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How to Fix PSP Problems

The Sony PSP is a popular portable game console that you can take anywhere you go. However, there are three problems--dust and dirt causing the gaming buttons to stick, dust and dirt on the battery contacts interrupting the power flow, and dust and dirt marring the LCD screen--that can ruin the game-playing experience. Fixing these three PSP problems involves removing the dust from where it is lingering on the outside and the inside of the PSP. Do not try to fix the LCD screen problem if you are uncomfortable with opening up the PSP.

Things You'll Need

Soft cloth
Rubbing alcohol
Paper cup
Toothpicks
Washcloth
Compressed air
Utility knife
Phillips jeweler's screwdriver
Camel's hair brush

Instructions

- 1
  Put a soft cloth down on a table. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a paper cup. Put the PSP faceup on the soft cloth. Dip a toothpick in the rubbing alcohol. Score the toothpick around the gaming buttons on the front faceplate of the PSP to remove loose dirt. Discard the toothpick when the end becomes blunt. Dip a new toothpick in the rubbing alcohol, and continue cleaning around the buttons until all of the dirt is gone.
- 2
  Turn the PSP facedown, and put it on the soft cloth. Remove the battery compartment and the battery from the PSP. Put the battery and battery compartment aside.
- 3
  Dip an end of a washcloth into the rubbing alcohol in the paper cup. Blow out the battery compartment with compressed air. Rub the dipped end of the washcloth against the contacts of the battery inside the battery compartment to remove dirt and debris. Let the battery contacts dry. Pour out the rubbing alcohol from the paper cup, and toss the paper cup in the trash.
- 4
  Scratch off the sticker inside of the battery compartment with a utility knife. Remove the screw that is below the sticker using a Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Remove the screws from the bottom plate, from the left and right sides and from the top rim on either side of the disc drive door. Turn the PSP back faceup, and put it on the soft cloth. Pull the faceplate up and off the bottom case of the PSP.
- 5
  Insert the utility knife at the top end, inside of the bottom case, to dislodge the button bar. Pull the button bar out of the bottom case. Remove the cable attached to the circuit board by lifting up on the cable's tab with your fingernail and pulling it straight out. Put the button bar aside.
- 6
  Insert the utility knife between the metal bracket and the LCD on the left side, inside of the bottom case. Wiggle the LCD free of the metal bracket. Push up on the tabs of the metal bracket using the utility knife. Remove the LCD up and off of the bottom case.
- 7
  Remove the LCD's connector cables from the bottom case by pushing up the tabs on each one with your fingernail and then pulling out the cable. Put the LCD down on the clean cloth.
- 8
  Pick up the LCD with your left hand (reverse this if you are a "lefty"). Blow off both sides using compressed air. Gently brush off both sides using a camel's hair brush. Inspect both sides of the LCD for dirt or dust, and repeat the brushing as needed. Blow off both sides of the LCD with the compressed air again.
- 9
  Reassemble the LCD to the bottom case. Reassemble the button bar to the bottom case. Reassemble the faceplate to the bottom case. Insert the battery, and put the battery cover back on. Turn on the PSP, and enjoy using it again now that you have fixed the problems of dirt getting into the PSP.

Sony PSP