Hobbies And Interests
Software Problems
Downloading the latest firmware update will solve almost all of the PSP's software problems. The procedure for updating is very straightforward: start your PSP and navigate to the "Game" icon. Move down to find the "PSP Update" option. Press the "X" button, and the PSP will download the latest update to the system's firmware. Note that you have to be connected to the Internet through a wireless hub in order for this process to work correctly. There are other ways to get the updates, particularly if your PSP is "bricked," which means that it simply will not start, and you can find a link to these other ways in the Resources section.
Button Problems
Most of the PSP's button problems are caused by dirty button contacts. Luckily, you can easily clean these yourself. Remove the faceplate and wipe down the contacts with a piece of cloth. Removing the faceplate involves simply unscrewing five screws: two on the back of the PSP, two underneath the battery and one on the bottom edge. With the faceplate off, pull each button up gently and carefully wipe the contact underneath with a dry or barely damp cloth. Do not use alcohol to clean the contacts as it will often damage the LCD screen.
Memory Stick Problems
The PSP's memory stick slot is also known to cause many problems as the console ages. These are usually hardware problems: the small plastic tongs on the stick itself come loose and prevent the card from being read. If this occurs, remove any loose by simply pulling them off. Do not worry about damaging the stick since the tongs do not affect the memory at all. If your PSP still cannot recognize or read the memory stick, copy all of its data to a PC. Format the memory stick and recopy the data. This is a particularly easy solution if you have recently updated your firmware, which occasionally causes compatibility problems with older save games.
Speaker Problems
The PSP earphone jack's fragility often causes the PSP speakers to malfunction. Make sure that there are no foreign particles or broken pieces of the earphones inside the plug receptor. Use a small toothpick or other nonmetal tool to remove anything that might be there. Also, inserting and removing the earphone plug a number of times can cause the PSP to reset its speaker settings, which will start the speakers again if your PSP still thinks you have earplugs inserted. Updating the firmware is another way to treat this problem, as many sound issues have been addressed in some of the latest patches.