How to fix “The game could not be started” error on modified Sony PSP

24 Aug
2009

I almost had a heart attack yesterday. I got myself a copy of Dissidia: Final Fantasy U.S. version, but it wouldn’t run on my PSP. My modified PSP was only running 4.01 M33-2. Apparently, Dissidia needs 5.00 firmware or higher to run.

Thus, I tasked myself with I upgrading the custom firmware on my Sony PSP, going from Dark Alex’s 4.01 M33-2 to Team33’s 5.00 M33-6. I did everything written in the instructions. I copied the 5.00 M33-6 updater to my /PSP/GAME directory. Since I was upgrading to 5.00 firmware I copied the official Sony PSP 5.00 firmware as well.

The firmware installation went smoothly. At the end of the update it gave me a confirmation message then did a reset. After resetting I went to System Information and it shows that I was able to successfully upgrade to 5.00 M33-6.

Ok, time to play! To my horror, none of my ISO / CSO games would run. Whenever I tried to load a game I would get kicked back to the XMB with the following message:

The game could not be started. (80020321)

The game could not be started. (80020321)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I almost panicked. Did I send up with a semi-bicked PSP? I thought of re-flashing my firmware or downgrading back to 4.01. I tried doing a search, and although I did not find the exact solution I was looking for, I saw some posts that led me to recall that there is a “UMD Mode” setting in the recovery menu. Here is what I did:

  1. Turn off the the PSP by holding the power button for 3 seconds
  2. Power up the PSP while holding the R trigger to go into recovery mode
  3. Open up the confiugration settings and locate the UMD Mode setting
  4. Change the setting from Normal to m33 driver – no UMD
  5. Exit recovery mode

I fired up my games and they started working again. Even better, Dissidia: Final Fantasy was running like a charm. I am one happy camper.

By the way, in case you are afraid you might mess something up by going to the recovery console, there is an easier way to change the UMD Mode setting through the XMB menu. The steps below will show you how do the alternate method:

  1. From the XMB menu, press the Select button
  2. Scroll down to UMD ISO Mode
  3. Change the setting to m33 driver – no UMD
  4. Press the Select button again to exit the menu

Viola! You can now play ISO and CSO games again.

Let me know if it works for you.

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30 Responses to How to fix “The game could not be started” error on modified Sony PSP

joshua

August 31st, 2009 at 4:55 pm

hey I tried to do what you wrote but my dissidia still doesn’t work. I tried everything but I still can’t play dissidia in my psp so please I need help!!!

Dennison Uy

September 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm

joshua: Dissidia only runs on Firmware 5.00 or higher. What version are you running on your PSP?

Ryan

September 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Thx mate you saved me from panicky doom

Fix Soul Calibur IV: Broken Destiny “The game could not be started” error on PSP

September 8th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

[...] Ryan: Thx mate you saved me from panicky doom [...]

pewe

October 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am

hey dude, i follow all steps u say but still dont work for me. i have psp 3.71 M33-2. soul calibur and gi joe wont start? is there a problem? pls reply..

Dennison Uy

October 9th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

pewe: You need to update to least 5.00 M33 to be able to run Soul Calibur and GI Joe. There is no other way around this!

pewe

October 10th, 2009 at 10:03 am

how to update my psp? pls tell me how to update. tnx a lot.

E

October 11th, 2009 at 12:28 am

Nice one. Just upgraded from 3.8 to 5.0 m33 and had forgotten how to get to that setting :-) Saved me too

Mohammedali

October 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Try putting in a new firmware into your psp. You can find it here- http://pspslimhacks.com/psp-custom-firmware-500-m33-4/

pewe

October 12th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

ahh.ok tnx. my problem now is my psp wont downgrade to 3.71 again, i accidentally update my psp to 6.10. i dont knw how to fix it. pls reply anyone if anyone knows how to fix it. tnx………

Hello

October 15th, 2009 at 7:18 am

Hi
I did everything, My game even boots up! BUT! Its like all screwed up lookin like the menu are white and only names show up no pics. I am running 5.00 M33-4

Pleaase HELP

Dennison Uy

October 15th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

pewe: you will have to use a pandora kit to run CFW on your PSP

jj

October 15th, 2009 at 10:16 pm

hi. my fat psp has the same problem with everybody can’t play iso/cso “the game could not be startd #”, and also there’s no recovery menu on it. how can i get that? when i press select on the xmb nothing happens. pls help. i dont know if this is OFW or CFW.

Dennison Uy

October 15th, 2009 at 11:45 pm

jj: If you are able to start ISO’s then you are definitely using CFW. What does it say when you go to System Information?

terrence

October 20th, 2009 at 4:28 pm

hi, i already upgrade my psp 1000 firmware 3.71 to 5.00m33-4, i had follow ur step that change the UMD to M33 driver, but i still cant play GIJOE??? thanks..please help

Exe.chrd

November 21st, 2009 at 1:20 am

thanks! you saved me a trip to the repair shop!

ignatius.

December 11th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

hi

I have some games which are not running on my psp sony. have you got any ideas please?

thanks.
ignatius

Choob

December 12th, 2009 at 4:35 am

figured there’d b something like this.
i was playing fine, then took off my umd, and it stopped workng.
glad i looked this up.

tyvm

jose

December 12th, 2009 at 11:19 am

wee eres la tola pense que mi psp ya se habia jodido no se como agradecertelo

geniey

December 15th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

hye there.
i need help about my fifa 10(.iso)
i`ve followed ur steps but the error code changed from 80020321 to 80020148.
hope u could help.
thanks.

abdul ahad

December 17th, 2009 at 2:18 am

hi dude
my psp is not running the game after update my psp system software . my games are not in the memory stick . plz plz help me

m4rc0.3

December 17th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

The same f****** problem, i do everything you said but you know what? ….. My saves disapears too!! And everytime i use the select button menu the saves and the ISOs appears again…So, wtf??? Sometimes i can run a game, wipeout pulse for example, once i can running it…..the game does not recognize the save data LOL!! I need help!! Please mtv, pimp my car!!!.

Thanks.

nonane

December 18th, 2009 at 2:46 pm

worked like a charm, tyvm

paul

December 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Thanks so much assassins creed worked as well using the same steps

needshelp

December 26th, 2009 at 2:48 am

hi i have a psp slim version 5.00 M33-6 but kept gettin the couldnt load game error on assassins creed which was an ISO, however i have another game which is CSO and works perfectly fine, i have tried all the settings changes nothing seems to work plzzz any help would be appreciated. thanks

james

December 29th, 2009 at 2:30 am

i had the same problem when upgraded my cfw especially when tryin to run emulators. the problem is the new m33 firmwares do not have the 1.50 kernal in them and they need to be added.

http://forums.qj.net/psp-firmware-discussion/145307-dark_alex-releases-1-5-kernel-5-00-m33.html

myke

January 17th, 2010 at 6:46 pm

hey hwo can i go to recovery mode?
i tried everything but didnt even got to recovery mode dude what do i need?
i have a CFWEnabler here 3.60 ._.

tony

January 21st, 2010 at 11:36 pm

where do i go to configuration settings???

RB

January 30th, 2010 at 10:41 pm

does not work for me my system software is 5.50 Gen-B(full). HELP!

SOHEIL

February 1st, 2010 at 12:10 pm

HEY guys i have psp 5.00 m33-4 , i tried to play naruto shippuden narutimate accel 3 in jap, and it came up witht he error 80020148. i fixed 80020321 but this other one came, how do i fix it? i tried everything from chaning kennel, and umd disc and plugins as well wtf do i do?

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