PS3 hard drive replacement?

shadow_boxer · 12 Aug 2010 at 23:27

Hi guys, I have an original PS3 fat 80GB version and am looking to upgrade the hard drive to at least a 320gb drive. My PS3 has never been connected to the internet and I have never upgraded the firmware, its pretty much just been used as blu-ray player. So I am looking to upgrade the hard drive prior to getting it online just in case something fails with a firmware update for example so I could always fall back onto my original 80gb drive. So as to the reason for the thread....any recommendations for a drive (doesnt necessarily have to be from here, but obviously no competitor links?!), tempted by the Western Digital Blue 500GB one for £44.99.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-248-WD&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=896

decmatt · 13 Aug 2010 at 00:42

I use that exact drive, works fine.

mame · 13 Aug 2010 at 05:27

I have a 250gb in mine from here, It's criminal not to upgrade it for the cost. If you haven't upgraded the firmware it should be pretty simple. If you upgrade the firmware it just asks you for media with that firmware on. I just used a USB stick.

Shampoo · 13 Aug 2010 at 08:59

I also have that exact drive and it's absolutely fine.

shadow_boxer · 13 Aug 2010 at 10:26

Excellent, thanks for the replies. Think I'll go for the 320 WD blue. Regarding firmware updating do u have to do it via usb or will it detect it automaticly once connected online, like for example Windows updates. Sorry for noob qu's!

Senture · 13 Aug 2010 at 10:31

You will need to have the latest firmware available on a FAT32 formatted USB drive. Part of the PS3 firmware resides on the hard drive so replacing the drive requires you to re-flash the firmware.

Make a folder called PS3 (all in upper case) on the root of the USB drive and then make UPDATE inside the PS3 folder. Download the firmware to the UPDATE folder and you're good to go

shadow_boxer · 13 Aug 2010 at 13:07

Ok, thanks for the advice, will format a usb flash drive to fat32 as above. Would I be able to upgrade to the latest firmware (3.41) remembering that I have never upgraded firmware before or would I need to install previous versions?

Senture · 13 Aug 2010 at 13:26

You can jump straight to 3.41, every firmware update contains all the information of the previous updates (unless they remove something like Linux support a while back). When you replace the hard drive, you have to flash a firmware equal or higher than the current version.

shadow_boxer · 13 Aug 2010 at 13:40

Thanks