Ps3 – New HDD for the PS3 Super Slim 12 GB

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.

1. Update the system software of both PS3™ systems to the latest version.
2. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. On the source PS3™ system, select (Settings) > (System Settings) > [Data Transfer Utility].
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. On the destination PS3™ system, select (Settings) > (System Settings) > [Data Transfer Utility].
8. 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.

If you also intend to swap hard drives

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:

1. Backed up my protected saves just in case things didn’t go according to plan.
2. Purged unnecessary game data (ie: installs, patches, demos etc)
3. Performed a backup to an external hard drive using the Backup Utility
4. Once the backup was complete, removed the hard drives (320GB & 160GB in my case) from both consoles and swapped them.
5. Booted up each console and performed the requested formatting of each drive.
6. Restored the backup from step 3 onto the old PlayStation 3.
7. 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.

In theory, you should have no problems. Any 2.5" drive should fit in that bay. It's good you have the system on the 12 GB flash, it'll make booting after installation of the HDD (drive) easier. Now, the Slim drive will fit: the Slim (S) and SuperSlim (SS) both use 2.5" SATA (I think they're all Hitachi SATAs). They even use the same SATA cables (I believe a SATA-III and 15pin power). You can even plug and play the drives, provided that the OS version on the boxes are exactly the same. If the versions are different in any way, you will need to reformat that drive. But, I know a way you might be able to save the data on the drive if you have the right tools.

Now, afaik, the bay for the SuperSlim (SS) exists even on the PAL version, because they're trying to get you to by that 250 GB expansion, I'm sure. I do not know if the cables are in the your SS's bay; I doubt it. But, you should be able to use the cables from your friend's box. I believe there is a type A (male) connector on the board and the drive so the cables are B-B (female-female). Don't quote me on that. The SATA cables should be attached between the motherboard & the drive; just yank them out (carefully) and plug it into the connector ports that should be there in your bay. Close up your box, and the PS3 should boot from the flash drive. If it does not boot, it's trying to boot from the drive you swapped. You'll have to unplug that guy and try something else.

Here's what you'll need to do if it tries to boot from the swapped drive:

1. Get a SATA ↔ USB adapter if you don't have a SATA port on your computer.
2. Plug in the swapped drive.
3. Run a disk utility. If you don't have one, I can step you through a CMD prompt on Windows or a Unix shell. Let me know.
4. If you want to backup the data make a copy of the disk onto a local drive. Files can only by 3.9 GB in size (requirement of the FAT32 system PS3s use), so make sure you specify that in the disk utility options or... I'll figure out a way to run that from the shell if you ask (please don't).
5. Reformat the drive as a FAT32 drive. Make sure this is the only partition on the drive.

6. After the HDD is reformatted (might take a while) create the following directories on it (case sensitive)

   [DISKNAME]/PICTURE
   [DISKNAME]/VIDEO
   [DISKNAME]/MUSIC
   [DISKNAME]/PS3/EXPORT
   [DISKNAME]/PS3/SAVEDATA

7. Cut the data from your backup to the appropriate folder above.
8. Eject the drive, then install it in your box.

You should now be good to go.