im in the same boat as gkid007. i have no way of someone near me that can make the battery, i cant ship it off (as my parents will be suspcious, and they are against things that are illegal, and if my dad has the idea that its illegal in his head, he wont change his mind.)
too bad im not knowledgeable enough to make my own downgrader.
i wish D_A would come back. I hate the pandora battery.
GUIDE UPDATED, LOOK FOR BOLD UPDATE TAGS FOR NEW INFO
I actually registered for these forums in an attempt to possibly save you.
If you've got about $30, you can still set yourself up for homebrew.
Buy this:
http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&r=0&l=1&ProdID=986
Its basically a premade Pandora's Battery by Datel (if your parents are suspicious, just write it off as a spare battery and claim you want an extra for on the road). You still have to make the Magic Memory Stick component to really give yourself the Pandora's Battery functionality (this battery just snaps your PSP into Service Mode, which allows you to go behind the Firmware to do work).
UPDATE: Datel released a TOOL battery for slim PSPs. Buy it here:
http://us.codejunkies.com/shop/product.asp?c=US&cr=USD&cs=$&r=0&l=1&ProdID=986
Normally, you'd have to find someone who already has a custom Firmware PSP to make the Magic Memory Stick for you but use this program and it will take care of the files for you (just hook your PSP up to the computer; see below for a guide on how this thing works):
http://rapidshare.com/files/51253858/Pandora_s_Box.rar.html
Go here to download 3.60 M33 for usage on the Slim PSP (just change the readme.en file within to readme.txt and open it with Notepad for instructions on how to install 3.60 M33 once you have the battery and Magic Memory Stick):
http://dl.qj.net/M33-PSP-Slim-Custom-Firmware-3.60-PSP/pg/12/fid/14521/catid/114
UPDATE: 3.71 M33 is out now (for both slim and older PSPs) but you will need to have 3.52 M33 (old PSPs) or 3.60 M33 (slim PSPs) installed first to make this work. Download it here (you will also need to find the 3.71 official Sony Firmware to perform this update):
http://dl.qj.net/Team-M33-PSP-CFW-3.71-GP2X-Development/pg/12/fid/14635/catid/251
Hopefully this clears the air a little. This is the alternative method for people who don't have access to people who can make a Pandora's Battery for them.
UPDATE: Finally I tracked down the directions to creating a Magic Memory Stick WITHOUT A CUSTOM FIRMWARE PSP (yes, it can be done). Please note these directions are merely for creating the Memory Stick. Without a custom Firmware PSP on hand, you will still need to purchase the Datel TOOL battery (see above for purchase links). Special thanks go to ff8ff8 over on GameFAQs for writing this up (I'm a member of their forums and I found this guide over there):
1.Download the Pandora GUI [see above]
2.Enter USB mode [on your PSP]
3.Start up the Auto-play GUI file
4.do what it says (you have to click 4 buttons and pres 'Y' a few times.)
Important!
After step 3 of the GUI you have to reboot, make sure your Tool isn't in or you'll go into service mode. This isn't dangerous it's just anoying and some people freak out when they do this. If you do this just turn off your psp and reboot without tool Inside, now go to step 4 of the GUI.
5.Turn off psp, and put the Tool in. Reboot. Due what the screen tells you to (I'm guessing you can press a button all by yourselves, you are after all big kids now ^.^ )
6.Do your happy dance, you've got 1.5
7.The GUI comes with KXploit, so run that.
8.It also comes with m33, these will both be on yor memstick now so just run them (KXploit first)
9.Don't forget to update to m33-4
If you're interested in reading his entire guide; visit this topic:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=918340&topic=38235129
I apologize if this is a little confusingly written. If someone wants me to make a dedicated thread; please post so.