New PS3, can't use my custom hard drive without formatting... Help needed! - Blu-ray Forum

Neil_Luv's_BLU · 12-29-2009, 08:20 PM

Hi all

Sony delivered a new PS3 to me today as the hardware in my first one failed.

But I have hit a stumbling block whilst setting up the new console... I cannot use my 320 GB HDD from my old console without reformatting it!

Obviously I have a lot of data and DLC that I don't want to download again! So is there anyway of copying the data from my SATA drive onto an external drive? Or any other way around this "bump in the road"

As usual help would be very much appreciated

CYMBOL · 12-29-2009, 08:29 PM

I'm pretty sure if it's not the same exact console - that the PS3 will auto reformat - and that there is no way around that.

I'm pretty sure that's what I've read - there is a Tips, Tricks, and Fixes sticky thread - I know it has been discussed in there.

Rike255 · 12-29-2009, 08:33 PM

CYMBOL is correct. No matter what the new PS3 will reformat that HDD when you put it in.

To get your data off of it you need to put your 320GB HDD back into your old PS3 and do a backup. Then you can restore the data onto your new system.
Of course if your old PS3 is broken you're out-of-luck. Sorry man.

Your DLC is not lost though, you can re-download it from the Playstation store at no extra charge.

IStoleYourUsername · 12-29-2009, 08:40 PM

Maybe not out of luck yet.

Couldn't he be able to plug that 320 into a PC as a slave and then transfer the files onto the computer and then remove from PC and then put into PS3 and then reformat and then transfer all those files to the PS3?

Rike255 · 12-29-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IStoleYourUsername

Maybe not out of luck yet.

Couldn't he be able to plug that 320 into a PC as a slave and then transfer the files onto the computer and then remove from PC and then put into PS3 and then reformat and then transfer all those files to the PS3?

Unfortunately not. The Ps3 drive won't be recognized by the PC. Proprietary filesystem type maybe (just a guess). Either way it won't work.

IStoleYourUsername · 12-29-2009, 08:46 PM

Well that sucks..but there has got to be a way.

Did you try contacting Sony Support?

Neil_Luv's_BLU · 12-29-2009, 08:47 PM

Damn... well I guess I'll have to reformat!

Thanks anyway guys.

Rike255 · 12-29-2009, 08:51 PM

Depending on what's wrong with your old PS3, you could try to fix it just long enough to do a backup to an external hard drive. There's a sticky thread on how to fix various hardware problems.

IStoleYourUsername · 12-30-2009, 01:04 AM

What about this:

get a cheap hard drive enclosure that can go USB
hook it up to the PS3 and transfer the most important stuff to that
remove current hd and then put in the 350, format and transfer files again from the smaller HD

Neil_Luv's_BLU · 12-30-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IStoleYourUsername

What about this:

get a cheap hard drive enclosure that can go USB
hook it up to the PS3 and transfer the most important stuff to that
remove current hd and then put in the 350, format and transfer files again from the smaller HD

I'll give that a go and hope for the best.

After this incident I shall be backing up more often!!!

talak · 12-30-2009, 02:28 PM

I'm afraid if you haven't got a back-up of your data you are officially screwed.
Found this out the hard way when my PS3 died.

I now take quite regular back-ups just in case.....

urbanriz · 12-30-2009, 02:35 PM

Personally had two failures of the PS3 and both times I yanked out the 120gb drive and put the original 60gb drive back in when it went for repair. Once returned I simply swapped the drive back to the 120gb no problem. However, the 3rd time around this didnt work and it now asking me to reformat the drive

I didnt bother and left the 60gb in there and redownloaded what I needed. Thankfully I am not a avid gamer and mostly had demos and some PSN exclusive bought games (Pain etc).

Xerios · 12-30-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IStoleYourUsername

Maybe not out of luck yet.

Couldn't he be able to plug that 320 into a PC as a slave and then transfer the files onto the computer and then remove from PC and then put into PS3 and then reformat and then transfer all those files to the PS3?

if that was the case piracy would be more known n prevelant for PSN games... agreed?

12-29-2009, 08:20 PM	#1
Neil_Luv's_BLU Special Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Berkshire, England Blu-ray collection:149	New PS3, can't use my custom hard drive without formatting... Help needed! Hi all Sony delivered a new PS3 to me today as the hardware in my first one failed. But I have hit a stumbling block whilst setting up the new console... I cannot use my 320 GB HDD from my old console without reformatting it! Obviously I have a lot of data and DLC that I don't want to download again! So is there anyway of copying the data from my SATA drive onto an external drive? Or any other way around this "bump in the road" As usual help would be very much appreciated

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12-29-2009, 08:29 PM	#2
CYMBOL Blu-ray Knight Member since:May 2007 Location:I move around a lot. Blu-ray collection:8	I'm pretty sure if it's not the same exact console - that the PS3 will auto reformat - and that there is no way around that. I'm pretty sure that's what I've read - there is a Tips, Tricks, and Fixes sticky thread - I know it has been discussed in there.

12-29-2009, 08:33 PM	#3
Rike255 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:AB, Canada PSNetwork: Rike255 Home Theater Gallery:44 Blu-ray collection:57	CYMBOL is correct. No matter what the new PS3 will reformat that HDD when you put it in. To get your data off of it you need to put your 320GB HDD back into your old PS3 and do a backup. Then you can restore the data onto your new system. Of course if your old PS3 is broken you're out-of-luck. Sorry man. Your DLC is not lost though, you can re-download it from the Playstation store at no extra charge.

12-29-2009, 08:40 PM	#4
IStoleYourUsername Active Member Member since:May 2008 Location:Colorado	Maybe not out of luck yet. Couldn't he be able to plug that 320 into a PC as a slave and then transfer the files onto the computer and then remove from PC and then put into PS3 and then reformat and then transfer all those files to the PS3?

12-29-2009, 08:46 PM	#6
IStoleYourUsername Active Member Member since:May 2008 Location:Colorado	Well that sucks..but there has got to be a way. Did you try contacting Sony Support?

12-29-2009, 08:47 PM	#7
Neil_Luv's_BLU Special Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Berkshire, England Blu-ray collection:149	Damn... well I guess I'll have to reformat! Thanks anyway guys.

12-29-2009, 08:51 PM	#8
Rike255 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:AB, Canada PSNetwork: Rike255 Home Theater Gallery:44 Blu-ray collection:57	Depending on what's wrong with your old PS3, you could try to fix it just long enough to do a backup to an external hard drive. There's a sticky thread on how to fix various hardware problems.

12-30-2009, 01:04 AM	#9
IStoleYourUsername Active Member Member since:May 2008 Location:Colorado	What about this: get a cheap hard drive enclosure that can go USB hook it up to the PS3 and transfer the most important stuff to that remove current hd and then put in the 350, format and transfer files again from the smaller HD

12-30-2009, 02:28 PM	#11
talak Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Middle of no where Blu-ray collection:18	I'm afraid if you haven't got a back-up of your data you are officially screwed. Found this out the hard way when my PS3 died. I now take quite regular back-ups just in case.....

12-30-2009, 02:35 PM	#12
urbanriz Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Thornhill, ON Canada Home Theater Gallery:17 4K collection:32 Blu-ray collection:289 DVD collection:95 Trading Score:8	Personally had two failures of the PS3 and both times I yanked out the 120gb drive and put the original 60gb drive back in when it went for repair. Once returned I simply swapped the drive back to the 120gb no problem. However, the 3rd time around this didnt work and it now asking me to reformat the drive I didnt bother and left the 60gb in there and redownloaded what I needed. Thankfully I am not a avid gamer and mostly had demos and some PSN exclusive bought games (Pain etc).

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