Using a razor blade/box cutter/X-acto knife, carefully slice around the seam of the battery case. If you do it right, the case will easily fit back together and can be glued closed once finished. With the battery in the orientation shown in Figure C, locate the specified chip and sever the bottom right lead.

FIGURE C


Cut the bottom right lead of the chip to create a Pandora battery. Roll over picture for a larger image.

For informational purposes the images of the battery and its components are considerably larger that what you will find when you actually open the battery. That lead is quite tiny, hair-like actually. I scraped it with the tip of a needle to cut it. Be careful you only sever that lead.

I've read tutorials that stated another circuit needed to be severed or unsoldered for either safety reasons, or to complete the procedure, but cutting only that lead worked for me to create a Pandora battery.

The Magic Memory Stick
Before you create your Magic Memory Stick it would be a good idea to copy the contents of your Memory Stick if you're using your primary or only one. Later, these files can be copied back once the procedure is complete.

You'll need a utility to create the Magic Memory Stick, which will then be used to install the custom firmware by flashing the ROM on the PSP. There are many utilities available to complete this step, but I used one called PSP Pandora Deluxe. You'll also need the custom firmware files you wish to install. For this install I used custom firmware 5.00 M33-4. Likely, you will be able to locate the Magic Memory Stick utility and firmware files in the same location.

I'm using firmware 5.00 M33-4 as PSP Pandora Deluxe is set up to use this particular version. Once the firmware is flashed to the PSP you can update it with a more recent custom firmware.

If you choose to use PSP Pandora Deluxe, you should know that it will not work on Windows Vista. I tried using it in Windows XP Compatibility mode and disabling some of the features, but it still would not work on Vista; at least not on my Tablet PC running Vista Business. I had no problems with it on an XP machine though.

Once installed and running, PSP Pandora Deluxe will ask you to verify your Memory Stick drive. This procedure can be done with the Stick in the PSP and connected via USB, or in a card reader, you just need to make sure you have the correct drive letter. You'll need to select which firmware to load, and the location to which you saved the file.

Select the M33 option under PSP Information, and select all three check boxes under Memory Card Options. Be sure to take note of the proper button to press during the Pandora procedure as shown in the right-side area, in this case the Left Trigger, as we will be using Despertar Cementerio v8. Figure D shows a screen capture of this step of the procedure.

FIGURE D


Use this screen capture as a reference. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Next click the Install Options tab and select Despertar Cementerio v8 as shown in Figure E; this is the one appropriate for custom firmware 5.00 M33-4.

FIGURE E


Select Despertar v8. Roll over picture for a larger image.