Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[RiseDarthVader]

I would say find someone that your comfortable with fixing it if you don't want to send it to Sony. Or you could send it in to Sony and get a refurb for $150 and tell them you have a disc inside so they can send you a replacement.

[Lucky Luc]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

I would say find someone that your comfortable with fixing it. You could send it in to Sony and get a refurb for $150 and tell them you have a disc inside so they can send you a replacement.

So having it fixed is the best option?

Would getting the slim be out of the question?

Thanks for the quick replies by the way!

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by PS3-Playb3yond

Ok, I'll give that a shot. Besides music,movies and photos there has to be something else that's taking up all that space. Do firmware updates, Home and Life take space?

Game Data can take up a lot of space. Think of all the games you installed from the Disc. It's convenient since you wouldn't have to reinstall but I"m sure it would take a lot less time. Go thru the list and delete the ones you don't use anymore or haven't in long time.

[bhampton]

Hi,

I bought a 60GB PS3 in Nov 06 and have used the heck out of it everyday since.

It's always been solid. Now this morning I started it up and played a few minutes of the Conan demo and it shut it self down with (I think) 3 beeps and then the red light remained flashing like the shut down was still in progress.

Later... I turned it on so my daughter could watch snow white and it was perfect all through that (clearly not a laser problem then.)

After that... I tried to watch the latest edition of Pulse twice and both times the PS3 shut down with the flashing red light.

Maybe it's a hard drive problem ?? That would be the best thing I suppose.

I have extended warranty on it till Nov 09 though Walmart and they are going to send me a shipping label but I really don't trust them with my beloved PS3.

Maybe I should try to back up the hard drive that's in there (500GB) and then put back the original and see if that helps.

???

Any pointers? Thanks,

=Brian

[Blu-Runner]

Hmm, maybe it couldn't hurt to just try it for a while (the original HDD) and see if it ever acts up again. I don't think it's a disc drive problem because you said it shut down while playing a downloadable demo, yet while playing a blu-ray disc it was fine.

[bhampton]

I've been reading about lots of people with the flashing red lights.

It confuses me a bit because I've always heard of the yellow light of death but I have no yellow light here.

Most of what I've seen suggest reflowing the solder on the main board. I would not try this (esp since I still have warranty) and It's disturbing to me that maybe the repair center would do this because I doubt that would be a very good fix.

-Brian
[

[SoCalTiger]

Yeah the HDD backup is worth a try but personally I doubt that is the cause (sorry). But either way you should remove the 500GB before you send it in for warranty since it is quite possible they will just swap the entire unit if you send it in. It would suck to send in your PS3 and get it back with a 60GB drive.

[Blu-Runner]

You know, I was looking at your HT pics, and maybe it wouldn't hurt to try and give the right side of the PS3 (as pictured) a little more room to breathe. I have a 60gig and it seems that nothing makes the fan work harder on it than playing downloaded material off the HDD (like PSN games). So, ventilation could always be the issue as well.

[bhampton]

Hi,

I took the PS3 out of the rack and vaccuumed it.... Then I put back the old 60GB Drive.

It only turns on for a few seconds now before shutting off.

I'm (99.9%) sure it's just a thermal problem with the main board from what I've read about this problem.

So... I'm not so reluctant to hand it over to the Walmart warranty people. If it isn't going to work other wise or my only other option is to do the $150 Sony thing... I'll take my chances with their repair center.

Hope they fix it and the repair they make lasts for a long time.

-Brian

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Hi,

I took the PS3 out of the rack and vaccuumed it.... Then I put back the old 60GB Drive.

It only turns on for a few seconds now before shutting off.

I'm (99.9%) sure it's just a thermal problem with the main board from what I've read about this problem.

So... I'm not so reluctant to hand it over to the Walmart warranty people. If it isn't going to work other wise or my only other option is to do the $150 Sony thing... I'll take my chances with their repair center.

Hope they fix it and the repair they make lasts for a long time.

-Brian

The Wal-Mart warranty service just replaces the unit I thought and does not actually do too much troubleshooting. At least thats what I heard had happened with someone that handed it in to them.

[caliblue15]

Maybe I should do a reflow this weekend and see if it fixes my ps3, as now I'm playing batman and every once in a while i'll get a green or red fllicker on the screen, and also some items like light poles will pop in as a white box, then switch to what they are supposed to be... Its ruining all my good games... Just afraid, I'll ruin the PS3 with the reflow and screw up the PS3 even more. As I don't want to pay $150 to get it fixed..

Could it be another Issue? As I don't have any issues with movies. So this leads me to believe its the GPU unit...

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

The Wal-Mart warranty service just replaces the unit I thought and does not actually do too much troubleshooting. At least thats what I heard had happened with someone that handed it in to them.

Well, I have the serial number of the one I have so I'll know if they replace it I guess. I don't know if they have access to more 60GB units. If they replace it with something less capable that will be a right bummer. I do have a SACD and I liked the way PS3 did SACD so much that I gave away my old SACD player. However,... most PS3 models don't play SACDs.

Seems like it goes to Tennessee and they say it's only 5 to 7 days turn-around. At this point whatever happens will be fine I guess because it doesn't turn on other wise.

I borrowed a Samsung BDP1000 from a friend to get me by while I'm without my PS3 but it's a real POS. It just spent 7 minutes trying to load Snow White. I was pretty sure it would fail but just thought I was check it out. It has the latest FW too... it's just crap but for now it's all I got.

-Brian


Grrrrr..... I'm already missing my PS3. I used it everyday now it will be 2 weeks if I'm lucky. I miss my PS3.

[zoon_ii]

Wanted to update about my launch 60 GB ps3:

I experienced the YLOD and tried to reflow soldering technique.

It worked, but only for 2 weeks. I broke down and bought a slim PS3 yesterday and am in the process of re-downloading all my games the the ps network.

I am going to attempt to perform another reflow in hopes of retrieving my lost game saves. after that, it's basically going to be a huge paper weight.

it sucks. my wife watched me sit there, just looking at it fondly. i just can't believe it crapped out. I was so sad. i don't understand really. I bought a ps2 around 2002, and actually gave that to my sister in 08, and it still works like a charm. doesn't really play movies well, but it still plays the games. so frustrating because of all the money i spent, and now it's just a heap of junk.

if anyone is interested in buying it for scrap parts after I get my saves of the HDD, just message me. otherwise, i'm going to give it to my sister on april 1st. that is going to be ONE PAINFUL JOKE!

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by zoon_ii

Wanted to update about my launch 60 GB ps3:

I experienced the YLOD and tried to reflow soldering technique.

It worked, but only for 2 weeks. I broke down and bought a slim PS3 yesterday and am in the process of re-downloading all my games the the ps network.

That's so sad. I will get mine fixed free because of extended warranty but it's still so sad to see a PS3 die.

I'm glad you got a slim... seems like that's good at least.

Too bad you already tried to repair it or sending it to Sony for the $150 swap would have been a good option for you.

Come to think of it.... If the place that services my PS3 voids the warranty so that in the future I can't do the $150 swap deal... that would be sad too.

I really came to depend on the PS3.

=Brian

[demonfalldown]

I just moved into a new appartment where my brother has a Samsung TX-T2782. It can display up to 1080i but my PS3 won't display anything but composite even though its hooked up with component cables. When I try to change the display to 1080i, its blank for 30 seconds or to 720p it show the picture twice but heavily distorted. Has anyone had similar problems or any ideas what may be going on?

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by demonfalldown

I just moved into a new appartment where my brother has a Samsung TX-T2782. It can display up to 1080i but my PS3 won't display anything but composite even though its hooked up with component cables. When I try to change the display to 1080i, its blank for 30 seconds or to 720p it show the picture twice but heavily distorted. Has anyone had similar problems or any ideas what may be going on?

Change your monitor's settings.. its probably on auto fix...

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by zoon_ii

Wanted to update about my launch 60 GB ps3:

I experienced the YLOD and tried to reflow soldering technique.

It worked, but only for 2 weeks. I broke down and bought a slim PS3 yesterday and am in the process of re-downloading all my games the the ps network.

I am going to attempt to perform another reflow in hopes of retrieving my lost game saves. after that, it's basically going to be a huge paper weight.

it sucks. my wife watched me sit there, just looking at it fondly. i just can't believe it crapped out. I was so sad. i don't understand really. I bought a ps2 around 2002, and actually gave that to my sister in 08, and it still works like a charm. doesn't really play movies well, but it still plays the games. so frustrating because of all the money i spent, and now it's just a heap of junk.

if anyone is interested in buying it for scrap parts after I get my saves of the HDD, just message me. otherwise, i'm going to give it to my sister on april 1st. that is going to be ONE PAINFUL JOKE!

Even with you buying the slim PS3, I would recommend sending the 60 GB PS3 back to Sony for the $150 fix. 60 GB models are still valuable, because of PS2 hardware-driven compatibility and SACD playback. You can either keep it or sell it for more than $150. At least then it won't be a total loss.

[caliblue15]

Here we go..... *nervous* (i don't have my external hard drive so no backup...)


By caliblue15, shot with iPhone 3G at 2009-10-09


By caliblue15, shot with iPhone 3G at 2009-10-09

[RiseDarthVader]

Are you working on the PS3 with a carpet floor?

[RiseDarthVader]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

Maybe I should do a reflow this weekend and see if it fixes my ps3, as now I'm playing batman and every once in a while i'll get a green or red fllicker on the screen, and also some items like light poles will pop in as a white box, then switch to what they are supposed to be... Its ruining all my good games... Just afraid, I'll ruin the PS3 with the reflow and screw up the PS3 even more. As I don't want to pay $150 to get it fixed..

Could it be another Issue? As I don't have any issues with movies. So this leads me to believe its the GPU unit...

That's artifacting for sure. The GPU is overheated.