Hacking Possibly a Softbricked Vita -

[leerz]

Okay,


So, I have this VITA fat which came with 3.x0 I think,
it has a weird issue that when I try to do a system restore - it just reboots to black and won't turn on again until I undo unplug the battery and back.
(both triggers to restore via recovery and settings does the same)

I mean it works as it is on the menu, settings etc (didn't try a game though),
Tried to rebuild the database too, and format the memory card - it does the same thing (had to undo the battery to make it work)

anyway, I thought this would be fixed by a software update (3.60)

so this is what I did.

1. Set the Henkaku DNS and I was prompted with the 3.60 !@#! Update found (qcma and the vita doesn't seem to talk at that time)
2. Fired the update, it started downloading,
3. I press next next after the EULA / AGREE thing
4. it black screens before even getting to the progress bar,

I couldn't get into the menu anymore.
the recovery sadly no longer works, (PS + R + PWR)
I removed the battery to hope that it boots again, and to no avail - I know that vita was fcked,

so I let it rest for a month I had some free time today so I picked it back up tried some new stuff.

I did the HOLD the Power button for 30 secs trick and I was welcomed with the SAFEMODE

1. Restart this system
2. rebuild database
3. format memory card
4. restore this system
are all disabled
except for
5. Update system software
which is the only option available

so I proceeded and used QCMA - the 3.60 update shows up, it Loads the file,
after the Eula I hit finish/next and the vita's screen turns black and that was that. I could hear the USB / vita being unplugged due to the windows usb eject chime.
after this, nothing else happens, the blue ps logo just stays and nothing more.
I retried this for like 2 more times and I knew it would still be the same.

What do you guys think I should try next to fix this?
try the update via game card? I tried but all I have is cod declass and tearaways, the vita asks for a 3.35 or greater update from the Cart.

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated!

halpz

 

[Carlanga]

does the battery actually work?

 

[leerz]

does the battery actually work?

Yes, how else would i start it?anyway,

Just an update,

For some strange reason, i left the vita on black screen, then hit power, i was welcomed with the update install screen (the one i should get after eula)
It is currently on 3.60 hk enso
I seem to be working like a regular vita. Except if i do any software triggered reset it blackscreens. (Henkaku settings/reboot)
Just the team molecule logo, i unplug the batter. It boots to the home menu with full cfw vitashell vtm and other homebrew.

Is there a a way to do a sanity check for the vita checking if the files/system files are intact? Like a scandisk of some sort

I really hope it is not a system file on a badblock on the nand.

 

[Deleted User]

Sounds like the OS is corrupted. I honestly have no idea how to fix it though. I've not heard of this issue before.

 

[leerz]

Yea, possibly, I'll try a different battery, maybe it has something to do with it.


Kinda cool that even the vita2sd also works.
I thought this vita is done for good. It works as it is, just waiting for something to blow up lol

 

[Deleted User]

If the prob contines try restoring from safemode

 

[Byokugen]

You got your system corrupted. Don't know how, but I'm afraid I never heard or saw something like that. Maybe there is something you could do. Sorry if I'm off no help

 

[mummysboy]

ok,

Its my understanding that the vita stores some old parts of the firmware to avoid corruption and allow you to restore via safe mode.

There is a method to make the vita think its on less than 3.60 running henkaku allowing you to do a QMCA restore. DO NOT TRY AND DOWNGRADE - That DOES = BRICK

WARNING - Be BRAVE! there are dragons ahead!!!!

1. Boot VITA.
2. Uninstall ENSO. (kinda need to be a little bit vanilla here)
3. Get the VITA to turn back on...... (using your battery trick if needbe)
4. Use the website version of henkaku.
5. Go to the spoof settings in Henkaku - Set Spoof to 3.59.
6. Connect to QMCA with 3.60 update.
7. This should do the full format and installation process of 3.60
8. Reboot
9. If quirks persist try go back to step 1. (Maximum 3 more times)

10. Once the quirky screen booty thing goes away install enso etc

This was the method of recovery during the BETA testing of Enso - it wont do any harm and might fix your quirky OS

 

[Byokugen]

I hope OP tries it

 

[leerz]

Update.
Fyi this was on 3.35 before i updated it via qcma
So it is a minty 3.60

I think i managed to sort it out,

The reason is totally out of this world,
I opened the camera and got an error.

I assumes it craps the system on boot like the 3ds if it has a defective camera.
I unplugged it, and bam!
I triggered every software reboot i could find and was welcomed with success every time!

I hope people can learn from this discovery lol.

 

[Deleted User]

Update.
Fyi this was on 3.35 before i updated it via qcma
So it is a minty 3.60

I think i managed to sort it out,

The reason is totally out of this world,
I opened the camera and got an error.

I assumes it craps the system on boot like the 3ds if it has a defective camera.
I unplugged it, and bam!
I triggered every software reboot i could find and was welcomed with success every time!

I hope people can learn from this discovery lol.

interesting but my o3ds has a fucked camera and boots fine

 

[Byokugen]

Well I'll be damned. Good job man on sorting it out

 

[leerz]

interesting but my o3ds has a fucked camera and boots fine

Depends on the level of fkced.
If the ribbon is good and the sensor is bad, you will blackscreen on the 3ds, that's why the fix for it was unplugging it replacing it.

I'm guessing this is the same with the vita since it works when i unplugged the camera flex

 

[unknowwiiplayer]

Update.
Fyi this was on 3.35 before i updated it via qcma
So it is a minty 3.60

I think i managed to sort it out,

The reason is totally out of this world,
I opened the camera and got an error.

I assumes it craps the system on boot like the 3ds if it has a defective camera.
I unplugged it, and bam!
I triggered every software reboot i could find and was welcomed with success every time!

I hope people can learn from this discovery lol.

I'm really sorry for the necrobump but... oh damn camera
I broke my vita charging port so I bought a used vita with a broken screen that was opened before. It had various wreked structural parts, not knowing that fact about the camera you pointed, I used the cameras that were connected to that "new" mobo and didn't boot.
Then I read this whole thread and tried changing the back camera to the one on my old mobo and it worked.

Fucking thank you!!

(Now I have to deal with a broken MS port tho..)
Again, sorry for the necrobump but I really needed to say thank you, @leerz