UPDATE: The toolset is now back to normal operation so this guide is no longer necessary. It's kept only for archival purposes.
After the mitmproxy method failed to work with a weird 401 error, I finally managed to get it working.
The reason for the 401 error is because if the client browser does not support gzip and deflate encoding, bgtoolset's server, for some unknown reasons, will fail to set a proper session cookie on the first request. Subsequent requests then fail because the cookie is missing.
Here's how to work around the issue:
WARNING!
I only tested it up to the point of the tool being loaded and the system manager page opening and showing the correct data. I did not actually try to flash CFW because I don't have a system that's not already modded.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN, EVEN IF YOUR CONSOLE IS BRICKED AND YOUR HOUSE CATCHES FIRE!!!
EDIT: @derefd has found a way to configure mitmproxy to do the same, which allows doing this on Linux as well and may be easier for some. See their method here.
0) Before you begin make sure you have the PS3 clock updated to the correct time.
1) Download and install Fiddler 4.6 from the link below. It's freeware and not time limited.
Fiddler 4.6 Download (Free) - Fiddler.exe (informer.com)
(Version 5 might or might not work, dkdc).
2) Run it, open the "File" menu and untick "Capture Traffic" so it doesn't start logging every request from your own computer.
3) Tools -> Fiddler Options.
4) On the "HTTPS" tab, select "Capture HTTPS CONNECTs" and "Decrypt HTTPS traffic". Confirm the warning that appears.
5) On the "Connections" tab, note the listening port (should be 8888, doesn't really matter if it isn't just remember what the port number is), then tick the "Allow remote computers to connect" box. Accept the warning.
6) Close Fiddler.
7) Open the following folder:
C:\Users\<your_user_name>\Documents\Fiddler\Scripts
(If it doesn't exist it might be called "Fiddler2" or "Fiddler4").
9) Extract the attached file using 7zip or WinRAR into that folder and overwrite the existing file (you might want to back it up somewhere first).
10) Open Fiddler again, and make sure "File -> Capture Traffic" is not ticked.
11) From the "Rules" menu, tick "Remove All Encodings" and "Force accept encoding GZIP and Deflate". Make sure everything else is unticked.
12) Go to your PS3 and on XMB go to Settings -> Network Settings -> Internet Connection Settings.
13) Select "Custom" as the setting method, then go through the configuration normally, until you reach the proxy configuration option.
14) Select the option to use a proxy, and then fill your computer's IP address as the proxy and Fiddler's listening port (the one you saw on step 5) as the port.
15) Finish the wizard and test your Internet connection.
16) Fire up the browser and go to www.ps3toolset.com
17) Confirm the SSL warning that shows up (that's expected, it's because Fiddler is using a self signed certificate).
18) The tool should now load.
19) If downloading the patch through HTTP fails, here are links to download them manually.
For 4.91 - https://mega.nz/file/TJk2iBKZ#5kAmElEU4AKiBsGZcXOb7dp1ceTsyxDnoFUIXSNI5uk
For 4.80 - 4.90 - Download this and extract the file corresponding to your version -
https://mega.nz/file/2EsR2YSK#X8-ZpyzadDhiWpBzJXcVXIvbvbYu6fKkl9RrdG5nDXA
For 4.71 - 4.79 - Sorry but I don't have the proper files. Update to 4.80+
20) After you're done patching, be sure to return to the Internet Connection Settings and remove the proxy, then you can close Fiddler.
21) Please like this message, and also comment if it worked for you so I can have a count.
Thank you @DippyLychrono and @Fukurowa for confirming that this method actually works all the way. I'm still not responsible if anyone else bricks their console though.
After the mitmproxy method failed to work with a weird 401 error, I finally managed to get it working.
The reason for the 401 error is because if the client browser does not support gzip and deflate encoding, bgtoolset's server, for some unknown reasons, will fail to set a proper session cookie on the first request. Subsequent requests then fail because the cookie is missing.
Here's how to work around the issue:
WARNING!
I only tested it up to the point of the tool being loaded and the system manager page opening and showing the correct data. I did not actually try to flash CFW because I don't have a system that's not already modded.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN, EVEN IF YOUR CONSOLE IS BRICKED AND YOUR HOUSE CATCHES FIRE!!!
EDIT: @derefd has found a way to configure mitmproxy to do the same, which allows doing this on Linux as well and may be easier for some. See their method here.
0) Before you begin make sure you have the PS3 clock updated to the correct time.
1) Download and install Fiddler 4.6 from the link below. It's freeware and not time limited.
Fiddler 4.6 Download (Free) - Fiddler.exe (informer.com)
(Version 5 might or might not work, dkdc).
2) Run it, open the "File" menu and untick "Capture Traffic" so it doesn't start logging every request from your own computer.
3) Tools -> Fiddler Options.
4) On the "HTTPS" tab, select "Capture HTTPS CONNECTs" and "Decrypt HTTPS traffic". Confirm the warning that appears.
5) On the "Connections" tab, note the listening port (should be 8888, doesn't really matter if it isn't just remember what the port number is), then tick the "Allow remote computers to connect" box. Accept the warning.
6) Close Fiddler.
7) Open the following folder:
C:\Users\<your_user_name>\Documents\Fiddler\Scripts
(If it doesn't exist it might be called "Fiddler2" or "Fiddler4").
9) Extract the attached file using 7zip or WinRAR into that folder and overwrite the existing file (you might want to back it up somewhere first).
10) Open Fiddler again, and make sure "File -> Capture Traffic" is not ticked.
11) From the "Rules" menu, tick "Remove All Encodings" and "Force accept encoding GZIP and Deflate". Make sure everything else is unticked.
12) Go to your PS3 and on XMB go to Settings -> Network Settings -> Internet Connection Settings.
13) Select "Custom" as the setting method, then go through the configuration normally, until you reach the proxy configuration option.
14) Select the option to use a proxy, and then fill your computer's IP address as the proxy and Fiddler's listening port (the one you saw on step 5) as the port.
15) Finish the wizard and test your Internet connection.
16) Fire up the browser and go to www.ps3toolset.com
17) Confirm the SSL warning that shows up (that's expected, it's because Fiddler is using a self signed certificate).
18) The tool should now load.
19) If downloading the patch through HTTP fails, here are links to download them manually.
For 4.91 - https://mega.nz/file/TJk2iBKZ#5kAmElEU4AKiBsGZcXOb7dp1ceTsyxDnoFUIXSNI5uk
For 4.80 - 4.90 - Download this and extract the file corresponding to your version -
https://mega.nz/file/2EsR2YSK#X8-ZpyzadDhiWpBzJXcVXIvbvbYu6fKkl9RrdG5nDXA
For 4.71 - 4.79 - Sorry but I don't have the proper files. Update to 4.80+
20) After you're done patching, be sure to return to the Internet Connection Settings and remove the proxy, then you can close Fiddler.
21) Please like this message, and also comment if it worked for you so I can have a count.
Thank you @DippyLychrono and @Fukurowa for confirming that this method actually works all the way. I'm still not responsible if anyone else bricks their console though.
Last edited:
