Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[Marine Mike]

Just seperated the wire from the battery to the motherboard.


Looks like I won't be unplugging my PS3 unless I really have to.....

[Marine Mike]

Well, it turned on.


Looks like the only thing that the battery affects is the date and time.

[sssick]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Well, it turned on.


Looks like the only thing that the battery affects is the date and time.

I also couldn't get that little plug out without ripping a wire out. I ended up soldering the wires directly to the leads coming out of the motherboard. It works fine now.

I did the re-flow for a second time, except I kept the heat on the board longer. It seems to be working fine now, and I left a dvd playing for 24 hours straight on repeat to test it. Still running strong now.

[Clark W Griswald, Jr]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I got a heat gun thats 750 degrees at its minimum.

Quick question, what type surface did you guys have the motherboard on when you were performing the re-flow?

I used 3/4" plywood. Firm, solid surface and DID NOT move it at all between each heating session.

[netguy503]

I just posted this on NeoGaf in there YLOD thread (which is only like 22 pages compared to this board's 77...WOW!) but haven't got many replies back and thought I could always use the valued opinions of this board as well.

The method I refer to using to fix my problem is this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Ic1_TY-GU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr1zy... 7&feature=iv

My PS3 just died and I'm about to go on in on this fix too. What is the usual span of life after this fix? The guy at the start of this video says he did the same thing to it 4-5 months ago. I say thats pretty decent I guess. Also depends on alot of things (where did you put it, how long each day you played it, yada yada yada) to determine how long it will last for each user.

My question is this- if I buy a fan for it RIGHT (and i mean RIGHT AFTER- as soon as I see green on this machine again you better believe I'm attaching a fan to it) after the fix, will I ever have to deal with this problem again? It seems like no one is buying the fan for their systems but do they work? The machine should never die again if I keep it constantly cool right.

I think I'm going for this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

What do you think?

Oh, and sorry online friends, I probably wont be on for QUITE awhile.

[netguy503]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Luckily, Warhawk has everything online so nothing was lost there. Wish other games could at least tie your trophy accomplishments to a "save" of some kind.

Man, what a hassle, I really don't want to invest hours and hours replaying all those levels and going back to levels and finding things.

I'll help you Cymbol? Btw, will this happen to me/why didn't you just rebuild your system when it crashed? My system YLOD'ed just the other day for the first time after two years but I'm rebuilding it (got the heat gun and everything) so my saves will still be there correct? Should be like the time I put in a new HDD in right?

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by netguy503

I'll help you Cymbol? Btw, will this happen to me/why didn't you just rebuild your system when it crashed? My system YLOD'ed just the other day for the first time after two years but I'm rebuilding it (got the heat gun and everything) so my saves will still be there correct? Should be like the time I put in a new HDD in right?

HDD and the motherboard are in different openings. If you do the heat gun thingy, you'll have to crack the seal and SCEA will not service it after that. The heat gun will probably work long enough to back up your data, but in many cases, it crashes again soon after.

[Rike255]

I used the heat gun and got a few months out of my system (including full back up) before I had to do it again. The more I did it, the shorter the lifespan between breaks. I just ended up buying another one. But yes, once you fix it your saves/anything on your HDD will still be there. I'd backup first thing.

[netguy503]

Originally Posted by Rike255

I used the heat gun and got a few months out of my system (including full back up) before I had to do it again. The more I did it, the shorter the lifespan between breaks. I just ended up buying another one. But yes, once you fix it your saves/anything on your HDD will still be there. I'd backup first thing.

Well, as I said in the appropriate thread, I'm planning to buy a ps3 fan AS SOON as I see that green glow again (I'm talking not even playing it before I have a fan on it). No one has still commented to me about how the fan works for them ( guess no one buys them lol that could be the issue). The fan I'm planning to buy is in the appropriate thread if you want to check it out and people says it does wonders for them. Also, as I've stated in the thread I work alot and BARELY use the Ps3 at all (I'm talking pretty much just nights- and Stephie's on my buddy list she KNOWS I don't do the crazy all nighters she, and Vincent, and Petra do on my system...btw, Vincent's system just died too maybe because of that overuse.) I think how long you use it/getting a fan/ where in the house you put it might contribute VERY much to how long it lives again or *crosses my fingers* it never dying again.

Also some people have done this method and have reported MUCH success (one person even said after he did it he played a Blu for 24 HOURS just to try it and It still worked VERY well. I was like...LOL, WUT. Do you want to KILL it again.LOL why do people do this crap to their machines)

Oh and to Stephie, I've had my Ps3 for two years...I'm way out of warranty so I don't think SCEA is the way to go anyway but thanks for both of your posts and insight.

[netguy503]

*Think I already have my question answered but I want to post it here to get discussion flowing again in THIS thread and NOT the LBP thread...lol...of all places)*

Ok....this a IMPORTANT QUESTION so I'd like a response PLEASE...

as you have read my post above, I'm in the midst of recharging my console (same PS3 I've always had) if I take it apart but put the same HDD I've had for awhile (500GB's) into the same console I've always had since forever will I be OK with game saves and all that fun stuff? It will be the same HDD so after it is in the system it should be ok in theory right?

I DO NOT care if I have to redownload my PSN games again ( I will probably or my actual games I JUST care that my save files for them will be there (which it should be in theory as it is the exact same HDD where everything was stored in the first place right?)

It's not like I'm swapping HDD's (in which case I did make a backup) this will be the same exact HDD on the same exact system? Will I still have my same information. I don't see how I wouldn't. Thanks for the help.

P.S. I'd also still like responses from people who bought fans/people who are getting the fan I'm planning to get. How is it working for you, etc.? (lol, is no one buying fans in this thread?) Thanks much.

[Rike255]

I don't really want to go searching for your post, but I doubt the fan will do much to help you. The success of the reflowing depends on how well it's done. Like I said mine ran fine for a couple months after the initial break/fix and I played just as often as I used to. Problem with using a heat gun is it all depends on how you do it. First of all, because it's a heat gun you're not applying heat evenly, you can heat it too much, or too little. Without the proper equipment not only is it easy to cause damage, but the quality of the fix is lower.

Like I said before, fix it and make a backup first thing...then hope for the best.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by netguy503

*Think I already have my question answered but I want to post it here to get discussion flowing again in THIS thread and NOT the LBP thread...lol...of all places)*

Ok....this a IMPORTANT QUESTION so I'd like a response PLEASE...

as you have read my post above, I'm in the midst of recharging my console (same PS3 I've always had) if I take it apart but put the same HDD I've had for awhile (500GB's) into the same console I've always had since forever will I be OK with game saves and all that fun stuff? It will be the same HDD so after it is in the system it should be ok in theory right?

No it won't, the PS3, not matter what, re-formats a HDD when put in. So for example if you took out your HDD and then put it straight back in to the same PS3 it came from it will want to re-format it.

Hope this helps.

[netguy503]

Originally Posted by aygie

No it won't, the PS3, not matter what, re-formats a HDD when put in. So for example if you took out your HDD and then put it straight back in to the same PS3 it came from it will want to re-format it.

Hope this helps.

Excuse me, but why are you smiling when the outcome of your post is so glum? That's kinda rude, I'm sorry to be so frank, for such a high tension situation. Also, from your post, I don't get that you've every been in this situation yet. Here is a post from a poster on here, Rike2555, who HAS been through this:

I used the heat gun and got a few months out of my system (including full back up) before I had to do it again. The more I did it, the shorter the lifespan between breaks. I just ended up buying another one. But yes, once you fix it your saves/anything on your HDD will still be there. I'd backup first thing.

I'm sorry but I'd rather trust someone who has been through the same ordeal then someone who sounds like he hasn't AND it makes more sense than your reply.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by netguy503

Excuse me, but why are you smiling when the outcome of your post is so glum? That's kinda rude, I'm sorry to be so frank, for such a high tension situation. Also, from your post, I don't get that you've every been in this situation yet. Here is a post from a poster on here, Rike2555, who HAS been through this:

I used the heat gun and got a few months out of my system (including full back up) before I had to do it again. The more I did it, the shorter the lifespan between breaks. I just ended up buying another one. But yes, once you fix it your saves/anything on your HDD will still be there. I'd backup first thing.

I'm sorry but I'd rather trust someone who has been through the same ordeal then someone who sounds like he hasn't AND it makes more sense than your reply.

Whoa! What? Sorry dude you said that you didn't mind having to re-download your stuff so i didn't think it was a big deal (hence the hoping my info helped)

and yes I have had YLOD hence my input on the matter - search back though the thread and you'll see my advice to people to unplug their PS3's to at least have the time to make a back up.

I'm sorry its not the answer you wanted to hear but its plain and simple, you take out the HDD it will want to re-format. The reason i know about this particular matter is that Singstar DLC needs to be re-set by Sony and cannot be re-downloaeded without doing so, so i tried any and every option to get my existing HDD to work to no avail.

You have a terrible attitude to someone trying to help you. Did you think I just gave some input in order to BS you?

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by netguy503

I'll help you Cymbol? Btw, will this happen to me/why didn't you just rebuild your system when it crashed? My system YLOD'ed just the other day for the first time after two years but I'm rebuilding it (got the heat gun and everything) so my saves will still be there correct? Should be like the time I put in a new HDD in right?

I have my old hard-drive - someone said if I put it in my new PS3, it will reformat it and I'll lose all the data anyway.

[netguy503]

Singstar is a WAY different matter than what I'm talking about as that, for some reason, is separate from regular saves /things like Home is. I'm talking about game data. While it sucks that I will lose MY Home/Singstar data I can live with it as I never use those anyway. I'm talking about game data/saves

Anyway, I'm going to go with Rike on this if you don't mind but thank you for the info.

And STILL no one is really answering me on fans...ugh.

I have to say I'm REALLY pissed I paid $400 dollars for something that isn't even guaranteed to last forever. I'd be REALLY unhappy if I paid $600 for this. I mean that's a good chunk of money to put down. Your system should last with that investment. I'm so glad I didn't buy this machine when it first came out.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by netguy503

Singstar is a WAY different matter than what I'm talking about as that, for some reason, is separate from regular saves /things like Home is. I'm talking about game data. While it sucks that I will lose MY Home/Singstar data I can live with it as I never use those anyway. I'm talking about game data/saves

Anyway, I'm going to go with Rike on this if you don't mind but thank you for the info.

And STILL no one is really answering me on fans...ugh.

I have to say I'm REALLY pissed I paid $400 dollars for something that isn't even guaranteed to last forever. I'd be REALLY unhappy if I paid $600 for this. I mean that's a good chunk of money to put down. Your system should last with that investment. I'm so glad I didn't buy this machine when it first came out.

I think we've got our wires crossed. Just re-read your post, when you said "re-charging" did you mean fixing it yourself? If so, sorry I understood your situation as you were putting you HDD in a replacement PS3 (hence my reply).

Game saves etc aren't that big file sizes, can't you just copy it to a USB and then put back on once you've put the HDD back in? Some can't be copied though (Resi 5 Killzone 2).

I bought a PS3 at launch for £500, i was pissed when it failed, but it happens just got to live with it, i know people on their 4th Xbox 360, that would send me crazy.

[Rike255]

Putting the same hard drive back into the same system does NOT force it to re-format. I (and many others) have done this countless times.

If you move your hard drive from one PS3 to another, or insert a BRAND NEW drive into your PS3, then it will ask you to format.

On fans, generally people believe at the worst they do more harm then good and at best make little to no difference. The PS3 YLOD problem is not due to poor ventilation, but rather low grade solder for the CPU/GPU. Over time the solder cracks/unseats itself and eventually can lead to a break in connection. That's what causes YLOD. "Reflowing" melts the solder, and potentially reconnects broken connections and "fixes" the YLOD.

Remember, having YLOD doesn't necessarily mean that you need to reflow. YLOD is just a general hardware fault, the power supply could be burned out, among other things.

[netguy503]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

I have my old hard-drive - someone said if I put it in my new PS3, it will reformat it and I'll lose all the data anyway.

Yes...if it's a new PS3- you will lose it- if it's the SAME PS3 w/the same harddrive, you should be fine.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by Rike255

Putting the same hard drive back into the same system does NOT force it to re-format. I (and many others) have done this countless times.

Rike it did it to me mate, got my replacement PS3 took out the 60GB HDD and put in my 300GB from the YLOD PS3 - it wanted to re-format, cancelled that (to try and find a way of backing up the stuff on there) and put back in the 60GB drive again and it had to re-format that drive.