PS3 Yellow light of death

[Auspice]

Well, it finally happened. My launch day 60gb PS3 got the yellow light of death this morning. I foolishly believed it wouldn't happen to me and it has. I've been nosing around online for what I need to do to fix it myself since Sony will not repair the unit; they just replace it with another console that usually isn't one of the BC models.

I haven't found a satisfactory answer on my number one question: Is there any way in hell to get save files off of the HDD without booting up the PS3? I absolutely refuse to lose decades of PS1,2, and 3 saves.

#2, has anyone here ever repaired the YLOD? I've never opened up a console to attempt to repair it but I've been plenty of computers over the years. Is it safe/reliable/etc?

[shidobu]

my heart goes out to you my friend.
And my friend has fixed 2 out of 3 ps3s. Finding some guides on youtube might help

[killerx]

Sorry to hijack but mines been acting weird to its the 80gig motor storm bundle one. I was playing infamous 2 it started freezing and just lagging to hell. Now it boots up really slow when the main screen comes up the backgroud just kinda sits there. Could it just be the hard drive needs replacing?

[Ketna]

My launch 60gb died about a year ago . When I called Sony they gave me two options - 1: Get a new 160gb no BC model with a 2 year warranty for (im guessing because my memory is ass) 130 or 2: They would fix my 60gb for 150 but i would get no warranty. I went with the new model because I realized now much I didnt really use the BC, but I do miss the look of my launch PS3 and the media card reader. Anyway GL with your choice.

[Kaisha]

Only option to get the data off the HD to my knowledge is repairing the old PS3.

Sucks ass, and Sony really needs to address that problem. No fucking reason for them to consider PSX/PS2 saves DRM with their backup/restore process also. Lost 200 hours of PSX saves in the process when my fat died 5 months ago. -.-

[Jefe]

1. No.

2. Yes, I've 'fixed' several PS3s. Unfortunately it's a temporary fix and may last you from seconds (really unlucky) to a few months. Your priority should be to get all the data and consider purchasing a slim.

Good luck.

[bender1077]

Happened to me with my 80gb motorstorm ps3. Sold on eBay as is for $225! I removed HD and formatted, but couldn't get to temp fix to remove my user info. Changed password and all was well.

[Emirii]

Bender1077 that's a good idea that maybe he can consider, i've seen the BC ones go on ebay for 350~400 so if he can get the HDD info off or imaged, he could just sell his and buy another BC PS2 on ebay for half the cost...

[bender1077]

OP has more saved data that needs to be recovered though.... possibly try to temp fix but have new ps3 to transfer saved data before craps out again.

[Auspice]

Goddamn the situation is more bleak than I was hoping for. I'm thinking about dropping ~$50 on a new PSU and praying that's the problem. Although, if I do that then Sony won't touch it if there is something more serious wrong with it.

I'm buying a 160 slim for the time being so I can at least still game. Hopefully I can get my saves off the old one. :/

[hey]

Only option to get the data off the HD to my knowledge is repairing the old PS3.

The hdd can actually be decrypted permanently, or even encrypted to work with any other ps3. Of course he would have already had to done that before it died, so it does him no good now.

OP, you can try reflowing it. It's not too hard to do, and won't fix it permanently (i believe it usually lasts a few months, depending on use, though you can redo it a few times), but beware that if you fuck up, there will be no saving it.

[Auspice]

Wait wait, so to decrypt it you would have to do it on the PS3 before it dies? Damnit, I can't even run the transfer utility between two consoles if one won't power on all the way can I?

I snagged a new 160 slim but I don't mind wiping the data that's on there to transfer stuff.

[Kaisha]

Transfer utility needs both consoles to be alive and kicking. Also, to decrypt you'd have to cfw the old PS3.

Believe me, it's a fucked up problem that Sony is ignoring.

[hey]

Wait wait, so to decrypt it you would have to do it on the PS3 before it dies? Damnit, I can't even run the transfer utility between two consoles if one won't power on all the way can I?

I snagged a new 160 slim but I don't mind wiping the data that's on there to transfer stuff.

Iirc the encryption keys are stored in nand, so you could pull them from that, and then change the new ps3's keys to the ones used by the old one, then simply put the old hdd into the new ps3. However, with the ps3 not working, the only way to access the nand would require some exceedingly expensive hardware that you don't have access to.

Unfortunately, at this point the easiest way to access the data will be to fix the ps3. And doing that yourself isn't exactly foolproof (though it's definitely not impossible).

Next time remember to backup your saves.

[Minions]

Unless you are planning on selling your broken ps3 (which still has some value) go ahead and try to fix it. To my knowledge its pretty much fixed the same way that the xbox 360's are. Heat guns are your friend..... or if you want to be super ghetto (which I don't suggest as it probably lowers your odds of success) a hair dryer. Heat guns put off much higher temps and are more controlled.

[Auspice]

Next time remember to backup your saves.

Oh believe me, I will. LOL

Unless you are planning on selling your broken ps3 (which still has some value) go ahead and try to fix it. To my knowledge its pretty much fixed the same way that the xbox 360's are. Heat guns are your friend..... or if you want to be super ghetto (which I don't suggest as it probably lowers your odds of success) a hair dryer. Heat guns put off much higher temps and are more controlled.

Apparently one of my wife's coworkers had to do this to his system and has a heat gun I may be able to borrow. Any good video/site recommendations so I don't fuck it up? lol

[Kaisha]

Next time remember to backup your saves.

Would be easier if Sony implemented a function for just dumping all your PSX/PS2/PS3(inclding copy-protected, use PSN verification or some shit) to a USB stick. Either you do a full HD backup (which may corrupt as its doing the process, as has had happen to me once), or you manually copy your PS3 saves one at a time to USB/OnlineStorage (if you have PS+). It's ridiculous.

PSX - Oh, my PSX died? Thank god my saves are on these memory cards!
PS2 - Oh, my PS2 died? Thank god my saves are on these memory cards!
PS3 - Oh, my PS3 died? Well FUCK ME for buying a system that's DRM-happy.

[Auspice]

Wait, so if/when I get my 60gb fixed temporarily I can't grab my saves and put them on to a USB drive? I'm going to have to use the backup utility?

[Kaisha]

Only saves not marked copy-protected, which thankfully are not real common. Only means of transferring copy-protected saves to a new PS3 is either via PS+ online storage, or via the system data transfer.

[Auspice]

I don't think any PS1/PS2 saves are going to fall into that category though, right? As for the copy protected PS3 saves, if I nab PS+ I can use the cloud storage for those it seems. I just have to let them sit on the cloud for 24 hours before I can pull them from there to put on a new system.

While I'm asking, I was working on getting stuff redownloaded/reactivated on the new system and it was saying something about deactivating my old PS3 for some licenses. Is it possible to do that on their website or is this another thing I need to get the console working again to fix?