Not sure how many of you know about this or are affected by this.....But last month Sony released their last big Firmware update of 2009 3.00.

Well, this update has had a serious knock on effect regarding stuffing up the console......Especially playing titles such as Uncharted.

Anyhoo, a few weeks later Sony released a patch update 3.01 to fix this issue. Well, it kinda did, but has had the adverse effect of knacking peoples PS3's. It literally replaces the Blu-Ray driver which renders the drive incapable of playing/reading from a blu-ray disc. It can have some other nasty side effects also.

Sony, as per the usual, have denied responsibility. Claiming that any update cannot cause hardware issues......Okey dokey sony, not all of us are mindless kids you know.....some of us actually have degrees in computing and have actually coded for your cell processor :naughtymarsh:

Sony's response to this problem, which again leaves a lot to be desired, is to send your PS3 in and we will fix it for ya - but it'll cost you $150 :scary:

So now they are facing a class action against them for negligability.....

However, two things;

1) If you are about to download this update please follow theses instructions very carefully to avoid any possible issues. Download through the PSN as usual, then when the update completes DO NOT attempt to use the PS3......Switch it off for at least 20 mins. Upon switching it back on go into the PSN Store and see if you can acces it. If you can all should be fine. Now you can try playing a BD or Game.

2) If you have suffered from these issues and are thinking your PS3 is toast. Stop, dont phone sony, DO NOT pay them any money to fix it, at least NOT YET! Follow these instructions carefully and hopefully you will have a fully working PS3 at the end of it......

Go to here which is a you tube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWOrYLX01eA) detailing exactly what you need to do to fix it.

Riki :broon:

I had already performed the update, for me there were no bad effects from it. Thanks for sharing this info, I can not believe the customer services of Sony. Although I had three xbox 360's due to RROD, Microsoft customer services was for me flawless...and free!

Mine's updated fine. :dunno:

I have the same problem here and we are actially keeping a record of all the broken ps3s, please reposon to the thread



http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3updates&thread.id=125603

I have the same problem here and we are actially keeping a record of all the broken ps3s, please reposon to the thread



http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3updates&thread.id=125603

Not clicked the link, but interesting first post on a car forum. :2c:

What 'Classic Rover' do you drive out of interest?

Here is a copy of the post the link takes you to-

Alright everyone. I know there are threads similar to this one but I'd like to post this one up as hopefully a guide for those worried about 3.01 or even 3.00.


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What I'm looking for and only looking for in this post are PS3 owners with issues or errors.



Alright so here's what I'm looking for:

Your PS3 must be tested before and after the firmware install (even unintentionally as long as your played it before the firmware update)
You MUST post your PS3 model, Firmware Version Before Update, and Version Updated To.
Notes: Model can be located below the USB ports on the very bottom of the PS3 system (ex. CECH-xxx).
Version: If you can not remember the version beforehand just put down the version you're currently on.
On the same label of your model number you will also usually see manufactured date, please include if possible.


Please, no visitors in this post to say that their PS3 is working, this is only for PS3s with problems.

Only post if you have a valid and possible solution for the poster you are replying to.





The Purpose:

To see if the PS3 problems really are model specific or just down right random and unpredictable.


Alright, sorry for so much bolding. It makes the post look more professional? Lol. So alright. Let's hope this answers something.


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MODEL CECH-Bxx (20GB, Fat, NTSC)

No Reports Currently.


MODEL CECH-G01 (40GB, Fat, NTSC)

Manufactured Date: September 2007
3.00 to 3.01: Blu-Ray drive no longer reads discs at all rendering it useless.
Manufactured Date: N/A
2.76 to 3.01: Blu-Ray drive rendered useless. No problems prior to updating.
Manufactured Date: N/A
Firmware Version (#?): Another case of rendering the Blu-Ray drive of the PS3 completely useless.
Manufactured Date: N/A
2.80 to 3.01: System worked fine prior to update. After running a game (Batman: AA) and having the save file corrupt the system would no longer read Blu-Rays discs even after using said fixes.
Manufactured Date: July 2007
3.00 to 3.01: System had no problems before update and until after system would show disc drive but would not start or fully read the disc.


MODEL CECH-G03 (40GB, Fat, PAL)

Manufatured Date: December 2007
2.80 to 3.00: PS3 had no problems prior to update. After, was able to read discs only AFTER restores and only briefly until drive was disabled again.
Manufactured Date: N/A
3.00 to 3.01: System would lock up less than an hour into gameplay only to fall into another no disc read code.


MODEL CECH-A01 (60GB, Fat, NTSC)

Manufactured Date: November 2006
3.00 to 3.01: No ability to read discs until Restore Database etc were done. Disc read has improved but has not recovered and now freezes along with slow downs in load time have occured.
Manufactured Date: November 2006
2.80 to 3.00: Entire system lock-up including screen freezes and game freezes even after restore and factory defaults settings. Fan also seems to over work itself (as if doing the self cleaning system in the PS3?) and cause the system at a certain speed to fail.
Manufactured Date: December 2006
3.00 to 3.01: Even AFTER a disc replacement by Sony themselves the update was still able to disable the Blu-Ray drive on reading Blu-Ray discs.
Manufactured Date: December 2006
2.80 to 3.01: No problems whatsoever before update. After update, system overall still works but Blu-Ray drive no longer boots game discs even after common fixes were applied.
Manufactured Date: February 2007
3.00 to 3.01: Problematic at first, after Restore Database and Restore File System BluRay drive was reusable. Few game errors still occur and load times are extended. (ex. Metal Gear Solid 4 detected but no longer runs)
Manufactured Date: February 2007
2.80 to 3.00: Video playback of Blu-Ray discs forced reset of system along with lock ups afterward. Problem persisted and only recognized discs after reboot. DVD playback etc still functioning.
Manufactured Date: March 2007
3.00 to 3.01: After system update, system can no longer read Blu-Ray discs even after potentional fix ups. CD, DVDs still functional.
Manufactured Date: March 2007
2.80 to 3.00: After system update system's Blu-Ray drive was rendered completely useless (dead drive?)
Manufactured Date: N/A
Firmware Version (#?): System no longer allows any games to update and resets. (ex. Call of Duty 4)
Manufactured Date: July 2007
2.80 to 3.00: System was able to go long-run into gaming before update then after hand not only cut out audio until freeze but Blu-Ray discs would end up freezing then no longer being read.


MODEL CECH-A03 (60GB, Fat, PAL)

Manufactured Date: November 2006
3.00 to 3.01: System running fine on 3.00 until updated to 3.01. Now only reads discs occasionally or doesn't see the disks at all.


MODEL CECH-E01 (80GB, Fat, NTSC)


Manufactured Date: February 2007
2.80 to 3.01: After update the Blu-Ray drive no longer functions.
Manufactured Date: March 2007
3.00 to 3.01: Able to play discs at the start but after first game freeze up no longer reads Blu-Ray discs.
Manufactured Date: May 2007
2.80 to 3.01: Both Safe Mode options were done but system freezes about 10 minutes into a Blu-Ray disc while audio begins to skip after 1 minute.
Manufactured Date: May 2007
3.00 to 3.01: System was completely functional before update. Then after, after a game freeze on Fallout 3, renedered the Blu-Ray drive useless and unable to read discs.
Manufactured Date: June 2007
3.00 to 3.01: Sound set to Dobly Digital 5.1 and became choppy on 3.00. Afterward update the surround setting no longer functions.
Manufactured Date: June 2008
3.00 to 3.01: System itself freezes on start up along with freezing on the XMB menu.




MODEL CECH-Pxx (160GB, Fat, NTSC)

No Reports Currently.


MODEL CECH-20xxA (120GB, Slim, NTSC/PAL)

Manufactured Date: September 2009
3.00 to 3.01: Blu-Ray discs either didn't play, or played briefly until freezing. Game updates also no longer work and cause the system to reset.


MODEL CECH-20xxB (250GB, Slim, NTSC/PAL)

No Reports Currently.



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Supposed Fixes:

METHOD 1:

Accessing Safe Mode on your PS3 unit guide thanks to Smpage provided here:
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.i
d=ps3&thread.id=4069636
Using Safe Mode the two known fixes are initiating the two options:
Restore File System: Not usually the one to fix it but it has been known to relieve some issues. This will NOT delete any data at all. It's like a chkdsk on your computer. It scans the harddrive to make sure there aren't any corruptions and if there are it will fix it. Note: The stupid thing about this option is that even if your harddrive has no errors IT WILL STILL SAY YOU HAVE A CORRUPTED FILE SYSTEM. Keep that in mind. One time is enough.
Restore Database: The best fix so far for a few people. This basically defrags your system's harddrive along with checking the drivers for errors (at least from what I've read). If you haven't tried it after your issues please do because it has been very helpful to others like myself. This option will delete all playlists, messages, and certain set ups on your system (ex. The one I found was that it removed my PS1 and PS2 memory card slot assignments. It did NOT delete any of the data in them. I just had to resassign them)


METHOD 2:

Cleaning your Blu-Ray lens and vaccuming out some of the dust inside your system. There are no Blu-Ray cleaner discs. For this method you'd have to actually open up your system in order to completely give your PS3 a "tune up". Some people have even put Artic Silver on their gpus/cpus though this step is far from recommended if one, you don't know how to handle the hardware and or work with it and two, if you've still got that warranty on a model that is still manufactured.


METHOD 3:

"Why should I have to wait for Sony to release an update/patch when I can just buy a new PS3 console?" Wrong! That's the point of trying to get it fixed in the first place. It's not your fault your PS3 broke/messed up. I highly don't recommend this option but if you insist on getting a new console then it's up to you. Who am I to stop you? I just know I'd never give up my 60GB system.
Message Edited by xInSoMnIaTiCx on 10-07-2009 11:01 PM
Message Edited by xInSoMnIaTiCx on 10-08-2009 01:57 PM