IPL Inject Issue

[immZEUS]

PSP/Vita Model

PSP-1000 (Fat)

ARK Version

Latest

Homebrew/GAME (if applicable)

No response

Plugins ( if applicable )

I’m using a genuine Sony MS-MT4G. MagicMemoryCreator always throws Not enough space for the IPL to fit. MS format required. even after formatting on PSP. Rain’s reports only 8 KB IPL space. Is there a known formatting requirement or issue with MS-MT4G cards?

Steps to reproduce

Sure! Here’s exactly what I did:

1. Built a working Baryon Sweeper using a FT232RL (TX, RX, GND, diode + resistor).
2. Verified it works with PySweeper. It detects the PSP and continuously exchanges 5A/A5 packets, so communication with the Syscon is working.
3. Tried both a genuine Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark2 4GB (MS-MT4G) and a microSD + PRO Duo adapter.
4. Formatted the card multiple times:
   • On a PSP Street (E1000)
   • FAT32
   • FAT16
   • Using Windows formatting
   • Using PSP Grader
5. Downloaded the latest ARK-4 release and used the included MagicMemoryCreator.
6. Placed the official 6.61 PBP in the MagicMemoryCreator folder.
7. Selected the correct disk, left Legacy IPL disabled, and clicked Run.
8. The program copies all files successfully, extracts the firmware, and finishes with “Done!”, but then throws:
   RuntimeError: Not enough space for the IPL to fit. MS format required.
9. Rain’s IPL Tool reports only 8 KB of available IPL space.
10. Small IPLs (such as the built-in z3ros0ul Single IPL) write successfully, but the ARK msipl.bin does not.
11. I tested on both Windows 11 and Windows 10, with the same result.
12. I also tried accessing the Memory Stick both through the PSP Street USB connection and through a separate USB card reader.

At this point I’m wondering if the Memory Stick layout created by the PSP Street differs from older PSP models, causing the ARK msipl_installer to reject it, or if there is another required formatting method that I’m missing.

USB Charge

On

CPU Clock in Game

Auto

CPU Clock in XMB

Auto

WPA2

Off

Autoboot Launcher

Off

Disable PSP Go Pause

Off

Old Plugin Support on ef0

Off

Prevent hibernation deletion

Off

Use Extra Memory

Auto

Memory Stick Speedup

Off

Inferno Cache

Off

Skip Sony Logos

Off

Hide PIC0 and PIC1

Off

Hide MAC Address

Off

Hide DLC

Off

Turn off LEDs

On

Disable UMD Drive

Off

Disable Analog Stick

Off

Enable QA Flags

On

Custom settings

No response

Verification of form.

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