VLOG - Sony PSP (PSP1003) UMD Quick Fix (Not Detecting Discs) 

there was an app that would output video via usb to pc, required a companion app on the pc, latency was good enough for most driving or platformer games. Can't remember the name of it though but you had to be running cfw

RemoteJoy

Thanks =D

Hi there, Mine is a PSP 1004. The same symptoms. But different problem. The little switch you mention at minute 12:00 on the video is missing. I managed to mess with it with a small screw driver and the lens moves and turns red. Does anyone know, or done a replacement for that small switch? does it require soldening? thanks

​@@ruipereira7096if your talking about the lil black buttons when u close the door then yes apparently they r soldered

a quick slow fix XD

Yes. the 1000's do feel better built - more weight to them! I love the cost reduce models as well, but clearly not as nice plastic.

It's hard to go back to the 1000. Compared to the 3000 it has a way mushier dpad and blurry motion on the display. And it's quite a lot heavier too.

Yes, I do agree after spending some time with the 1000 - the d-pad sucks compared to the 3000! Although I like the display on both tbh, granted the original is a bit slower update.

He knows his stuff!

Thanks! =D

Thanks =D Certainly don't throw them away! The NDS will SHOOT up in value at some point. There are many now with broken screens and broken hinges etc. Certainly keep it, despite its current low value. The same will happen with the Wii - they are extremely cheap at the moment, but in 5 or 10 years...

Yeah, well after further inspection, the GBC has a dead battery that still holds enough power to get me through the initial loading but powers itself off once it reaches the "press start" splash screen, but considering it's simple '90s tech, I think it just needs 2 new AA batteries to work again. The GBASP needs some pins clearing because it takes a few tries to get the cartridges to load, but other than that it's working fine and it's just a shame that my NES edition only came as an AGS-001 as far as I know, but still it's not a big deal for me. The NDS has something wrong with the "top loader" slot as it's a bit hard to slide games in (as if there's something making extra friction) and the games don't load, while the GBA slot on the bottom and everything else work fine. I'll look into it one day. The PSP also has a dead battery apparently, because even if it says it's fully charged, it only holds up for a few minutes and the port where you plug the AC adaptor is a bit loose aswell as I have to hold it in a certain way to get power through. I found a 3rd party company called "Cameronsino" that sells new batteries for a number of consoles (I believe they have batteries for post 2007 Nintendo products aswell) and prices are quite cheap so I ordered one and called it a day. I also spent the day updating all my emulators running on it, so I have pretty much the entire libraries of every console I can't afford to start collecting for. A group photo: abload.de/img/wp_20180816_10_58_30_rbc8u.jpg

That NDS slot - probably a bent pin (I did a video on that). The PSP power connector probably needs replacing / resoldering - that can lead you to think the battery is bad when the DC jack makes a bad connection.

Haha =D I almost swapped the laser out too! It seems reasonably common - I have had a number of people tell me it fixed theirs too!

Lol I’m subbed to you vince😂 and I found you on a PSP video😂

Hehe =D I have a screw map - in my head lol. Doing what you've suggested is a wise move - especially on something with dozens of different screws!

Yes, similarly small too! Incredible they can make mechanisms so complex that tiny.

I'm pretty sure they are one and the same (or near as damn it)

The UMD discs are smaller than MD’s and the laser output from a minidisc is invisible to the human eye and not red.

Andrew Littleboy IIRC, UMD is largely based on the DVD specification in the same way that GameCube discs were only it's a slightly more complex variant.

Thanks, yes - you're correct! I think the video out only works on the 2000! Lovely machines though =D

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods: They're brilliant, mate, moddable, cheap, and the games....so many awesome titles, and damn cheap too! What's not to like? Your videos are awesome, always immediately open them as soon as they appear. I play on the PSP way more than I play on my DS, just superior in every way. I don't mind the analog nub either, it works ok, and the screen....oh that screen! Wow. I've got the component video cable too, works great but it's windowed, as the resolution is way below HD

=D as always!

Glad it helped =D

Great, glad you sorted it =D

​@@GadgetUK164how do I fix mine

Thanks =D

Try cleaning the laser lens with a cotton bud and some IPA. If it still struggling (slow loading) - it probably needs a new laser or complete drive assembly (they come witht the laser fitted).

It's probably easier to replace the drive completely. For around £15 you can buy a complete drive for a PSP. It's very fiddly taking it all to pieces though!

Yes, my mistake - I think the 2000 was the only model that could output component RGB. =/

=D

Cool use for the IR there lol

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods if you’re interested, I have a duff version 2 of the PSP (the screen works but is damaged). If you want to raid it for parts (especially the nub as it’s black) I’m more than happy to send it your way..!

Thanks for the offer =D

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods how do you PM on RU-vid..?!

You cannot PM any more - they removed the feature! It's OK, I meant - thanks for the offer, but there's no need to send it =D

You would need to replace the switch somehow! If its the one on the drive unit, just replace the drive.

Glad it helped

They are great with CFW - loads of emulator support as you say =D I really like the screens on these, although the d-pad sucks imo.

If the "door closed switch" is broken, its simply a case of shorting the 2 switch contacts where they connect on the board. The PSP will then think the door is always closed, but that may cause problems when you eject the UMD disc - no idea...

@@GadgetUK164 oh ok is there maybe like a usb over ride by chance?

You could try contact cleaner (spray carefully into the switch - try and mask off around it so it doesnt go all over the place). Alternatively you may need to replace the switch, or strip it down to try and clean the contacts.

Molykote EM-30L (just a synthetic grease - you could use any brand of lithium grease).

@@GadgetUK164 thank you!

I wouldnt risk it - you are likely to damage the PCB. If you could somehow "cut" the solder blob, yes that would work - provided there's a gap between the 2 pads on the PCB.

It could be the laser is failing, it could be dust or fluff in there or the lens needing a clean. Or maybe you have a similar issue where the motor worm bar thing (not very technical lol) needs some grease?

@@GadgetUK164 thanks for the reply, I'll check and will see if it works again 😏👊

It might have been an MD-Data drive.

Glad it helped!

I would say yes if you use a CFW - there are loads of emulators that can run on the PSP, and the UMD movies are cool and really cheap to buy.

God damn it, it really worked. Very big thanks for the advice. Just goes to show that sometimes Northern grit works sometimes.

Yes, pretty hard to work on due to everything being so small lol

=/ Maybe swap the drive with a new one!

@@GadgetUK164 not the drive, both door sensor switch and UMD drive switch are bad. Replace both or get another motherboard.

If that didn't work, the best way forward would be for you to carefully strip it right down and replace the drive (you can buy new drive assemblies on eBay / AliExpress).

@@GadgetUK164 thank you :) ✌

It sounds like you have a fault somewhere - maybe a bad solder point under one of the ICs or faulty RAM maybe...

You won't find a working one for £5 on eBay! Working they tend to sell for £40+ Lots start at 99p and end up £30 to £40. Thanks but very unlikely I will get to 100,000 subs lol! TBH, I think the videos that are coming up will be some of my last.

No, you won't find one on eBay for that price - Shpock or Gumtree is a good cheap source. You won't believe what you might find on there locally. Well, even if you quit you may end up getting more based on people looking for fixes :) It'll be a shame if you do. I enjoy sitting down watching your stuff.I still don't understand why people watch soaps on TV or something like that. Seems a waste of life and nobody learns anything to better themselves... You can make a nice buck fixing retro stuff and get an amazing sense of achievement out of it. I'm putting a thumbs down on that comment as I don't want you to go! hahah =0)

Hehe, thanks =D Just burnt out with the gas lighting from some channels and stuff. When you've got 10,000 subscribers and only 10% watch your videos, and out of that 10% only 10% of them leave a comment or a feedback - what's the point? Just a time consuming job - I can do better things with my time I think. If you are enjoying doing YT and its not hard work, its a different thing. But repairs take hours and the rewards do not make it worthwhile. YT can work for you if you are a really interesting person that people want to engage with - that's not me unfortunately.

"Burnt out with the gas lighting" I love the pun lol... I had to Google that meaning and it sounds quite sinister. Jesus. Does that really go on? Passive aggressiveness is just as bad. I guess it's kind of a fight for a spot in the technical side on here to some? I think if you love doing what you do bud, then just do it. Don't worry about money, views or trolls. If I did it would destroy me. I had to make that decision quite early on and the amount of time I have dictates how creative I can be... I could be better but I don't get any monetisation still and my team have no editing skills or wanting to do what I do anyway - again, I love what we do, we have some amazing viewers (you're one of them) and Big Balls, Horse and Jamie are great guys... so I have to just settle and be happy hahaha.You're a lovely bloke and have helped us out a lot! Your live interview was really funny and you have a dry but quick sense of humor, you make the effort to pop on even though I wonder why looool... Fuck the haters mate. 10,000 subs is massive too, so you're doing something right! It sounds like the gas lighting is working and you're where they want you!I'm sure people are watching, they just don't comment because you're answering the questions they have in-video or people who have already commented may have already asked?... Still, it's your choice I guess. Just trying to help and think outside the box for you.

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods I would actually say you're one of the best and most talented retro gaming enthusiasts on RU-vid. Your skills and knowledge with electronics are an inspiration. It's just a shame that not enough people appreciate content like this.

I love the quality of them too - really nice! Although, I must say the d-pad on the 1000 sucks a bit... The d-pad on the 3000 seems better to me.

I've only ever touched the one I have, which is a 3000 model. I'd love to get my hands on a Vita as well but despite their lack luster reputation, they hold their value like diamond!

Hehe, yes - I've got my eyes on the Vita at the moment, but as you say - they hold their value.

A decent one will be 90 - 120 euros. You can probably locate one with an easy-to-fix problem Chris.

Do you know if that's fixable?

Nobelynx if you can find the trigger part for it then I guess so

Either the switch that detects the drive is closed isn't working, or the laser cannot see the disc.

Could also be the motor (or its driver) has failed - but less likely.

You cannot erase them! But you can scratch them (like CDs or DVDs).

@@GadgetUK164 so then my umd still works

If it is still not reading discs - have you done what I did to trick the lid switch to see if the laser bobs up and down, do you see the red laser? It might just need a new laser unit!

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods (BTW I meant e-1000) thanks for the answer. That's probably what I'll end up doing, but I was wondering if there was a way to fixing it myself. I tried moving the rail thing like you did after putting some lube but nothing changed

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods It does go up and down, and it doesn't seem like it's old therefore bad light. One thing I realised though which I don't know if it's normal, is that the light kinda goes out of focus sometimes

GadgetUK164 - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods also, I think the problem is that it doesn't move on the rail smoothly I really don't know

You could try adding some lithium grease to the rail to see if that helps. Alternatively it may have a damaged or missing tooth on one of the gears that drives the carriage.

my psp have this problem

I used Molykote EM-30L grease, and smeared it with a jewlers screw driver - you could use a cotton swab or something similar - perhaps cut the cotton part off the end of the swap...

eBay or AliExpress!

The switch I pressed down fools the PSP into thinking theres a disc in. At that point it's common for the laser to move all the way across before the focus bobs up and down. Although in some systems it perhaps doesnt move across to track 0 until the laser is able to focus on a disc. Many other systems do work like that though. Never the less, the carriage not being able to move was the problem! Gears had just seized.

@@GadgetUK164 I insert my mud and it tries to read but it just makes clicking sounds and never ends up reading it do you know what's wrong?

Umd

Do you get no sound from the speakers and the headphone socket too?

@@GadgetUK164 bro just works over headphones not over speaker.!?

@@gagy5293 Sounds like the speaker is faulty then, or a bad connection on the cable. It could also be aa capacitor that couples to signal, but my bet is on the speaker itself.

@@GadgetUK164 OK bro!

Hehe, that's true - modern stuff just isn't designed to be serviced like it used to be.

It won't fix everyones PSP, but its worth checking the carriage has not jammed like mine did - more often than not the laser will need swapping out.

Thanks, yes - you're correct! =/

Thanks =D Yes, I've seen previously that Louis sells it =D

It might be those games have some dirt on the discs (or scratches), or it could be that the laser is worn and struggling with certain discs?

Dude same my gta lcs doesn't work and its the only game i have

Hehe =D Yes, Vince has that ability - to make you want to go fix things yourself =D PSPs are great - so affordable at the moment, very powerful and nicely designed!

If the laser is not showing red it probably needs a new laser. You could replace the drive mechanism (which has a laser fitted) - like the one I showed towards the end of the video. It just means dissassembling it futher to swap the unit over.