Running PSX Emulation on the PSP
 

I've already taken the steps to put custom firmware (3.40 OE) on my PSP, worked like a charm. However, I'm pretty clueless on where to go from here, and I'd just like a guiding hand on this. I've heard things ranging from "You need to convert ISOs to a certain format to get them to run on the PSP." Any help would be appreciated.

okay. Tools you will need:
CloneCD <- Updated to match Keygen.
The keygen included at the bottom of this post for CloneCD (It's clean.)
Simple Popstation GUI <- Updated to 3.00 Beta

I'll be using the game "Super Robot Taisen Alpha" as an example.

After installing CloneCD, you want to make sure your disc is inserted into your CD/DVDROM drive. Then after it's in, go to CloneCD, and choose "Read to Image File"
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7383/01bu1.jpg

then choose whatever drive you put your psx game in. In this case, mine's the second drive.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9246/02qy5.jpg Click Next.

Then right click "Game CD" and choose "Edit"
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/381/03xd6.jpg

In the "Data Read Settings" tab, match the settings to this picture.
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/930/03akw7.jpg

In thee "Audio Read Settings" tab, match the settings to this picture.
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2374/03bol8.jpg

Click Okay, then Click "Next"

Choose where you want to save it, then click the box "Create Cue Sheet", then click "Ok"
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5518/04rk8.jpg

CloneCD will begin to rip your game. It may or may not take some time to rip the game.

After it is done, you should have four files wherever you decided to save the image files.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8005/05kz4.jpg

Open up "Simple Popstation GUI", click "Browse" then go to the folder/dir whever you put your psx game, and choose the .cue file.
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6238/06fy3.jpg
Then choose "Open".

You'll be back at the main screen which will look like this:
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/431/07lc2.jpg
As in the picture, you can choose wherever you want the output file to be. I chose mine in the same folder as the game is, but in caps (as is the program's default.) If you don't want it there, you can change it.

Set the compression level to "9" as is in the picture. this crunches the filesize down a bit, but in some games you don't want to do that. If you experience booting problems, then you may want to try compression level "5" In this case, I know the game boots at compression level "9."

You can change the game title to anything you want, I usually just leave it as whatever the game is, so in this case, it's "Super Robot Taisen Alpha".

Customize EBOOT. You can give the game a custom menu, icon, and sound file for the PSP if you want, by having the appropriate files. You can find them on google if you search for "Custom EBOOT"
The "Preview EBOOT" button does just what it says; it'll let you see what the EBOOT would look like if you customized it, or what it'll look like as the GUI's defaults.

After choosing the directory you wanted to save in, click "Go"


You'll get a progress window that'll tell you how many bytes are being written, how big the original game was, etc.
[url]http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4739/08nz7.jpg[/img]

After it's done, it'll come up with a window
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/9498/09pc5.jpg
saying "Congratulations! Do you want to transfer the game to your PSP now?" and you can choose Yes, No, or disable it from asking you this if you want to do it yourself. To transfer it to your PSP, you want to make sure the PSP is connected to your computer, and in USB mode.

If you already have a game that has been converted, make sure your PSP is in USB mode, then go to the folder "GAME" on your psp's memory stick, then make a folder for the name of the game (in this case, "Super Robot Taisen Alpha"), then inside of that folder, copy/paste the "EBOOT.PBP" and "KEYS.BIN" files. Some converted games don't need the "KEYS.BIN" file, but I haven't had much luck with those. Either way, stick it in there and it'll work.

Exit out of USB mode, then go to your "games" section, and voila! your game should be there.

Disc Swapping for PSP
So, you have a multi disc game and you don't know how to get to the next disc? Don't fret!

In the popstation program, you have to convert the saves to run on the same file (since multi game cd's have different SLPS numbers and such.)

in this image you'll see an option to change the game save and game ID:
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/431/07lc2.jpg

basically it does what it says. So for example, you need to get to disc 2 of FFVII. change the game ID of disc 2 to that of Disc 1's ID, and voila! you'll be able to boot your save game onto disc 2. You can do the same for disc 3 as well.

if you don't know the game's ID, the program will tell you by default.

Bless your heart. Just what I needed. Thanks a bunch.

I'm curious Rotorblade, did you get this custom firmware at PSP Hacks...or..?

You can get it just about anywhere.

As someone who is interested in this, for the firmware, can you 'update' your PSP from any other type of firmware to that?

You can only update to an OE custom firmware from 1.5. Currently, you can downgrade to 1.5 from up to version 3.03 of the official firmware.

I did some digging through these forums via the search function. There was a specific thread asking about this type of emulation, difference being that the person in question hadn't downgraded their firmware and was at a loss as to how to do it. There was a link to a very concise walkthrough that I followed, let me see if I can pull it up for you...

http://forums.qj.net/f-psp-hacks-9/t...ide-90916.html

It says PSP hacks, though I'm not sure if it's the place you're referring to. I upgraded from a 2.60 PSP TA-082 Motherboard to 2.71 and then back down to 1.5 and then finally upgraded to Custom Firmware 3.40 OE. Links I needed were all on that forum. The FAQ was kind of iffy at one point, but being thorough kind of helped me through the process.

I still haven't been able to do much with the thing, mostly because my internet access is limited out here.

Well, at the site rotorblade posted, you actually want to go to the "FIRMWARE" section to get the selected firmware updates (yes, even if you're downgrading, you still need to get the "updated" firmware).

The rest can be found in the PSP section of this forum.

anyone have the pictures for:

"In the "Data Read Settings" tab, match the settings to this picture."

and

"In thee "Audio Read Settings" tab, match the settings to this picture."

the pictures no longer show up :-(

Oh crap. I'll try to reupload those tonight.

Fixed!

quick question will this work for multi cd games like ff7 and chrono cross??

Ah, I was waiting for someone to ask that question.

In the popstation program, you have to convert the saves to run on the same file (since multi game cd's have different SLPS numbers and such.)

in this image you'll see an option to change the game save and game ID:
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/431/07lc2.jpg

basically it does what it says. So for example, you need to get to disc 2 of FFVII. change the game ID of disc 2 to that of Disc 1's ID, and voila! you'll be able to boot your save game onto disc 2. You can do the same for disc 3 as well.

if you don't know the game's ID, the program will tell you by default.

Is there a free program instead of CloneCD that doesnt need licence keys?

go to oldversion.com, and grab CloneCD 4.2.0.2

Use this patch. You'll have a fully unlocked CloneCD. I used it, it's clean.

Thank you, my good man!