Before reading this guide please make a backup of the system files if they are going to be edited, I would also recommend storing the RECOVERY menu on your PSP in case of semi-bricks. Search google, "RECOVERY MENU FOR 'Enter Firmware Here'"


Terminology
Firmware - The Built-In Operating Software That Manages Activity On Your PSP (Like Windows For A PC)
Noob = Newbie
Dark_Alex = M33 = Creators of CFW
CFW = Custom Firmware (Un-Official / Homebrew Enabled)
OFW = Official Firmware (Official Sony / Poo)
Homebrew = Games / Applications created by individuals (Not Sony)
Downgrade = Changing the PSP's firmware to a lower firmware (Earlier)
Upgrade = ^^^^Vice Versa^^^^
Brick = When the PSP wont turn on
Semi Brick = When PSP will enter recovery mode but wont turn on
Full Brick = When PSP wont acess recovery mode or turn on
Hacking / Cracking = Completely Unrelated To The PSP Scene
1.50 Kernel Plugin = Needed For 3.71 M33 To Run Some Games / Homebrew
ISO = CD Images, uses the ISO 9600[?] file system.
CSO = Compressed ISO.
Pandora's Battery = Jigkick
Jigkick Battery = A battery with the serial number 0xFFFFFFFF, used to put the PSP into service mode.
"Magic" Memory Stick = Memory Stick with files and a special IPL, used together with Pandora's Battery/Jigkick.
MS = Memory Stick
MS0 = Memory Stick Root
Pandora's Battery = Used To Unbrick Or Downgrade PSP's
Jigkick = Battery For Pandora's Battery
Magic Memory Stick = MS For Pandora's Battery


Official Firmwares (Latest To Earliest):
3.71
3.70
3.52
3.51
3.50
3.40
3.30
3.11
3.10
3.03
3.02
3.01
3.00
2.82
2.81
2.80
2.71
2.70
2.60
2.50
2.01
2.00
1.52
1.51
1.50
1.50 (Test)
1.00

The Latest Official Firmware Is Available For Download Via Network Update On Your PSP.

All Official Firmware To Date Is Downgradable


Custom Firmwares (Latest To Earliest):
3.71 M33-2
3.71 M33
3.60 M33
3.52 M33-4
3.52 M33-3
3.52 M33-2
3.52 M33
3.51 M33-7
3.51 M33-6
3.51 M33-5
3.51 M33-4
3.51 M33-3
3.51 M33-2
3.51 M33
3.40 OE
3.30 OE
3.10 OE
3.03OE
2.71 SE (This has 8 updates available)
1.53
1.50 CFW PoC
1.50 HarleyG CFW [Based on the PoC Source by D_A]
1.50 Capjusomethingorother [Sorry, forgot how to spell your name!][Based on the PoC Source by D_A]

Any Of These Firmware Can Be Installed Onto Your PSP Via Downgrading Your PSP To version 1.50 & Back Up If You Are Currently Running On OFW. If You Are Already Running CFW You Can Upgrade To Newer Versions Directly (To Get To 3.71 M33 You Must Go To 3.52 M33-4 First).


Why Do Some Firmwares Have A number After It? e.g. 3.52 M33-4

The Number After The Firmware (In This Case 4) Is The Number Of The Update. Think About It Like Windows XP & The Service Packs (XP SP2).


PSP Slim Users Can Currently Only Upgrade To 3.60 M33 or 3.71 M33 & Also 3.71 M33-2


PSP Memory Card Layout:

Homebrew & PSX Games Are Stored In One Of The Following Folders (Dependant On What Firmware You Are running On):
MS0:\PSP\GAME\
MS0:\PSP\GAME150\
MS0:\PSP\GAME371\

Themes For 3.71 M33 Are Stored Here:
MS0:\PSP\THEME\

Themes can also be flashed onto the PSP in Flash0.

Get a full pack of themes HERE

The correct way to backup 3.71 M33/M33-2 files is by enabling flash0 via Recovery Menu (Don't flash your XMB via VSH menu or you will semi-brick).

This can be accessed through the recovery menu (Advanced Option) and toggling Flash0 (Beware - Flashing files risks bricking your PSP).

Just copy the theme files over in the individual folders that they were downloaded in, DO NOT OVERWRITE WHOLE FOLDER!!!!
(When the flash0 window comes up on the PC go to Tools> Folder Options> View Tab> Show Hidden Files, also Untick the box that says Hide Protected Operating System files).


Movies Are Stored Here:
MS0:\MP_ROOT\MNV0001\

On The Later CFW Movies Can Be Stored Here:
MS0:\PSP\VIDEO\

Games (ISO or CSO Format) Are Stored Here:
MS0:\ISO


Quality PSP Homebrew Available:

IRShell - WTF Is IRShell?

From irshell.com:
What is iR Shell?
- It's a PSP shell.
- It's a multitasking switcher.
- It's an infra-red universal remote (iR Commander)
- It's a mp3 player.
- It's an adhoc WiFi file sender & receiver.

To sum it up:

You can play your MP3s and at the same time play your homebrew games!
You can stream your homebrew, music, and videos right off of your computer! Save memory stick space!
It comes with over 2,000 remote control codes from everything like XBOX controller, televisions, iPods, and stereos!
It can take snapshots (BMP's) of your games or movies!
You can send ANY file to and from PSPs (not just pictures like what's already built into the PSP)!


Pimpstreamer - WTF Is Pimpstreamer?

It is a realtime video/audio streamer from your PC to your PSP (Playstation Portable). Any format/size avi/mpeg/wmv/etc can be streamed without any delay.

Now with an extra addition: any FLV capable browser/system can also use PiMPStreamer (including Wii or PS3).

No need for muxing, converting etc..Just get some WIFI connection and you can watch your flicks everywere! (Streams even over internet).

Remember for the PSP you install the PSP binaries in order to stream, for the other systems you use the internal webbrowser of the system to connect to pimpstreamer.


Universal Unbricker DC-3 + MS Multi IPL Loader

1. upgrade slims to 3.71-2 M33
2. upgrade phat to 3.71-2 M33 w/ 1.50-2 kernel patch
3. downgrade phat to 1.50
4. upgrade phat straight to 3.52 M33 from pandora boot then install
update 4 no need to downgrade to 1.50
5. start up psp to either pandora(by hold L trigger) or xmb
6. Boot to a full 1.50 from Mem Stick


See The Following Threads For More Help:
Guide To Installing 3.52 M33-4 The 3.71 M33-2 by sicdude
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/569454

Pandora's Jigkick + Magic Memory Card Easy Installer by touran22
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/552549

The Following Guides Are All Available Here:
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/454995

Tutorial On Running ISO's Via USB On Devhook, Firmware 1.5 ONLY
by amitguru.


Guide To Opening A PSP
by iPirate.


Guide: WI-FI Max - IP Cannot Be Obtained, It Timed Out
by bombayboy.


PSP Motherboard Compatibility Guide (Full)
by legend999.


Guide - Installing Music And Images On A PSP.
by Liez4Love.


Super NooB Guide - Downgrading, Devhook And Compression
by RavenLife.


Guide - Converting ANY Video To PSP Format.
by NGSpec.


Making A PSP Movie
by BeezeyBam.


Guide - Run Homebrew On v1.50 PSP.
by triplebud.


Guide for 2.71 TA-082:: Playing ISO Games In Memorystick, Via USB And Emulating 3.01 With Devhook 0.51 BETA For 2.71 HEND
by kealvalro.


UMDDaxDumper Tutorial - Dump ISO's to Your HDD.
by hodgins91.


Guide: How to play ISOS/ CSOS via USB In FW 3.10 OE-A' or lower with usbmount v1.03 - (Buggy) (updated 02/28/07)
by ThisDude.


How to dump a rip from your PSP game with "USB Special System Storage
by ThisDude.


How to load "Recovery Mode" using the "Network Update" icon or run it under "Game".
by ThisDude.


Stream TV to PSP Via TVU player and Tvants
by johnc1234


And that gets rid of one boring evening!!!!

I've probably missed loads out but its a start.

Enjoy!!


Ultimate Download List - PSP Apps / Firmware / Plugins


PSP Apps


Sony's Custom Theme Maker (Background + Icons)
Sony's Custom Theme Creator For 3.71 / 3.71 M33

This Changes The Firmware That It Says In System Information (It Doesnt Actually Change The Firmware)
Firmware Spoofer

PSP Radio - Includes Streams
PSPRadio 1.18.1377

This App Lets You Stream Music / Video from Your PC To Your PSP
Pimpstreamer 1.0


PSP Rhythm 7.1

Multiple Plugins In This App. Streaming Music/Video/Games From PC, Music In XMB/Game Plugin
IRShell 3.7


Map This 0.5.0.1

Chat Client
PSP IRC 1.0.6 - Firmware 3.XX Only

Stream Youtube Videos To Your PSP
PSP Tube

Notepad
PSP Write 1.0.2 - Firmware 3.XX Only

Flash Games That Can Be Played Using Internet Browser on PSP
PSP Flash Games - Digiplay 5.0


PSP Emulators

Obviously With Emulators You Need A Game To Play It (Google For Games)

PSP MAME Emulator

PSP SEGA Megadrive / Genesis Emulator

PSP SNES Emulator


PSP Custom Firmware + Updates

The 1.50 Addon Allows You To Play Homebrew That Requires The 1.50 Kernel On 3.71 M33
M33 1.50 Kernel Addon #2 - You will need 3.71 M33 to use this addon

3.71 M33 Update #2
3.71 M33 Update #2 - You will need to have 3.71 M33 to use this addon

3.71 M33 Custom Firmware
3.71 M33 CFW

3.60 M33 SLIM Custom Firmware
3.60 M33 CFW - For PSP Slim Only

3.52 M33 #4 Update
3.52 M33-4 Update - You will need 3.52 M33 to use this update

3.52 M33 Custom Firmware
3.52 M33 CFW

3.40 OE-A Easy Installer - You Must Be Under 3.40 Using 1.50 Or CFW To Upgrade Using This Installer
3.40 OE-A Easy Installer

3.30 OE-A Easy Installer - You Must Be Under 3.30 Using 1.50 Or CFW To Upgrade Using This Installer
3.30 OE-A Easy Installer

3.03 OE-C Easy Installer - You Must Be Under 3.03 Using 1.50 Or CFW To Upgrade Using This Installer
3.03 OE-C Easy Installer


Plugins


Easy Popsloader

Recovery Console In XMB For 3.71 M33 Users
LE Recovery System For 3.71 M33

Recovery Console In XMB For 3.52 M33 Users
LE Recovery System Form 3.52 M33

Cheat Console
CWCHEAT For 3.71 M33

Screenshots Taken By L/R+Note (Cant Remember Please Update Me)
Screenshot Plugin For 3.71 M33

This App Can Change The Sensitivity Of The Anologue Stick
JoySens 1.3 - Analogue Stick Sensitivity Controller

Extended Options On Pandora Menu
Extended Pandora Boot Menu Version 0.8


PSP Themes

3.71 M33 Theme Pack

3.5X M33 Theme Pack

Ultimate PSP 3.10 / 3.30 / 3.40 Icon / Theme Pack


Downgraders & Unbrickers

Universal Unbricker
Despertar Cementerio Universal Unbricker - For PSP fat & Slim

MS Files For Pandora On PSP FAT
Pandora's Ultimate Magic Stick V3 - For PSP Fat Only

MS Files For Pandora On PSP SLIM
Pandora's Ultimate Magic Stick V3 - For PSP Slim Only

Pandora Easy Installer - Installs Files To MS - Only Need To Run Battery Creator
Pandora Easy Installer


Miscellaneous

In Case Of Semi-Bricks Use The Recovery Folder
Recovery Folder - Place Recovery Folder In X:\PSP\GAME\

Will Edit With More

PS. Not Sure If This Is Right Area Of PSP Forum But Dont Want To Spam All Of Them With It.