ps3technical-issues
I got my grandson a new sata HDD for his PS3, as it as corrupted.
I can see where to download the PS3 stuff online, which needs to go to a 1GB flash stick (which I don't have). Can the download be put onto a disc and then used to format the new hard drive on startup?
I put in an X25MG2 160GB to see that it would detect an SSD. No problem, it asks to format. So i look at the partition table of the X25, and make similar on the Corsair, 100mb (like the reserved for win7 installs), and make another one for rest of drive. Both are formatted as NTFS.
I put it back in the PS3 and it asks to format, which is done in 2 seconds, now it's up and running at the XMB :)
I wouldn't call it foolproof because it's lengthy, but there is a relatively straightforward way of transferring your data. It's called the data transfer utility and requires an ethernet cable. The manual states the following:
Preparing the systems to transfer data
Before starting the data transfer operation, you must perform the following steps.
- Update the system software of both PS3™ systems to the latest version.
- Prepare the PS3™ system that will send the data (the “source system”). If multiple users exist on the source PS3™ system, you must perform the following operations for all of the users before starting the data transfer operation.
- Create a PlayStation®Network account if a user does not have an account. - Select (PlayStation®Network) > (Sign Up), and then follow the on-screen instructions to create an account.
- Deactivate the PS3™ system if the data to be transferred contains content that was purchased from PlayStation®Store. - Select (PlayStation®Network) > (Account Management) > (System Activation).
- Back up, or "sync", trophy information on the PS3™ system with the PlayStation®Network server if you want to transfer trophy information. - Sign in to PlayStation®Network, and then select (Game) > (Trophy Collection).
- Sign in to (PlayStation®Home) before transferring the data if you have obtained reward items for use in (PlayStation®Home) on the source system.
- Back up your profile information and stages you created in LittleBigPlanet™ to your saved game. You can then use the data that was backed up when playing LittleBigPlanet™ on the destination PS3™ system.
Notice
The following restrictions apply if you perform the data transfer operation without creating a PlayStation®Network account:
- You may not be able to use the saved data on the destination PS3™ system.
- You may no longer be able to earn trophies using the saved data that you transferred.
- Trophy information is not transferred.
Transferring data
Turn off both PS3™ systems, and then perform the following steps. If the transferred data is saved game data that is copy-prohibited or data that is copyright-protected, it will be moved to the destination PS3™ system and deleted from the source PS3™ system.
- Using an Ethernet cable, make a direct connection between the two PS3™ systems. You can use either an Ethernet straight-through cable or an Ethernet crossover cable.
- Connect the PS3™ systems to different video input connectors on the TV. For example, use the HDMI input connector and the video input connector on the TV.
- Turn on the TV, and then turn on the PS3™ systems. Use the TV remote control to switch the video input to display the screen of the source PS3™ system.
- On the source PS3™ system, select (Settings) > (System Settings) > [Data Transfer Utility].
- Select [1. Transfer data from this system to the other PS3™ system.]. If you did not complete the preparation steps described earlier, follow the on-screen instructions to complete these steps.
- When the PS3™ system is on standby to begin the data transfer, use the TV remote control to switch the video input to display the screen of the destination PS3™ system.
- On the destination PS3™ system, select (Settings) > (System Settings) > [Data Transfer Utility].
- Select [2. Transfer data from the other PS3™ system to this system.] Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operation.
Hints
After the data transfer operation has been completed, you can turn off the source PS3™ system. Set the TV to display the screen of the source PS3™ system, and then select (Users) > (Turn Off System).
If content that was downloaded from PlayStation®Store was transferred as part of this operation, you must activate the destination PS3™ system before you can use the data. Log in to the PS3™ system as the user who owns the content, and then select (PlayStation®Network) > (Account Management) > (System Activation) to activate the system.
Limitations of the data transfer utility
Some types of data cannot be transferred using the data transfer utility, and some types of data can be transferred but not played on the destination PS3™ system. For the latest information, visit the SCE website for your region. The following types of data are not transferrable:
- Video content that has been downloaded as a rental from PlayStation®Store (file type: MNV)
- Tracks (including "songpacks") for the SingStar™ software that have been saved on the PS3™ system's hard disk
- Copyright-protected video files (file types: MGV and ETS)
- Video files that are compatible with the DivX® VOD (Video On Demand) service
- The following PlayStation®2 format software titles, if they are installed on the PS3™ system's hard disk:
- [Nobunaga's Ambition Online] and [Expansion Packs]
- [FINAL FANTASY XI] and [Expansion Discs]
- [SOCOM II: U.S. NAVY SEALs] and [Related discs included with OPM* Issue 87, OPM* Issue 88, OPM* Issue 89, OPM* Issue 90]
- SOCOM 3: U.S. NAVY SEALs
- SOCOM: U.S. NAVY SEALs Combined Assault
For the following data types, you must perform some additional steps after completing the data transfer to be able to use the data:
- Application data for Life with PlayStation®
- Download and install the Life with PlayStation® application on the destination PS3™ system. You can continue to accumulate contribution points for the PlayStation®Network ranking system of the Folding@home™ channel.
- GripShift™
- When you start the game for the first time after the data transfer operation, an error message will be displayed and you will not be able to play the game. To play the game, download and install the game again.
Saved data for Ghostbusters™ and Ghostbusters™: The Video Game
- The saved game will not be recognized when you start the game for the first time after the data transfer operation. To use the saved data, quit the game, and then start the game again.
Official PlayStation Magazine
Hint
Some software titles may not be sold in some regions.
Just so you know, the destination console may shut itself down after the transfer is complete.
This is slightly harder. As you probably know by this point, PS3s format their drives on install so it's not like you can just plug your old drive in an go. There is this handy guide on how to do this. In it it mentions this useful backup tool as well as the data transfer tool.
The guide states as follows:
...to avoid redownloading gigabytes upon gigabytes worth of digital gaming and destroying my monthly bandwidth alottment, I did the following:
- Backed up my protected saves just in case things didn’t go according to plan.
- Purged unnecessary game data (ie: installs, patches, demos etc)
- Performed a backup to an external hard drive using the Backup Utility
- Once the backup was complete, removed the hard drives (320GB & 160GB in my case) from both consoles and swapped them.
- Booted up each console and performed the requested formatting of each drive.
- Restored the backup from step 3 onto the old PlayStation 3.
- Once the restore was complete, initiated a transfer via the Data Transfer Utility
The Data Transfer Utility worked as described; all my PSN games, themes and saves (protected and otherwise) made it across the Ethernet cable into the new PS3.
Note: The destination console may shut itself down after the transfer is complete.
Best Answer
It sounds like you're trying to replace the internal hard drive of the PS3. If so, the PS3 will detect that and prompt you to format it on start up. You shouldn't need to download/run anything from a USB flash stick or CD/DVD at all. It is very much 'Plug and Play' in that regard.
Once formatted, it will install the version of the OS that the PS3 was released with. Once up and running, you can update from this version as you would normally: by connecting it to the Internet and checking for updates using the 'Settings' menu and allowing it to download the updates.
These updates can also be done using a USB flash stick, which I believe is where you're getting confused. As @Memor-X states - you can update using some Game's disks - if you get some new released games it'll stop you from playing until you updated the system to the required version, which is included on the disk.
But you shouldn't need either a USB stick or a DVD if all you're doing is replacing a faulted/corrupted hard drive.
If you're still unsure, there are plenty of guides that walk you through how to replace a PS3 hard drive on Youtube, such as the one below. Basically, the process is:
(Note that your controller may need to be plugged into the PS3 by the charging cable in order to function correctly.)
Note: Every PS3 hard drive is encoded to that specific PS3. Once replaced with a new drive, the encoding is changed. This means that - should you be able to get save files off the corrupted drive, you should do this before replacing the drive.