pointed to, in the case of SD2vita or PSVSD you need to point them to the correct one, if you point it to the wrong one you will see all your files missing, it is not too hard to fix, if you are still on 3.60.

Oh right, I have a slim model. I think I am indeed on 3.65, since that's the only conclusion I can draw now.

Ozito said:
Here's your solution

You want option 3!

If I can get it to work, I'll see if I can use that once my Vita connects to my PC. That's the roadblock right now.

Ozito · Apr 9, 2019

WaffleBonker said:
If I can get it to work, I'll see if I can use that once my Vita connects to my PC. That's the roadblock right now.

Do you have the official sony ~~qcma~~ cma software installed?
If so try this, it worked for me yesterday.
Uninstall the sony ~~qcma~~ CMA software, disconnect the vita, download the qcma driver and install, connect the vita, run finalhe and launch the cma software on the vita and see if there's any difference.

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

I was just dabbling with the QCMA while I was waiting for the next reply. I didn't have it installed previously and I just downloaded the USB driver and QCMA itself. I'm not sure how to make the Vita detected through QCMA, however.

Madridi · Apr 9, 2019

Hayato213 said:
What you have? Phat or slim model, you didn't have to install h-encore. Your problem was that you probably point to the ux0 to the wrong objects, by default you should use the config in ur0:tai, not ux0:tai. The reason you see nothing you pointed to a ux0 point that has no file on them.

In the case of phat model, default ux0 is the sony memory card, you have to switch what ux0 is pointed to, in the case of SD2vita or PSVSD you need to point them to the correct one, if you point it to the wrong one you will see all your files missing, it is not too hard to fix, if you are still on 3.60.

Wha does this have to do with anything? We know where the problem is. The current situation is that he has no vitashell and molecular shell to revert what he has done.

WaffleBonker said:
I have attempted a few times to download henkaku as mentioned above, but it's still showing my firmware as 3.65. I'm starting to think that it's most likely updated since when my friend and I installed h-encore it was updated properly to 3.65.

But now when I attempt to connect using flight mode/update blocker settings/no wifi, instead of the system update screen, it gives me a generic "Could not connect to PC" after a few seconds of being connected to my PC and giving me the "Connecting..." sign message on the Vita.

Once again I ask, are you using finalhe? Or are using the official hencore release. I can’t stress how important this is.

I assume you do have a psn on your vita. So tell us, once you connect the vita to the pc while finalhe is on, what screen do you get on your pc?

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

Madridi said:
Once again I ask, are you using finalhe? Or are using the official hencore release. I can’t stress how important this is.

I assume you do have a psn on your vita. So tell us, once you connect the vita to the pc while finalhe is on, what screen do you get on your pc?

Oh shoot, sorry about that - I thought they were the same thing. Yes, I tried to use both, the official h-encore initally and then finalhe.

Finalhe finally connected to my Vita despite my Vita still saying the system software had to be updated. Finalhe is now saying to connect using Content Manager to copy over h-encore, but the aforementioned system software screen is still showing on my Vita.

EDIT: I've attached a picture of both screens. QCMA can recognize that my Vita is plugged in now, but I don't think I can copy anything over into the Vita due to the update screen.

Madridi · Apr 9, 2019

So it did cop over? That’s what the screen says anyway.

Restart your vita now without any internet settings

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

I don't think it copied over, since I didn't see anything in my Vita post-restart. I couldn't get to the copying of h-encore to my Vita since as soon as I tap Cancel on the update software screen it disconnects, and without internet it just shows me "could not connect to PC".

I've turned off my computer for the night and I'm going to give it another go after work tomorrow. I feel like we're steadily edging closer to the solution here, I'm sorry for you having to put up with me so far.

Ozito · Apr 9, 2019

Is "henkaku settings" available in the settings app?

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

It is not, the henkaku settings don't appear in my settings menu.

Ozito · Apr 9, 2019

WaffleBonker said:
It is not, the henkaku settings don't appear in my settings menu.

Ok

Madridi said:
Restart your vita now without any internet settings

Have you done this?

Also earlier I asked if you had the official sony CMA software installed in your pc, do you?

WaffleBonker · Apr 9, 2019

I did have the CMA installed. I tried using both that and QCMA, one installed after another and currently only QCMA is installed. QCMA and CMA both detect that my Vita connects despite my Vita not showing the option to copy over data due to the update software window or the could not connect window. I'm just not sure if it's possible to have QCMA copy over h-encore from the PC side rather than the Vita side.

If it would help, once I'm home from work I can record a video of my Vita powering on and my attempts at connecting it to my PC so you guys can see what I see if it'll make things easier. I realize this is a difficult scenario to try and visualize, so I apologize for that.

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