Popsloader Guide

Installing, Using, and Getting the Most Out of Popsloader:

Popsloader is an OE plugin created by the Dark_AleX, the main man behind the OE firmwares. This plugin allows you to load your PS1 POPS games using any of the different firmware POPS versions from 3.00 to 3.11. Note: 3.30 and 3.40 OE-A cannot load POPS from version 3.03 and below.

Although Popsloader takes time to install, it's well worth it for the increased compatibility with PS1 games. Here is a step-by-step guide for those new to Popsloader.

NONE of these steps write to flash! Everything described in this guide is SAFE!

What you need:

- Update Eboots for 3.00, 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.10, and/or 3.11 - Will post links with permission!

- PBP Unpacker

- A PSARDumper version with support for up to 3.11 or above

- Popsloader

Step 1:

- Open the update eboot file in PBP Unpacker, and unpack it to your desktop.

- Take the data.psar file (you may delete the rest of the unpacked files) and place it in ms0:/ (the root folder of your memory stick.

Step 2:

- Run PSARDumper from your memory stick. press Square to dump and decrypt the firmware files.

- Take pops.prx and popsman.prx from ms0:/F0/kd/ and place them on your hard drive. For 3.00 thru 3.03 pops you also need meaudio.prx.

- rename the copies on your hard drive to pops<version>.prx, popsman<version>.prx (and meaudio<version>.prx) with no period in the version number. I.E. pops300.prx for 3.00

- Delete the F0 folder from your memorystick.

- Repeat steps 1 and 2 for any other pops versions you wish to install.

Step 3:

- place popsloader.prx and the popsloader folder in ms0:/seplugins.

- place your renamed .prx files in ms0:/seplugins/popsloader/

Step 4:

- open ms0:/seplugins/pops.txt in notepad and add the following line: ms0:/seplugins/popsloader.prx. Save the file.

- boot your PSP in recovery. go to Plugins and set popsloader.prx [POPS] to Enabled.

- exit to XMB

Congratulations! Popsloader is now installed and ready to use!

The first time you run a PS1 game that has no popsloader settings, the plugin will display a menu to select the version of pops you wish to use. To change the specific pops version for a game that already has popsloader settings, hold the R Trigger while selecting the game from the XMB Menu.


The following is currently only valid on 3.40 OE-A!

To convert 3.40 pops back to the older pops save file format, use CWCheat:

- CWCheat 0.1.8

How to convert:

- run game in 3.40 POPS (in popsloader menu: Original from flash)

- As soon as you can (classic black Playstation logo screen) after loading the PS1 game, activate the CWCheat menu (default: hold Select for 3 seconds)

- go to "Manage Memory Cards"

- select "save memory card 1 to memory stick". (and memory card 2 if you want/need)

- exit out of the CWCheat menu, quit POPS, then load the game in your desired POPS version.

- enter CWCheat as soon as you can, go to manage memory cards, then select "load memory card 1 from memory stick" (and memory card 2 if you want/need)

Your 3.40 save data is now usable in the lower POPS versions. Until you use 3.40 pops for that game again.

Hi, I decrypted the Data.psar form Firmware 3.11 with PSARDumper but there aren't any Files in the F0/kd folder only a folder named "resource".
What did I wrong? Or is it because i'm using 3.40 (OE-A)


EDIT: ok I found them with the Data.psar from Firmware 3.03 and I installed everything. But if I try to run Breath of fire 3 (made an eboot with Autopopstation, from the original Game) I only get Black Screen.

EDIT2: tried with Breath of Fire 4 and also doesn't work.

R@ptor said:

Hi, I decrypted the Data.psar form Firmware 3.11 with PSARDumper but there aren't any Files in the F0/kd folder only a folder named "resource".
What did I wrong? Or is it because i'm using 3.40 (OE-A)


EDIT: ok I found them with the Data.psar from Firmware 3.03 and I installed everything. But if I try to run Breath of fire 3 (made an eboot with Autopopstation, from the original Game) I only get Black Screen.

EDIT2: tried with Breath of Fire 4 and also doesn't work.

Click to expand...

3.40 OE-A cannot run 3.03 pops, only 3.10 and 3.11 pops.

Are you sure you used the psardumper linked the post? Earlier versions would probably only give you a resource folder..

my psp always seems to freeze/crash whenever after i attempt to resume my game after loading memory card 1 from memory stick. Any ideas?

DarkDisciple13 said:

my psp always seems to freeze/crash whenever after i attempt to resume my game after loading memory card 1 from memory stick. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

Did you read the part about saving? You'll need to convert whatever save you're trying to load back to an earlier pops version.

Yes. I save it to my memory card while using original from flash(3.40), then i tried to load it from 3.10 pop. Then it freezes when i try to resume game :-(

I have the same problem. I got the save files to work, but as soon as I load them up using CWCheat and exit, it crashes.

You can get the save files from CWCHEAT to work in the 3.4 OE version, but everytime you try to open them up in popsloader with either 3.11 or 3.1 version pops it just crashes...but only if you try to load up Memory Card 1. If you load the file into Memory Card 2, it simply doesn't recognize a card being inserted into Slot 2. Any suggestions?

Ethos3419 said:

You can get the save files from CWCHEAT to work in the 3.4 OE version, but everytime you try to open them up in popsloader with either 3.11 or 3.1 version pops it just crashes...but only if you try to load up Memory Card 1. If you load the file into Memory Card 2, it simply doesn't recognize a card being inserted into Slot 2. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Can you try with the latest version of CWCheat (available here)?

I noticed the one in the guide is outdated.

x3sphere said:

Can you try with the latest version of CWCheat (available here)?

I noticed the one in the guide is outdated.

Click to expand...

Oh. Woops, I've been kinda busy lately, and forgot CWCheat's link needed to be updated in my guide. >.<

Updated the link to Rev D. And removed the 3.40 CWCheat POPS fix. That was back when CWCheat was first updated with 3.40 support.

Would This Work On A 3.52 M33-4???

donsammy said:

Would This Work On A 3.52 M33-4???

Click to expand...

Negative, this guide is somewhat outdated. I posted a guide for the universal popsloader that's included with 3.52 M33-4 here:

http://forums.exophase.com/showpost.php?p=19501&postcount=4

although, I just saw you asking how to play PSone games. Just want to let you know popsloader isn't required to play them. The feature is already built into the firmware.

hi look my firmware is 3.71 m33-3 and i downloaded the popsloader for it but when im playing digimon world 3 when i go through some doors the screen goes black and the game stops doesnt anybody know whats wrong?

That isn't due to the popsloader prx itself but may be due to the version of the pops you're using.Try using 372 pops or below to see if it resolves it. If memory serves me this game had a specific ID fix so try that..(J ID) Just keep changing the ID until you find one that works or just simply try other pops versions...(303,340,372..etc)

is this the same way you install popsloader in 380m33??? Ive tried this and I get a black screen with warning lettering and then the screen goes black and shuts off... what am I doing wrong?