I believe it's the tiny number/barcode written underneath the visor/eyepiece. Now, if you could do me a favor and check the box to see if anything matches on there. I don't want to know the numbers - Keep those to yourself - I'm just wondering if you're able to find any matching numbers.

First thing’s first, know your PSP.
There are three types of PSPs:
1- 1000 Series (Also known as Phat/Fat)
2- 2000 Series (Also known as Slim or Lite & Slim)
3- 3000 Series (Also known as Brite)
Now, what do I mean by 'Crack-able'?
That means you can install a Custom Firmware (CFW) on it. The most popular (& sometimes only) way to do it is by using a Pandora Battery & Magic Memory Stick (MMS).
Read Full Guide.
Why Crack a PSP?
A Cracked PSP could run Homebrew, which are programs that have been developed by people that don’t have a contract with Sony. A PSP with Custom Firmware could also back up your games from the UMD to your computer; it also allows you to play those backups from your Memory Stick (MS). You could also do some serious customizations to your theme. Basically, you free your PSP from the hands of Sony.
Why can’t I Crack ‘this’ PSP?
‘This’ PSP probably has a TA-088v3 (Found in some 2000 series units) or TA-090v2 (Found in all 3000 series units) Motherboard, both of which are unCrackable, as in, you can’t install CFW on them.
Let’s start now.
All 1000 Series PSPs are Crackable to date.
To some, there are other methods than just using a Pandora & an MMS.
On the other hand, 2000 Series are a little complicated. There are old units, new units, & really new units. The old ones contain Motherboards released before the TA-088v3, and are all Crackable. The new ones have TA-088v3 Motherboards, and are unCrackable. Finally, the really new ones, those have TA-090v1 Motherboards, which are Crackable.
There are 7 different ways to tell whether a 2000 series PSP is Crackable or not, but we’ll get to that later on (and this is the main topic of this post/guide).
Finally, the 3000 series PSPs, all of those have the TA-090v2 Motherboard, which are unCrackable to date.
Though, there is hope for the PSP 3000 series. According to Dark_AleX, he was able to utilize an error in the game 'Grip Shift' which allowed him to install Custom Firmware. So, if you have a PSP 3000, or a TA-088v3 Motherboard 2000 series PSP, rush & get your hands on a European (PAL, region 2) version of the game.
Here’s a list of all the Motherboards made & released by Sony:
Of course, new updates might come to change everything one day, & that’s why there’s a date at the start of the topic (To indicate when this topic was last updated).
So, now it’s easy to tell whether a 1000 series and a 3000 series are Crackable or not. The only complication is when trying to figure out a 2000 Series PSP. Whether you want to know before you buy it, or before you bother learning how to Crack it, you choose the way that suits you best.
I want to note that most of the information I know I learned through research. So far, I can’t tell whether a PSP has a TA-090v1 Motherboard or a TA-088v3 Motherboard. But, I could tell whether it’s an old unit (Before TA-088v3) or a new one in general (TA-088v3 & after).
One final note, nothing could indicate that your PSP is 100% unCrackable other than an actual failed attempt to Crack it.
1- What is the Firmware the PSP came with?
The original firmware that came with the PSP right out of the box is an indication of its Motherboard, & here’s the list:
3.60 Official Firmware: Crackable.
3.71 Official Firmware: Crackable.
3.72 Official Firmware: Crackable.
3.80 Official Firmware: Crackable.
3.90 Official Firmware: Crackable.
3.95 Official Firmware: Crackable.
4.01 Official Firmware: Has a Very High Chance of being UnCrackable.
Any brand new PSP with Official Firmware higher than 4.01 is unCrackable (Except for TA-090v1 Motherboards, & I’m not sure which Firmware comes with them).
If you updated to any Firmware, that doesn’t matter. This only applies on the PSP’s Original Firmware that it was shipped with.
2- What is the PSP’s Serial Number?
The Serial Number is found on a label where the battery is supposed to go (As shown in the picture 'SERIAL No.')
This isn’t something serious or very helpful, but with more research, it could be.
At the moment, it focuses mostly on Piano Black PSPs.
If that serial starts with HU2, then the PSP most likely has a TA-088v3 Motherboard (And that the PSP is Piano Black).
Any other serial (Say starting with HC or HB or HJ) doesn’t matter at the moment.
3- What’s the unit’s Identification letter (A letter on a label on the box that indicates what version it has)?
Here’s a picture of a label found on the PSP box that has the letter on it:
Note that this label is only present on an original style box (The small, normal box. Not like those large 'Limited Edition' Boxes).
Anyways, See the G there?
PSP-2000 CW
100v
G
That G is the letter in question. Here’s a list of all the letters that the 2000 series ship with:
(No Letter) = 3.60
A = 3.71
B = Doesn’t exist
C = 3.72
D = Doesn’t exist
E = 3.80
F = 3.90
G = 3.95 (TA-088v1) / 4.01 (TA-088v2) / 4.01 (TA-088v3)
If the letter is absent or is from A to F, then it’s Crackable.
If it’s a G, it’s 60 to 67% Crackable (Though since everyone is looking for the Crackable ones & no one’s buying the unCrackable ones, I’d say that this percentage went all the way down to about 30% Crackable).
Some Labels have an extra code written on it, usually “ss259″. That doesn’t matter, just look for the Capital Letter next to it.
Note that the G PSP in the picture is my personal PSP. It came with a 3.95 Official Firmware (OFW) & I Cracked it (Has Custom Firmware 5.00 M33-4 5.02 GEN-A (Full)).
4- What’s the Box’s Serial Number?
If your box doesn’t have a label with a letter in it, like the G in the third method, then it should have a label with another serial that’s not related to the PSP unit.
Note that American 2000 series (2001 PSPs) & Japanese PSPs (Both 1000 series & 2000 series) Don’t have those date codes on them, just like the 2001 Piano Black PSP pictured above.
The 2000 Series Date Codes go as follows:
7C: Crackable.
7D: Crackable.
7(Any later Letter): Crackable.
8A: Crackable.
8B: Crackable.
8C: Has Very High Chance that it is UnCrackable.
8D: UnCrackable.
This information isn’t 100% valid. I’m still doing some research on it, & I will be updating it every so often.
6- Using Dark_AleX’s TA-088v3 Identifier:
I’ll just post a link to the location I found it at. I don’t plan on testing it, as I find it rather useless.
It’s just a method for those in denial to accept the truth.
Basically, it’s just like testing out a Pandora with an MMS, if it doesn’t work, it means it’s a TA-088v3 Motherboard.
(Link: http://forums.exophase.com/showthrea…7672#post47672 )
I personally am disappointed by it, as I thought it would actually spell out the type of motherboard in the PSP…
I’m also not sure how this would react to the TA-090v1 Motherboards, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’d react the same way a Crackable motherboard would (the PSP would shut down).
7- If it’s a Limited Edition PSP, here’s the list of the ones I know of so far:
Daxter Limited Edition Pack, comes with 3.80 OFW & a TA-085v2 Motherboard, and is Crackable.
God of War Limited Edition Pack, comes with 3.95 OFW & a TA-088v2 Motherboard, and is Crackable, & cool too
Madden 09 Limited Edition Pack, comes with either 3.95 OFW & a TA-088v2 Motherboard ~~OR~~ 4.01 OFW & a TA-088v3 Motherboard. If it’s 3.95, it’s Crackable, but if it’s 4.01, then it’s not, as simple as that.
If anyone would like to discuss any of these methods with me, either to contradict them or help me improve my theories on them, a PM, IM, E-Mail or any other form of message would do to get us started.
There is one method I’d like to say has nothing to do with whether the PSP is Crackable or not:
The PSP series full number (2000/2001/20002/etc) just as seen in both pictures (2001 black PSP Slim, & 2000 White PSP Slim) Those have nothing to do with whether the PSP is Crackable or not, it’s just an indication of the region of the PSP.
& Here’s the list:
2000- Japan
2001- United States (American)
2002- Australia/New Zealand
2003- United Kingdom
2004- Europe
2005- Korea
2006- Hong Kong/Singapore
2007- Taiwan
2008- Russia
2009- China
2010- Mexico
Also, if a PSP is Crackable, the Firmware on it has nothing to do with its Crackability.
Whether it had 1.00 Official Firmware, 4.00 Official Firmware, 4.01 Official Firmware, 5.00 Official Firmware, or even the latest 5.03 Official Firmware, if the 2000 series PSP doesn’t have a TA-088v3 Motherboard, then it can be Cracked.

Apr 15, 2013 - posted in Vita / PSP: I'm in talks to buy a used PS Vita with a couple games. Is no way for me to check and no way for Playstation to track a stolen Vita. A recorded serial number is one such way of proving that ownership.

Hi, i'm planning to buy PSP-3000 soon as i get my Visa's pincode back. I'm just wondering now that how to avoid buying the launch model's that had major screen problems. One way to do that would buying the dissidia bundle but it cost's 40 euros more than regular one so i dont know if i want to pick that up.

Sony Serial Number Check

There is still a chance that the other psp's in the local stores are old models because PSP isint popular console in my country. So any hint's how to find out it before opening the box would be nice.release colors, codes in the box and etc. To explain the # at the end of the 3000, it is a region code found here. PSP Region Codes Codes Country PSP-x000 Japan PSP-x001 USA / North America PSP-x002 Australia / New Zealand PSP-x003 UK PSP-x004 Europe PSP-x005 Korea PSP-x006 Hong Kong / Singapore PSP-x007 Taiwan PSP-x008 Russia PSP-x009 China I couldn't find any guides on how to pick out a new version of the PSP without the screen defect. One possible way I would look it up would be to compare the serial # on the FF fersion,a nd maybe the one on the unbundled version. If this doesn't work, buy it from a store that has a good refund and exchange policy.

This way if you get one with it, you can easily take it back and get an exchange or refund (if you don't find one at all). What the others suggest doesn't work because it is within the 3000 series that this problem took place (as you well know OP), so they don't really help.

You need some sort of serial number to go by, not the model number. I got a psp 3000 and see no screen defect. I really don't know what all the whining is about.It's so annoying Xx-Addict-xX It was problem on the fist patch of PSP-3000. Later one's are just fine and even the first patch dosent have the problem if you are the kind of person that brain's work better on the creative side (google it) Thanks Choonyo's, i think i will go with the Dissidia bundle because i dont want to buy and return the product. It's 40 euros more but atleast it surely later version and it look's bit diffrent than the other PSP model's so that dosent make the higher price bearable.

QUOTE='Xx-Addict-xX'i got a psp 3000 and see no screen defect. I really don't know what all the whining is about.It's so annoying -Flagg- It was problem on the fist patch of PSP-3000. Later one's are just fine and even the first patch dosent have the problem if you are the kind of person that brain's work better on the creative side (google it) Thanks Choonyo's, i think i will go with the Dissidia bundle because i dont want to buy and return the product. It's 40 euros more but atleast it surely later version and it look's bit diffrent than the other PSP model's so that dosent make the higher price bearable. I think you mean BATCH not patch. And honestly when buying a psp, i'd just get a used PSP2000 from a good used game store (like gamestop). If will save you a bit of money and I highly recommend it.

I dont have any issues with my psp2000 and ive had it for like 3 years. QUOTE='-Flagg-'QUOTE='Xx-Addict-xX'i got a psp 3000 and see no screen defect. I really don't know what all the whining is about.It's so annoying Talldude80 It was problem on the fist patch of PSP-3000.

Later one's are just fine and even the first patch dosent have the problem if you are the kind of person that brain's work better on the creative side (google it) Thanks Choonyo's, i think i will go with the Dissidia bundle because i dont want to buy and return the product. It's 40 euros more but atleast it surely later version and it look's bit diffrent than the other PSP model's so that dosent make the higher price bearable. I think you mean BATCH not patch.

And honestly when buying a psp, i'd just get a used PSP2000 from a good used game store (like gamestop). If will save you a bit of money and I highly recommend it. I dont have any issues with my psp2000 and ive had it for like 3 years.

My brain's work's in mysterious ways (batch - patch) What comes to PSP 2000 suggestion i simply just wont buy used systems even if it basically just repacked non used device. PSP-3000 also has much more vibrant colors which is also very good reason to not buy PSP-2000.

I'm in talks to buy a used PS Vita with a couple games off Craigslist for $200, which is a steal. He says he commutes into my town to work daily and wants to meet at a Starbucks and make the exchange. Is there anyway to check if the Vita he's trying to sell me is stolen? I don't want to try to log into PSN and find out it's jacked and I have to return it to the poor sap and I'm out my money. Love to get 200 out of my vita i would dump it in a second at that price even with a few games.maybe its like mine and just never used.

So I got a hold of a Playstation representative and they told me that there is no way for me to check and no way for Playstation to track a stolen Vita. Only thing I could do is contact the police department and see if they have any serial numbers that match, which I really don't want to do. The reason I was wary was because it came with 3 games (Uncharted, Wipeout, and Marvel vs Capcom), a case and a 32 gb memory card. A little bit much for such a deal. Guy said he is just really desperate for money at the moment. This would be my first Playstation product since ths PS One. I might take a gander at Amazon Warehouse quick and see what I can find and if I can find a similar deal.

So why exactly are you so worried if its stolen or not? Would the weight of not knowing bear down on you every time you use it and make it impossible to enjoy it? If I find a great deal on craigslist I try to close the deal before anyone else beats me to it not try to figure out if the person selling it is the original and legal owner lol If the legal owner is able to track down and prove the property is theirs, you have to give it back with no compensation meaning you lose the money spent on it and have nothing to show for it. A recorded serial number is one such way of proving that ownership. So I got a hold of a Playstation representative and they told me that there is no way for me to check and no way for Playstation to track a stolen Vita.

Only thing I could do is contact the police department and see if they have any serial numbers that match, which I really don't want to do. The reason I was wary was because it came with 3 games (Uncharted, Wipeout, and Marvel vs Capcom), a case and a 32 gb memory card. A little bit much for such a deal. Guy said he is just really desperate for money at the moment. This would be my first Playstation product since ths PS One. I might take a gander at Amazon Warehouse quick and see what I can find and if I can find a similar deal. Can get that one system with the COD game in it for like 187 a lot with memory card (4 gb i think) i would say go with it cause that sounds like a normal price for that sort of a package.

Since uncharted and wipeout fell big time in vaule since they are free on psn. To answer an earlier question, yes I would feel bad if I knew/suspected it was stolen property. And there was always the fear it would be returned to the original owner and I would be out all my cash. So I went through with the meeting and my fears were completely wiped away. The guy had the original box and his receipt with him, which made me feel so much better.

Since this is my first Playstation product since PS1 he walked me through it. I got the three games, a 32 gb memory card, carrying case, charging stand, ac adapter, and handheld case. Not a bad little haul. Only if you like fighting or sports.nothing on the rpg side (besides persona 4) have not used mine in months Then sell your Vita and quit complaining to everyone about it. You spend an awful lot of time complaining about a system you don't even play. I am not into fighting or sports games and I love the Vita. I enjoy RPGs over any other game type.

I own almost 30 Vita retail games and only Hot Shots Golf, Virtua Tennis, and Fifa 13 are sports games. I don't own any fighting games as I have never cared for them.

Glad everything worked out for you. Ww2 ballistics armor and gunnery. Fujitsu siemens amilo a1645 drivers windows xp windows 7. The Vita is an awesome system with a great catalog of games already. Enjoy your new toy.