Upgrading PS3 Slim Hard Drive

edited August 2010 in General Chat
Hi, I was wondering if any of you have upgraded your PS3 Slim's hard drive. I've pretty much already gone through my 120 GBs and need more. I've heard that you can just use a regular hard drive - I'm thinking this one since it's so hoghly reviewed by PS3 users.

On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being easiest, how hard is it to upgrade? Also, I only have a 6 GB external USB drive. Will I be able to use that to transfer my data (Not the actual downloaded stuff- just the data files)?

Thanks. :)

Comments

  • edited July 2010
    Unless you don't know how to use a screwdriver... 1

    The USB should be enough for your SAVE FILES.... probably not much else though.

    Also ANY 2.5 inch 5400RPM (or higher as I have been told) SATA hard drive will work. I would go with a used one & just erase whats on it to save money.
  • edited July 2010
    Crap, then it's gonna be an 11/10....

    Nah, just kidding. Thanks. Do I have to delete everything I don't want to be transferred the USB stick from the PS3, or do I get to decide what to copy over to it?
  • edited July 2010
    No... just copy what you want...

    Everything stays on the hard drive as well
  • edited July 2010
    1) Replacing the hard disk is easy if you read the manual. It's all in there.
    2) Upgrading the disk is as easy as pulling the old one out and putting a new one in. When you boot up the PS3, it'll format the new disk and be ready to go. You will, however, have to back up any game saves, music, photos, or videos you wish to keep (You will have to re-download software like games, PS Home, or Life with PlayStation). While you can use the built-in backup feature, I assure you your 6GB USB drive will be most inadequate.
  • edited July 2010
    xbskid wrote: »
    While you can use the built-in backup feature, I assure you your 6GB USB drive will be most inadequate.

    What I'm going to end up doing is I'll probably erase all the downloads off the current harddrive, just keep my game saves and use the backup utility.

    Buttttttt... if I do end up just individually copying each save to the USB stick using the "copy" option when you hit triangle, how do I get those on the new harddrive? Would I still use the "Backup Utility" in the options?
  • edited July 2010
    Buttttttt... if I do end up just individually copying each save to the USB stick using the "copy" option when you hit triangle, how do I get those on the new harddrive? Would I still use the "Backup Utility" in the options?

    I know there's a Copy Multiple option, but I don't know if it works with Game Saves. If you use that, you can copy them all in one fell swoop. When restoring your games, you'll go into the Game Save utility, select your flash drive, and repeat the Copy Multiple option.

    Also, this is very important: If you care about your trophy data and/or don't want to be bugged by your games that you might be using someone else's saves, the first thing you do after your PS3 formats your new drive is to create your user account and link your PSN account to it. Do that first thing. If you load up a game without linking your PSN account to the local PS3 account, you risk permanently invalidating your ability to earn trophies with that save* (Good thing you still have all your saves on your flash drive). Second thing you might want to do is sync your trophy data so that's up to date. After that is when I recommend you start restoring your data and downloading stuff.


    * This is protection against sharing game saves to unfairly earn trophies. If the game detects you using someone else's game save, it will flip a flag somewhere in the save, effectively preventing you from using it to unfairly gain trophies. This can also cause the game to display an appropriate notice each and every time the game boots.
  • edited July 2010
    xbskid wrote: »
    the first thing you do after your PS3 formats your new drive is to create your user account and link your PSN account to it.

    I read that it keeps your account information on the PS3's local flash drive. Is this not the case anymore?
  • edited July 2010
    Just create your username & go to the PS Store. It will ask if you are already a member (or something like that) on the first screen. Click that & enter your email & password. The system will do the rest.
  • edited July 2010
    I read that it keeps your account information on the PS3's local flash drive. Is this not the case anymore?

    I'm not sure, actually. My understanding was that all user data (including accounts) was kept on the hard disk, though I never had or bothered to swap mine, so I can't verify from experience. If I'm wrong and the accounts are stored in flash, then just make sure your trophy info is updated, because I know that won't be kept in flash. Either way, it's something to look out for, otherwise you may end up with borked saves, and we don't want that to happen. :)
  • edited July 2010
    Unless you don't know how to use a screwdriver... 1

    The USB should be enough for your SAVE FILES.... probably not much else though.

    Also ANY 2.5 inch 5400RPM (or higher as I have been told) SATA hard drive will work. I would go with a used one & just erase whats on it to save money.

    No need to erase it. When you put in a new HDD to the PS3 it auto reformates it to FAT32 because the PS3 uses FAT32 system. Also not sure if this is just PS3 fats (which I have) but you can't go beyond 7200 RPM but has to be atleast 5400RPM. Also you can't go beyond 500 GB.

    And for backing up there's an option in the PS3 system config which allows you to back up everything including game files that can't be copied normally. It's how I kept my Demon's Souls file. And it does keep your user names and such on it's flash memory.

    Basically, here's what I did. I borrowed my brother's External HDD. Backed up my 60 GB PS3 using the system option back up utility. Then I changed HDDs. I let the PS3 auto-reformat my new one. Then once it loaded. I logged back in with my orignal account hooked up the external HDD and went back to back up utility let it load everything back and I had my old PS3 working 100% again with a new HDD.

    Also exact HDD I put in my PS3 is that one. It works nice but you'll lose 30 GB to the PS3's reformatting and system install process. So you'll really wind up with a 290 GB.
  • edited July 2010
    Elvenmonk wrote: »
    No need to erase it. When you put in a new HDD to the PS3 it auto reformates it to FAT32 because the PS3 uses FAT32 system. Also not sure if this is just PS3 fats (which I have) but you can't go beyond 7200 RPM but has to be atleast 5400RPM. Also you can't go beyond 500 GB.

    1) The PS3 does not use anything related to FAT for its hard disk. If that were true, you could hook it up to a PC and browse it with no issue. You also could not store files larger than 4GB (Without something like exFAT, and Sony's not going to pay MS for that license), which you can. It uses its own proprietary file system, probably based on ext2 or ext3.

    2) There are no solid limits to speed or capacity other than what the market allows for. It's not that the PS3 won't work with a 10krpm or a 1TB 2.5" hard disk, it's that those disks are not yet available for consumer use, and when they do become available, then the PS3 will be able to use them.
  • edited July 2010
    Well, what I was reading said it made them FAT32 style, which after we refomatted my HDD we decided to plug it into my brother's comp and saw it was FAT32 style. We found it weird.

    But you could be right (makes more sense if you are) and this is really just a side quibble that I'll admit defeat to as it makes no real difference who is right or wrong.
  • edited July 2010
    Well, since I don't have an external hard drive, I'm just going to back up game saves. I'll probably end up erasing the Game Data Utility (the place where it stores DLC and installed disc content. After that's erased, it should be under 6 GBs. If not, I'll just manually copy over each save.
  • edited July 2010
    Well, note when you swap HDD's any HDD you put in will be asked to reformat. So once it's removed it'll have to be reformatted and not all game saved data can be transfered without the system back up utility. And if you're going to do it that way de-link your PSN account too from the PS3 as a just incase.
  • edited July 2010
    If I use Backup Utility, will it try to copy PS Home over? Because that's a big file and I definitely don't want that copied. Is there any way to delete home?

    Nevermind. I just deleted Home off my system.
  • edited July 2010
    Recently upgraded to a 500GB drive in my UK 60GB PS3. Best method is to delete anything you aren't really bothered about, such as videos, demos, Home, etc. Then use the PS3 system backup to transfer all your stuff to an external hard drive. Then install the new hard drive, which should auto format and update. Then do a system restore from the external hard drive. Also, sync trophies BEFORE this otherwise you will lose any not synced. When you sign in with new hard drive installed, sync again. Longest step is the restore which can take over an hour. But it is pretty easy as long as you have the correct screwdriver and don't strip the screw heads.
  • edited July 2010
    martymcfly wrote: »
    Also, sync trophies BEFORE this otherwise you will lose any not synced.

    Before what? Restoring the system? Doing the back up?


    OH and another thing: does anyone have any idea where LittleBigPlanet saves to? Because it's not in the Saved Data Utility, but it does have a 700-some MB file in the Game Data Utility.
  • edited July 2010
    Before what? Restoring the system? Doing the back up?


    OH and another thing: does anyone have any idea where LittleBigPlanet saves to? Because it's not in the Saved Data Utility, but it does have a 700-some MB file in the Game Data Utility.

    1) Sync once before you swap the hard disk, and again right after it's been formatted and you've created a local account and linked your PSN (If necessary).

    2) The guys at MediaMolecule noticed that the game saves for LBP were getting Xbox-huge, so they decided to keep your save data in the game data. You need to load the game up and, in the Start menu somewhere, there should be an option to export your game save. That will give you a normal save to copy. You will also [probably] have to load the game up and import it once you've copied it to the new HDD.
  • edited July 2010
    Thanks. Never would have thought of that.

    Argh I can't believe I forgot to ask this- do I need to use the backup utility with each account? Or does doing it once back up everything?
  • edited July 2010
    Thanks. Never would have thought of that.

    Argh I can't believe I forgot to ask this- do I need to use the backup utility with each account? Or does doing it once back up everything?

    I believe the backup utility backs up everything, including other accounts on the system (Of course, minus trophy data). It would be unwise to run it under each account, because each time it will back up shared items like games, game data, and videos.
  • edited July 2010
    WOW. Of course this had to happen. Between the time I made my backup, and the time I put in the new harddrive, update 3.41 was released. Now, I need it on a flashdrive to update the PS3 or I can't do anything. Problem is, the Playstation website only has 3.40. Any idea how long it usually takes until they put it up?
  • edited July 2010
    It usually takes about a day or two for an update to be put on their website.
  • edited July 2010
    Guys, THEY BROKE IT.
  • edited July 2010
    That sucks. I feel sorry for you. Of all the times to do an upgrade. :/

    It's not even a good patch. All it does is add an recommended feature to the PSN store.
  • edited July 2010
    Elvenmonk wrote: »
    Of all the times to do an upgrade. :/

    I know, right? D: I just hope they fix it reasonably soon.
  • edited July 2010
    Is it possible to put the original hard drive back in the system, upgrade to the new version, then do the swap?
  • edited July 2010
    xbskid wrote: »
    Is it possible to put the original hard drive back in the system, upgrade to the new version, then do the swap?

    I've tried that. Heck, everyone in that thread has tried everything. Guess I'm waiting for Sony on this one. Has something ever happened to the firmware like this where Sony screwed up and had to fix it?
  • edited July 2010
    Yes. Version 2.0 or 2.5 I think both. Those versions made many games unplayable, PSN not work, and various other things.
  • edited July 2010
    Well, they're supposed to be working on a fix now, but who knows how long that will take. :(
  • edited August 2010
    Perhaps a month I think is what they took for the 2.X problem

    Actually, today the update came out.
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