Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[garageinc2001]

Note to self... leave the Infamous demo alone... lol

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by eternal darkness

Hi guys.

About three days ago I was using my PS3 but for some struck of bad luck I had a black out in my house for a few minutes and unfortunately I was using the PS3 during that time. When the light came back I was going to use my PS3 again but noticed that the Blu ray disc that was inside of it was out and the red light was flashing.

I tried to press the On/Off touch sensitive button with no results. It didn't do absolutely nothing. I then went and turned the back switch off then on again and the the PS3 started doing the fan test procedure immediately when I pressed the back switch on again. It was weird because I didn't even touch the PS controller button nor the touch sensitive button to turn it on. It basically just turned on by itself when I flipped the back switch on.

Anyways when the fan test finished (takes like 10 seconds or so) the PS3 dies and you can see the red lights flash again.

I checked videos on youtube, other forums and all I see are people with the yellow light problem but not what I have. I don't see a yellow light when the fan test is over. I can't even press the touch sensitive buttons so I don't get the green light and the immediate yellow light followed with the red flashes like the people who have the so called YLOD.

The thing is that after a few hours when that happened, I tried to turn the PS3 on again and it worked with absolutely no problems at all. I turned it off then on a few minutes later and the thing died again.

The thing is kept in an open environment and it never gets hot so i really don't know what is happening with it.

You know, the irony of it all is that I was playing the infamous demo went the light went kaput.

Definately sounds like a hardware issue, potentially a bad power supply due to the storm.

[WeApOn]

Really would like to fix my PS3, but not sure what route to take.

-I'm aware of the manual fixes.
-I'm aware of the guy on eBay that charges around $75.
-I'm aware of the $150 Sony charges to attempt a repair/send refurb.

My main concern is not losing my data, and Sony said there's a 50/50 chance that I will need a new hard drive if I send it to them.


I would love to either do the manual fix, or send it off to this guy, but it sounds like the YLOD continues to come up after the fact? If I fix my system, and especially if I pay to fix my system, I want a solution that will work.


What has worked best for everyone?

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by WeApOn

Really would like to fix my PS3, but not sure what route to take.

-I'm aware of the manual fixes.
-I'm aware of the guy on eBay that charges around $75.
-I'm aware of the $150 Sony charges to attempt a repair/send refurb.

My main concern is not losing my data, and Sony said there's a 50/50 chance that I will need a new hard drive if I send it to them.


I would love to either do the manual fix, or send it off to this guy, but it sounds like the YLOD continues to come up after the fact? If I fix my system, and especially if I pay to fix my system, I want a solution that will work.


What has worked best for everyone?

Well from how you've described your stances, I suggest attempting to repair it yourself. If it works, then immeadiately Backup your data. If the problem comes back, send it to Sony. If it doesn't work, send it to Sony.

[jq71586]

Kind of noobish question, but if I go to reformat my PS3 hard drive, does it need to be in an external case of some sort that meets the requirements of the hard drive?

If so, can someone link a cheap one off of newegg or something?

It would be greatly appreciated.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by jq71586

Kind of noobish question, but if I go to reformat my PS3 hard drive, does it need to be in an external case of some sort that meets the requirements of the hard drive?

If so, can someone link a cheap one off of newegg or something?

It would be greatly appreciated.

When you say reformat your hard drive, do you mean replace?

[jq71586]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

When you say reformat your hard drive, do you mean replace?

No, I mean like reset it. I don't care about the data on it. It's the only thing I can figure that might help my situation, I've exhausted everything else.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by jq71586

No, I mean like reset it. I don't care about the data on it. It's the only thing I can figure that might help my situation, I've exhausted everything else.

To format it, just go to the System Menu and select Format.

Though if you want to save your data, I recommend backing up your Saved Games on a USB Stick.

[jq71586]

But that's the problem, as soon as I turn on the screen all I get is a black screen, so I have to take out the hard drive and I'm trying to reformat it using another computer. So, in that case, would I then need a casing for it?

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by jq71586

But that's the problem, as soon as I turn on the screen all I get is a black screen, so I have to take out the hard drive and I'm trying to reformat it using another computer. So, in that case, would I then need a casing for it?

I'm not too sure as I haven't done that before.

However, that doesn't sound like a hard drive issue as much as a graphics card issue.

[jq71586]

Any ideas on that? Or is that something I would have to send out to get fixed and pay that fee?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by jq71586

But that's the problem, as soon as I turn on the screen all I get is a black screen, so I have to take out the hard drive and I'm trying to reformat it using another computer. So, in that case, would I then need a casing for it?

I think you're attempting a "replace the HDD" fix for your problem. If that is the case, you may need to reformat to get the PS3 to think that is a new drive.

If you have an eSATA connector either at the back or front of your PC, use that combined with an eSATA/SATA cable. If you don't, then you can get any external casing meant for 2.5" SATA drives. Or you can get one of these adapters.

However, if your PS3 is not displaying ANYTHING on the screen and you don't have a YLOD problem, then you have an RSX/AV Output problem.


fuad

[jq71586]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

I think you're attempting a "replace the HDD" fix for your problem. If that is the case, you may need to reformat to get the PS3 to think that is a new drive.

If you have an eSATA connector either at the back or front of your PC, use that combined with an eSATA/SATA cable. If you don't, then you can get any external casing meant for 2.5" SATA drives. Or you can get one of these adapters.

However, if your PS3 is not displaying ANYTHING on the screen and you don't have a YLOD problem, then you have an RSX/AV Output problem.


fuad

Is the YLOD problem, a steady yellow light? The yellow light blinks every now and again, when it first turns on, but then I don't see it again.

If it is a RSX/AV problem, what's the best course of action to fix it?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by jq71586

Is the YLOD problem, a steady yellow light? The yellow light blinks every now and again, when it first turns on, but then I don't see it again.

The YLOD is a misnomer as it implies it's a constant yellow light. The light turns GREEN when you first turn it on, then YELLOW for HALF A SECOND, then turns RED. You'll hear THREE BEEPS and the RED light will keep on blinking.

If this is your problem, then you have YLOD.

If it is a RSX/AV problem, what's the best course of action to fix it?

You can try reflowing or sending it back to Sony. This is not the same as YLOD. If you have an RSX/AV problem, the light is still GREEN and the PS3 is still running but you see nothing or video anomalies on the screen.


fuad

[jq71586]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

The YLOD is a misnomer as it implies it's a constant yellow light. The light turns GREEN when you first turn it on, then YELLOW for HALF A SECOND, then turns RED. You'll hear THREE BEEPS and the RED light will keep on blinking.

If this is your problem, then you have YLOD.
You can try reflowing or sending it back to Sony. This is not the same as YLOD. If you have an RSX/AV problem, the light is still GREEN and the PS3 is still running but you see nothing or video anomalies on the screen.

1. Ok, not my problem.

2. Yeah, that is my problem.

Thanks for all the help, everyone.

[WeApOn]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Well from how you've described your stances, I suggest attempting to repair it yourself. If it works, then immeadiately Backup your data. If the problem comes back, send it to Sony. If it doesn't work, send it to Sony.

But if I open it myself, isn't the warranty voided? Also, so I'm ready for the backup process, do I just need a second hard drive with the same amount of data?

Also, how does the partition appear on other computers if I remove the HD from the PS3? Isn't it FAT32?

[partridge]

I replaced mine a while back; bought a compatable SATA laptop drive and just swapped them; I don't believe this invalidates the warranty because you're doing something the official sony sites tell you how to.

When I tuned the PS3 back on it formatted the drive and that was that.

When you say you have a black screen when you turn it on, are you sure it's not a connectivity problem? If the PS3 output is 1080p and you're set doesn't support that then you'll get a problem display.

[Cordre69]

Awesome, my PS3 died. Turned off and beeps when I try to turn it back on. Red light flashes and it won't eject my game. Sony says temperature issues cause that but the system isn't hot and the fans still spin up briefly when the system powers on. Must be an internal heat issue somehow I guess. Anyway, it'll put me back $160+ to fix and since it is a 20gb system they BETTER not send me a new one. I want my Rock Band saves and PS2 support or there will be PAIN...

...unless someone knows a potential home fix?

[BluHavik]

Originally Posted by WeApOn

Really would like to fix my PS3, but not sure what route to take.

-I'm aware of the manual fixes.
-I'm aware of the guy on eBay that charges around $75.
-I'm aware of the $150 Sony charges to attempt a repair/send refurb.

My main concern is not losing my data, and Sony said there's a 50/50 chance that I will need a new hard drive if I send it to them.


I would love to either do the manual fix, or send it off to this guy, but it sounds like the YLOD continues to come up after the fact? If I fix my system, and especially if I pay to fix my system, I want a solution that will work.


What has worked best for everyone?

I can help you with that, I've lost hella data . If you are connected to the internet click your trophies collection and that will back it up on Sony servers. For your saved games you need to put that data on a external drive/ thumbstick ect. Go to games and copy saved data utility. Unfortunately you can't get trophies from games you reinstall data from. You would have to start from scratch.

[Xerios]

Question for a Fix:

How do i remove someone from my account. We all you know you can share up to 5 ps3s. If i want to remove one of them how do i go about doing that? Is there a way to see who is under your account or no?