Also please read the whole thing before starting, You'll really help yourself outSo you've dropped your vita on its face and broken the touchscreen/OLED?
Step 1 - Buy a replacement screen
Believe it or not this can be the hardest step to repairing your vita as it is very difficult to actually find the screen the original PS Vita uses and even if you do find an OLED replacement the whole front piece of the vita is glued to the sheet of plastic on the front so taking it apart is a nightmare and requires baking your vita. (No joke)
But lucky for you, you've got me to help you out!
The website I'd recommend is consolereparatie.eu as they sell the font panel complete with an OEM OLED and touchscreen in it. Now the website is in dutch so you might want to use Google chrome for the webpage translation feature. If you don't live in the Netherlands (which i'm assuming no one reading this is) you'll have to email them at info@consolereparatie.eu to get it shipped to where you live but they do ship internationally so you should be covered. Also you can email them in English
Step 2 - Replace the screen
To actually perform the replacement you will need a Philips #00 screwdriver (they're super cheap from eBay) for all of the screws. PS Vita is assembled in the manufacturing process starting with the front panel and working from front to back so to replace the front panel you must completely take the Vita apart and reassemble it in the replacement.
A good way to see how the vita comes apart is to watch a video or take a look the the ifixit teardown but I'd like to add my own instructions:
• Disassembly starts from the back - there are 4 obvious screws by the corners on the back of the vita but there are also 2 hidden ones under the cover next to the game slot cover and 2 at the bottom either side of the charging port. You must remove all 6 screws to open the vita
• You can use your fingernails to gently pry the vita open. I found it easiest to start at the bottom of the the L and R buttoms
• The Vita's back should be opened like its hinged at the bottom as there are 2 ribbons cables for the battery and back touch panel connected to the motherboard
• Remove the ribbon cables between the main motherboard and button boards. Also don't forget the cables for the camera, L and R buttons and power switch! The catches the ribbons cables connect all sort-of pop up to release the cable and you can do this with your fingernails or a small flat head screwdriver. Just be gentle
• Unscrew the blue screws and remove the metal plates keeping the green motherboards it
• Remove green motherboards. It's important to note that although the green motherboards are scr..ed down there are tiny clips the hold it down around the edges so just push them away a little and boards with come right out
• Remove face buttons. Just push them through from the other side, it's like a quick time event for real life :O
• Remove analogs sticks. Unlike the buttons they're scr..ed to the front panel
• Remove black plastic holding the L and R buttons in place and remove L and R but leave the soft switches for now
• Remove the pink screws and lift up the camera to reveal a hidden screw holding the motherboard and a plastic piece down (leave the camera attached to the mother board though). Take out the blue motherboard and don't forget the tiny clips around the edges. Also be careful as there is a ribbon cable for the screen on the bottom of the borad
• Take off the top strip that holds the power and volume buttons
• Peel of the switches for the L and R buttons, making sure to get right under the whole switch as it can split into two. (Splitting it wont break the switch but is makes reassembly a little harder)
Disassembly is complete!! Congrats! Now basically do the reverse in the new front panel
Step 3 - Blinking "No battey symbol"?
If when you power on the Vita the screen flashes a no battery symbol at you (Like when you run out of juice on a PSP) you need to hard reset the vita with the charger plugged in and it should work fine afterwards.
To hard reset hold the Vita hold the PS button + R button + Power until a menu shows up.
If that doesn't work make sure you charge your Vita for at least 20 mins then try again
Thanks for reading and let me know if this helped!
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