AfterDawn: Tech news

PS3 custom firmware creator Waninkoko issues warning on bricking consoles

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Jan 2011 6:32 User comments (34)

PS3 custom firmware creator Waninkoko issues warning on bricking consoles Waninkoko, infamous for his ISO loader on the Wii console, has issued a warning this week for gamers attempting to install his PlayStation 3 custom v3.55 firmware, making it clear that certain models will get bricked if attempting the update.
The custom firmware is notable because it allows for the playback of "backups" right from the hard drive.

GeoHot, the first hacker to create a custom firmware, using the root code of the console, does not allow for piracy on the system, and the firmware was created to allow for homebrew and Linux.

With the installation of the Waninkoko firmware came a plethora of reports about consoles being bricked (becoming unusable) and the warning makes it clear that only certain models of the console are succeptible.



Waninkoko does say, however that he is "Working on an alternative way, with no brick risk… No ETA."

PS3Hax posted a nice guide on which models will get bricked, so please check them here:

More updates, according to reports and posts made by our members it seems that if your PS3 has the 256MB NAND (mainly the old 60gb/20gb PS3 models) this CFW will NOT work, and it will brick your PS3.

haleskinn has posted the correct models with the NANDs, so please CHECK YOUR PS3 model before trying to install this CFW. So if your PS3 models is in bold do not install this CFW.

FAT NAND SIZE
CECHA = 256MB
CECHB = 256MB
CECHC = 256MB
CECHE = 256MB
CECHG = 256MB

CECHH = 16MB
CECHJ = 16MB
CECHK = 16MB
CECHL = 16MB
CECHM = 16MB
CECHP = 16MB
CECHQ = 16MB

SLIM NAND SIZE
CECH-20..A = 16MB
CECH-20..B = 16MB
CECH-21..A = 16MB
CECH-21..B = 16MB
CECH-250.A = 16MB
CECH-250.B = 16MB
CECH-250.A = 16MB
CECH-250.B = 16MB
CECH-251.A = 16MB
CECH-251.B = 16MB


You can check your PS3 model using the horizontal strip of info on the bottom of the console.


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34 user comments

120.1.2011 19:47

So the good versions are SOL? Oh well, a fix will arrive in time.

220.1.2011 22:16

Waninkoko should have tested...kmeaw CFW works fine, and came out less than 24 hours later. That is all the time it takes to test it and not brick a bunch of systems...but Waninkoko wanted to be first at any price I guess.

320.1.2011 22:44

Originally posted by KillerBug:
Waninkoko should have tested...kmeaw CFW works fine, and came out less than 24 hours later. That is all the time it takes to test it and not brick a bunch of systems...but Waninkoko wanted to be first at any price I guess.
I honestly don't know who's came out first, but either way you are right about kmeaw, I tested it myself and it works fine.

421.1.2011 00:59

good hope it bricks them every time.

521.1.2011 02:18

i will just keep using the jailbreak method until the cfw is stable and has been running for a few months

621.1.2011 03:22
ps3lvanub
Inactive

Originally posted by brockie:
good hope it bricks them every time.
Why??

721.1.2011 04:03

well thats what happens when you dont let the hacking community develop first. I thought about doing this now but I will wait because the community can only get better as time goes on.

821.1.2011 04:22

OK, I've officially lost count of how many stories online keep erroneously (i.e. ignorantly) saying "root key."

921.1.2011 06:18

Why?? because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console

1021.1.2011 07:33

Originally posted by brockie:
Why?? because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
I have heard that the OS crashes on itself while the xbox does not and that is one from the shop untouched. I don't like the controls but i like the motion sensor for fun.

Overall i do not find it built for games, not only does the console has issues but i don't think sony have the creative ability to keep the playstation name up to today's standards because they are looking for a better quarterly statement as they have given a console that has more ability then needed which is nice but the console does not use it all. As we have seen with the removal of linux they were protecting their product but just caused them more stress. If they were for the community not for the paycheck then i would have more support for the company. I am sure there would be others who would agree.

1121.1.2011 07:44

Zealous? What are you rambling about lol?

1221.1.2011 10:57
lissenup2
Inactive

Originally posted by KillerBug:
Waninkoko should have tested...kmeaw CFW works fine, and came out less than 24 hours later. That is all the time it takes to test it and not brick a bunch of systems...but Waninkoko wanted to be first at any price I guess.
Apparently he did test you ninny! My guess is he posted the caveats and people that had their heads up their arses didn't thoroughly read them and went ahead w/the upgrade so don't knock Waninkoko because stupid PS3 owners want to steal and jack games and never want to pay/buy them.

Homebrew/Linux is meant for piracy, plain and simple! Kinda like drinking alcohol because of being thirsty...........just doesn't happen.

1321.1.2011 12:36

Originally posted by xnonsuchx:
OK, I've officially lost count of how many stories online keep erroneously (i.e. ignorantly) saying "root key."
xnonsuchx... can you let me know the proper term? Friends in my circle also keep saying 'root key' found over 1/3 million hits for ["root key" ps3] on google, but can't seam to find the proper terminology...

if we are being ignorant, please let me know so we can be corrected...

thanks.

1421.1.2011 12:49

Quote:
because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
I fail to see how you came to this conclusion. Is it based of fabricated numbers posted by the industry?

Did you know that there's maybe only around 1000 users that hacked their PS3 at max using their console for piracy. It's not like the games are easy to download, and people aren't just going to rent games to back them up on the chance they suck ass and waist a lot of HDD space, regardless if they have a 120GB, 320GB, 500GB or even a 1TB.

So please tell me again how you think .01% of the PS3 users out there that pirate will ruin Sony's console?

Mine is hacked, and I don't even pirate; I own 30 PS3 titles to date, and I don't even have most of them backed up on my PS3. I install the big games as I play em, like New Vegas or Mass Effect 2. And when I done with em, off they go, as when you delete the install, it doesn't remove your trophies.

I do it cause I find it plays a bit faster, and I don't have to worry about wear and tear on my PS3 game disc. So while all those legit PS3 users who will never hack their PS3, ruins the value of their games by getting it scratched, or the case chipped, or the book creased. My games stay unopened save for once, and are mint condition. So tell me, why is that a bad thing?

1521.1.2011 14:04

I just want to be able to use a keyboard and mouse on FPS. Does installing Linux allow that, or no?

1621.1.2011 14:23

Originally posted by Mysttic:
Quote:
because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
I fail to see how you came to this conclusion. Is it based of fabricated numbers posted by the industry?

Did you know that there's maybe only around 1000 users that hacked their PS3 at max using their console for piracy. It's not like the games are easy to download, and people aren't just going to rent games to back them up on the chance they suck ass and waist a lot of HDD space, regardless if they have a 120GB, 320GB, 500GB or even a 1TB.

So please tell me again how you think .01% of the PS3 users out there that pirate will ruin Sony's console?
I was thinking exactly the same. Also, I believe most PS3 owners - who are able to run d/l games - would most likely not have bought the games in the first place so how SONY is losing out I don't know. I could imagine, that the number of JB consoles are minimal and hardly has an effect on SONY, otherwise there wouldn't be a single new title out there of games...

1721.1.2011 15:18

Originally posted by brockie:
Why?? because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
Weird... there's piracy on the 360 and it's doing fine. There was piracy on the PS2 and it did fine (still selling I believe). Please get off your high horse and join us in reality.

1821.1.2011 15:38

Originally posted by jam_k:
Originally posted by xnonsuchx:
OK, I've officially lost count of how many stories online keep erroneously (i.e. ignorantly) saying "root key."
xnonsuchx... can you let me know the proper term? Friends in my circle also keep saying 'root key' found over 1/3 million hits for ["root key" ps3] on google, but can't seam to find the proper terminology...

if we are being ignorant, please let me know so we can be corrected...

thanks.


Funniest part about his condescending post is that this article doesn't even once say "root key."

1921.1.2011 16:14
Sylpher
Unverified new user

Waninkoko seemed pretty certain that his testers had done a good job of testing and reported no errors so I don't know what's happening there :S

2021.1.2011 16:31
Tradesman
Unverified new user

i hope piracy on the PS3 take off like wildfire, cause the fall of the PS3 and take Sony with it.

Somy is a OPENLY CRIMINAL corporation, illegally removing features form a product AFTER it was sold and infecting millions of computer with root kit. Sony never got punish for those CRIMINAL actions. Sony is no longuer a legitimate company and need to be shutdown PERIOD.

2121.1.2011 17:26

Originally posted by jam_k:
Originally posted by xnonsuchx:
OK, I've officially lost count of how many stories online keep erroneously (i.e. ignorantly) saying "root key."
xnonsuchx... can you let me know the proper term? Friends in my circle also keep saying 'root key' found over 1/3 million hits for ["root key" ps3] on google, but can't seam to find the proper terminology...

if we are being ignorant, please let me know so we can be corrected...

thanks.



The "root key" (it actually says "root code" in this article) is a hardware-level key internal to the Cell BE CPU. What the hackers found was a common private key that SHOULD have been different between every piece of software, but wasn't.

2221.1.2011 17:37

Quote:
The "root key" (it actually says "root code" in this article) is a hardware-level key internal to the Cell BE CPU. What the hackers found was a common private key that SHOULD have been different between every piece of software, but wasn't.
Sony's mistake is our gain.

2321.1.2011 18:02

Originally posted by xnonsuchx:

The "root key" (it actually says "root code" in this article) is a hardware-level key internal to the Cell BE CPU. What the hackers found was a common private key that SHOULD have been different between every piece of software, but wasn't.

Fair!


2421.1.2011 18:54
emugamer
Inactive

Originally posted by Tradesman:
i hope piracy on the PS3 take off like wildfire, cause the fall of the PS3 and take Sony with it.

Somy is a OPENLY CRIMINAL corporation, illegally removing features form a product AFTER it was sold and infecting millions of computer with root kit. Sony never got punish for those CRIMINAL actions. Sony is no longuer a legitimate company and need to be shutdown PERIOD.
Only after Uncharted 3 is released.

2521.1.2011 19:05

Quote:
Only after Uncharted 3 is released.
Very good point, you know..

2621.1.2011 21:05

Originally posted by Amak:
Originally posted by brockie:
Why?? because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
Weird... there's piracy on the 360 and it's doing fine. There was piracy on the PS2 and it did fine (still selling I believe). Please get off your high horse and join us in reality.
get out the clouds mate it will end up making the disc go away in the end.

2721.1.2011 22:40

Originally posted by Zealousi:
Originally posted by brockie:
Why?? because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
I have heard that the OS crashes on itself while the xbox does not and that is one from the shop untouched. I don't like the controls but i like the motion sensor for fun.

Overall i do not find it built for games, not only does the console has issues but i don't think sony have the creative ability to keep the playstation name up to today's standards because they are looking for a better quarterly statement as they have given a console that has more ability then needed which is nice but the console does not use it all. As we have seen with the removal of linux they were protecting their product but just caused them more stress. If they were for the community not for the paycheck then i would have more support for the company. I am sure there would be others who would agree.
your not making any sense PS3 is a great console.

2821.1.2011 22:47
emugamer
Inactive

Originally posted by Cupart:
Originally posted by Mysttic:
Quote:
because piracy & hacks will ruin a great console
I fail to see how you came to this conclusion. Is it based of fabricated numbers posted by the industry?

Did you know that there's maybe only around 1000 users that hacked their PS3 at max using their console for piracy. It's not like the games are easy to download, and people aren't just going to rent games to back them up on the chance they suck ass and waist a lot of HDD space, regardless if they have a 120GB, 320GB, 500GB or even a 1TB.

So please tell me again how you think .01% of the PS3 users out there that pirate will ruin Sony's console?
I was thinking exactly the same. Also, I believe most PS3 owners - who are able to run d/l games - would most likely not have bought the games in the first place so how SONY is losing out I don't know. I could imagine, that the number of JB consoles are minimal and hardly has an effect on SONY, otherwise there wouldn't be a single new title out there of games...


Believing that is just as extreme and ridiculous as the claims for loses these corporations make. Imagine all you want, but at least read some of this article.

http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html

It's very objective and may not convince you one way or the other, but it does make very solid points. There is an impact.

2921.1.2011 22:58

Quote:
Believing that is just as extreme and ridiculous as the claims for loses these corporations make. Imagine all you want, but at least read some of this article.

http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html

It's very objective and may not convince you one way or the other, but it does make very solid points. There is an impact.
I didn't say piracy as a whole doesn't make an impact. Where in my argument did I state that? I didn't.

I said currently as it stands for PS3 it doesn't; look at percentage points based on systems sold VS systems hacked, it is minuscule. I said a max of 1000 people have their system hacked "for piracy", and definitely there is more hacked than that for legal reasons, but look at how many pirate of PC and 360? Can you just the comparison when obviously their #s would be extremely higher? No you can't, as the PS3 hacked community hasn't even gotten nearly as big, it would be improbable that many PS3s would be hacked at all, let alone for piracy. So no, PS3 pirates didn't make a dent at all at Sony's PS3 sale figures.

So now you give me an outdated article that references PC piracy comparing those console piracy, and the next article I get is for music piracy. And yes Dec 2010 is outdated. However, their numbers have nothing to do with Sony's PS3 numbers so has no place in this article.

A mere month ago, the PS3 hack was just released to the public with easier access attainable this month. Still just because it is easier to hack the PS3 now, doesn't mean many have taken up on that offer. Not enough to "dent" as you call it, Sony.

Now if want to talk their PSP fat or slim hand-held, well I am darn sure they took a huge loss in that. Their solution to try to screw customers with a weaker PSPGo system. But again we were on topic of the PS3 and nothing else. So although I do respect your comments on piracy is making a dent on the industry as a whole. Please understand my comments were directed @ Sony through their PS3.

So last to take from the article you so pointed me towards and I quote under the console section of Part 2.

Quote:
The number of individual active torrents for the console versions were also noticeably lower; in some cases there were no PS3 torrents at all for certain games.
This should eat at your words. Nobody wants to waist time dling 10-40GB per game for PS3. Nor do they want to waist the bandwidth as not everyone has unlimited net access. Nor most of these same people that hack their PS3 want to *even if they did dl the game or even rent it* want to waist time to copy a big ass bluray disc over. It's not something that's done in minutes you know, it can take up to hours transferring that much data, just for one game.

Still think Sony is taking a chunk of loss? Then you have no clue how it all works in the end.

I apologize for the double post again, I dunno why it keeps doing that as I only click submit post once.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 Jan 2011 @ 11:15

3021.1.2011 22:58

Quote:
Believing that is just as extreme and ridiculous as the claims for loses these corporations make. Imagine all you want, but at least read some of this article.

http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html

It's very objective and may not convince you one way or the other, but it does make very solid points. There is an impact.
I didn't say piracy as a whole doesn't make an impact. Where in my argument did I state it didn't?

I said currently as it stands for PS3 it doesn't, as percentage points based on systems sold VS systems hacked is minuscule.

So now you give me an outdated article that references PC piracy comparing those console piracy, and the next article I get is for music piracy. And yes Dec 2010 is outdated.

A mere month ago, the hack was just released to the public, easier access attainable this month.

Still just because it is easier to hack the PS3 now, doesn't mean many have taken up on that offer. Not enough to "dent" as you call it, Sony.

Now if want to talk their PSP fat or slim hand-held, well I am darn sure they took a huge loss in that. Their solution to try to screw customers with a weaker PSPGo system.

But again we were on topic of the PS3 and nothing else. So although I do respect your comments on piracy is making a dent on the industry as a whole. Please understand my comments were directed @ Sony through their PS3.

3122.1.2011 10:18
emugamer
Inactive

Originally posted by Mysttic:
Quote:
Believing that is just as extreme and ridiculous as the claims for loses these corporations make. Imagine all you want, but at least read some of this article.

http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html

It's very objective and may not convince you one way or the other, but it does make very solid points. There is an impact.
I didn't say piracy as a whole doesn't make an impact. Where in my argument did I state it didn't?

I said currently as it stands for PS3 it doesn't, as percentage points based on systems sold VS systems hacked is minuscule.

So now you give me an outdated article that references PC piracy comparing those console piracy, and the next article I get is for music piracy. And yes Dec 2010 is outdated.

A mere month ago, the hack was just released to the public, easier access attainable this month.

Still just because it is easier to hack the PS3 now, doesn't mean many have taken up on that offer. Not enough to "dent" as you call it, Sony.

Now if want to talk their PSP fat or slim hand-held, well I am darn sure they took a huge loss in that. Their solution to try to screw customers with a weaker PSPGo system.

But again we were on topic of the PS3 and nothing else. So although I do respect your comments on piracy is making a dent on the industry as a whole. Please understand my comments were directed @ Sony through their PS3.
Lol..my comment wasn't directed to you. It was to Cupart's post. I was specifically referring to comment:

"Also, I believe most PS3 owners - who are able to run d/l games - would most likely not have bought the games in the first place so how SONY is losing out I don't know."

I guess I failed :(

The article addresses PC piracy, but also delves into console piracy quite a bit as a comparison. There is nothing outdated about the concepts and ideas discussed. Numbers just lend to the ideas, and they really haven't changed much since it's been last been updated. I really don't focus on numbers anyway. There are many ideas in there that explain why the "most people wouldn't have bought the game anyway" argument doesn't hold water in dismissing the affect of piracy. And I mean long term. Yes, it's only been a few weeks that the PS3 has been fully compromised. But I really do believe it will effect the quality and the means by which games are delivered in the future.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 08 Feb 2011 @ 6:51

3222.1.2011 19:52

I wonder if the people's PS3s he bricked with crap software will sue him for a new PS3.

Could be worthwhile.

3323.1.2011 00:47

Isn't software like this use at own risk lol

3423.1.2011 06:46

Originally posted by Zealousi:
Isn't software like this use at own risk lol

Yes it is...even though Sony changed their policies that generally said they weren't responsible for bad firmware updates, they actually do generally cover bricked consoles that can't be proven to be due to negligence during firmware updates.

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