Brewology

Ok... So I downgraded my cousin's PSP and installed a CFW. The other day I took the memory card out to load some cso's, and when I tried to put it back in the MS wouldn't lock into the PSP. It took many, many tries but eventually the MS locked into the slot. However, the PSP would not recognize the MS. To eject the MS you have to push the MS HARD, but it will eject. After the MS 'loads' the MS access light does a steady blink representing that the MS could not be read.

Another thing I noticed is after a cold boot, the Sony loading thing doesn't show up. There's hesitation like it will load, but then goes straight to the XMB.

Now, I'm not 100% sure but I'm fairly positive this problem didn't arise right after the installation of the CFW. I asked my cousin who played with the PSP after the firmware change if he noticed the blinking light, and he didn't. That's why I'm pretty sure this isn't caused by the CFW installation, but the cold boot thing has me stumped.

I have yet to try a reinstallation because I don't have a usb cable on me and like I said the MS reader doesn't work. The only information I could find is corrupted memory sticks and a brief mention about a 'semi-brick- involving an inoperable MS reader. Please help!

Well first you could reinstall it when you have a cable, and if it works then good but if it doesn't maybe try a new cfw, or MS. Another thing is you could try to clean it by just blowing in it if nothing else happens I think your only other alternative is to take it about and see whats wrong, if still nothing resort to sending it make to where your cousin got it or send it to Sony.

I know its not much help but I have never heard of this problem because.

Have you tried the memory stick in another psp?

Based on what you say by the card being hard to be pushed into its slot...
It sounds like the board was shifted slightly. You might want to take the faceplate off and then push down or use a precision screwdriver to pry it up slightly while trying to push the memory card into its slot to see if it slides in any easier when you shift it into a diff position. (if you follow)

The Sony SCE Logo, I believe there an option for it in the recovery.

I have yet to reinstall the CFW... so I can't eliminate that yet.

It's not the MS. The MS in question worked in my PSP and PC. A different MS worked in my PSP and PC and not in the PSP in question.
I cleaned the contacts on the MS, inserted/ejected a few times, cleaned the MS again, insert/eject a few times in hope to clean the contacts on the PSP... still no go.

It's not difficult to slide the MS in. In slides in and out perfectly... you push in and it should lock, and push down to release. Initially when you pushed down it wouldn't lock. Just spring back up. Eventually it did start locking, but then to unlock it took a hard push. Other than that it slides it and out no problem, so I don't think it is an alignment problem.

If anyone has any other ideas it would be much appreciated...

One question though... If I go to my PSP's flash0 space and copy all the files, then send them to my cousin, can he write over his flash0 space with them to substitute a CFW reinstall? Traditional methods obviously don't work since it can't read MS.

I've never tried that method of re-installing custom firmware, but technically if he's already on custom firmware, overwriting the flash0 files with your set of flash0 files should change it.

Anyways, it's been a while since i've last taken my psp apart but i believe the memory card slot is pretty viewable when you take it out...so you might want to take the board right out and have a look to see if any of the mechanisms are loose. If you need a guide to follow i can provide you a link to one.

1. Regarding the "odd installation of CFW" that brent mentioned - yes, it should be possible. I know that if you brick the psp with a goofy topmenu_plugin.rco file or something similar, you can just go in and overwrite the modded one with the original and it will work again - just like you reinstalled the custom firmware. So I'm pretty sure it's possible, but I can't 100% that claim.

2. The memory stick slot IS very viewable and it's a moderately simple task to replace it, if that's an option or concern.

-DarkPacMan77-

that's weird? I had the same problem with my friends, and yeah, Iflashed the firmware and it was all better, No problems whatsoever.