You can call 1-800-345-SONY and they will fix it for free. You will have to pay to have it shipped to them ($15). I have had to send mine back two or three times, which is a pain, but at least they do it for free. If you have opened the unit by removing or cutting the stickers on the sides then you have vboided your warranty and Sony will probably not fix it. Still worth a try though. My PSP stopped reading UMDs and Sony sent me a brand new one. My old PSP had knicks and scratches all over it and they still sent me a new one.