LOG: PS3 YLOD Fix
- Thread starter trentlad
- Start date
Oh boy. I really hope that Windows 7 doesn't alter the signature... sounds like the only hope I have of this drive being recognised by this PS3 now.
Thanks for your response Senture.
That's a really good heads up Alrik. Thanks a lot!
I'll take a look into this before I consider buying it. Hopefully there's a review online that looked at temperature sensor readings that might be visible from the PS3 software. If there's a substantial drop then that should mean the airflow isn't impaired, but who knows if there's even a way to view PS3 built-in core temperature sensors.
No problem
. I'm sorry it is not the news you wanted to hear but I've had my own experience of doing just this and wanted you to know fully.
It's pretty difficult finding solder flux over here. I used to repair ECU's with surface mount microprocessors and we always used flux to help the solder.
I tried to find a store in the local area, even called up a few places, but there's nothing. I ended up ordering a small bottle online so I'll have to wait until Friday to repair this now.
I tried to find a store in the local area, even called up a few places, but there's nothing. I ended up ordering a small bottle online so I'll have to wait until Friday to repair this now.
We never use Flux to reflow BGAs the flux normally wets the solder too much and can lead to shorts. Ive only ever used a sticky flux when i reballed some BGAs once and the outcome was identical to no flux. Best result i ever had is when i did an oven profile for a PS3 and stuck in in the reflow oven, thats been going strong for about a year now. I would think youre best bet is to try without the flux? Is the flux no clean stuff? If not i wouldnt use it as it will damage the board if not cleaned.
That's right, I purchased no-clean flux.
I'm amazed that the flux wets the solder too much, I guess I've ever only hand soldered surface mount components (pins to a pad) so the iron is a little more direct and dries it up just right. With a BGA reflow you're just heating up the vicinity so I guess it's hard to get the flux to dry up as well as a direct soldering iron.
Gilksy seems to think using flux is a good idea but he was referring to people who have taken several attempts to fix the YLOD. His theory was that the flux in the solder would start to dry out so after multiple attempts of a reflow you're causing more cracks to form.
Wow now I'm really stuck.
MSMALLS74: I'd love to have an nice little reflow oven to pop this into. Actually...could you possibly give a little more information about the PS3 oven profile that you setup.
For instance:
Specifically how long,
What temperature,
Does the oven direct heat in a particular area,
Is there a portion of time that the reflow oven applies cool air,
Did your plastic components on the motherboard become distorted,
etc...
Basically any other relevant info from your profile
I'm amazed that the flux wets the solder too much, I guess I've ever only hand soldered surface mount components (pins to a pad) so the iron is a little more direct and dries it up just right. With a BGA reflow you're just heating up the vicinity so I guess it's hard to get the flux to dry up as well as a direct soldering iron.
Gilksy seems to think using flux is a good idea but he was referring to people who have taken several attempts to fix the YLOD. His theory was that the flux in the solder would start to dry out so after multiple attempts of a reflow you're causing more cracks to form.
Wow now I'm really stuck.
MSMALLS74: I'd love to have an nice little reflow oven to pop this into. Actually...could you possibly give a little more information about the PS3 oven profile that you setup.
For instance:
Specifically how long,
What temperature,
Does the oven direct heat in a particular area,
Is there a portion of time that the reflow oven applies cool air,
Did your plastic components on the motherboard become distorted,
etc...
Basically any other relevant info from your profile
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I saw this a few weeks ago (saw those youtube videos) and was quite intrigued. Was interested in trying to do a fix by acquiring a faulty PS3.
But the people on the Bay are crazy imo and are ready to pay 80+ quid on a faulty PS3 that might not even be repairable. Coupled with the fact that I would need to buy a heatgun, and the risks involved, it wouldnt make much sense.
A shame though as it would have been a decent worthwhile challenge!
But the people on the Bay are crazy imo and are ready to pay 80+ quid on a faulty PS3 that might not even be repairable. Coupled with the fact that I would need to buy a heatgun, and the risks involved, it wouldnt make much sense.
A shame though as it would have been a decent worthwhile challenge!
I'd open a new thread mate, then you'll get people specifically answering your question.
Have you tried the PS3 trouble shooting menu? It might work but I've never heard of the RSOD.
Jeez so the PS3 really can go Terminator on you:
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One year.... ONE YEAR!!!
I cannot stop thinking about this one msmalls74. It's got me seriously considering using my oven to reflow instead. The more I think about it the more it makes sense, you've got a completely equal amount of heat being applied over the entire board for a consistent duration. Instead of small bursts of heat which could cause the solder to dry, melt, dry, melt and not form correctly.
Please give me some info about your profile, ideally what I asked in the quote and anything more if you have it. It may potentially end up helping a lot of other YLOD PS3 owners.
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Right not at work till Monday again so i cant check if the profile is on the system, or if indeed we kept it. The oven we use at work is an older model of this one;
http://www.ersa.com/art-reflow-soldering-343-1464.html
I removed as much plastic as i could from the PCB and used capstain tape to protect the rest as much as i could. I used the auto-profiler in conjuction with the thermocouple probe to record the PCB temp and temp of the BGAs themselves. As for the cooling there is about 4 cooling areas at the end of the oven that then goes onto a belt and cooled using an ionised fan. Not sure if any details help you at all ill try to see if i can find more info out monday.
Not sure if you have one available but an infra red rework station is probably nearly as good as using the oven, and you dont have the worry of cooking other components or melting plastic.
One thing to note, and not just for you but others with dead PS3, Sony will swap one out for a slim for less money than a repair some have paid around the £70 mark to exchange duff PS3 60GB for a Slim. I guess its to fix those who dont want a slim.
That's fantastic information msmalls74. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the PS3 profile on Monday. Yes, any information you have is very very much appreciated. 
I like that tip to cover the parts you don't want cooked, is the "capstain tape" similar to an aluminum tape?
If I upload a picture of the motherboard would you be able to open it in MS Paint (in windows hit Win+R and type mspaint) and draw a circle around the parts you left uncovered/covered?
I've just highlighted all the plastic parts that I can spot on the board (external ports, ribbon cable clips, HDD socket, etc). I'm guessing these are all the parts that you removed! I'm blown away that you removed all of those parts msmalls74, I have no idea how you re-soldered these tiny pins. You must have crazy soldering skills.
PS3 Motherboard top side - only plastic parts highlighted
PS3 Motherboard reverse side - only plastic parts highlighted
I like that tip to cover the parts you don't want cooked, is the "capstain tape" similar to an aluminum tape?
If I upload a picture of the motherboard would you be able to open it in MS Paint (in windows hit Win+R and type mspaint) and draw a circle around the parts you left uncovered/covered?
I've just highlighted all the plastic parts that I can spot on the board (external ports, ribbon cable clips, HDD socket, etc). I'm guessing these are all the parts that you removed! I'm blown away that you removed all of those parts msmalls74, I have no idea how you re-soldered these tiny pins. You must have crazy soldering skills.
PS3 Motherboard top side - only plastic parts highlighted
PS3 Motherboard reverse side - only plastic parts highlighted
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Sorry to labour the bad news but Windows 7 is just the same as other versions when it comes to encrypted/signed hard drives. Merely accessing it in a foreign operating system that doesn't understand it will have tainted the drive, and whilst the data, etc is likely to all still be on there the PS3 (even if you can get it working) will not accept it.
You might end up having to go to Sony after all.
Sorry to labour the bad news but Windows 7 is just the same as other versions when it comes to encrypted/signed hard drives. Merely accessing it in a foreign operating system that doesn't understand it will have tainted the drive, and whilst the data, etc is likely to all still be on there the PS3 (even if you can get it working) will not accept it.
You might end up having to go to Sony after all.
It's pretty amazing isn't it, that they would use such a delicate signature to prevent the HDD from ever leaving the playstation. I wonder if the signature would also be affected if you take the HDD and put it into a different PS3, affected so it wouldn't be accepted by the original.
I'll let you know what happens when I get this up and running again. From what you've said I have a feeling I'll be gutted when I get the display:
"Please press yes to format the hard drive.
Ha ha ha all your efforts have gone to waste.
<This smug message was brought to you by the Sony Corporation.
PS: Thanks for spending $600 on this device... you goon>"
*plays Portal Still Alive music*
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That's fantastic information msmalls74. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the PS3 profile on Monday. Yes, any information you have is very very much appreciated.
I like that tip to cover the parts you don't want cooked, is the "capstain tape" similar to an aluminum tape?
If I upload a picture of the motherboard would you be able to open it in MS Paint (in windows hit Win+R and type mspaint) and draw a circle around the parts you covered?
I've just highlighted all the plastic parts that I can spot on the board (external ports, ribbon cable clips, HDD socket, etc). I'm guessing these are all the parts that you removed! I'm blown away that you removed all of those parts msmalls74, I have no idea how you re-soldered these tiny pins. You must have crazy soldering skills.
Sorry mate cant recall what we did and didnt remove, aslo Kapton tape (correct spelling now) is a polymide tape that is heat resistant upto 280C, normally enough. It can be used over the top of ally tape to reduce heat to the tape underneath. As for my solder skillz yeah there pretty good, I work on 01005 and 0201 SMD devices normally and of course BGA rework/ inspection. Most of the time we have rework techs to do the "dirty" work but we have to be able to do the job ourselves. Using an oven is a bit over kill TBH I only did it to see if i could lol, like i said i think using an infra red bga rework station is the best way when taking all into consideration as possible board damage is minimal. I have had some good luck using the heat gun method, thats prob the easiest solution even if in many cases its not a full time fix.
Unfortunately there's no way I can take this to an Infra Red station. That would be perfect for applying specific temperature in a specific area.
I think I'll go and buy some Kapton tape... what's the ally tape you mentioned? I wonder if I could get the same results by covering the board with tin foil and applying Kapton tape over it.
When you covered your board with tape, were the BGAs the only items left exposed?
I think I'll go and buy some Kapton tape... what's the ally tape you mentioned? I wonder if I could get the same results by covering the board with tin foil and applying Kapton tape over it.
When you covered your board with tape, were the BGAs the only items left exposed?
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I read that Sony will not admit to the number of customers that have received the YLOD on their PS3. Who knows if that's true. It was really nice for Microsoft to realise how many were getting the RROD and placed the 360 into recall, allowing users to send their 360 back at any time even out of the warranty period.
Let's hope that Sony will do the same one day. On Gilksy's site he put up this international YLOD victims list to help that happen:
http://ylod.llysn.net/
Let's hope that Sony will do the same one day. On Gilksy's site he put up this international YLOD victims list to help that happen:
http://ylod.llysn.net/