Recovery Menu

Most PSP custom firmwares released since 2007 include a recovery menu, typically accessed by using the R button while booting the console or through the CFW's custom VSH in the XMB interface.

Originally limited to little more than launching homebrew from a fixed path without going through the XMB, hence the name, they were later developed to provide a load of customizations to the operating system and/or the CFW itself.

Generally, entering the recovery menu on any PSP CFW will be the same process.

By default, ARK-4 CFW will load the Classic Recovery Menu, which has similar looks and options to the Recovery Menu featured in ME and PRO custom firmware, and is based on PRO's PRO Shell launcher.

While in the XMB interface, press the SELECT button to bring up the VSH menu, then select the 'Recovery Menu' option.
You can also access the recovery menu by holding the right trigger and turning on the console from a fully powered off state.

The various CFWs vary in menu organization, available options, and even implementation of individual ones. The following reference is not based on any single CFW.

Toggle USB

This allows access to your memory stick or other device from recovery mode. (Press X to enable and disable USB mode).

Configuration ->

Skip Sony Logo

Skips the "Sony Computer Entertainment" system start-up animation and sound.

Skip Gameboot

Skips the white "PSP - PlayStation Portable" application start-up video.

Hide corrupt icons

Hides corrupt data files that show under Game Menu.

Hide MAC address

This merely removes the appropriate line the official Settings → System → Information.

Game folder homebrew

Lets you change the kernel for the /PSP/GAME folder between 1.50 and 3.xx kernels.

Autorun program at /PSP/GAME/BOOT/EBOOT.PBP

This allows you to boot up a homebrew application on start up rather then the XMB itself.

UMD Mode

This allows the emulation of UMDs using different drivers.

Normal: the original backup loading method, requires a real UMD to be inserted.
OE isofs: the original discless option originating from the original Dark_AleX CFWs. Poor compatibility.
M33 driver: Modest compatibility.
Sony NP9660: the official PSP PBP mounter, patched to accept the customary PSP disc image formats. Generally excellent compatibility.
ME driver: again, from the homonymous CFW.
Inferno: the newest homebrew software ODE (originating, for good measure, from PRO CFWs); highly customizable in caching policy (applies to 64MB RAM models only in most implementations). Generally excellent compatibility.

Fake Region

Lets you spoof a PSP of different region or even a debug model.

This mainly influences available options on the XMB; only ARK-4 will, on its own, change the region for movie UMDs.

Free UMD Region

Enabling this will allow you to play all region UMD in the UMD Bay.

Hard Reset on Homebrew

When exiting Homebrew, the PSP will turn off instead of booting to the XMB.

Use VshMenu

Enabling this will enable the VshMenu which you can access in normal XMB mode by pressing the HOME button for 3.52 M33 (Select Button on 3.71 M33 or above). This allows you to change some of the settings without entering recovery mode. (CPU Clock speed Xmb/Game, USB Device, UMD MODE and ISO Video mount)

XMB Usb Device

This lets you change what the USB mass storage mode accesses.

Memory Stick: the memory stick, as in normal USB Connection mode.
Flash0: the system files. Be careful!
Flash1: system settings and the currently installed custom theme. (custom_theme.dat is a renamed .pft)
Flash2: mainly PSN activation information.
Flash3: used for holding another custom_theme.dat, which is actually the special theme for limited edition/bundle consoles.
UMD Disc: this works a little differently than the others - instead of allowing direct access to the disc's sectors as the other options do, it simulates a flash drive containing an image of the inserted UMD.

Protect Flash in Usb Mount

Makes the virtual flash drive exposed over USB read-only when the internal storage is selected in the above option.

Charge Battery when USB cable plugged

This allows the PSP to charge whenever a PSP-2000/3000/E1000 is connected using USB. This works at almost any time USB and Wi-Fi are not in use, compared to the official option which only works in "USB Connection" mode on the XMB.

Hide PIC0 & PIC1.PNG in XMB

Disables the "preview" when you hover on a game on the XMB.

Use version.txt

Redirects access to this file in flash0, listing version and build information of the installed firmware, to the Memory Stick.

Hide CFW Dirs from game

Speed Up MS Access

Allows caching of Memory Stick reads.

Run Program at /PSP/GAME/RECOVERY/EBOOT.PBP

This allows you to boot into the RECOVERY folder you may or may not have in GAME.

Traditionally, Programs like rflash or Hellcat's Recovery Flasher have the name RECOVERY and will do things like a fresh new 4.01 M33 install, or restore the original Flash0.

Any other program can be renamed to have this pathThis method works on both Fat and Slims. But if the program installs a new 1.50, it will not work on slims.

Advanced ->

Plain modules in UMD/ISO

This allows certain forms of unsigned code to be run from within an ISO/UMD. There aren't really any practical uses to this function, and it can make some UMDs and ISOs incompatible with your firmware. Developers can use this function to experiment with running homebrew from within an ISO/UMD.

Execute BOOT.BIN in UMD/ISO

This runs BOOT.BIN inside the ISO instead of EBOOT.BIN. Useless unless you're a developer experimenting with the Plain modules in UMD/ISO feature, you shouldn't use this feature; average users have no need to toggle this.

Toggle USB (flash0)

Variants of this option exist for all four NAND partitions, and are supposed to directly allow accessing them - effectively combining #XMB Usb Device and #Toggle USB.

Format Flash1 and reset settings

This allows you to formats flash1 and reset settings. (You will lose your previous settings and will need to re-add them)

CPU Speed

Speed In VSH/XMB

Change Processor/FSB speed for XMB. Particularly useful if you set the speed too low from the VSH menu and are finding it very tedious to raise it again with the XMB running.

Speed In GAME/UMD/ISO

Change Processor/FSB speed for games. Maxing it out at 333/166 is a traditional workaround for slowdown due to the use of compressed disc images.

Plugins

Lets you disable/enable plugins.

Registry Hacks

Button Assign (O or X)

Here you can assign the ENTER button as or if you don't like the default.

Note that most games don't care about this setting, or only do for standard save/load/delete/install/Wi-Fi dialogs.

Activate WMA

This allows you to activate the playback of WMA files under MUSIC in the XMB. Compared to the official option in Settings → System, it does not require pinging Sony servers (presumably for patent enforcement reasons), in turn requiring to take the console online.

Activate Flash Player

This allows you to activate and watch Flash content in the PSP Browser without needing to use the Sony activation server, as above.

Misc

Recovery Text Color

ME CFWs lets you customize the color of the add-on menus. PRO goes for loadable custom fonts instead.

Exit

Exit out of recovery to XMB