Downgrading with Hardware flasher

NAND flasher downgrader steps

NOR flasher downgrader steps

Downgrading installation steps

Dump

Connect your Hardware flashing device and make sure you are getting 100% correct, valid, verified dumps.

Checking console capability of running 3.55

Compare the values found in your dump with those in the table below

metldr+bootldr sizes

You can check metldr and bootldr sizes easily with HxD

either after extracting flash with Flowrebuilder and opening seperate files
or by looking in the unextracted Flash dump at the correct offset.

This table lists some common known values for your convenience as quick lookup:

IDPS/Product Code	SKU - Datecode / Manufacturing date	metldr offset		bootldr			Notes	lowest known firmware
0x2F077 (NOR) 0x80877 (NAND)	SKU - Datecode / Manufacturing date	0x81E (NOR) 0x4081E (NAND)	0x842 (NOR) 0x40842 (NAND)	size	0xFC0002 (NOR) 0x02 (NAND)	0xFC0012 (NOR) 0x12 (NAND)	Notes	lowest known firmware
n/a	CEB-2030 (MPU-501) PROTO	n/a	n/a	28C20	28 BE	28 BE	Patch + FSM = OK	<=0.50.003
01	DEH-Z1010 (TMU-520) SD	14 20	11 3E	2D020	2C FE	2C FE	Patch + FSM = OK	<=0.80.004
01	DECR-1000 (TMU-520) DECR Every DECR manufactured before January 2009 Share the same BL/Metldr revisions	EC 40	0E C0	2A840	2A 80	2A 80	Patch + FSM = OK	<=0.85.010
01	?DEH-H1001-D? (COOKIE13) CEX	EC 40	0E C0	2A830	2A 7F	2A 7F	Patch + FSM = OK	<=0.85.010
01	DEH-H1000A-E (COK-001) DEX	EC 70	0E C3	2A1E0	2A 1A	2A 1A	Patch + FSM = OK	<095.001
01 04	CECHAxx (COK-001) CECHExx (COK-002)	EE 10	0E DD	2A430	2A 3F	2A 3F	Patch + FSM = OK	1.00 1.00
01 02 03 01	CECHAxx (COK-001) with 1.00 from factory CECHBxx (COK-001) CECHCxx (COK-002) DECHAxx (COK-001) DEX	ED A0	0E D6	2A2E0	2A 2A	2A 2A	Patch + FSM = OK	1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
03	CECHCxx (COK-002) with 1.00 from factory	EB F0	0E BB	30480	30 44	30 44	Patch + FSM = OK	1.00 1.00
01 02 03	CECHAxx (COK-001) CECHBxx (COK-001) CECHCxx (COK-002)	ED E0	0E DA	2A3B0	2A 37	2A 37	Patch + FSM = OK	1.00 1.00 1.00
04 05	Namco System 357 (COK-002) ARC CECHGxx (SEM-001)	E7 B0	0E 77	2E900	2E 8C	2E 8C	Patch + FSM = OK	?1.90? 1.90
05 06	CECHGxx (SEM-001) CECHHxx (DIA-001)	E7 B0	0E 77	2F200	2F 1C	2F 1C	Patch + FSM = OK	2.30 2.30
05 06	CECHGxx (SEM-001) CECHHxx (DIA-001)	E8 C0	0E 88	2EF80	2E F4	2E F4	Patch + FSM = OK	2.30 2.30
06 07	CECHHxx (DIA-001) CECHJxx (DIA-002) with 2.30 from factory - datecode 8B	E8 E0	0E 8A	2EF80	2E F4	2E F4	Patch + FSM = OK	1.97 2.30
03 06 06	CECHExx (COK-002) CECHHxx (DIA-001) CECHMxx (DIA-001)	EA 60	0E A2	2EE70	2E E3	2E E3	Patch + FSM = OK	1.97 1.97
07	CECHJxx (DIA-002) CECHKxx (DIA-002) datecode 8C	EA 60	0E A2	2EE70	2E E3	2E E3	Patch + FSM = OK	2.30
08 07 08	Namco System 357 (VER-001) ARC DECHJxx (DIA-002) DEX CECHLxx / CECHPxx (VER-001)	E8 D0	0E 89	2EAF0	2E AB	2E AB	Patch + FSM = OK	?2.45? 2.16 2.45
08	CECHLxx (VER-001)	E8 D0	0E 89	2EB70	2E B3	2E B3	Patch + FSM = OK	2.45
08 09	CECHLxx (VER-001) with 2.30 from factory - datecode unknown CECH-20xx (DYN-001) with 2.76 from factory, datecode unknown	E8 90	0E 85	2F170	2F 13	2F 13	Patch + FSM = OK	2.30 2.70
09	DECR-1400 (DEB-001) DECR with 2.60 from factory - manufacture date June 09	E8 90	0E 85	2F170	2F 13	2F 13	Patch + FSM = OK	2.60
09	CECH-20xx (DYN-001)	E9 20	0E 8E	2F3F0	2F 3B	2F 3B	Patch + FSM = OK	2.70
0A	CECH-21xx (SUR-001)	E9 20	0E 8E	2F4F0	2F 4B	2F 4B	Patch + FSM = OK	3.20
03 0B 0B	CECHExx (COK-002W) refurbished CECH-25xx (JTP-001) with 3.40 from factory - datecode 0C CECH-25xx (JSD-001) with 3.41 from factory - datecode 0C	E9 20	0E 8E	2F4F0	2F 4B	2F 4B	Patch + FSM = OK	3.40 3.40 3.40
0B 0B	CECH-25xx (JSD-001) with 3.56 from factory - datecode 0D CECH-25xx (JTP-001) with 3.56 from factory - datecode 1A	E9 60	0E 92	2F570	2F 53	2F 53	Patch + FSM = OK	3.50 3.50
0B 0B 0B	CECH-25xx (JTP-001) with 3.56 from factory - datecode 1A (rare) CECH-25xx (JSD-001) with 3.56 from factory - datecode 1B (common) CECH-25xx (JTP-001) with 3.56 from factory - datecode 1B (common)	E9 60	0E 92	2F5F0	2F 5B	2F 5B	(RLOD+)poweroff @ downgrade 355 (3.56+ + spkg fix + signed 3.55 priv : should work) Patch + noFSM = OK	3.56 3.56 3.56
0B 0B 0C	CECH-25xx (JSD-001) with 3.60 from factory - datecode 1B CECH-25xx (JTP-001) with 3.60 from factory - datecode [N.A.] CECH-30xx (KTE-001) with 3.65 from factory - datecode [N.A.]	F9 20	0F 8E	2FFF0	2F FB	2F FB	"metldr.2" (RLOD+)poweroff @ downgrade 3.55 (RLOD+)poweroff @ Patch + noFSM	3.60 3.60 3.60
0C	CECH-30xx (KTE-001) with ? from factory - datecode [?]	F9 B0	0F 97	30070	30 03	30 03	"metldr.2" (RLOD+)poweroff @ downgrade 3.55 (RLOD+)poweroff @ Patch + noFSM	?
0C	CECH-30xx (KTE-001) with 3.72 from factory - datecode [1C]	F9 B0	0F 97	300F0	30 0B	30 0B	"metldr.2" (RLOD+)poweroff @ downgrade 3.55 (RLOD+)poweroff @ Patch + noFSM	3.72
0D 0D 2C	CECH-40xx (MSX-001) CECH-40xx (MPX-001) CECH-40xx (MSX-001) '12GB'	F9 B0	0F 97	301F0	30 1B	30 1B	"metldr.2" (RLOD+)poweroff @ downgrade 3.55 (RLOD+)poweroff @ Patch + noFSM	4.20 ? 4.22
12	CECH-42xx (PQX-001) '12GB'	F9 B0	0F 97	301F0	30 1B	30 1B	"metldr.2" (RLOD+)poweroff @ downgrade 3.55 (RLOD+)poweroff @ Patch + noFSM	4.20 ? 4.22

Patch the dump & Reflash it to the console

Flowrebuilder : Autopatcher

Flowrebuilder : Autopatcher - completed

For patching you can use:

Hexeditor (e.g. HxD)
Flowrebuilder (both NOR + unified NAND)
in case of Progskeet, latest Winskeet/iSkeet/YASkeet (both NOR + unified NAND)

NAND

Use NAND patches only on NAND consoles, not on NOR!

Target area	Patchfile	NAND Offset	Paste length	Remarks
ROS0	patch1 (7 MB)	0x0C0030	0x6FFFE0	CoreOS (prepatched 3.55)
ROS1	patch1 (7 MB)	0x7C0020	0x6FFFE0	CoreOS (SAME as ros0)
trvk_prg0 (0x91800) trvk_prg1 (0x92810) trvk_pkg (0x93800)	patch2 (16 KB)	0x91800	0x4000	one big patch overlapping several revoke area's

(above patches in a single package + autopatcher file: NAND downgrade.rar)

NOR

Use NOR patches only on NOR consoles, not on NAND!

Target area	Patchfile	NOR Offset	Paste length	Remarks
ROS0	patch1 (7 MB)	0x0C0010	0x6FFFE0	CoreOS (prepatched 3.55)
ROS1	patch1 (7 MB)	0x7C0010	0x6FFFE0	CoreOS (SAME as ros0)
trvk_prg0 (0x40000) trvk_prg1 (0x60000) trvk_pkg0 (0x80000) trvk_pkg1 (0xA0000)	rvk-040000 (512 KB)	0x40000	0x80000	one big patch overlapping several revoke area's

(above patches in a single package + autopatcher file: NOR downgrade.rar)

E3 Flasher

Use these instead, otherwise you get into a maze of bytereversing: E3 Manual downgrade patches

E3 Flasher Error Codes and Solutions

Error Codes can also be found in the log on the sd card

1 is for Blue LED flashing / 0 is for no LED

10000100 - E3 can not initialize PS3 Nor Chip
10001100 - Error initializing the PS3 BIOS
10001101 - Error while reading PS3 BIOS
10001111 - Error writing PS3 BIOS

Problem: bad solder points / E3 Nor Clip does not work right with Ps3 Nor

solution:

- check solder points (resolder)

- clean contacts on Nor and E3 Clip with Isopropylalkohol 70% -

- use pads or cardboard to press down Nor Clip

- Fat PS3 only: refit the Nor Clip by smoothing it down with a little screwdriver / sandpaper

Note:

- dont use to much pressure on the Nor or you can destroy the solder balls of your southbridge and damage your system ..

- dont glue the inside of the clip to the nor chip

10000101 - Reading error (E3 Nor)
10000111 - Error writing E3 Nor
10000110 - Error deleting data on E3 Nor
10001110 - Error erasing PS3 BIOS

Problem: faulty solder points / E3 Nor Clip does not work right with Ps3 Nor / E3 Nor bricked

solution:

- check solder points

- clean contacts on Nor and E3 Clip with Isopropylalkohol 70%

- use pads or cardboard to press down Nor Clip

- reset E3 flasher while system is running (little red button on the upper side of the flasher / NOT little red button on front panel under Esata !!)

Note: dont use to much pressure an the Nor as you can destroy the solder balls of your southbridge and damage your system ..

01000000 - Error initializing TF /SD card
01001000 - Error opening data from SD/TF card
01001100 - Error writing data from SD/TF card

solution:

- check if TF/SD Card is sitting accurate

- Format your SD/TF Card to FAT 32

- Rename your backup bkpps3 for writing to PS3 NOR / bkpe3 for writing to E3 NOR

11000000 - Wrong position of switches (the action you selected is not possible)
11001100 - Wrong position of switches (the action you selected is not possible)
11000010 - PS3 is using NOR / you cant use E3 Flasher at the same time

solution:

- change position of switches

11001000 - Wrong PS3 Version / Not supported PS3 Version (Nand / Metldr2)

Solution:

- Buy a progskeet for nand :)

11000100 - corrupt backup of PS3 data

Solution:

- check backup for errors (flowrebuilder etc) / make a new clean dump

other frequent problems and solutions

1) HDD in Esata Station cant be found

- restrip contacts on the backside of the E3 Flasher (they must not touch the metal casing)they have to be isolated very good .. they are very sensitive and cause a lot of errors

- check Esata cable ..

2) Blackscreen with no hdd activity and only hard reset possible (no brick)

- resolder SBCE -> A / cut A/B properly

- restrip contacts on the backside of the E3 Flasher (they must not touch the metal casing)they have to be isolated very good .. they are very sensitive and cause a lot of errors

3) yload behavior (3 beeps and turns off)

There are two possible solutions .. Always try a) first then b)

a)Dualboot only: Wrong HDD in Esata Station

After downgrading your PS3 you have to install the SAME firmware on BOTH hdds then upgrade one HDD to OFW .. the error will be gone than ..

Example: downgrade to 3.55 kmeaw .. put 3.55 kmeaw on BOTH hdds via Recovery Mode .. then update your OFW HDD to 4.11 OFW ..

b)Brickfix:

well done .. you bricked your PS3 :)

Solder SBE to Tristate .. use Flash Fun Mode (10000000) to reflash the valid back up of the firmware revision you bricked on ..

4) TrueBlue Dongle not working with dualboot (only red light)

After downgrading your PS3 you have to install the SAME firmware on BOTH hdds then upgrade one HDD to OFW .. the error will be gone than ..

Example: downgrade to 3.55 TBv2 no check .. install 3.55 TBv2 no check on BOTH hdds via Recovery Mode .. then update your OFW HDD to 4.11 OFW ..

5) No Blue Leds (only red power led)

The Nor Clip is installed the wrong way .. you have to turn it 180° and reinstall it to the NOR ..

The E3 flat cabel has to lead away from the flasher NOT in the direction of the flasher ..

6) Dualboot error: CFW HDD corrupted After updating your OFW HDD to a higher firmware your CFW HDD gets an error message and needs to be updated too

Solution

- Resolder SBCE - A again;

- Make sure the cut between A/B is deep enough

- First solder then cut the connection between A/B !!!

Reinstall firmware in Factory Service Mode

For this step it is required to have the console assembled (connected PSU, harddrive, wifi/bt board etc)

Use the PSGrade dongle to trigger Factory Service Mode (in the rightmost USB port).
Turn PS3 on, it will trigger Factory Service Mode and turn off the console.
After triggering Factory Service Mode, put the Lv2diag.self (see below) and prepatched firmware to install (named PS3UPDAT.PUP) in root of your USB Mass Storage Device and plug it in the PS3 (again, in the rightmost USB port).
Turn PS3 on, it will install the firmware you had put there (even though you have no screenoutput, you can see it is busy by looking at the activity led of the harddrive and of your USB Mass Storage Device).
PS3 will turn itself off after finishing the firmware installation.

See also Downgrading with PSgrade Dongle, which also contains alot of ready to use PSgrade HEX files for several dongles.

PUP to use

Rogero V3.1 or any firmware with prepatched lv1 (no syscon hash checks)

Different Factory Service Mode SELFs

NAND

For factory Service Mode install:

if using the normal lv2diag : Use a NoBD patched PUP (e.g. Rogero NoBD PUP) (to prevent error 0x8002f057)
if using the jaicrab NoBD lv2diag : Use the Rogero normal PUP - see note below (and redump flash after FSM to check both ROS)

note: since V3 Rogero is only available as noBD, use that one with normal lv2diag.self

NOR

Use the normal lv2diag and use the Rogero normal PUP

Only when having a console with a broken bluraydrive, you either:

use the normal lv2diag : Use a NoBD patched PUP (e.g. Rogero NoBD PUP) (to prevent error 0x8002f057)
use the jaicrab NoBD lv2diag : Use the Rogero normal PUP - see note below

note: since V3 Rogero is only available as noBD, us that one with normal lv2diag.self

Filename	Size	Remarks	`SHA1`	`MD5`	`CRC32`	`CRC16`
Lv2diag.self (365.5 KB)	374272	3.55 get in FSM *	`1ED037740D67FEBACA6449CABFF4E95400C9E2EE`	`099F33A7967F99E91C07E870FD78B3DB`	`9338ABF2`	`4FCC`
Lv2diag.self (227.38 KB)	232832	jaicrab noBD patched	`180823003B086D9D49BC7F83BEA9C769BF73A5EA`	`3615770407C0C3FA00D8CA49C8ADB362`	`25E85CFB`	`EDD0`

* recommended default choice, see above notes

Check the logfile

After installation of the firmware, take the created logfile in root of USB Mass Storage Device and look if it contains errors (pastie the log if you want to ask for help online on IRC)

Getting out of Factory Service Mode

If everything went fine without errors, you can take the console out of service mode and enjoy your downgraded console :)

Put the Lv2diag.self (see below) in root of your USB Mass Storage Device and plug it in the PS3 (again, in the rightmost USB port).
Turn PS3 on, it will trigger Factory Service Mode off and shutdown.

Filename	Size	Remarks	`SHA1`	`MD5`	`CRC32`	`CRC16`
Lv2diag.self (201.42 KB)	206256	get out FSM	`329877CBD47B994EC0AFCEA6AF98114FD9E5128B`	`7A20BFDAE65EEFB47A4425DB1B52DCDE`	`72740080`	`502A`

Dehashing

Goal: To be able to install unpatched firmwares on consoles that where previously on 3.56+ (highly recomended)

You can use either or both QA/reFSM way:

QA way

Patch as normal downgrader (ROS 0/1 + RVK prg/pkg)
install prepatched firmware in service mode

Above is already done if you just downgraded

Install and run QA-toggle and make sure it beeps as written in that readme

Note: for above to work, you need a BD drive connected and married to the console.

Poweroff console
Put unpatched official firmware (e.g. 3.55) on USB Mass Storage device as /PS3/UPDATE/PS3UPDAT.PUP and insert in PS3
Boot into Recovery Menu, select "6. System Update" to reinstall firmware.
If installation finishes without error (there will be no logs you can check!) and boots XMB OK, then dehashing was successful. Congrats, you now finished downgrading and dehashing. Console runs 3.55 and any firmware of choice can be installed, no longer needing to be patched for downgrader.

reFSM way

Patch as normal downgrader (ROS 0/1 + RVK prg/pkg)
install prepatched firmware in service mode

Above is already done if you just downgraded

Put console in service mode with JIG (in case you left service mode and ran the prepatched firmware in normal mode)
Use normal lv2diag.self and unpatched official firmware (e.g. 3.55) on USB Mass Storage device in root and let the system reinstall that in factory service mode (FSM).
After installation is finished console will turn off. Check UPDATER_LOG.TXT in root of USB Mass Storage device (it should have "manufacturing updating SUCCESS(0x8002f000)" in end section).
If everything is OK, then reinsert USB Mass Storage device and let it install again.
After installation is finished console will turn off. Check UPDATER_LOG.TXT in root of USB Mass Storage device (it should have "manufacturing updating SUCCESS(0x8002f000)" in end section).
If everything is OK, then console should now be dehashed and no longer brick with any unpatched firmwares.
Replace lv2diag.self for he one getting out of service mode and put in root.
Power on console, it should turn off and not boot XMB.
Remove USB Mass Storage device and boot console normally. If all went well it should load to XMB now. Congrats, you now finished downgrading and dehashing. Console runs 3.55 and any firmware of choice can be installed, no longer needing to be patched for downgrader.

Remarks

 <domelec> dehash procedure: fsm install ofw
           after console turns off take out usb stick and look at log file, 
           if log is ok then reinsert usb stick and turn on console,
           ofw will then reinstall, after console turns off again 
           take out usb stick and check log, if ok then exit fsm

 <eussNL> do double FSM OFW, then get out of service mode.
 <eussNL> check everything is working
 <eussNL> THEN and only THEN, you can install whatever you want, in recovery.
 <eussNL> there is no need for factory mode after dehashing complete
 <eussNL> in fact, if everything works on OFW 3.55 after dehashing, 
 <eussNL> you can install Rogero V3.1 in recovery and QA-extra flag it  
 <eussNL> if OFW 3.55 works then you proven that you dehashed
 <eussNL> so after that you can install whatever MFW 3.55 you want

 <eussNL> If for some reason you cannot dehash because of BD or BT errors
          then you can use PS3MFW Builder and the broken Blueray / broken Bluetooth
          tasks. Do not select downgrader patches, or you will not dehash!

 <eussNL> BD error can be persistant if flasher is still attached, 
          see: http://www.ps3devwiki.com/wiki/Talk:Hardware_flashing#BD_drive_not_found_problem
 <eussNL> 3 options: 1. open R7/R8  /  2. remove flasher control lines / 3. remove all flasher wiring

 <playonlcd> i  think you can update on wiki "dehashing with jaicrab is not recomended
             and will not dehash as needed and thus semibrick by syscon hash panic

Downgrading with Hardware flasher

Contents

Dump

Checking console capability of running 3.55

metldr+bootldr sizes

Patch the dump & Reflash it to the console

NAND

NOR

E3 Flasher

E3 Flasher Error Codes and Solutions

Reinstall firmware in Factory Service Mode

PUP to use

Different Factory Service Mode SELFs

NAND

NOR

Check the logfile

Getting out of Factory Service Mode

Dehashing

QA way

reFSM way

Remarks

Navigation menu

Downgrading with Hardware flasher

Dump

Checking console capability of running 3.55

metldr+bootldr sizes

Patch the dump & Reflash it to the console

NAND

NOR

E3 Flasher

E3 Flasher Error Codes and Solutions

Reinstall firmware in Factory Service Mode

PUP to use

Different Factory Service Mode SELFs

NAND

NOR

Check the logfile

Getting out of Factory Service Mode

Dehashing

QA way

reFSM way

Remarks

Navigation menu

Search