Try this before replacing Blu Ray drive (Last Resort) - PlayStation 3

Undertakerza · January 12th, 2009, 06:14 PM

I updated a game, Warhawk and my system froze when I got it rebooted it I could no longer access any discs (cd, dvd, blu ray, games) i was ejecting and re inserting disks when I realized that the drive wasn't making any noise and also ... not spinning disks anymore they come out the exact same way i put them in.

here is how:

Ok so I’ve fixed my issue. I will run through what you will need to do to fix yours if you are having issues with the blu-ray drive and general PS3 system operations like the XMediaBar this is totally worth a shot ... I doubt this will fix any other issue. If not then your blu-ray drive/ PS3 is probably dead and needs replacement via the method listed above or by sony.

If you can, I suggest you back up your PS3 first. The menu that you will access to can fully erase your PS3 if you choose the wrong option! I do not take any responsibility! Please proceed at your own risk! If you read and follow the instructions exactly you should not loose any data! Feel free to ask questions if you are confused so you don’t make a mistake!! Sorry, I had to say it, I don’t want anyone mad at me if they make a mistake, don’t back up their data and erase it, and then blame me…

The current version of the ps3 firmware has a “recovery console”.

You access it by

1. Start with having the system in standby (redlight is on)

2. Hold the power button down; the system will turn on and turn off once again.

3. Press and hold the power button again and keep holding, it will beep as it turns on and then it will double beep. When you hear the double beeps immediately take your finger off the power button (if your system turns off before you get a double beep just try again and hold the button, it should double beep the 2nd time you try)

4. You will be prompted to plug in your controller via USB and then hit the PS button

You will now have a screen with these options (I have attached a picture of this screen below)

1. Restart System: Restarts the PLAYSTATION®3 System.
2. Restore Default Settings: Reset all system settings back to default.
CHOOSE THIS ONE 3.Restore File System: Checks for corrupt/missing system files.
4. Rebuild Database: Rebuilds the OS for the PLAYSTATION®3.
5. Restore PS3 System: Fresh restore; Deletes everything and starts from Scratch.
6. System Update: Update the PLAYSTATION®3 System

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT CHOOSE THE WRONG OPTION HERE OR YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR DATA. The one that fixed my blu-ray drive is option 3: RESTORE FILE SYSTEM

I REPEAT CHOOSE RESTORE FILE SYSTEM

After this, it is going to restart and bring up a screen reading something like “you have Corrupted System Data. Your PS will now replace this data” Then you choose continue and that should be it.

This option reinstalls the system files and drivers inside the PS3 with the original ones that are stored on your hard drive. In this case, it replaced a corrupted driver for the blu ray drive thus fixing my issue and hopefully yours!! This option will only replace all system files thus saving you from loosing any data that’s stored on your hard drive. Again this option does nothing to your hard drive it reads a file from the drive and rewrites it to the PS3 system.

If you want a more technical understanding of what this is really doing continue reading. DO NOT NEED TO READ THIS TO COMPLETE REPAIR. The PS3 does not boot from your hard drive as a computer does. It has a flash memory like a cell phone that stores all system files and system firmware updates that you get when the PS3 updates. This is why reformatting your hard drive will not fix your problem, none of the system files are stored on your hard drive (ex. XMB, system firmware, etc.) nor do they run from the drive.

However, your hard drive does contain a full backup of your SYSTEM files and thus when you choose option 3: RESTORE FILE SYSTEM it rewrites the original system files from your drive (which aren’t corrupted) back to the flash memory which is corrupted thus fixing the problem

Zoefis · January 12th, 2009, 06:20 PM

Thanks taker will save this one on laptop for future use

Master · January 12th, 2009, 06:32 PM

pulsedriver needs to try this

and then let us know if it works.. it does make sense... so lets see..

Valante · January 12th, 2009, 06:57 PM

Wow thanks for that Taker. Awesome post. Glad everything is ok with your PS3. Going to bookmark this thread in case I come across troubles.

SimonR · January 12th, 2009, 07:02 PM

Great post taker!!

Undertakerza · January 12th, 2009, 07:26 PM

Thanks guys, hope it is a shot for someone to try,first differentiate between a system software or hardware problem.This will do just that.Goodluck!

SimplyTdi · January 13th, 2009, 09:43 AM

thanks for the top post i'm sure it will come in handy one day...lucky your ps is sorted

NaZa05 · January 13th, 2009, 10:00 AM

Brilliant Post bud, hope this helps someone else also.

Seth · January 13th, 2009, 02:27 PM

My First replacement was because of that. Where were you!

Epic · January 13th, 2009, 05:32 PM

Great read! Thank you for posting.

January 12th, 2009, 06:14 PM	#1
Undertakerza Addicted Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: JHB Posts: 2,521 PSN ID: Undertakerza	Try this before replacing Blu Ray drive (Last Resort) I updated a game, Warhawk and my system froze when I got it rebooted it I could no longer access any discs (cd, dvd, blu ray, games) i was ejecting and re inserting disks when I realized that the drive wasn't making any noise and also ... not spinning disks anymore they come out the exact same way i put them in. here is how: Ok so I’ve fixed my issue. I will run through what you will need to do to fix yours if you are having issues with the blu-ray drive and general PS3 system operations like the XMediaBar this is totally worth a shot ... I doubt this will fix any other issue. If not then your blu-ray drive/ PS3 is probably dead and needs replacement via the method listed above or by sony. If you can, I suggest you back up your PS3 first. The menu that you will access to can fully erase your PS3 if you choose the wrong option! I do not take any responsibility! Please proceed at your own risk! If you read and follow the instructions exactly you should not loose any data! Feel free to ask questions if you are confused so you don’t make a mistake!! Sorry, I had to say it, I don’t want anyone mad at me if they make a mistake, don’t back up their data and erase it, and then blame me… The current version of the ps3 firmware has a “recovery console”. You access it by 1. Start with having the system in standby (redlight is on) 2. Hold the power button down; the system will turn on and turn off once again. 3. Press and hold the power button again and keep holding, it will beep as it turns on and then it will double beep. When you hear the double beeps immediately take your finger off the power button (if your system turns off before you get a double beep just try again and hold the button, it should double beep the 2nd time you try) 4. You will be prompted to plug in your controller via USB and then hit the PS button You will now have a screen with these options (I have attached a picture of this screen below) 1. Restart System: Restarts the PLAYSTATION®3 System. 2. Restore Default Settings: Reset all system settings back to default. CHOOSE THIS ONE 3.Restore File System: Checks for corrupt/missing system files. 4. Rebuild Database: Rebuilds the OS for the PLAYSTATION®3. 5. Restore PS3 System: Fresh restore; Deletes everything and starts from Scratch. 6. System Update: Update the PLAYSTATION®3 System IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT CHOOSE THE WRONG OPTION HERE OR YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR DATA. The one that fixed my blu-ray drive is option 3: RESTORE FILE SYSTEM I REPEAT CHOOSE RESTORE FILE SYSTEM After this, it is going to restart and bring up a screen reading something like “you have Corrupted System Data. Your PS will now replace this data” Then you choose continue and that should be it. This option reinstalls the system files and drivers inside the PS3 with the original ones that are stored on your hard drive. In this case, it replaced a corrupted driver for the blu ray drive thus fixing my issue and hopefully yours!! This option will only replace all system files thus saving you from loosing any data that’s stored on your hard drive. Again this option does nothing to your hard drive it reads a file from the drive and rewrites it to the PS3 system. If you want a more technical understanding of what this is really doing continue reading. DO NOT NEED TO READ THIS TO COMPLETE REPAIR. The PS3 does not boot from your hard drive as a computer does. It has a flash memory like a cell phone that stores all system files and system firmware updates that you get when the PS3 updates. This is why reformatting your hard drive will not fix your problem, none of the system files are stored on your hard drive (ex. XMB, system firmware, etc.) nor do they run from the drive. However, your hard drive does contain a full backup of your SYSTEM files and thus when you choose option 3: RESTORE FILE SYSTEM it rewrites the original system files from your drive (which aren’t corrupted) back to the flash memory which is corrupted thus fixing the problem __________________ Website http://www.legacyrsa.co.nr

January 12th, 2009, 06:20 PM	#2
Zoefis Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Far Far Distand Land Posts: 472 PSN ID: Zoefis	Thanks taker will save this one on laptop for future use __________________ U Want a Piece of me ?

January 12th, 2009, 07:26 PM	#6
Undertakerza Addicted Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: JHB Posts: 2,521 PSN ID: Undertakerza	Thanks guys, hope it is a shot for someone to try,first differentiate between a system software or hardware problem.This will do just that.Goodluck! __________________ Website http://www.legacyrsa.co.nr Last edited by Undertakerza; January 12th, 2009 at 09:08 PM.

January 13th, 2009, 09:43 AM	#7
SimplyTdi Oupa Yondaime Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Durban Posts: 5,131 PSN ID: Nabeel_E	thanks for the top post i'm sure it will come in handy one day...lucky your ps is sorted __________________ "You know, sometimes I wish I did a little more with my life instead of hanging out in front of places selling weed and s h i t. Like, maybe be an animal doctor. Why not me? I like seals and s h i t. Or maybe an astronaut. Yeah. Like, be the first motherf....r to see a new galaxy, or find a new alien lifeform... and f... it. And people'd be like, "There he goes. Homeboy f....d a Martian once."

January 13th, 2009, 10:00 AM	#8
NaZa05 Very Senior Member Brisbane Roar FC & eVo FTW Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: JHB Florida Posts: 1,501 PSN ID: NaZa05_ZA	Brilliant Post bud, hope this helps someone else also. __________________

January 12th, 2009, 06:32 PM	#3
Master Best Online Trader 2008 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: CT Posts: 4,051 PSN ID: masjj	pulsedriver needs to try this and then let us know if it works.. it does make sense... so lets see..

January 12th, 2009, 06:57 PM	#4
Valante Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cape Town Posts: 4,670 Blog Entries: 2	Wow thanks for that Taker. Awesome post. Glad everything is ok with your PS3. Going to bookmark this thread in case I come across troubles.

January 12th, 2009, 07:02 PM	#5
SimonR Oupa Jesus saves! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pretoria Posts: 5,416 PSN ID: ReicheZA	Great post taker!!

January 13th, 2009, 02:27 PM	#9
Seth Very Senior Member Even after Monday and Thuesday my calander goes WTF! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The land of the sun Posts: 1,252 PSN ID: DARK_SETH	My First replacement was because of that. Where were you! __________________

January 13th, 2009, 05:32 PM	#10
Epic Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: George-Western Cape Posts: 191	Great read! Thank you for posting. __________________ "Sell a kidney if you have to, Playstation 3" PSN: RFOM_HD

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode