Install Custom XMB Themes Without Flashing

[x3sphere]

Note: This guide is outdated. If you wish to install custom made themes on 3.71 M33 and above, refer to Acerthief's CXMB install guide (http://forums.exophase.com/showthread.php?t=6882).

http://exophase.com/images/misc/screen122.jpg

09/03/07 - Guide updated with the latest CXMB v2.31

Note: Theme included in the archive only works on 3.52 M33. If you're running 3.40 OE, then replace it with a theme compatible with 3.40 OE.

Thanks to Poisonhzkj, installing custom XMB themes without the need of flashing is now possible via use of an custom firmware plugin. This plugin will work with most recent custom firmwares (3.40 OE to 3.52 M33).

So, here's a guide on how install custom themes. Without flashing, of course.

1. First download the CXMB v2.31 files (http://exophase.com/files/psp/cxmbv2.31.zip). Extract the archive, then copy the "cxmb" folder to your memory stick drive (e.g. X).

2. Enter the "seplugins" folder on your memory stick. If it does not exist create it.

3. Inside seplugins, there should be a file called "vsh.txt" If not then create the file.

4. Open up vsh.txt and append the following line of text: ms0:/cxmb/cxmb.prx

5. Boot up your PSP in recovery mode (hold R for about 10 secs after flicking the power switch).

6. In Recovery Mode, navigate to the Plugins section, and enable cxmb.prx.

7. Exit recovery mode.

8. That's it! You're done! Your PSP will not boot up with a different theme, but now, you're probably already wondering how to get different themes on your PSP. It is very easy.

Installing new themes

1. Navigate to the cxmb folder on your memory stick (X:/cxmb).

2. There, you'll see two folders, namely font and vsh. Simply replace all files in the respective folders with your new theme's contents.

3. If the theme contains a "nodule" folder, rename it to "module"

4. Decompress all PRX files in the module folder using PRX compressor (http://forums.exophase.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2908&stc=1&d=1188872289).

5. And, that's it! You've now installed a new theme. Remember, if the screen is white with no icons you need to go into theme settings and select a different background.

[Cheezeball99]

Question- Where is a good place to find themes? Also, you say that you just extract it to the root directory of the memstick, but then you say the TM folder should be in seplugins, which it is not defaultly in by just extracting it. I think in the 'Installing new themes' part you meant to just put (X:/TM) because that's where vsh.txt defaultly points to, which is also where it defaultly extracts to. Just thought I'd give some clarification.

EDIT: Also, this doesn't work on anything less than 3.40OE-A, I believe, because I'm using 3.30OE-A and the XMB never boots, though I bricked for a sec, *phew*, but obviously it just isn't compatible with the XMB of 3.30.

EDIT2: Actually, after I disabled the plugin it booted the XMB, but it has a weird/cool font. Nothin' else, no icons or anything, is different. *shrugs*

EDIT3: Scary. I just decided to update to 3.40OE-A, I figured I might as well. I did it, and when it came back the font was the same, still weird and cool, but obviously different than the default. I decided to get rid of the plugin, I erased it in the game.txt and vsh.txt, and erased the TM folder. When it tried to boot to the XMB after the recovery menu, a blue screen that had the same message in every language under the sun came up: "The settings have been changed. Press O to revert settings." I pressed O, and a few seconds later the screen went black, and I waited for about a minute, so I turned it off. When it came back on I had to go through the Initial Setup you do when you first get your PSP, which is aggrevating, but everything is good again. So it may have been the fact that I flashed a new firmware while I had the plugin or something, but it all scared me.

[Pantysniffer]

Unless there are some kick-ass themes floating around on the interwebs, I really don't see much point in changing. All I've done is changed the colour to blue, from violet, to match my PSP. The standard what-looks-like-the-toroidal-plasma-inside-the-JET-reactor is already awesome.
That's not to say this isn't a good and useful topic - it clearly is - just saying that I, for one, really love the original theme.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWedl1k_Zz8

[XsavioR]

http://exophase.com/images/misc/screen122.jpg

Thanks to Poisonhzkj, installing custom XMB themes without the need of flashing is now possible via use of an OE plugin.

- x3sphere :wink:

AWESOME!!!!!!

Finally! thanks poison and exo !!!!! ive been waiting for this for so long

[Krelian]

Question- Where is a good place to find themes?
There is EvolveXMB (http://evolvexmb.com/) which is small but nice and the human refuse dump QJ (http://pspupdates.qj.net/) had a nice big pack available (http://pspupdates.qj.net/index.php?pg=49&aid=92413) for 3.30 and 3.40.
Unless there are some kick-ass themes floating around on the interwebs, I really don't see much point in changing... just saying that I, for one, really love the original theme.
I completely agree! However I do really hate it when people use unrelated logos for icons (like QuickTime for Video or Firefox for Network/Internet Browser).
You know what? It's NOT QuickTime and the browser ISN'T Firefox have some respect and creativity, you may like those things BUT THEY'RE NOT ON THE PSP!
Okay enough rant... sorry.
On a more related note: How do you change "the standard what-looks-like-the-toroidal-plasma-inside-the-JET-reactor" color to say... shades of black?

[Pantysniffer]

Those themes at QJ.net are kind of cool, but still none of them would really make me want to change.
No idea how you get black standard theme - doesn't seem to be an option.

[TimTiger]

This is very cool. I used it a bit and decided since there isnt really a theme that appeals to me at this time I'll stick with what I got. but I will defiantly keep my eye out for a theme that does appeal to me.

[x3sphere]

Question- Where is a good place to find themes? Also, you say that you just extract it to the root directory of the memstick, but then you say the TM folder should be in seplugins, which it is not defaultly in by just extracting it. I think in the 'Installing new themes' part you meant to just put (X:/TM) because that's where vsh.txt defaultly points to, which is also where it defaultly extracts to. Just thought I'd give some clarification.

EDIT: Also, this doesn't work on anything less than 3.40OE-A, I believe, because I'm using 3.30OE-A and the XMB never boots, though I bricked for a sec, *phew*, but obviously it just isn't compatible with the XMB of 3.30.

EDIT2: Actually, after I disabled the plugin it booted the XMB, but it has a weird/cool font. Nothin' else, no icons or anything, is different. *shrugs*

EDIT3: Scary. I just decided to update to 3.40OE-A, I figured I might as well. I did it, and when it came back the font was the same, still weird and cool, but obviously different than the default. I decided to get rid of the plugin, I erased it in the game.txt and vsh.txt, and erased the TM folder. When it tried to boot to the XMB after the recovery menu, a blue screen that had the same message in every language under the sun came up: "The settings have been changed. Press O to revert settings." I pressed O, and a few seconds later the screen went black, and I waited for about a minute, so I turned it off. When it came back on I had to go through the Initial Setup you do when you first get your PSP, which is aggrevating, but everything is good again. So it may have been the fact that I flashed a new firmware while I had the plugin or something, but it all scared me.

Hmm I guess it is not compatible with later OE's then. Wasn't sure, cause Poison's blog implied that it worked for all.

[Cheezeball99]

Hmm I guess it is not compatible with later OE's then. Wasn't sure, cause Poison's blog implied that it worked for all.

It's cool, man, no harm, no foul.:thumbup:

[alfie_wrex]

ACK! i uninstalled the plugin and had to reboot and press O just like cheezeball, but now my default accept button is O not X and its buggin the crap outta me. ive looked but i dont know how to change it back

[Cheezeball99]

ACK! i uninstalled the plugin and had to reboot and press O just like cheezeball, but now my default accept button is O not X and its buggin the crap outta me. ive looked but i dont know how to change it back

Yea, it's a bummer, eh, man?

For the default button, just go into the Recovery menu and go to 'Registry Hacks'. You can change it there.

[alfie_wrex]

ah, thanks mang!

[KAV32]

Man this RULES!!!!:laugh: I always wanted to do this but I was scared to flash my PSP! heh... :blushing:

[karasuman]

This is fantastic!

The only problem I'm having is with fonts. As soon as I loaded this, without adding a theme or anything, my font changed, and I can't figure out how to change it back...or how to change it at all. The package Krelian linked to from QJ.net has some fonts in it, but there seems to be only one file per font, whereas the font folder holds a few dozen. Any advice?

[Cheezeball99]

Well, that one file is the font in the XMB, the other font files are, like, ones in the menus and stuff.

[x3sphere]

This is fantastic!

The only problem I'm having is with fonts. As soon as I loaded this, without adding a theme or anything, my font changed, and I can't figure out how to change it back...or how to change it at all. The package Krelian linked to from QJ.net has some fonts in it, but there seems to be only one file per font, whereas the font folder holds a few dozen. Any advice?

wait, when you enable the plugin it already has a theme included ... so that's normal the fonts changed. If you disable the plugin fonts and theme go back to normal.

I don't think other themes have to have the same amount of files, just replace what is there.

[King-Wade]

I need help with this tutorial... I downloaded a couple of XMB themes off http://evolvexmb.com/Main/modules/wfdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=1...and everytime i installed a theme and exited recovery mode my psp would go on and it would only show the battery sign at the top right corner...and a blank screen..and then it would restart..and i also tried the tutorial with flashing for that theme and it didnt work...and ideas?

and how do we know if the XMB theme we downloaded needs flashing or not?

[Jaynb]

Hi,

I've been playing around with this for 2 days now, but I can't seem to change the font!

Even when I first installed the plugin and enabled it, the background and icons etc. all changed but the font remained the same default one! I tried putting other fonts in, changing the whole theme, deleting the plugin, re-downloading the pluging, downloading v1.2!

None of these things have made the font change! everything else works/changes but the font!

Does my PSP have some sort of "font immunity"!!!


P.S.
And Yes! before anyone asks, i am putting the fonts in the font file and they are named ltn0.pgf! :smile:

[canadajames]

Well I think we really need a thing which tell you exactly what each rco file does.
ie- topmenu-plugin = the icons
I don't know about anyone else but I'm getting a little tired of the trial and error way of changing all my menus. It would be nice to know exactly which file does what for easy and ultimate customization of the xmb.

[canadajames]

Hi,

I've been playing around with this for 2 days now, but I can't seem to change the font!

Even when I first installed the plugin and enabled it, the background and icons etc. all changed but the font remained the same default one! I tried putting other fonts in, changing the whole theme, deleting the plugin, re-downloading the pluging, downloading v1.2!

None of these things have made the font change! everything else works/changes but the font!

Does my PSP have some sort of "font immunity"!!!


P.S.
And Yes! before anyone asks, i am putting the fonts in the font file and they are named ltn0.pgf! :smile:

Is there only one file in the font folder or do you have a whole bunch. I think the other ones are required. so just take the font folder from another menu and replace the file you talked about with the one from the font which you want. I've done it and it works everytime.

P.S. sry for double post

[King-Wade]

uhmm i put the topmenu plugun file and and it still didnt work...i still get the same problemm...

[Jaynb]

Well I think we really need a thing which tell you exactly what each rco file does.
ie- topmenu-plugin = the icons
I don't know about anyone else but I'm getting a little tired of the trial and error way of changing all my menus. It would be nice to know exactly which file does what for easy and ultimate customization of the xmb.


system_plugin.rco - Click sounds when you scroll
photo_plugin.rco - photo loading icon & folders
game_plugin.rco - game loading icons & currupted icon
savedata_plugin.rco - Savedata loading icon
system_plugin_fg.rco - Battery icon
impose_plugin.rco - Volume Bar
opening_plugin.rco - start up sounds/word/bootwave (when you turn your PSP on)
system_plugin_bg.rco - Backgroung Waves
topmenu_plugin.rco - Menu Icons (photo, Music, Game, Video, Setup, Network)
gameboot.pmf - short video clip when you start a game & hombrew app
1-12.bmp - Month theme colors
ltn0.pgf - This is the font that displays only on the XMB and Web browser (not in a UMD)



I have all 19 font files in there. I replace the ltn0.pgf file with one from a different font and nothing happens! :laugh:

[King-Wade]

i played around with my XMB theme settings and i finally made it work...

FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO'S PSP GOES BLANK WHEN UPDATING XMB THEME

Try going into recovery mode. (shut psp off and hold R for 10 seconds then turn it on)

Then go to the plugins section and disable cxmb.prx, then re-enable it.

It worked for me! and i tested it out on my cousins psp and also worked...and if you found this post helpful..rep mightt be nice:)

[banner]

You should never use plugins, sooner or later itll mess up your system

[Cheezeball99]

Not really, banner, it's just some plugins are more well made than others- such as many people SWEAR by CWCheat, whereas this plugin, or from what I've used of it and heard people's problems of, isn't exactly the greatest.

[x3sphere]

Plugins that do not write to the flash have no chance of messing up your system.

[banner]

hmm...ill give it a try. You can you completely remove it if it doesnt work, right? And dont it uses up more memory than the defualt and/or makes your games not run as smoothly?

Do i really need "seplugins" folder? there's only 1 little cheap .txt files in it

[x3sphere]

hmm...ill give it a try. You can you completely remove it if it doesnt work, right? And dont it uses up more memory than the defualt and/or makes your games not run as smoothly?

well the plugin is only loaded in the XMB, so its not even there while playing games.

You can always disable it from the recovery menu if it doesn't work.

[banner]

Man, why is it all white?? I cant see nothing

[x3sphere]

Man, why is it all white?? I cant see nothing


yeah some themes only have certain colors. You need to go into theme settings and pick a different color.

[banner]

i think i have it, but in the theme settings, theres about 6 colors missing. How do i get them back?

[x3sphere]

i think i have it, but in the theme settings, theres about 6 colors missing. How do i get them back?

well that's what I mean. certain themes have certain colors. the ones it doesn't have will be missing.

if you go back and disable the plugin you'll have your colors back, but it will be the regular theme.

[banner]

can someone give me a link to themes i can download?

http://evolvexmb.com/Main/modules/wfdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=1
this one has an rco file

[x3sphere]

can someone give me a link to themes i can download?

http://evolvexmb.com/Main/modules/wfdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=1
this one has an rco file

navigate to the X:/TM/vsh/resource folder on your memory stick.

if you overwrite the RCO with the one from that new theme it should work.

[banner]

it works, but only the icon change. Anywayt to change the stupid sound and the other things?

i mean where can you download these other files? I have the topmenu one alread

system_plugin.rco - Click sounds when you scroll
photo_plugin.rco - photo loading icon & folders
game_plugin.rco - game loading icons & currupted icon
savedata_plugin.rco - Savedata loading icon
system_plugin_fg.rco - Battery icon
impose_plugin.rco - Volume Bar
opening_plugin.rco - start up sounds/word/bootwave (when you turn your PSP on)
system_plugin_bg.rco - Backgroung Waves

topmenu_plugin.rco - Menu Icons (photo, Music, Game, Video, Setup, Network)

gameboot.pmf - short video clip when you start a game & hombrew app
1-12.bmp - Month theme colors
ltn0.pgf - This is the font that displays only on the XMB and Web browser

[x3sphere]

it works, but only the icon change. Anywayt to change the stupid sound and the other things?

i mean where can you download these other files? I have the topmenu one alread

system_plugin.rco - Click sounds when you scroll
photo_plugin.rco - photo loading icon & folders
game_plugin.rco - game loading icons & currupted icon
savedata_plugin.rco - Savedata loading icon
system_plugin_fg.rco - Battery icon
impose_plugin.rco - Volume Bar
opening_plugin.rco - start up sounds/word/bootwave (when you turn your PSP on)
system_plugin_bg.rco - Backgroung Waves

topmenu_plugin.rco - Menu Icons (photo, Music, Game, Video, Setup, Network)

gameboot.pmf - short video clip when you start a game & hombrew app
1-12.bmp - Month theme colors
ltn0.pgf - This is the font that displays only on the XMB and Web browser

right, well it seems all the themes at that site only include the icons and nothing else.

try checking his forums they have some sound packs there -

http://evolvexmb.com/Main/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=271&forum=24

[banner]

i wanted to start all over so i deleted the theme folder provided and it went back to normal, but the font stays the same. So i copy those folders back and then i went to recovery mode and theres nothing there, so i restart and restart and restart till it when blank. And then it went back to it orginal setup menu.


So is there anyway to keep the original font and background?


edit: forget it, ill just look for a font and background i like

[x3sphere]

i wanted to start all over so i deleted the theme folder provided and it went back to normal, but the font stays the same. So i copy those folders back and then i went to recovery mode and theres nothing there, so i restart and restart and restart till it when blank. And then it went back to it orginal setup menu.


So is there anyway to keep the original font and background?

yes. just delete all files in the font folder and delete system_plugin_bg.rco

[Cheezeball99]

yes. just delete all files in the font folder and delete system_plugin_bg.rco

So it's okay to just delete all the font files and it'll all go back to normal? Because I had a custom theme, then I replaced the whole 'resource' folder with my originals, and the background and font remained modified. So if I delete those two (all font files and bg) the PSP will automatically replace them with the defaults?

[x3sphere]

So it's okay to just delete all the font files and it'll all go back to normal? Because I had a custom theme, then I replaced the whole 'resource' folder with my originals, and the background and font remained modified. So if I delete those two (all font files and bg) the PSP will automatically replace them with the defaults?

yeah if the plugin doesn't find the files on the ms, the PSP will read them from flash as normal.

[sukhi10]

I installed my theme files to the root of the card and nothing shows up in the plugins whats the problem.

[x3sphere]

I installed my theme files to the root of the card and nothing shows up in the plugins whats the problem.

Did you remember to copy the seplugins folder?

[donsammy]

freezing in usb mode.
any sugestions???

[roe-ur-boat]

Are you on 3.51M33?

[donsammy]

yes 3.51 m33 patch #6

[roe-ur-boat]

Well i dont think CXMB is stable on 3.51M33

[bornzen]

i think you can't change you icons on m33... tried on 3.52 M33, i don't see any icons...

[Cheezeball99]

You have to have icons 'n' themes specifically FOR 3.52 if you want to use them.

[Acerthief]

You have to have icons 'n' themes specifically FOR 3.52 if you want to use them.

i think not cheezeball. CXMB doesn't work on 3.52M33, i used a theme ONLY for 3.52M33 and it still didn't work (applecor from evolvexmb.com).
so i ran some test.

the applecor theme is too complicated, lots of .rco are turned into dummy files and all the things needed are written into plugins. (.prx), so i assume it wouldn't work.

i tried six themes in total, from the most complicated to the most simple (in the way the files are coded) themes, and none of them work. not a single .rco is showing. so i conclude that CXMB sadly, doesn't not work on 3.52M33.

if i'm wrong, and CXMB works on your 3.52M33, tell me and PROVE ME WRONG!:w00t:

[Cheezeball99]

Oh, my bad, I honestly didn't pay attention to what thread I was in, I thought he was flashing the themes.:p But by that tone you took with me, Acerthief, it sounds like it's GO TIME!XD

[Acerthief]

oh yeah it GO TIME.
but only you for these four days:(
no GO TIME for me....
i'll just GO TIME my little cousin XD

[FearEvil19]

i dont think this works with 3.52 m33-4, cuz i tried and it didn't work, it just shows a blank screen (if this wasn't made via memory stick, i would i got a brick (and i would use pandora's battery :D))

[Acerthief]

i dont think this works with 3.52 m33-4, cuz i tried and it didn't work, it just shows a blank screen (if this wasn't made via memory stick, i would i got a brick (and i would use pandora's battery :D))

it works perfectly on mine. sometimes it does only show a black screen, but after a while(let the PSP turn on and off repeatly, that's what i did) it shows!.

[bornzen]

i also got a blank screen on a 3.52 M33.
not sure what i did something wrong...

[x3sphere]

Strange... it works fine here... there are some bugs I have noticed though...

You copied the "cxmb" folder to your memory stick right?

The path should be like this:

X:/cxmb

[bornzen]

yes, i copied the file...
followed your steps on the first page...
to no avail...

[Billyjj]

Black screen

[bornzen]

have you guys chec out evolvexmb.com?
i think they have custom xmb for M33...

[x3sphere]

Ok guys, I updated the archive with a new theme, delete your old cxmb folder and copy over this new one. The theme is usable, and works... but it doesn't exactly display the way it's supposed to.

see the difference with this one:

Flashed: http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/9946/screenshot013hr8.png
CXMB: http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8545/screen2ju1.png

My guess is its not loading one of the PRX files properly. Hopefully Poison will fix this.

have you guys chec out evolvexmb.com?
i think they have custom xmb for M33...

yeah that is a good site for themes.

[bornzen]

there's also this app called slash n flash but it totally flash your flash 0...
works with m33...

[SnDPhoenix]

Damn, I've installed cxmb v2 (correctly) and when i turn the plugin on, my xmb looks just like this: http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8545/screen2ju1.png, I've tried deleteing and readding the folder to my memstick, turning the plugin off, and then back on, i also tried updating to 2.1, didnt work either. Now from what i've heard, it's because there are these 3 prx's you need to flash into flash0, only problem is im not exactly sure how to do it. I was looking through my recovery menu, and seen (under Advanced) the option "Toggle USB (flash0)" well if i connect my psp to the pc with a usb cable, and toggle that option on, would it allow me to copy and paste those 3 prx's into flash0 using windows explorer? Also, if i did that, what would the chances of me bricking my psp be, cause as everyone knows, the flash is a sensitive part of the psp....

[x3sphere]

Damn, I've installed cxmb v2 (correctly) and when i turn the plugin on, my xmb looks just like this: http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8545/screen2ju1.png, I've tried deleteing and readding the folder to my memstick, turning the plugin off, and then back on, i also tried updating to 2.1, didnt work either. Now from what i've heard, it's because there are these 3 prx's you need to flash into flash0, only problem is im not exactly sure how to do it. I was looking through my recovery menu, and seen (under Advanced) the option "Toggle USB (flash0)" well if i connect my psp to the pc with a usb cable, and toggle that option on, would it allow me to copy and paste those 3 prx's into flash0 using windows explorer? Also, if i did that, what would the chances of me bricking my psp be, cause as everyone knows, the flash is a sensitive part of the psp....

Yeah, that's what you have to do. The chance of bricking is slim, just remember to back up any files you delete and / or replace. Now, you are running 3.52 M33 correct?

If so, go to your memory stick find the files in X:/cxmb/VSH/module

You'll want to save these files on your desktop.

Then, head into recovery mode and turn the toggle flash0 option on. Navigate to X:/vsh/nodule

and copy the PRX files you saved on your desktop. If it says you don't have enough space try deleting the files in X:/dic

[SnDPhoenix]

Hmm weird, i just toggled flash0 on, navigated to X:/vsh/nodule, and it turns out the prx files were already in there, wth? Am i supposed to overwrite those files with the prx files from cxmb, or is there something else that is wrong? And yes, i am using 3.52 M33-4.

[x3sphere]

Hmm weird, i just toggled flash0 on, navigated to X:/vsh/nodule, and it turns out the prx files were already in there, wth? Am i supposed to overwrite those files with the prx files from cxmb, or is there something else that is wrong? And yes, i am using 3.52 M33-4.

Yeah you need to overwrite them.

[SnDPhoenix]

Awesome, just did it and it working, hooray! Now it looks just like it does in the screenshot linked to the download of cxmb v2, just one small question, in the upper left hand corner, the date is slightly cut off, the time shows up fine, but with the date, it only shows the day, but the "08/" part is cutoff, any idea why? Sorry if it seems like im asking too many questions...

[x3sphere]

Awesome, just did it and it working, hooray! Now it looks just like it does in the screenshot linked to the download of cxmb v2, just one small question, in the upper left hand corner, the date is slightly cut off, the time shows up fine, but with the date, it only shows the day, but the "08/" part is cutoff, any idea why? Sorry if it seems like im asking too many questions...

Yes, theme bug. Go into Date and Time settings, switch to 24-hour clock and it will match the screenshot.

[SnDPhoenix]

Awesome, that solved it, thanks man!

[jedsteroo]

So, here's a guide on how install custom themes. Without flashing, of course.

1. First download the CXMB v2 files. Extract the archive, then copy the "cxmb" folder to your memory stick drive (e.g. X).

2. Enter the "seplugins" folder on your memory stick. If it does not exist create it.

3. Inside seplugins, there should be a file called "vsh.txt" If not then create the file.

4. Open up vsh.txt and append the following line of text: ms0:/cxmb/cxmb.prx

5. Boot up your PSP in recovery mode (hold R for about 10 secs after flicking the power switch).

6. In Recovery Mode, navigate to the Plugins section, and enable cxmb.prx.

7. Exit recovery mode.

8. That's it! You're done! Your PSP will not boot up with a different theme, but now, you're probably already wondering how to get different themes on your PSP. It is very easy.

Installing new themes

1. Navigate to the cxmb folder on your memory stick (X:/cxmb).

2. There, you'll see two folders, namely font and vsh. Simply replace all files in the respective folders with your new theme's contents.

3. And, that's it! You've now installed a new theme. Remember, if the screen is white with no icons you need to go into theme settings and select a different background.

Tried following your steps, did everything but still, the screen is black upon booting up the psp. Tried re-disabling and re-enabling the plug-in and booting it up quite a few times but still won't work. Also, the new v2.1 has two folders:

FOLDER NAME: cxmbv2.1
files: .DS_STORE
cxmb.prx

and FOLDER NAME: __MACOSX
containing sub-folder: cxmbv2.1
containing file: ._.DS_Store

Therefore my question is where do we put these files? and FYI, both ._.DS_Store and .DS_Store are DS_STORE files whatever they mean.

Another thing, with reference to SNDPHOENIX's quote "3 prx's you need to flash into flash0, only problem is im not exactly sure how to do it. I was looking through my recovery menu, and seen (under Advanced) the option "Toggle USB (flash0)" well if i connect my psp to the pc with a usb cable, and toggle that option on, would it allow me to copy and paste those 3 prx's into flash0 using windows explorer?"
Qn: What are the 3 prx's?
Qn: If i don't have a USB wire connecting my psp to the pc, how can i do this with a memory card reader? what are the steps?

[x3sphere]

Are you running 3.52 M33?

[jedsteroo]

yes, 3.52 M33-4 to be exact.

[x3sphere]

yes, 3.52 M33-4 to be exact.

Hum, even without flashing the PRX files the theme should still work (just display incorrectly). Before you flash over the files you should get the theme actually working.

Just to verify, your folder paths should look like this...

X:/seplugins/

X:/cxmb/VSH

And to install the v2.1 update, just replace cxmb.prx. You can ignore the .DS_STORE files etc.

[jedsteroo]

but earlier on on your guide, you mentioned putting the cxmb folder on the memory stick root, not in the seplugins folder. and the vsh.txt reads "mso:/cxmb/cxmb.prx" when now if you want it to be in the cxmb folder, it should read "mso:/seplugins/cxmb.prx"

[x3sphere]

but earlier on on your guide, you mentioned putting the cxmb folder on the memory stick root, not in the seplugins folder. and the vsh.txt reads "mso:/cxmb/cxmb.prx" when now if you want it to be in the cxmb folder, it should read "mso:/seplugins/cxmb.prx"

sorry, I mixed up the two folders in the previous post.

So the folder paths should look like this...

X:/seplugins/

X:/cxmb/VSH

Also, is that exactly what your vsh.txt reads? It should read "ms0:/cxmb/cxmb.prx" without the quotes.

[jedsteroo]

i realised that certain themes work and certain themes don't work. depending on what custom firmware the theme was designed for. i realised for most M33 custom firmwares, what you see in your download should only contain the 'resource folder'. themes designed for OE-A custom firmwares contains a 'font folder' and 'resource folder' and seldom work. i heard there's converter? care to share how is it done to convert themes designed for older custom firmwares to be used for current custom firmwares?

[x3sphere]

i realised that certain themes work and certain themes don't work. depending on what custom firmware the theme was designed for. i realised for most M33 custom firmwares, what you see in your download should only contain the 'resource folder'. themes designed for OE-A custom firmwares contains a 'font folder' and 'resource folder' and seldom work. i heard there's converter? care to share how is it done to convert themes designed for older custom firmwares to be used for current custom firmwares?

You can try the program attached to this post, it reverts 3.40 RCO files to the 3.51 M33 RCO format (which also works with 3.52 M33).

Just place all the RCO files included with the theme in a folder and extract the contents from this archive to the same folder then run upgrade.bat. Once finished, copy over the new RCO files to X:/vsh/resource/ on the memory stick (or flash memory, if you're not using CXMB).

[Ichigo04291982]

Does this work with Firmware 3.52 M33.

[x3sphere]

Does this work with Firmware 3.52 M33.

yeah, it's fully compatible with 3.52 M33.

[Deivi_Z]

Well I have M33 3.52-4 I've done everything step by step in that guide. The good thing is that it works but not completly!!!
The bad thing is that font don't work, and when there is a background picture (behind the waves, like it should be in a custom theme) I get white screen, when I remove background picture it works, but there's no picture left. I think cxmb.prx has a problem. Any suggestions?

[Miekk]

What should the exact directory be for the seplugins and everything?

I am confused, as nothing shows up in the recovery mode plugins that I can enable.

[x3sphere]

What should the exact directory be for the seplugins and everything?

I am confused, as nothing shows up in the recovery mode plugins that I can enable.

Memory Stick root.

i.e. X:/seplugins/

that's where you create the vsh.txt file.

[Miekk]

There is a bin file in there, don't know if that makes a difference.

That's where the .txt file is.

And this is how my directory is set up. Tell me if I'm wrong.

E: seplugins/vhs.txt
E: cxmb/cxmb.prx
E: cxmb/VHS

Is this right?

[x3sphere]

That's correct. Although "VHS" should be "VSH"

[Miekk]

Wow, a simple mistake ruined it. Thanks!

If I want an xmb theme that does not have the nodule folder, do I just remove the one that came with the .rar and just put the resources of my xmb in the resources folder?

[x3sphere]

Wow, a simple mistake ruined it. Thanks!

If I want an xmb theme that does not have the nodule folder, do I just remove the one that came with the .rar and just put the resources of my xmb in the resources folder?

Yeah that's right.

[Miekk]

When I do this, the background comes up but the waves don't appear.

[x3sphere]

When I do this, the background comes up but the waves don't appear.

Hmm... are you sure the theme is compatible with the firmware version you are using (3.52 M33 I'm guessing)?

[Miekk]

Yes, it's a 3.52 M33 theme and that's the firmware version on my psp.

[x3sphere]

Yes, it's a 3.52 M33 theme and that's the firmware version on my psp.

Don't know what to tell you then... can you give me a link to this theme? Is it supposed to have waves? Some themes don't.

[Miekk]

Here's a picture of it..
http://evolvexmb.com/Main/uploads/newbb/9683_46c482f236728.jpg

[Cheezeball99]

Here's a picture of it..
http://evolvexmb.com/Main/uploads/newbb/9683_46c482f236728.jpg

Wow, that's a sleek-lookin' theme. Sorry, this post isn't helpin' anything, I just like that theme. You have a link to it? Or better yet, to a 3.40 version?

[Miekk]

http://www.mediafire.com/?6ljxkyg4hjw is the download link. I tried to do the normal flash0 way, but that bricked my psp. Thank god for recovery mode.

[Cheezeball99]

Well that was quick, man, rock face, thanks!

[x3sphere]

Alright, took a look at the files... they are indeed all converted for 3.52 M33. So I'm not sure what the problem is.

Only suggestion I have is make sure you replaced the system_plugin_bg.rco

That's the file which stores the waves. You could also try replacing this file from another theme just to see if that works.

[rankless]

Can someone help me on this problem? I just downloaded a theme and the theme folder consist of "VSH" , "DIC" and "font" folders. Where should i put the DIC folder? and secondly in the theme "VSH" folder there is a "nodule" and "resource" folders but then when i copy the files in the nodules folder to my psp cxmp "module" folder, my psp can't boot.

[x3sphere]

Can someone help me on this problem? I just downloaded a theme and the theme folder consist of "VSH" , "DIC" and "font" folders. Where should i put the DIC folder? and secondly in the theme "VSH" folder there is a "nodule" and "resource" folders but then when i copy the files in the nodules folder to my psp cxmp "module" folder, my psp can't boot.

DIC folder shouldn't be needed. As for why the PSP isn't booting, the PRX files contained inside the module folder are most likely compressed. You'll have to download the PRXcompressor application found in the first post and decompress the files.

[rankless]

thanks alot!

[frisomel]

When I extract the file, there is no cxmb folder, will I create it in the file directory of my psp?

Does this work on 3.80 m33-5?

and another thing the vsh.txt is a text document and I will simply type the ms0:cxmb/cxmb.prx right?

thanks

[x3sphere]

When I extract the file, there is no cxmb folder, will I create it in the file directory of my psp?

Does this work on 3.80 m33-5?

and another thing the vsh.txt is a text document and I will simply type the ms0:cxmb/cxmb.prx right?

thanks

No it doesn't work with 3.80 M33 unfortunately. The author will need to update it.

But yes the vsh.txt is a text document and you would type ms0:/cxmb/cxmb.prx (don't forget the / after ms0:)

[frisomel]

oh ok..so when will the author update it?..any ideas?..I really wanna try this customized XMB badly..i am sorry if i sound so impatient..

and this thread might not be the right place to ask this but..do popsuploader work on 3.80 m33?

[x3sphere]

oh ok..so when will the author update it?..any ideas?..I really wanna try this customized XMB badly..i am sorry if i sound so impatient..

and this thread might not be the right place to ask this but..do popsuploader work on 3.80 m33?

You mean popsloader? Yeah, but be sure to download the 3.80 M33 compatible version here:

http://forums.exophase.com/showthread.php?t=5297

I don't know if the author will update it. Looking at his site, it's been a few months since the last update. As an alternative, you can always copy themes directly to the flash0... but I'd recommend creating a Pandora battery and magic memory stick (http://forums.exophase.com/showthread.php?t=3780) before doing that, because installing incompatible themes on the flash0 can result in bricking.

[frisomel]

oh damn..i just wish that he updates it as soon as possible..

tnx man..i've been through brick and back because of that flashing thing..i don't wanna have a brick anymore..

tnx man..

[frisomel]

does this work on 3.90 M33 (with an 1.50 add on)?

[Acerthief]

does this work on 3.90 M33 (with an 1.50 add on)?


natch. After 3.71, sony changed the prx format, so it wont work.

[tomguyz]

For 3.90 M33 how to install the CXMB ??