PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan

Comments: 20

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

5 - 10 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace your PlayStation 3's hard drive.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

If you need to backup the data on your current hard drive, follow the instructions in this step. Otherwise, continue to the next step.
On a Windows/OS X/Linux machine, format an external USB hard drive (with enough space available to backup your current hard content) into the FAT32 file system.
Make sure it's formatted FAT32. The Playstation 3 backup utility will not recognize any other file system.
Connect your formatted hard drive to the Playstation 3 through a USB port and power the console up.
Navigate the XMB to the 'Settings' menu and select 'System Settings'
Select the 'Backup Utility' function to create a backup of your data - this can take up to 2 hours if you have a lot of data on the PS3.

Hi everyone !

As many users I suppose, my PS3's HDD is full, and I tried to change it for a bigger one.

But I'm stuck at the first step :

I've formated an external HDD in FAT32, plugged it in the usb port then turn on the PS3. The HDD lights up, I select the good menu, the PS3 asks me if I want to do it, 'YES', warn me that my XP and trophies won't be saved in this backup, 'YES', then the menu asks me to plug a HDD ...

I've tried to plug in the both usb ports when the PS3 is off, when it's on, formated my external HDD 3 times in FAT32, fast way and long way (when the HDD is re-written with 0) , and nothing changed...

The external HDD works, is new, is bigger than my internal HDD... it's a WD, My Passport Ultra 500 Go...

Any idea what's wrong ?

Thanks for the help !

BNJ - 29/02/16

Hi !

I've found the solution : the external HDD wasn't good for this operation, because it's an USB 3, so I suppose that the PS3 doesn't deliver enough power to run it correctly. It's works fine with a external USB 2.

I'll write later the complete 'arborescence' (or 'tree diagram' ? don't know the correct word to use) who is written in my HDD, it could help someone else.

And after all this, when you want to restore your backup datas on your new internal HDD, I advise you to copy the last PS3 system software (downladed here http://us.playstation.com/support/system...) in a single USB key, it was easier for my PS3 to find and read it.

See you later !

BNJ - 02/03/16

FYI: Using the default Disk Management application, Windows can only make FAT32 partitions up to 32GB in size. If you have more data than that to backup you'll have to use third party software like: http://ridgecrop.co.uk/index.htm?guiform...

That will allow you to make a partition/drive up to 2TB which is the FAT32 maximum.

Patrick Hoffer -

Also, make sure it's a MBR partition and not GPT!

Arkhane -

Step 2

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive door away from the lower case.
Remove the hard drive door from the PS3.

Step 3

Remove the blue 8 mm Phillips screw securing the hard drive cage to the chassis.

Step 4

Grab the hard drive pull tab and pull the hard drive toward the front face of the PS3.
Pull the hard drive assembly out of the PS3.

Step 5

Remove the four 4.3 mm Phillips screws securing the hard drive cage to the hard drive.
These 4 screws can sometimes be very difficult to remove. If you strip the heads our Screw Extracting Pliers remove the damaged screws nicely.

Step 6

Remove the hard drive from its steel cage.
If you're installing a new hard drive into your PS3, use this guide to restore the data you backed up.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Walter Galan

694047 Reputation

16 comments

Hi there!

Thank you for this (and all the other) guide!

My Hard Drive Slot looks a little bit different.

You have to spudge away the door from the left side and after removing the Blue Screw you can easily pull out the harddrive and you don't have to slide the tray to the side and out afterwards.

Maybe worth a note that there are several versions around..

Jay Ho -

Nice explenatory guide!

Dirk Ronsmans - 01/12/15

My playstation3 fell over" lost all my icons on screen. I took it in to see what's wrong, they say I need to replace hard drive. Were can I buy a hard drive and how much does it cost? Can I do it myself? Please give me some answers or tips

alexhuman49 - 04/02/16

if you can’t figure that out you should stop gaming…

Azhrei2000 - 01/12/20

You can find a new hard drive on Amazon. Data's gone, though.

TheTank20 -

Any 2.5'' HDD or SSD will work. There are a few linked in the top of the guide.

Patrick Hoffer -

i have a ps3 without a hdd and i want to put a hdd from another ps3,it's that possibile?

ommatol152 - 18/11/16

yes but HD’s are linked to specific PS3’s. It’ll format the drive you are trying to use as an external. You can backup the PS3 you’re taking the drive FROM first on an external, but I don’t know if you can restore from an external on a different ps3. I’ve done that before on mine, but it’s the same PS3, just put in a bigger drive.

Azhrei2000 - 01/12/20

It'd be great to mentioned that not all PS3 looks like that. Mine doesn't have a clearly labeled HDD, nor a clear door on the side. There's a small door on the bottom of the system which when opened reveals the blue screw. Then you slide the small cover (the one with all the DVD, BluRay, HDMI labels) to the right. Pull the handle and the HDD will come out strait towards you.

Ryo Saeba - 17/06/17

hi,there.. I am getting this error on screen.

Cannot Start. The appropriate system storage was not found.. pls advice me.Thanks

Syed Ali - 24/07/18

I need help my ps3 has a green light that comes on one time then no light and won't show on my TV but I took the hard drive out by accident and now it won't turn back on or show a screen for steps please help

Angel - 21/11/18

hi its heino hear I lost all my data on my playstation so my hardrive stop workin now I need to instan all new b ut I don't hafe the softwareb

what do I do

Heino Badenhorst - 04/05/19

what if the blue screw for the hard drive casing is stripped?

Jacob Einarson -

Will the ps3 work without the HDD, I have a PS3 without hdd and it doesn’t even boot up, it doesn’t turn on and turns off by itself . Is is because it’s YLOD or just because there’s no hdd——(Phat PS3 CECHG#)

Rahmkar -

Hola, yo tengo una pregunta? Yo antes tenía una ps3 Slim, pero se me quemó: Hace poco volvi a comprar otra ps3 Slim y pues quiero ver si puedo recuperar todos mis datos que tenía en mi anterior disco duro, pero el detalle cuando coloco el anterior disco duro en la nueva ps3 Slim me dices que hay un error en el sistema y que tengo que actualizar al 4.89 y formatear el disco duro (pero yo no quiero perder nada de ahí) ¿Que me recomiendan?

JuanJo36 -

After i fix ylod ps3 fat start work,but dont make boot recovery mode how can i fix?

Endri Laci - 25/01/24