forums.ps2dev.org

Barts_706 · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 38

Since I am moving on from compiling examples and slight modifications to someone else's code to writing my own little pieces of code and experimenting with PSPGL, I would like to ask one very important question before I start.

I have heard quite a lot about bricking PSP. Is there anything that should absolutely NOT be done by the homebrew programs in order to avoid bricking PSP?

Theoretically if the firmware rests intact, there shouldn't be any issues, but I prefer to ask nevertheless. Because firstly I tend to have this little unlucky moments, after which everyone tells me "How come you didn't know that you're not supposed to do that? Everyone knows that you can't..." (everyone but me usually) and secondly I don't have funds for second PSP.

So if there are any nasty surprise waiting for unexperienced PSP programmers (I don't dare call myself developer), please tell me.

urchin · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Posts: 121

If you are so unsure, you can always run your apps in user mode (rather than kernel mode), until you pick up enough experience and courage to start experimenting with other things.

danzel · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 182

basically: dont touch the flash.

Running in usermode is good, as then you can't touch it :)

placasoft · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 53

You can touch flash in user mode, too!

Brunni · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 186

May I ask a question, please?
Once, as my program (running in user mode) crashed severely (I forgot to check if the file could be opened before reading with fgetc), I had a blue screen when rebooting the console and the firmware settings (date, and so on) had to be reseted, like if I bought a new PSP. Hopefully, my PSP isn't bricked, but does this mean my flash has been touched when the program crashed?
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Sorry for my bad english

Oldschool library for PSP - PC version released

funetik · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 11

There are two parts of flash - flash0 and flash1.

Flash0 contains the firmware and Flash1 contains system settings/date and time etc. At least, that's the way I understand it.

Looks like you upset flash1 and that's why it needed the date etc reset.

dot_blank · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Brasil

just dont use any flash0 calls and keep in mind
you still can brick in user mode ...but kernel mode
you should stray far away until you need a kernel
feature ie...usb, kprintf ... and certainly do not
ever write over any file in flash0

greets
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Arwin · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 426

As far as I understand it, you don't need kernel mode for USB. At least not for the basic file stuff - Fanjita's loader shows this.

Barts_706 · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 38

Wow. Looks like my post initiated some more serious discussion.

Well, as for me. I'll stick to user mode then.

Gary13579 · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 93

Sorry for the noob question, but no one in IRC answered (hey, what else is new?).
How do I make sure my app is launched in user mode? I want to make sure it is compatible with all firmware versions, so this is a must..

Also, if the program is in user mode, will DHCP for WiFi still work?

HaQue · Joined: 25 Nov 2005 Posts: 91 Location: Adelaide, Australia

//kernel mode
PSP_MODULE_INFO(MODULE_NAME, 0x1000, 1, 1);

//user mode
PSP_MODULE_INFO(MODULE_NAME,0, 1, 1);

Im fairly sure thats all there is to it.
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Dr. Vegetable · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:13 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't worry too much about bricking your PSP by writing buggy homebrew. This is very unlikely unless you experiment with re-writing the firmware flash chip on the motherboard, which is not the same as writing to the flash chip on a memory stick.

Accidental bricking is not something I worry about, and I've written some pretty buggy homebrew apps. Just last night I hung my PSP with a dark screen, and then it wouldn't reset (hold the power switch up for 10-20 seconds) and wouldn't turn on again even after I removed the battery from the unit for a few seconds. It turns out that the battery was dead, and the PSP revived as soon as I plugged it into the charger.

Just like dropping the soap in the shower, everyone will warn you against bricking your PSP, but I suspect that nobody is speaking from personal experience. So how many of you reading this have actually bricked a PSP by having one of your own applications crash? I am curious to hear any first-hand horror stories...

Shatterdome · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 11

None, the worst I get is it will freeze and you may not be able to shut it off yourself, but it turns itself off eventually. Ocassionaly you wont be able to turn it back on, until it sits for like 20 secs, or you remove the battery...I've yet to play much with reading and writing to the MS, but like it's been said, shouldn't be too much risk if you are not touching the flash...

dbeyer3069 · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 81