November 24th, 2008

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Despite the fact that this is a Windows site, I often get questions that aren’t Windows related. For example, on several occasions I’ve received questions about clearing or resetting the parental control passcode on Sony’s PlayStation 2 (PS2) consoles. Since I’ve received the question on a number of occasions, I decided to go ahead and post the solution.

The Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) has a parental control feature that restricts DVD playback based upon the movie’s rating by requiring you to enter a 4-digit passcode before playing movies above the specified rating limit.

Upon attempting to play a DVD above the current control limit, you will be prompted for the 4-digit passcode. If you’ve purchased a new PlayStation 2 or bought one used you may not know the parental control code. To begin, try using the factory default code of 0000. This will work for all new systems and may work for used systems since there’s a good chance that the previous owner never set a passcode. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to reset the passcode using the instructions below.

To reset PlayStation 2 (PS2) Parental Control Passcode:

1. Insert a DVD requiring a passcode and switch on the console. Attempt to play the DVD and wait to be prompted for the current passcode.
2. At the passcode prompt, press the SELECT button. You should now be prompted to delete the current passcode.
3. Enter the master control password 7444. You should now be prompted to enter a new passcode.
4. Enter a 4-digit passcode that you can remember easily. You’ll be prompted to enter the code a second time for verification.
5. You have successfully reset your passcode.

You may wish to change or reset the parental control level in order to control when or if you are prompted for a passcode. The parental control settings can only be reset during DVD playback. If the current settings require it, you’ll need to enter the current passcode to play the DVD. If you do not know it, follow the steps above to reset the code before continuing.

To change or disable PlayStation 2 (PS2) Parental Controls:

1. The parental control menu can only be accessed during DVD playback. Be sure that you have inserted a DVD and that it is playing before continuing. You may need to enter a passcode to initiate playback.
2. While the DVD is playing, press the SELECT button to bring up the DVD control menu.
3. You should be presented with a series of icons. Highlight the Stop icon (a square) and press X to stop DVD playback. Do not exit the menu!
4. Next, select the Settings icon (a briefcase) below the number 7. Press X to enter the Settings menu.
5. Scroll down and select Parental Controls. Press X to enable its options.
6. Be sure that the Region setting is set to your current country or region. This ensures that DVD are handled properly for your area.
7. You will also be able to set the control level by selecting a value between 1 and 8. A value of 1 will require a passcode to play any DVD. The higher the setting, the less restrictive the parental control will be. You may also set the DVD control level to Off. DO NOT EXIT THE MENU AFTER SETTING THE NEW CONTROL LEVEL!

   Warning: The Off setting will completely disable the parental control feature. The PlayStation will never prompt for a passcode regardless of the nature of the DVD.

8. With the parental control menu still showing, eject the DVD and remove it from the tray. If your PlayStation does not reset, you should manually switch it off by using the power switch in the back (or by holding the Reset button until it turns red on second generation consoles).
10. Leave your PlayStation switched off for 5-10 seconds before attempting to power it back on. Your settings should have been saved.

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 5:44 am and is filed under Miscellaneous. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.