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How to install VHBL (Re-Birth) Bubble
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logo   How to install VHBL (Re-Birth) Bubble [Outdated!]


Working for Firmwares: 3.00 - 3.52

PlayStationTV compatible: Yes


Difficulty: Hard

Time: approx. 25 min


Credits: Mr.Gas, Major_Tom, qwikrazor87, Hykem, Proxima & tpunix

Requirements:
  • VHBL Bubble files VHBL_bubble_DISTRIB.zip (506kb)
  • DB Browser for SQLite 3.7.0 and FileZilla
  • SignFakeNPExpert.rar (342kb)
  • A registered e-mail account on your Vita
  • any installed Basegame (PSP Game) of your choice
  • QCMA

  • Note: This method is temporary and you will need to reinstall the modified app.db after a database rebuilding.


    1 1 1


    As it seems alot of people can't get this to work!

    Please understand that this is not an easy trick. It may work and then again not. Please consider this, following the tutorial.



    Note: Make a CMA backup of your Basegame first!


    Step 1: Dumping your app.db file



    1) Send yourself an e-mail with the following support_uri as link:

    email:send?attach=ur0:shell/db/app.db.

    2) Open your E-mail App on the Vita, wait for the mail and click on the link

    themes themes

    3) Now just type in your e-mail address again and send back this e-mail with the app.db file as attachment. You will notice the E-Mail app close itself, thats normal and supposed to happen! :)





    4) Retrieve the dumped app.db file with your PC's e-mail client and just leave it on your desktop for now..

    app.db


    Step 2: Dumping/Downloading your basegame (EBOOT.PBP)



    To install a custom re-birth bubble we need to once again sign the homebrew we want to use with a basegame. In order to sign it we need to dump our installed basegame from the Vita first.

    So which is the best Basegame to go with? Basically every full PSP game should work (no Minis/PS1 games). Just make sure to pick a small one like Numblast, UNO or similar.


    Note: I'm going with the Game Numblast (NPEG00011) for this tutorial.



    method 1: If you have VHBL, ARK, VitaFTP or whatever running already



    method 2: If you have no exploit game and no access to VHBL/ARK




    EBOOT.PBP

    Rename it to its titleID for example, NPEG00011.PBP


    Step 3: Installing your signed Homebrew and VHBL savegame



    5) Download SignFakeNPExpert.rar as well as VHBL_bubble_DISTRIB.zip and extract both if you haven't already



    6) Drag&drop the basegame's NPEG00011.PBP and our vhbl.iso into the appropriate fields

    signnp

    (Alternatively move the Basegame PBP to the bases folder for later use.)


    Note: If you want a custom bootscreen select a STARTDAT.PNG! (samples here!)

    STARTDAT.PNG sample


    7) Tick use Fakenp Mode, hit the small saveicon and save your successfully fake-signed VHBL- EBOOT.PBP

    EBOOT.PBP





    Step 4: Installing your signed Homebrew and VHBL savegame



    8) Take the VHBL01234 savegame and move it to your CMA directory

    vitaftp


    9) Create a new folder in said savegame, called vhbl or whatever and copy the signed EBOOT.PBP into it.


    ms0:/PSP/SAVEDATA/VHBL01234/vhbl/EBOOT.PBP

    equals

    ux0:pspemu/PSP/SAVEDATA/VHBL01234/vhbl/EBOOT.PBP



    10) And transfer the savegame via QCMA to your Vita. (Note: Sony's official CMA will NOT work!)

    vitaftp




    Step 5: Modifying the app.db file



    11) Back on the PC we can now start the SqliteBrowser, open our app.db file..

    sqlitebrowser

    ..go to Browse Data and select tbl_appinfo from the dropdown menu.


    sqlitebrowser2


    12) Sort by titleID and search for your basegames titleID

    sqlitebrowser3


    13) Apply the following changes:


    Change the Category (key:566916785) to "mba"

    Change the location (key:3022202214) to "vs0:app/NPXS10028/eboot.bin"

    Change the path (key:2593862978) to:

    originalpath=ux0:pspemu/psp/savedata/VHBL01234/vhbl&selfpath=ux0:pspemu/psp/savedata/VHBL01234/vhbl/EBOOT.PBP&discid=(TitleID_of_Basegame)&parentallevel=3&gamedataid=&appver=00.00&bootable=1&category=EG


    Example:

    example



    14) When you're done hit Write Changes and close the programm.




    Step 6: Changing the Bubbles appearance



    15) Simply put a customized PBOOT.PBP file next to the basegame in PSP/GAME/ via the mail installer. (Just like with the old Bubbles)


    Here is a VHBL pboot: Download
    (don't forget to hex edit the gameID to match your BaseGame)


    Step 7: (Re)Installing the modified app.db file



    16) The very first thing to do now is to simply rename the 'app.db' file to '#0' without any file-ending!




    17) Now we are going to write a new e-mail with the #0-file as attachment and the path we want the file to be installed as Subject. Send it to your vita!


    ur0:shell/db/app.db



    18) If everything worked right you should see a camera symbol. Touch it and DO NOT click OK on the appearing Error Message but simply close the e-mail app completely!

    emailapp_writefile emailapp_writefile


    19) Restart your Vita and your custom re-birth bubble should be set up! Done!




    If the bubble auto exits after the bootscreen, the signing process has failed or the .iso file may be corrupt!

    Try with another basegame or with this 100% working VitaFTP.iso first.

    If an error appears the activation of your Basegame may got corrupted!

    Redownload / recopy from a CMA backup and try again.



    Alternatively: Video Tutorial by Radwan Sh via youtube






    Downloads


    SignToolbySkiller104.rar (3.45MB)

    VHBL_bubble_DISTRIB.zip (506KB)

    [Collection] Custom STARTDAT.PNG BootScreens (via hackinformer.com)



    FAQ & Troubleshooting



    My Vita performs a database refresh when restarting at the last step.

    This means the app.db got corrupted somehow. Restart at Step 5


    My Bubble didn't change its appearance?!

    Refresh the database by removing the memory stick.


    My Bubble says: Cannot start this application?!

    Try redo the whole process or use a diferent BaseGame.


    My Bubble starts but exits after I see the startdat.png?!

    The signing process failed. Retry or use a different BaseGame.


    My e-mail shows a [?] instead of the photo symbol?!

    Try resetting the Vita's mail account or resend the mail.




    Last updated:
    November 4, 2019