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ARK-4 e/CFW for the PSP and PS Vita.

New, updated, improved and modern Custom Firmware for the PSP and PS Vita's ePSP. Simple to use and full of unique features, ARK CFW aims at keeping the PSP experience fresh. Being a successor to PRO and ME, ARK is now the most feature-complete CFW for the PSP, having all features from classic CFW as well as unique and exclusive new features not found anywhere else.

More Information in WIKI

ARK-4 WIKI

Table of Contents (Quick Links)

• FEATURES:
• Installation on PSP
• Installation on PS Vita
• Changelog
• Warnings

FEATURES:

• Compatible with every PSP model (including toolkits, excluding Strider2) and every PS Vita model.

• Support for homebrew and plugins, compatible with legacy 1.50 software.

• Heavily optimized Inferno 2 ISO Driver.

• Custom PS1 games supported via the Popcorn Controller.

• Built-in game fixes using the anti-CFW engine Stargate.

• New cIPL compatible with all PSP models, for a true permanent CFW with enhanced brick protection.

• Includes Despertar del Cementerio Version 10, allowing to unbrick any PSP.

• Custom game launcher useful when the XMB isn't available or lacks a certain feature.

• OTA updates. Fully updateable via the internet.

Installation On PSP

Installation from Custom Firmware

• If 6.61 PRO or ME is already installed.
• For any earlier CFW, update to latest 6.61 firmware and use instructions below for Official Firmware.
• Install DC-ARK (see bellow).
• Install New cIPL (see bellow).
• PowerOff console and power it back on while holding L button.
• Use DC to do a fresh and full install of 6.61 ARK.

Installation from Official Firmware

• If no custom firmware is installed (PSP is original).
• Copy ARK_01234 folder into /PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder.
• Copy ARK_Loader folder into /PSP/GAME/ folder.
• Launch ARK Loader. It will install ARK modules on PSP Flash and boot the CFW.
• At this point ARK will work as a Live CFW, meaning that ARK Loader will need to be run every time the console is turned off or rebooted.
• To convert ARK into a Permanent CFW you can use cIPL.

Permanent CFW via cIPL

• Works on all PSP models, including testkits and devkits.
• Installer will choose the correct version according to your model.
• Some models can install either the Classic cIPL or the New cIPL.
• Copy ARK_cIPL folder to /PSP/GAME/ and run the program.
• Press the corresponding button in the installation page to install or remove the cIPL patch.

Full Flash and Classic Installations

• This only make sense when combined with a permanent intallation (cIPL). It doesn't make sense on PSP Go with a healthy Internal Memory.
• This allows you to install and use all of ARK's features on the console's internal flash memory, except for Custom Launcher and translations.
• Copy ARK_Full_Installer to /PSP/GAME/ and run it from ARK. It will install some extra files into the console's flash.
• If the Custom Launcher is not available (i.e. you delete the ARK savedata or remove the memory card), PRO Shell will take its place.
• When no savedata folder is available the default ARK path used to store settings will be ms0:/SEPLUGINS/.
• Even if files are stored in the console's flash memory, the ones in the savedata folder will still take priority in loading.
• If at this point you get rid of ARK's savedata then you will have a Classic Installation (ARK will behave much like your Classic CFW such as PRO or ME).

Time Machine and Despertar del Cementerio

• Time Machine allows the ability to boot the 6.61 firmware and ARK entirely from the Memory Stick.
• Despertar del Cementerio allows the ability to revive a bricked PSP when used in combination with a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper.
• You can install DC-ARK either using a PSP or a PC (Windows, Mac and Linux).
• On PSP you need to be running a CFW to install DC-ARK (ARK itself or any other).
• Copy the ARK_DC folder to the /PSP/GAME/ folder and run the installer from the XMB.
• Copy the 6.61 Official Firmware Update by Sony renamed to 661.PBP at the root of the memory stick.
• Follow the instructions to install DC-ARK and create a magic memory stick.
• On PC, you need Python 3 and run MagicMemoryCreator with admin/root privileges.
• You can use New cIPL to boot into DC-ARK by holding L-trigger when powering on.
• Or use a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper in combination with your newly created Magic Memory Stick to boot up Despertar del Cementerio.
• On compatible models, you can use Advanced VSH Menu to create a Pandora Battery.
• From here you can either boot ARK from memory stick, install 6.61 Firmware with ARK on the NAND or install 6.61 Official Firmware.

Installation On PS Vita

There are two types of installation on PS Vita. You can use either one or both.
Stanalone works on top of the original unmodified pspemu.
You an also run ARK within Adrenaline to achieve a Hybrid CFW.

Standalone (Official PSPEmu)

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore or any native hack.
• Download and install NoPspEmuDrm_mod (you can use AutoPlugin2).
• Copy FasterARK.vpk from PSVita/ folder anywhere on your vita and install using VitaShell.
• Launch FasterARK and wait for the install process to finish.
• Both ARK and ARK-X bubbles will appear in Live Area.
• Use the ARK bubble for PSP games and homebrew. It can play PS1 but with limitations related to sound playback.
• Use the ARK-X bubble for PS1 games without any sound limitations.
• Once ARK bubbles are installed, you can delete FasterARK.
• To exit from a game or homebrew back to the custom launcher, press L+R+Down+Start (on ARK-X use L2+R2+Down+Start or L1+R1+Start+Down for VitaTV).
• NOTE: Some features are not available in standalone installations, mainly the official Sony XMB.
• NOTE: If you want to have an ARK bubble that works on Official Firmware you must use ChovySign with a valid license. Instructions in Wiki.

Adrenaline (Patched PSPEmu)

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore and Adrenaline (Isage's fork is recommended, but original will work too).
• Install ARK_01234 folder into pspemu/PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder if it isn't already there.
• Install ARK_Loader folder into pspemu/PSP/GAME/ folder.
• To make ARK-4 automatically load with Adrenaline there are two options.
• (Option 1, new method) Rename ARK_Loader to BOOT. Go to Adrenaline's Recovery Menu and in the Configuration page enable the Autorun program option. This only works on newer Adrenaline versions as the feature isn't implemented in older versions.
• (Option 2, old method) Use Adrenaline Bubbles Manager to create an autoboot bubble for ARK Loader. This method is deprecated as it will install an older version of Adrenaline.
• Note: this does not permanently modify Adrenaline in any way.

Updating ARK

There are three ways to update ARK:

• Option 1: Use the System Update ( ARK-4 Updater ) feature in the XMB. Requires your PSP/Vita to be connected to the internet.
• Option 2: Copy the UPDATE folder to /PSP/GAME/ and run it.
• Option 3: Copy ARK_01234 folder and (on PSP) run ARK Loader again to install new flash0 files.

Changelog

• ARK-1: original port/rewrite of PRO CFW for the PS Vita. Codenamed PROVITA. Source code can be found here: https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-1-PROVita-
• ARK-2: dynamic patching allows it to work with most of PS Vita firmwares. Source code can be found here: https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-2
• ARK-3: device-specific runtime allows ARK to run in multiple scenarios (ePSP and ePSX). Source code can be found here: https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-3
• ARK-4: ported to the original PSP. Huge amounts of improvements and fixes over previous versions.

Note: this is a simplified changelog, for a full version you can visit here: https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-4/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md

Warnings

• ARK comes with no warranty whatsoever. It was designed to be noob-proof, however it is possible for the universe to create an even greater noob capable of using ARK to destroy the Earth (or his PSP). I cannot be held responsible for this.

• ARK may cause ejectile malfunction if your hard drive is not hard enough.

• If this software malfunctions, you can turn it off and on again.

• ARK does not delete itself.