Ultimate flash0 free space guide! setting records! [updated 2/19]

[Sterist]

[Update 10/18/08: Added / updated links for 5.00 users. As always, all links tested and confirmed. May receive additional updates]
[Notice: I am unable to change the date in the title of the thread displayed in the forum view level. The correct date will be shown within the thread.]

Ultimate flash0 Free Space Guide
v1.25.5

The contents of this guide will consist of information NOT listed in most other free-space-guides.
This involves manual work on flash0 so I highly recommend keeping a backup of the file in question.

Useless files you can delete without concern of feature loss or the need to backup:

Spoiler!

dir: flash0:/vsh/resource/system_plugin_about.rco
description: copyright credits slideshow displayed from System Settings -> About PSP.

dir: flash0:/vsh/module/screenshot_plugin.prx
dir: flash0:/vsh/resource/screenshot_plugin.rco
description: unusable by PSP users / useless / obsolete

Unpopular XMB features taking space:

Spoiler!

if: you don't have an attatchment Camera or don't have plans to get one before the next CFW upgrade
dir: flash0:/kd/usbcam.prx
dir: flash0:/vsh/module/camera_plugin.prx
dir: flash0:/vsh/resouce/camera_plugin.rco

if: you don't have an attatchment GPS device or don't have plans to get one before the next CFW upgrade
dir: flash0:/kd/usbgps.prx

if: you don't have an attatchment MIC or don't have plans to get one before the next CFW upgrade
dir: flash0:/kd/usbmic.prx

if: your CFW is 3.73 or below
dir: flash0:/vsh/module/update_plugin.prx
dir: flash0:/vsh/resource/update_plugin.rco

Fonts:

Spoiler!

If you A. don't speak or use japanese or korean fonts in the XMB and / or B. are on CFW 3.80 or above:

replace: flash0:/font/jpn0.pgf
with: attatched file #1
replace: flash0:/font/kr0.pgf
with: attatched file #2
replace: flash0:/font/gb3s1518.bwfon
with: attatched file #3

Relocating movable and / or customizable components of the XMB to flash1, flash2, or ms0:
DO NOT TRY FLASH3, it is NOT mounted during any mode on any firmware.
============================
One-time steps:

Download and install Hex editor:
Here.

Download the Official Sony Update firmware (pbp) which matches your current version.
1.50 Official Sony Update (pbp)
3.71 Official Sony Update (pbp)
3.80 Official Sony Update (pbp)
3.90 Official Sony Update (pbp)
3.93 Official Sony Update (pbp)
3.95 Official Sony Update (pbp)
4.01 Official Sony Update (pbp)
4.05 Official Sony Update (pbp)
5.00 Official Sony Update (pbp)

Download New PSAR Dumper 5.00:
Here.
============================
If the file you're looking for is not on this list, that's because it hasn't been tried yet. Try it yourself and report your findings! Make sure you have your backup (which you will read about shortly) before trying anything though.

List of files which can be relocated:
flash0:/vsh/resource/01-12.bmp
flash0:/vsh/resource/13-27.bmp
flash0:/vsh/resource/impose_plugin.rco
flash0:/vsh/resource/system_plugin_bg.rco
flash0:/vsh/resource/system_plugin_fg.rco
flash0:/vsh/resource/update_plugin.rco

flash0:/vsh/module/impose_plugin.prx
flash0:/vsh/module/update_plugin.prx

List of files which cannot be relocated:
flash0:/vsh/resource/opening_plugin.rco
flash0:/vsh/resource/system_plugin.rco
flash0:/vsh/resource/sysconf_plugin.rco

flash0:/vsh/module/opening_plugin.prx
============================

1. Place the Official Sony Update (pbp) in the root of your ms.

2. Install New PSAR Dumper v5.00 (check the readme for install instructions, if it doesn't work after you installed it then refer back to the readme).

3. Confirm that your kernel is set to your currect firmware version.

4. Launch and decrypt all with SQUARE.

5. Acquire vshmain.prx from the location on your ms:
ms0:/Dump/F0/vsh/module/

* Highly Recommend* Rename the decrypted vshmain.prx to something other than it's original name, and place it on your Desktop.

6. Connect your flash0 to usb.

7. * MUST* Acquire vshmain.prx backup from the location on your flash0:
flash0:/vsh/module

Place this on your Desktop, and remember, this is your back up of the only file in danger.

8. From the Desktop, right click the decrypted vshmain.prx and select "Hex Edit with Hex Workshop v5.0"

9. Right click anywhere in the center box.

Photo

Spoiler!

10. Make sure it's on Text String.

Photo

Spoiler!

11. Type in the value flash0 and click ok.

Photo

Spoiler!

12. Check all of the Results in the bottom right box...

Photo

Spoiler!

...until you come across the file-paths of the files you wish to relocate to flash1, flash2, or ms0.

Photo

Spoiler!

13. Change flash0 in the right box...

Photo

Spoiler!

...to flash1, flash2, or ms0.

14. Click "File" and "Save As" to get your modified vshmain.prx
MAKE SURE YOU MADE A BACKUP OF YOUR ORIGINAL vshmain.prx (step 7)

Put your modified vshmain.prx in:
flash0:/vsh/module/

15. Cut & Paste the files of the file-paths you changed to your Desktop and connect flash1, flash2, or ms0, whichever you selected, to usb.

16. Create the file structure in which the file you're moving originated (or to resemble the custom file path if you decided to make one) in the drive you chose to relocate the files to. Drop the files off of your Desktop into their corresponding folders.

17. Reboot your PSP. All should be well.

18. In the event something does not work:

A. Replace the modified vshmain.prx via Recovery Mode at flash0:/vsh/module/ with the backup vshmain.prx from your desktop.

B. Return the moved files to their original folders.

================================================== =================
================================================== =================

if you meet every step of this guide, you will have 4-6, possibly 7mb free on your flash0 WITH 1.50 kernel subset installed.
on slims, the freespace numbers may get pretty big please report them if you try it.

Don't do anything stupid

Sterist

[M Dash]

Excel guide! Thank you.

[LilSwish722]

How much space does this free up?

[Sterist]

Originally Posted by LilSwish722

How much space does this free up?

seeing that you have a phat psp, 4-6mb, up to 7. if you don't have kernel 1.50 installed, you could be seeing a number as high as 10-11mb

that is IF you do everything this guide has to offer.

( see blue text at bottom of original post)

[LilSwish722]

Well, when i originally posted this, it wasn't completed, so the blue text wasn't there. But that is a MASSIVE amount of free space.

[Triv1um]

good guide!

[LilSwish722]

I didn't follow everything, But i deleted (on CFW 3.90M33-2, without 1.50 kernal installed) Camera_Plugin.rco and ps3scan.rco and replace the 3 font files and have 5.96MB free space. Very very good guide.

[Coolie4]

sounds cool and all but how exactly is this helpful? what will i be able to do with more flash space? i just dont like messing around with flash0 unless it does something significant (go gameboot.pmf!!!)

[Sterist]

Originally Posted by Coolie4

sounds cool and all but how exactly is this helpful? what will i be able to do with more flash space? i just dont like messing around with flash0 unless it does something significant (go gameboot.pmf!!!)

people have their own needs for flash space. for some, it may be experiments/developments, others (such as yourself) gameboots and cintro's, and i.... well, i have some sensitive files which i need to keep out of reach of some people in the house. brilliant eh?

i, unlike some other people, know what i'm doing, and know what is / isn't dangerous. therefor, flash0 is my playground.

myth: will the nand wear out after being written on excessively?
not at all, unless you write to it insanely more frequent than you would to a memory stick.

[Coolie4]

hm that is cool. lol i like that idea of hiding files, maybe ill do that as well. nice guide