How to install ARK (ePSP Custom Firmware) on PS Vita 3.63
Since the release of psvimgtools it is possible to install some hacks on your 3.61 or 3.63 PS Vita. We posted recently about the possibility to switch accounts on PS Vita 3.63 without formatting your memory card, and for some reason I totally missed the train on the possibility to install ARK.
What is ARK?
ARK is a Custom firmware for the PSP emulator within the PS Vita. In summary, it lets you run PSP homebrew, plugins, and backups, directly from your PS Vita.
Unlike HENkaku, ARK is not a native Vita hack in itself, it is a PSP Custom Firmware that happens to run on the PS Vita. The technique to install it on Vita 3.63, however, leverages some vulnerabilities in the PS Vita system.
How to install ARK on PS Vita 3.63
Note that this tutorial not only works for ARK, but for any PSP Homebrew or tool you might want to install (e.g. VHBL). ARK is probably the best idea as it will let you install and run pretty much everything directly.
Credit for the tutorial below goes to Cinnaminn on Reddit:
Needed files:
- psvimgtools – https://github.com/yifanlu/psvimgtools/releases
- ARK pboot bubble for Vita 3.60 – http://wololo.net/talk/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=47678
- QCMA: http://wololo.net/downloads/index.php/download/8241
Installing ARK Custom Firmware on PS Vita 3.63
- Get your PSN AID. This is the 16-hex code found in your CMA backup folder path. To quote Yifan:”For example, if I wish to decrypt PS Vita/PGAME/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/NPJH00053/game/game.psvimg then my AID is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”
- You can now use this site: http://cma.henkaku.xyz/ to get your KEY. Thanks Davee!
- Download and extract the psvimgtools for your OS. We will need to use the command line/terminal for these next steps.
- Backup a PSP game from your Vita to your computer using QCMA.
- Find the PSP game backup in the folder: PS Vita/PGAME/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/[GAMEID]/game/game.psvimg. Copy this file to your psvimgtools folder.
- Run “psvimg-extract -K YOUR-KEY game.psvimg game”. You will get a folder named ux0_pspemu_temp_game_PSP_GAME_GAMEID.
- Extract the ARK pboot bubble archive and find the PBOOT.PBP. Use this PBOOT.PBP to overwrite the one in your output_folder which you just generated using psvimg-extract.
- Run “psvimg-create -n game -K YOUR-KEY game game”. You will get “game.psvimg” and “game.psvmd” in your game folder. Use these to overwrite the ones in your CMA backup folder.
- Restore the backup from your PC to your Vita using Qcma.
- Copy ARK_01234 from the ARK pboot bubble archive to PS Vita/PSAVEGAME/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/
- Restore the ARK-2 PSP SAVEDATA from your PC to your Vita using Qcma.
- Say thanks to yifan.lu, xyz, Proxima, qwikrazor87 and Davee for this neat trick.
There is also a detailed version of this tutorial with pictures from Darthsternie over at hackinformer.
How to: use ARK to install and run PSP backups and Homebrew on PS Vita 3.63
Lots of people are having trouble using ARK once it’s installed. These steps let you install OneMenu which is a friendlier menu for ARK. The following guide is from user tuxdude 143 on reddit.
Required files:
This guide assumes that you have already installed the ARK bubble and it is working. [note from wololo: see section above]
Firstly download OneMenu.
Once you have OneMenu you need to navigate to where your PSP Savegames are stored on your PC (or you can open the backup manager in QCMA, select psp save games from the drop down and click the open directory button for the ARK save data)
Once you are in the ARK save data directory you need to DELETE THE EBOOT.PBP IN THE ARK SAVE DATA DIRECTORY. After doing this extract the contents of the OneMenu archive you downloaded earlier to the ARK Save Data directory.
Next download VitaFTP and place the VitaFTP eboot into a .zip file entitled INSTALL.ZIP. Make sure this zip file is zipped in STORE mode, this stops anything from getting accidentally compressed. Place INSTALL.ZIP into the ARK save data directory and refresh QCMA’s database.
Now connect your vita to your computer and copy over the ark save data. In the content manager on the vitas end you should see a banner with OneMenu written on it next to the ARK save data. Copy that save data to your vita and if it asks if you want to overwrite then select yes.
Disconnect your vita from your PC and start up the ARK bubble. This time OneMenu should load and you’ll be greeted with a main menu screen. From here press the Select button to go to the file browser and browse to your ARK save data folder, you should also notice a new folder has been made called ISO.
In your ARK save data folder you should see the INSTALL.ZIP that we created earlier. Move your cursor over it and press the triangle button then from the menu that pops up select extract, then navigate to the folder called ISO, press triangle again and select the option “extract to”. OneMenu will prompt you with the option “Use Pass?”. Select no.
Now open the FTP folder and press X on the PBP file inside the folder. VitaFTP should start!
From here open up your favorite FTP client and connect to your vita by punching in the ip address vitaftp gives you. If the address it gives you is 0.0.0.0 then double check that your vita is connected to the internet and restart ARK.
Once you have connected to your vita through FTP simply transfer your homebrew, isos/csos etc over to your vita and place them in the ISO folder.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO COPY FILES TO YOUR VITA BY PLACING THEM IN THAT ISO FOLDER. ANY OTHER FOLDER WILL NOT WORK DUE TO THE HIGHER RESTRICTIONS ON FOLDERS THAT SONY PUT IN PLACE.
From there OneMenu should see all your homebrew and games when you next start up ARK! Have fun!
NOTE: By default OneMenu looks for homebrew in the VHBL folder which we do not have write access to. This means you have to place your homebrew in ISO. As a result the homebrew WILL NOT SHOW UP IN ONEMENUS HOMEBREW SECTION. However you can still start and use said homebrew in the ISO folder by pressing select, navigating to the ISO folder and starting the EBOOT/PBOOT of the homebrew you want to use (I recommend labeling folders and placing each homebrew application into their corresponding named folder to make things easier)
Sources: Reddit (1) (2), via hackinformer
I followed the tutorial twice and each time it worked just fine until I attempted to launch a non-VitaFTP homebrew PBP from within OneMenu’s file browser; then it would just either black screen or go back to the LiveArea. I’ve tried PicoDrive and gpSP.
Just saying, I actually experimented with psp demos and did this before this tutorial or any other one came out. BTW I am not bragging. I don’t know even why I am still typing this.
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Does the PSP game have to be the full game or can I use a demo for thism
Demo or full game
can anyone help me i have a problem regarding one menu when i press select it just go to config menu i cant go to browse can anyone help me please?
I’m getting stuck on step 6. What exactly do you mean ‘run using command line’? I tried the Windows CMD prompt. It fails with access denied message. My virus scanner says that psvimg-extract.exe is a virus.
in the vimgtools folder press “shift” and then right click. you’ll see “open command window here” option.
Cool thanks so I was doing it right with the CMD prompt.
What about the access denied message? I’m loath to disable the virus scanner to run this as the scanner is saying this is a virus because, well, it is a virus right? Or is the scanner mistaken and it’s sage to run?
This probably means you are not running it as Administrator. Make sure the folder that it’s trying to write to isn’t set to read only mode. Being in Admin CMD should allow you read and write access, regardless.
i’m confused with ark. please someone answer me.
1.ark doesn’t have audio? or just for psx games?
2. ark runs psp games. should i finally give away my psp?
3. for ark a psp game/demo is required to enable psp function and add ark?
sorry, i’m just lost. very new to this.
1) only PSX games dont have audio in ARK
2) ARK does NOT run ALL psp games. ARK does not allow online connectivity. ARK does not allow plugins (i think). You should base your decision on the importance of these factors to you.
3) Yes.
thanks for responding man. online connectivity for psp gaming for me is not really something in my aim. i’ll be more than happy to check if peacewalker, persona 1/2 , type 0 and lunar work.
peace!
ARK does support plugins. The dev made a homebrew for ARK that enables plugin
thanks for the info nick. i have another question. i finally got ark withpsp games, snes and gba emulators. for psp games like peace walker. i’ve seen people enabling the second analog stick without cfw. is there a way to do it in onemenu/ark?
nevermind found it by holding the ps button 😀 lol
With regards to ARK not being able to run all psp games, is this certain? Have you encountered it yourself? And would you happen to have a list of the psp games that don’t run on ARK? I’d appreciate it if you can confirm because I have 2 vita’s (a 3.60 and a 3.63), and I was planning on selling the 3.60, unless the 3.63 will indeed not be able to play some psp games. Thank you
hey mike. tell me what game are you interested in having on your vita and i’ll test it for you. so far all the games i’ve been interested in having on my vita runs fantastic. been playing type 0 (eng patched) which is two discs merged in one and peace walker (if you hold the PS home button to change the wifi bluetooth settings, you’ll see ark settings on top. you can customize touchscreen and second thumbstick + graphic filtering. much better with second thumbstick).
i’ve read of compability issues people had with adrenaline but some of the once i saw work fine for me. PSP games i have on my vita are that work perfectly:
persona 3 p
persona 2
crisis core
fate extra
ff type 0
kenka bancho badass rumble
me and my katamari
mgs peace walker
Having trouble with step six, after clicking on psvinmg-extract the command prompt opens but then quickly closes.
open cmd, type cd then space, then copy paste the directory of psvimg, press enter. then run the command above
what if you dont have a psp game installed on your psvita 3.63?
Just grab a game demo on the psn (Ape Quest demo on EU store) on spend like 2 bucks for a Minis. Not really expensive considering what you will getfor free with ARK..
For me i’m stuck at step 1, i’m unable to find my PSN AID. Ive install QCMA, Open CMA and the official CMA and i see in QCMA my username but cannot find my AID.
I have on my Vita two PSP game, but QCMA dont see anything to backup.
I have Windows 10 with the anniversary update.
Why i cannot pass the step 1??
Thanks alot (from canada)
Ok, for your AID there is a folder within a directory in the PSVITA documents folder. The folder will be named a bunch of random numbers and letters like (this is fake) df64s5d8f5s9df5665sddd (not the exact amount of letters and numbers). That is your AID. Next go to cma.henkaku.xyz . If none of this makes sense, provide me an email and I’ll send ya a video.
Same here I don’t ave a PSP game installed pls help
If you are on the EU store you can download “APE ESCAPE DEMO”, on the US STORE the cheaper game that worked for me was “CHAMELEON” (a puzzle game). Good luck
is it necessary to own a psp game ?
Amilord and saidiop I don’t ave a credit card to do that here am in Nigeria can u guys help me out with maybe a redeem code for d game I beg of u guyz this my email plsssss anyone joshuaagemo@gmail.com
+wololo I got Nester to appear in OneMenu “homebrew” section on 3.63. I placed NesterJ inside PSP/SAVEDATA/ and zipped that PSP folder. Put zip file in ARK1234 and transfer it on device. In OneMenu zip should be visible (zip must be named ANYTHINGUPPERCASED.ZIP or you wont see it). Click to install it and after trough vitaftp you can confirm that Nester folder is placed in /PSP/SAVEDATA/ and accessible trought OneMenu “homebrew”. Br, Zlatko
hackinformer has a lit of emulators for vhbl. i suggest you download the ones you are interested in. extract the INSTALL.ZIP (delete it because you will zippit again) and add the the games you want to the roms folder if it doesn’t have one just add one. then the install zip you extracted with the name of the emulator just archive that folder again. on winrar. once you right click >add to archive> named it INSTALL.ZIP. look at the the compression method >click and chose “store” then hit okay. take that emulator folder and throw in where you ark folder is. doesn’t have to be inside the ark one. refresh database on QMCA and copy the files from pc to vita. just copy the emulator folders you have.
on your vita open ark> if you installed vhbl open it. browse your files in the save data and install the emulator from there and it should work 🙂
Saidop amylord can u guys help me out here i sray in nigeriavi dnt even ave a credit card to buy onevof does games pls can u send me a redeem code or anytin to buy it plsss my email joshuaagemo@gmail.com
hello how are you doing? im stuck at point 6 i wright 6.Run “psvimg-extract -K my key game.psvimg game". and it say me its not recognize as a command
psvimg-extract -K my key game.psvimg game
Use this on cmd when are you in the correct folder
I have ps vita 3.63, I have never done jailbreak, will this ARK works on my console?
I have tried with the steps above but this didn’t worked.
it worked for me, Thanks a lot, my console has internal memory of 1GB, I was trying with that, I brought new memory card with that It worked, thank you very much all who has made it work (yifan.il, xyz, Proxima, qwikarzor87 and Davee)
I cant run homebrews but no trouble playing psp games. Can someone help me to run homebrews on 3.63
i try with a lot psp iso and cso and i can see in onemenu but not working.. need to patch psp games or something??
Thanks, it works on my Vita 3.63 OFW
what game are u use ???
I used pet saddle club demo. I also was on Vita 3.63 OFW (what other FW would it be [oh…… wait……]).
“From here open up your favorite FTP client and connect to your vita by punching in the ip address vitaftp gives you. If the address it gives you is 0.0.0.0 then double check that your vita is connected to the internet and restart ARK.
Once you have connected to your vita through FTP simply transfer your homebrew, isos/csos etc over to your vita and place them in the ISO folder.”
I don’t understand this. I don’t know how to transfer my ISO’s because I can’t find said ISO folder in my PC to transfer to.
The iso folder you’re looking for is on your PLAYSTATION VITA, it is not on your PC. I even specified in the tutorial “transfer your homebrew. isos/csos etc over to your VITA AND PLACE THEM IN THE ISO FOLDER”. Basically, you FTP them and place them in the ISO folder ON YOUR VITA
Why cant i install homebrews or run them?
Did you zip the homebrew files and named it INSTALL.ZIP (ar any other name)? If not, do this, then FTP it (to any folder). Next, on your vita, go to this and extract it to any directory ( I prefer VHBL directory because it scans there automatically [you can disable this function to scan in the VHBL folder] but you can do whatever you want). Now, it should extract and then instead of an eboot.pbp, there should be a vboot.pbp. Press X and it should launch! If none of this makes sense, tell me what you’re confused on.
it give me an error bad file when extracting and it just extract the eboot file not pboot please help
Can any one tell me how to get HENkaku on ps vita 3.63 FW
Please I need Help
cant sad af bought my vita then its 3.61 already might aswell upgrade lol.. henkaku only wok for 3.60
Man i did everything as instructed but i got the error C0-11136-2 It’s not possible to run this app
same thing im getting
does the PSN still working with this FW? i mean for the PSVita games.
All links to one menu fail.. anyone got a working download link
i don’t know if it’s okay to share a new link here from zippyshare (sorry mods. hopefully a mod can replace the official link all credit and respect to owners. just trying to help.
uploaded it for (all of) you. found it on my ext hdd. let me know if you need help 🙂
enjoy! : http://www31.zippyshare.com/v/gXnMpuPq/file.html
if you want to change the background images for your menu scroll down here https://hackinformer.com/onemenu-a-replacement-menu-for-your-ark-exploit/
After I copy the contents of the ARK bubble over the the psvita, he bubble for the psp game I used is no longer there and I can’t find the ARK bubble anywhere. II need help!
Can’t make QCMA recognize my PS Vita, it just says ”no ps vita registered”. I’m on 3.61.
I have a question: what if I don’t have any game on my PS Vita to make the backup? Like me for sample, I don’t have any, how am I suppose to do this if when I get try to get a game from PSN it not allow me to enter it without updating the firmware?
I might be wrong as I can’t check this, but can’t you log in to PSN on a PC, select the game you want and set it to download? Then just boot up your Vita and the game will start to download without having to access PSN directly.
I’m stuck at step six, I really didn’t understand. I used psvimg-extract -K my key game.psvimg game in the correct directory and still it gives me the same message, not recognize as a command.
Does anyone still have the One Menu, as the one posted here don’t work anymore, someone removed the drop box file and we can’t have it anymore.
https://www.reddit.com/r/vitahacks/comments/60ys9t/psa_link_to_download_onemenu_vfinal/
Can someone please reupload the OneMenuVFinal? All the links are dead
I have managed to get 138menu working ok. Also I have found that just dropping PSP ISO’s in the ARK_01234 folder (with an ALL CAPS name.. i.e GAME.ISO allows them to run from the ARK menu immediatly)
SOmeone has uploaded onemenu here
http://www.filedropper.com/onemenu-master
I have just downloaded and installed the version listed above, it works perfectly.. here is the reddit link with the master link
https://www.reddit.com/r/vitahacks/comments/60ys9t/psa_link_to_download_onemenu_vfinal/
I’m wondering… The ARK file PBOOT.PBP is different from the original files EBOOT.PBP, Do I have to still convert the eboot.pbp to pboot.pbp or will simply renaming it to pboot.pbp be fine? or do I just delete the EBOOT.PBP and Paste the PBoot and rebuild the game using the psimg?
is there a way to use cheats for PSP on this? i can’t access the recovery mode so what am i doing wrong?
Small problem, Qcma wont open… It says it is opened and it appears to be doing things but there isnt a menu, or anything. Everytime i click it, it says “there is an instance of Qcma running already”. What on earth do i do?
Nevermind, fixed the problem.
ONEMenu link not wooork
Read the comments above, working links found as its a common problem not likely to be fixed any time soon
I’ve tried this with a bunch of PSP games, but every time I extracted the backed up game.psvimg file, I end up with an EBOOT.PBP file (not a PBOOT.PBP file). Is there any specific game I should try this with?
I get the same. As other people have commented above, just put the ARK PBOOT.PBP file in the same folder as your EBOOT.PBP and it works. Did for me anyway. FYI it worked with the ‘Ape Quest Demo’, then I tried again using ‘Arcade Darts’ which I already owned (got it free when I bought the Vita I think) as Darts is only 25Mb vs 200+ for AQ.
I am stuck at point 9
When I try to restore the backup, the ps vita says “An error occured. (C2-12858-4)”
Check your cmd output in step 8. Mine kept giving me a warning as it was missing a file as ‘game’ directory didn’t exist. I renamed the folder created in step 6 to ‘game’ and it worked. I found trying to copy a package created with warnings gave me the error you are seeing.
I tried what you said but I have the same error as before (C2-12858-4)
I tested to delete pboot.pbp and recompiled the game and copy it to psvita and no error so i think there is a problem with the pboot.pbp
I relaunched qcma and it works