PlayStation Portable

Pandora's Battery install

Advanced and model-specific

This route is intended mainly for the PSP-1000 (Phat), especially for unbricking or installing old firmware. Later models have hardware protections that limit it. Only use Pandora's if the software route does not apply to your situation, and proceed carefully.

Pandora's Battery install

Pandora's Battery forces the PSP into a service mode that can flash firmware directly, using a modified battery and a prepared Magic Memory Stick. It is the recovery path for a console that will not boot normally.

Prepare the Magic Memory Stick

Using a working PSP or compatible tool, format a memory card and write the Pandora installer files to it so the console can read the firmware payload in service mode.
Create the Pandora's Battery

Convert a compatible battery into a Pandora's Battery so the PSP boots into the special recovery state instead of normal operation.
Boot into service mode

Insert the Magic Memory Stick, fit the Pandora's Battery, and power on. The console should start the installer menu rather than the XMB.
Flash and restore

Follow the installer to flash the desired firmware or repair a bricked system. When finished, swap back to a normal battery and reboot to confirm the console starts.

After recovery

Once the PSP boots normally again, you can follow the standard software route (update to 6.61, run a CFW installer, then Infinity) for a modern permanent setup.