Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by bhampton

They said you can send the PS3 in for service without a hard drive and it would be serviced and returned without a hard drive.

They said if you send it in with the "original" hard drive installed you can trade for a 120GB system (for $99+tax.)

I still have the original drive (it's in an old macbook), it would be a pain to get out of that old macbook but I guess I'll have to burn that bridge when I get to it.

-Brian

Brian,

Thanks for the info. Am I assuming correctly that the service or exchange option you list above is for PS3s still under warranty? Did they happen to tell you if there was an exchange option or cost for PS3s out of warranty?

My launch day 60 GB PS3 has given up the ghost, so I've had it just under 5 years. I think my extended warranty was only for 3 years. I'm just trying to figure out what options I have, if any, without just buying a slim at full retail price.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Brian,

Thanks for the info. Am I assuming correctly that the service or exchange option you list above is for PS3s still under warranty? Did they happen to tell you if there was an exchange option or cost for PS3s out of warranty?

My launch day 60 GB PS3 has given up the ghost, so I've had it just under 5 years. I think my extended warranty was only for 3 years. I'm just trying to figure out what options I have, if any, without just buying a slim at full retail price.

No,... that's out of warranty. Under warranty it would be free.

I was asking about a 60GB system which is pretty hard to find still under warranty.

You can have them swap it for a 120GB PS3 slim system for $99+Tax.

Good deal if you ask me. I no longer use the "extra's" that were more important back when I got the 60GB (which I still have.)
(refering to the PS2 capability and SACD playback... I no longer need those.)

Edit -> Here's the exact quote from the email Sony sent me....


Two models of PlayStation®3 systems are available for a trade-in option for the cost of $99.00 plus any applicable taxes. You can choose to send your older model PS3™ in, and rather than repair it, we will replace it with a 120 GB factory certified, re-designed PS3™. This only applies if you have model numbers CECHA01 or CECHB01, have the original Hard Disk Drive (HDD) in the system, and reside in the United States.


-Brian

[kingofgrills]

Wow, thanks for the head's up. I'll have to check into that. Do you happen to have the number for Sony that you called?

[bhampton]

OK... I don't remember but it ended in SONY or 7669... Hold up, I'll look it up for ya.

There is a online site which is what the telephone system referred me to.

Here's a link...

https://service1.us.playstation.com/...B-BA01A2C5CFEF

And the number...

800-345-SONY
MON-SAT 6:00am-8:00pm PST
SUN 7:00am-6:30pm PST



-Brian

[bhampton]

I happened to get a "spare" laptop HD so I'll be able to get and keep my original 60GB hard drive from the PS3 handy if there is still a trade in type promotion when it finally dies. (Could take a while... I don't mind if it lasts for years yet.)

[Marine Mike]

Anyone else have had issues installing Firmware through USB stick? Currently I'm trying to upgrade my harddrive with a new one, but its not accepting the Firmware. I tested it out on my spare PS3 and I get the error message "No applicable data found" or something like that. Its basically the same error that one would get if nothing was plugged in at all.

I called Sony's hotline and they recommended that I download it from a friend's house and try again. And yes, my folder structure is Root\PS3\UPDATE\. I have tried from 3 different laptops at my house, 5 different USB drives (reformated to FAT32 each time), 3.72 and 3.70 Firmware, Wired and Wireless connection, and even from a tethered 3G connection.


Has anyone had this issue before and any recommendations?

[kingofgrills]

Thank you, Brian! You're a life saver!

Originally Posted by bhampton

OK... I don't remember but it ended in SONY or 7669... Hold up, I'll look it up for ya.

There is a online site which is what the telephone system referred me to.

Here's a link...

https://service1.us.playstation.com/...B-BA01A2C5CFEF

And the number...

800-345-SONY
MON-SAT 6:00am-8:00pm PST
SUN 7:00am-6:30pm PST



-Brian

[kingofgrills]

Hey, does anyone know if Sony will do the $99 non-warranty exchange on a 60 GB PS3 if the warranty sticker has been removed?

Originally Posted by bhampton

OK... I don't remember but it ended in SONY or 7669... Hold up, I'll look it up for ya.

There is a online site which is what the telephone system referred me to.

Here's a link...

https://service1.us.playstation.com/...B-BA01A2C5CFEF

And the number...

800-345-SONY
MON-SAT 6:00am-8:00pm PST
SUN 7:00am-6:30pm PST



-Brian

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Anyone else have had issues installing Firmware through USB stick? Currently I'm trying to upgrade my harddrive with a new one, but its not accepting the Firmware. I tested it out on my spare PS3 and I get the error message "No applicable data found" or something like that. Its basically the same error that one would get if nothing was plugged in at all.

I called Sony's hotline and they recommended that I download it from a friend's house and try again. And yes, my folder structure is Root\PS3\UPDATE\. I have tried from 3 different laptops at my house, 5 different USB drives (reformated to FAT32 each time), 3.72 and 3.70 Firmware, Wired and Wireless connection, and even from a tethered 3G connection.


Has anyone had this issue before and any recommendations?

So what I did was hooked up my PS3 hard drive to my computer and formatted it to FAT32. Then I replaced it into the PS3 and ran the update again and it worked.

[kingofgrills]

Can anyone help me with this one? If a PS3 has been previously opened, will Sony replace it in their non-warranty $99 exchange program?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Hey, does anyone know if Sony will do the $99 non-warranty exchange on a 60 GB PS3 if the warranty sticker has been removed?

[CanadianKrazyMods]

I have "fixed" it twice in less than 2 months. The heatgun trick and it just keeps dieing. I see people selling old PS3's with laser issues for $50 on kijiji. Would buying one of those and putting my BR-rom in it work?

[MerrickG]

Your guess is as good as ours. You won't know until you try it.

[aurian]

Do the heatgun trick, verify it's working. Copy all your saves to a memory card then bring it in to Gamestop as a trade-in. I did that and got 150.00 for it. They send all the units they get in to there center in Texas to be refurbished so it's not like you are unloading it on a person.

[Uxi]

Anyone purchase a gamestop refurb 60GB? Curious if they hold up over time.

[Bageara]

Problem

When i put a game or BD in my PS3 most of the time the little blue disc emblem doesnt even show on the XMB and when it does it wont play and ive started get error 80029940

Disc drive problem?

[PirateBooty]

Originally Posted by Uxi

Anyone purchase a gamestop refurb 60GB? Curious if they hold up over time.

My nephew bought one a couple weeks ago and so far so good. I know that's not much time to gauge it but I wouldn't have purchased it. I was told by a GS employee that once they're sold to them, they just put them out for sale and don't really test them. Take that comment for what it's worth since it came from an employee and I don't find them to be reliable about anything.

[Gimpenstein]

Originally Posted by Bageara

Problem

When i put a game or BD in my PS3 most of the time the little blue disc emblem doesnt even show on the XMB and when it does it wont play and ive started get error 80029940

Disc drive problem?

Is it the Fat or Slim?

[Bageara]

Originally Posted by Gimpenstein

Is it the Fat or Slim?

Slim. I just had it working for about 30 minutes then it froze

[Xander Crews]

My system freezes at XMB launch. I only see sparkles and the stolen Coca-Coa wave. I've tried restoring and rebooting the system and such from the main menu but with no luck. I've already lost all the info on my Fat 80GB. Sony wants $129 to service it - is there an easier/cheaper way?

Thanks in advance!

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Xander Crews

My system freezes at XMB launch. I only see sparkles and the stolen Coca-Coa wave. I've tried restoring and rebooting the system and such from the main menu but with no luck. I've already lost all the info on my Fat 80GB. Sony wants $129 to service it - is there an easier/cheaper way?

Thanks in advance!

When you say you've tried to restore it from the main menu, how are you getting there if it freezes at launch? Or do you mean when you launch something from the XMB menu such as a Blu-ray disc?

If you are doing the restore from the XMB, then try from the 'secret' menu as one of the options rebuilds the system files.