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.

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We are located in the #ark-cfw channel

ARK-4 WIKI

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

• Core system heavily updated from traditional CFW with new exclusive features.

• Inferno 2 Driver compatible with all formats (ISO, CSO, ZSO, JSO, CSOv2 and DAX).

• Popcorn controller for custom PS1 games. Compatible with PopsLoader V3 and V4i.

• Built-in No-DRM engine Stargate, fixes many anti-CFW games. Compatible with npdrm_free and nploader.

• Plugin support for PSP games, PS1 games and VSH (XMB), including the ability to enable and disable plugins per-game.

• Region Free playback of UMD Video on all PSP models. Change the region of your UMD drive on-the-fly.

• Compatible with all PSP models on firmwares 6.60 and 6.61.

• Compatible with all PS Vita models on firmware 2.10 up to 3.74, either official firmware or via Adrenaline.

• Compatible with 6.60 Testing Tool Firmware and Testkit Units.

• Compatible with 6.60 Development Tool Firmware and Devkit Units.

• Can be fully installed and booted on memory stick in compatible models via Time Machine.

• Can be used to unbrick compatible PSP models using Despertar del Cementerio in combination with a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper.

• Minimalistic: only 6 files installed on PSP flash, CFW extensions are installed on memory stick.

• Resistant to soft-bricks, easy to recover from bad configurations with a new and improved Recovery app.

• Custom game launcher with built-in game categories, file browser, FTP server and client, modernized look and more.

• Fully configurable via the XMB.

• Compatible with PRO Online and Xlink Kai.

• Compatible with Legacy Homebrew via eLoader and Leda. Compatible with the KXploit format.

• Compatible with cIPL and Infinity 2 bootloaders for permanent CFW.

• OTA updates. Fully updateable via the internet.

Build script will allow you to use the correct SDK that ARK was built with.

• Docker container: docker pull docker.io/krazynez/ark-4:latest

These are utilized either with cloning the repo or using the Docker container

• Release: ./build.sh
• Debug: ./build.sh --debug
• Manually: install the oldest possible SDK (ideally the one used to compile M33), then run make

Use -h or --help to show all available flags

• Move or copy ARK_01234 folder into /PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder.
• Move or 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 either cIPL or Infinity, along with the Full Installer for a complete permanent experience.

• New cIPL: works on 1g, 2g and 3g models on 6.61.
• Classic cIPL: works on Pandora compatbile models (1g and early 2g) on 6.60, 6.61 or 6.60 Testing Tool.
• DevTool cIPL: works on DTP-T1000 devkit units on 6.60 Development Tool firmware.
• cIPL will not install if not compatible, so no risk if running it even if you're unsure what specific model you're using - if not compatible, use Infinity 2 instead.
• Move or copy either 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.
• Warning: unlike classic cIPL, the new cIPL method can't be easily uninstalled. To revert to offical IPL, use ChronoSwitch to reinstall 6.61 OFW.

• Works on all PSP models on 6.60 or 6.61 firmwares.
• Copy or move the EBOOT.PBP (or EBOOT_GO.PBP renamed to EBOOT.PBP if using a PSP Go) from the Infinity folder found in the ARK download into /PSP/GAME/UPDATE.
• Run theInfinity app using Official Firmware to run the initial installation.
• Run Infinity a second time to configure autoboot by selecting ARK within the Infinity app. Run the ARK CFW again to activate. ARK will now be automatically activated on boot up.

• This allows you to install and use all of ARK's features on the console's internal flash memory, allowing you to entirely remove the ARK_01234 savedata folder or memory stick.
• 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.

• 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.
• To install DC-ARK you must first format the memory stick leaving enough space for the boot sector. You can use PSP Tool to do this.
• You also 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.
• Follow the instructions to install DC-ARK and create a magic memory stick.
• On compatible models, use Advanced VSH Menu to create a Pandora battery.
• Use a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper in combination with your newly created Magic Memory Stick to boot up Despertar del Cementerio.
• 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.
• Note that installing 6.61 firmware with ARK requires a cIPL-compatible PSP (1K and early 2K).

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore or any native hack.
• Download and install NoPspEmuDrm (you can use AutoPlugin).
• Copy FasterARK.vpk from PSVita/ folder anywhere on your vita and install using VitaShell.
• Open 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 and Force Extra RAM setting (needed for PRO Online).
• 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.

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore and Adrenaline (https://github.com/TheOfficialFloW/Adrenaline).
• (Skip this step if Standalone is already installed) Install ARK_01234 folder into /PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder.
• Install ARK_Loader folder into /PSP/GAME/ folder.
• Use Adrenaline Bubbles Manager to create an autoboot bubble for ARK Loader: https://github.com/ONElua/AdrenalineBubbleManager/releases
• Note: this does not permanently modify Adrenaline in any way.

• Option 1: Use the System Update 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.

• 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

• 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.