PlayStation Portable LCD screen replacement

This is a brief Youtube video that I found very useful when I first started opening up and repairing PlayStation Portable consoles. This video goes through how to open and and replace a LCD screen on a 2000 series PSP. (Slim & Lite)

PSP Advice - Replacing a PSP LCD screen

This post is based on replacing a LCD screen on an original PSP

Again for this you will need your trusty small Flathead screwdriver. Gently on the left hand side slide your screwdriver into the groove between the screen and the LCD housing as pictured below. There are two places to do this, one at the bottom left hand side and again on the top left hand side.

Doing this will pop the tabs on the LCD housing bracket that is holding the LCD screen in place. You will then be able to lift the left hand side of the LCD screen up then gently pull the LCD screen so it comes out of the other side. Once this is done you can tilt the LCD screen so it sits upside down out of the metal LCD housing bracket as pictured below.

The screen is connected to the motherboard by two connector cables, but you have to be careful at this stage so that you do not pull the screen connector cables from there clips. This could damage both the screen cables and the clips on the motherboard, then a simple repair turns into a major one.

The larger cable flex is for the screen itself, the smaller one is for the back light. With your Flathead screwdriver lift the connector clips and this will then release the LCD screen. Again be gentle doing this, too much pressure and you could damage the clip.

If you are replacing your LCD screen simply take the new one out of the packet, place the screen cable flex's back in the connectors, the back light cable flex needs gently pushing in with the screwdriver, if you look closely at one it has little arms on the side which you can use just to slide in. Once the cables are in just do the reverse of above instructions and you will then have a fully functioning PlayStation Portable. If you are removing the screen to carry out another repair, place the screen face down on the PSP faceplate, this will then keep it free of dust and scratches etc.

PSP Advice - Removing The PSP Button Bar

The button bar is the silver strip along the bottom of your LCD screen which enables you when the faceplate is intact to press the home, volume, screen darkness, mute, select and start buttons. If for some reason one of them particular buttons is not working you will need to replace the button bar. Generally though if you want to do any repairs on your PSP such as replacing a broken LCD screen you will need to remove the button bar anyway.

As you look face down as per the picture above, at your PlayStation Portable, you will need your small Flathead screwdriver just to gently slide underneath the button bar and slowly lift up until it comes away from the LCD housing plate.

The button bar has flex cable attached which is connected at the above point on the PSP power switch board, all you need to do is gently lift the connector clip and pull out the button bars flex cable, again use the small Flathead screwdriver the lift the clip. These connector clips can break easily if you use excessive force, so do take your time. Once you have unclipped the button bar, put it in a safe place and then you can continue on to remove the LCD screen.

How To Open A PSP (2000 series)

This is based on opening up a 2000 series PlayStation Portable.

Much is the same as opening a 1000 series PlayStation Portable, there are still seven screws you need to remove although not in the same positions as the forementioned 1000 series.

There are only two screws in the battery compartment, pictured below

There are a further two screws at the top of the console

One on the bottom

and lastly two more on the other side of the UMD door.

So there are the seven screws, again the only tool you need to remove these screws is a Phillips 000 screwdriver. Once you have removed the above screws you can remove the front faceplate and then continue to do whichever repair is required, of these I intend to go through in more detail in future posts.

What Tools Do You Need To Open Up A Sony PlayStation Portable

There are not a great deal of tools you need in truth, but they do have to be the right tools. When opening a PSP I use for every single screw a Phillips 000 screwdriver. Another tool I use is a small flat headed screwdriver, this has to have a real thin head as this enables to you to gently prise out the LCD screen and open up the various connector clips etc.

You have to spend a bit of money on getting the right screwdrivers, you need to be wary of sets that are too cheap. When first starting out I purchased a PSP opening kit off EBay for about £1.99 and I ended up stripping screws, unable then to get them out. Not a good start when you cannot even open up the console. Now there are ways of removing stripped screws but you can risk further damaging your PSP.

So the Phillips 000 and the small Flathead screwdrivers are generally the only tools I use, but there other items that come in handy, such as

a can of compressed air (good for getting dust of the screen and for cleaning a UMD drive unit)

a cleaning cloth (you can purchase these off EBay for low prices, this enables you to wipe your front faceplate screen without scratching or marking it)

and

sellotape (this is just so you can keep your screws together and remember where they came from. The PSP has various screws and all have a specific place, the last thing you want do is loose some or forget where they go)

In general there is not a great deal you need, just take your time and you too can open up a PSP.

How To Open a PlayStation Portable (1000 series)

This post is based on opening up an original PSP console (1000 series)

There are seven screws that will need to be un-done for you to open up your Sony PlayStation Portable device. First of all put your console screen side down on a soft and clean surface as pictured to the left (to avoid scratches to the faceplate screen)and also ensure there is no memory stick or UMD in your device before starting.

There are four screws in the battery compartment, you will need to remove the battery cover and of course the battery, once completed you will see two of the four screws. You then need to remove the warranty sticker which is generally the smaller of the two stickers that you find in the battery compartment. Underneath the warranty sticker you find the other two screws.

If your PSP is still under warranty then please do not remove the sticker, as it will make the warranty void. If you have an issue with your PlayStation Portable and it is under warranty then you can send it to Sony and they should sort the problem with no charge, send it back with the warranty sticker removed or tampered and they will charge you to have it fixed and I can imagine that would not be cheap.

There are another two screws on the other side of the UMD door, please note these two are generally the trickiest screws to remove as there are deeper within the back faceplate, you need to use a longer arm screwdriver or you risk damaging the back of your PSP.

The last screw is on the bottom of the console. Once you have removed all seven of this screws you can then gently remove the front faceplate, this will then reveal the actual LCD screen and power switch board etc.

It is important to keep all your screws organised so you know where each of them belong, otherwise your PSP will not go back together correctly.

Also try not to be to forceful when removing the screws, if you do the screw head will loose shape and you may not be able to get it out at all. This also applies when putting the screws back in.

Hope this has been of some help.