TA88v3 Identifier (non hackable PSP Slim)

The recent (purchased with OFW 4.01 & higher) Piano Black PSP 2000 Slim with serial number starting with AB02 can not have custom firmware at this time. It has the TA88v3 motherboard. Please see our forum post for more information and how to identify the TA88v3 motherboard by serial number TA88v3 Forum Post

Almost all PSP's except the PSP3000 and the Slim PSP's with serial number AB02 are able to have custom firmware. The serial number can be found on the bottom of the PSP on the bar code.

100% of PSP-1000 Fat PSP's are able to have custom firmware as well.

You can try the below info, but it would be much easier to see the post on our forum. We have had 100's of responses to complile this info.



First Step: You need to format your memory with the application called "mspformat" download.

- Connect your PSP via USB
- Format it using the command "mspformat E", being "E" the letter of your PSP on your PC.
- Program will ask you to confirm it, press Y.
- Plug out your PSP. IMPORTANT: DO NOT format again the MS within the PSP until this test has finished.
- Connect again the PSP via USB, and manually create PSP and PSP/GAME folders.

Next step must be done on a PSP homebrew capable (with CFW). If you don't have it, ask someone else to do this step and give you the resultant files.

- Copy the GETIPL folder to PSP/GAME. Get the 3.90 and 4.05 updates, and put them onto the MS root with the following names: "390.PBP", "405.PBP".
- Run the GETIPL app from your PSP homebrew capable, and it will create a couple of files on the MS root, called "ipl390.bin", "ipl405.bin".
- Connect the PSP via USB, and use the "msinst" program that its included on the pack to install the 3.90 IPL on the MS.
- You must do it this way: "msinst E E:\ipl390.bin", being "E" your PSP letter on your PC. Program will ask you to confirm it, press Y.

Insert the MS with the 3.90IPL installed onto the PSP that you want to confirm if it's a TA-088v3 or not, and turn it on with a Pandora Battery plugged in. You'll have two possible results:

- PSP turns off inmediatly after starting - Your PSP is NOT a 88v3.
- PSP keeps turned on with a green light forever - Your PSP is a 88v3, or you have done something wrong. Next step will confirm it.


- Connect again the PSP via USB, and use again the msinst, but this time with the 405IPL. Remember, "msinst E E:\ipl405.bin", being E your PSP letter on your PC.

Try to load it again with a Pandora battery. You have two possible results:

- PSP turns off immediately. If PSP turns off immediately with this IPL and on the other test it had that green light forever, it will be 100% sure a 88v3.

- PSP keeps with a green light forever. This CANT be on any PSP, being 88v3 or not. If this is the case, you have done something wrong.