Installing POPSLoader plugin

Needed to get some PS1 eboots to run correctly/at all

What is POPSLoader?

POPSLoader (PlayStation One Portable Station Loader) is a plugin required by certain PS1 games to run correctly (or even at all, in some cases) on the PSP. It allows you to choose which version of POPS (the PSP’s built-in PS1 emulator) to use when loading a game. Some titles only work properly with specific POPS versions due to compatibility issues. 

How to install:
1. Follow this link to download POPSLoader.
2. Extract the download. You’ll see a folder named seplugins.
3. Connect your PSP to your PC.

If your memory card does NOT already have an seplugins folder at its root, simply copy the entire downloaded seplugins folder to the root of your memory card.

If your memory card does have an seplugins folder:

Open the downloaded seplugins folder and copy the included popsloader folder into your own seplugins folder (merge if needed).

4. Edit or create the POPS.txt file in your seplugins folder:

If you have a POPS.txt, open it with Notepad and add this line:

For PSP 1000, 2000, 3000, or Street:
ms0:/seplugins/popsloader/popsloader.prx 1

For PSP Go (using internal storage):
ef0:/seplugins/popsloader/popsloader.prx 1

If you don’t have a POPS.txt file, create one and add the appropriate line above, depending on your PSP model.

5. Safely disconnect your PSP from the PC.

On your PSP’s main menu (XMB), press the Select button and choose Reset VSH to apply the installed plugin.

Using POPSLoader:

When launching a PS1 game, hold the R button immediately until the POPSLoader menu appears.

From there, select the POPS version you want to load the game with.

If the game freezes, hold the power switch to turn off the PSP, then try a different POPS version.

The plugin remembers your last chosen POPS version - once you find the one that works for that specific game, you won’t need to select it again.

Which POPS version should you choose?

Check this POPSLoader Compatibility list (note: this list is incomplete and potentially outdated).

Google! - try searching "popsloader" + "name of the game" and see what worked best for other people.

If you can’t find info, try different versions manually.

Note: on the PSP Go, POPS versions 3.02 to 3.52 work, but sound will only work through headphones.

Important:

Use POPSLoader only if you have problems running a PS1 game. Otherwise, leave the POPS version set to default (original from flash).

Credits:
Popsloader v3 was originally developed by Dark_AleX and the M33 Team, with later updates maintained by Hrimfaxi and is released under the GNU GPL v3. Find the source code at the Popsloader v3 Google Code Archive repository.

If you would prefer a video guide, check out this video from the PSP Cult Instagram page...