Gaming Health Taking Care of Your PSP
The PSP is a great handheld device; it has lots of games, great controls and can do a lot of other things (browse the web, play music and videos, etc). But as with many electronic devices, the PSP has its own share of problems. And for those who want to be able to take care of their Sony gaming device, here are a few good tips on how to ensure that the Playstation Portable runs without any issues.
First off, use a screen protector! This may seem like a small thing, but it helps a lot. In the event that the external screen gets scratched, players have the option of purchasing a new PSP face plate, but this is expensive and requires you to take apart the device. A screen protector saves players from this trouble and also makes the screen a lot easier to clean.
For those with plenty of dust inside the screen, it is possible to take out the faceplate. This is done by turning off the device, and removing the battery. From the back, players can access the screws that hold the front plate in place. Be sure to also clean the areas under the buttons and contact points as well. Be careful when placing the plate back as the positions of the control buttons and analog nub must be aligned with the contact points on the device (to ensure that the controls will stay responsive).
In order to make sure that the software runs properly, it is important that players use official Magic Gate Memory Stick Pro Duos for the PSP. To check this, simply highlight the memory stick icon from the XMB and press triangle. This will bring out a menu that allows you to check the memory sticks properties, check here if the Magic Gate settings show verified (as opposed to unknown). To ensure that the stick is original, it is best to purchase directly from an official Sony retail store.
Speaking of the memory stick, players should often back up player data. This is quite easy as the PSP itself can be hooked up directly to a computer (thanks to the mini-USB port on top of the device). To enable the connection, go to the last menu on the left of the XMB and select USB connectivity. The PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder is where all the game saves are stored so it is crucial that players back this up frequently. Use your computers safely remove USB device command prior to disabling USB connectivity from the PSP. Also, it is recommended to set the power button on lock status while transferring files.
Overall, the PSP is hardly prone to any software issues. Sony provides constant firmware updates for the PSP to provide users with new features, better security and to remove any existing bugs in the system. When updating your firmware, be sure that your battery is at least 75% full and it is most recommended to update while connected to a wall outlet (to ensure that the system does not lose power during this critical process). So far, the updates do not seem to be region locked (using a US update on a Japanese unit does not interfere with performance), but it is still recommended that players use a firmware update designed specifically for the region of their device.
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