[PS3] Yellow Led Of Death: how to save my data?

[Cautery]

Hello guise, today my PS3 died eating my XIII disc. Its affected by the yellow led of death aka bai bai...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPphHhBuRBQ

So, I was thinking of getting a refurbished one for 150€ but I wanted to know if there is a way to save all my data. The PS3 doesnt even turn on so I cant make the backup from the system. The HDD is mine so I dont have to give back with the PS3 but when the new one will arrive, I know that when I'll put my old hdd, it will ask to format it and I dont wanna lose all my saved data...

Do you know a way to back up all the data from a PC?

I really need help, this thing is driving me crazy!

[Shojin]

Get a heat gun, some thermal paste and some ispropyl alcohol and fix it yourself.

[Cautery]

I dont want to fix the PS3 (I dont even have the things to do that), I was looking to find a way to back up my data...

[Shojin]

No there is no way to get your saved data unless you get the PS3 fixed. PC won't recognize the drive, and if you put the hard drive in a new PS3 it will format it before it will work. In future you'll prob want to make backup saves, I try to do a full backup using the system backup utility every 2 weeks or so.

Also would avoid buying a refurb PS3 unless you are getting a decent warranty with it.

My friend had it happen to him recently, so I convinced him to fix it himself and he did it successfully. He then did a full backup of everything on the hard drive and traded in the PS3 and put it towards a brand new Slim, I think he ended up getting it for like $75. Or you could sell it yourself for a little more probably.

So, if you want the data back, get it fixed. If you want to transfer locked saves too though, you'll need to use the Ethernet Data Transfer which you will need both PS3's for (the old Ps3 and the PS3 you want to transfer it to.)

[Katlan]

You back it up to an external HD or something? I have not done this, but would be nice to know

[Jefe]

^Yes, you can back it up to a USB if you want, may be a good idea.

TC, you're boned.

[Shojin]

You back it up to an external HD or something? I have not done this, but would be nice to know

Yeah you can backup to any external HD with a fat32 format or partition. Can also backup individual saves to USB stick or flash cards (if you have a PS3 with card readers) but you can only get locked saves back if you do a full backup with the system backup utility in the settings menu, and you only get the locked saves back if you restore it on the same PS3 (mostly used for upgrading hard drives and wanting to keep your locked saves)

[Kaisha]

Does the backup utility back up DLC and the Game Data folder as well? I know I got at least 5gb's worth of patches I'd rather not have to redownload in the future.

Makes me wish I could individually back up said patches and install files to my USB stick.
(especially my Rock Band DLC file)

[Shojin]

Honestly can't remember if I had to redownload my patches again... I know all the games and demo's were backed up anyway.

[Katlan]

Yeah you can backup to any external HD with a fat32 format or partition

fat32? I know nothing of this stuff lol. thanks for the explanations thou

[arus2001]

Locked saves remind me of why I hate the trophy BS. -.-

[Kaisha]

Locked saves remind me of why I hate the trophy BS. -.-

What I don't get is why Sony can't implement a lock for a save to be tied to a PSN account, rather than the system. That way it's still transferable, but can't be prone to trophy-hoarding abuse since it'd only work on the account it was created with.

[niwaar]

fat32? I know nothing of this stuff lol. thanks for the explanations thou

Fat32 is the old school way files were saved on harddrives for later versions of Windows95 through Windows2k. Vista and Windows 7 use NTFS as their native format, but do read Fat32, and I believe Fat32 is what most USB drives are formatted in.

ie, to answer your question... in order to backup things to a USB thumb or harddrive it should be very simple since 90% of them are formatted with fat32.

[ArchDizzle]

For just backing up saves can I just copy them to USB or do I have to use the PS3 backup utility? I copied them to my usb but when I click on them it shows 0kb and no other info. (Only tried to view it on the USB on the same PS3, not sure if the info would display on PC or another PS3)

[Cautery]

I'm trying to repair following the gilksy guide...

[Shojin]

I'm trying to repair following the gilksy guide...

That's probably the best guide out there, just make sure you follow it exactly and remember where all the screws go.

[Cautery]

That's probably the best guide out there, just make sure you follow it exactly and remember where all the screws go.

My dad will be happy to have some new screws! :D

[Kaisha]

My dad will be happy to have some new screws! :D

If there's one thing I learned from disassembling my PSP, it's that you should have a video camera handy on a tripod when taking apart anything with more than four screws.

Anyways, I'm taking it a bad heatsink is the main problem with most YLOD PS3s or something? That's the impression I get whenever someone mentions thermal paste.

[Shojin]

If there's one thing I learned from disassembling my PSP, it's that you should have a video camera handy on a tripod when taking apart anything with more than four screws.

Anyways, I'm taking it a bad heatsink is the main problem with most YLOD PS3s or something? That's the impression I get whenever someone mentions thermal paste.

From what I've read (not sure if true), it's the lead regulations put in to solder, it tends to crack easier, so it's just a matter of reflowing it so it reattaches.

You just need new thermal paste for when you place the heatsink and clamp back on the chips as the old thermal paste will be useless.

[Kaisha]

Makes me wonder if there's possibly anything wrong with my PS3. In my case, whenever I start viewing items to purchase in PSN, my system starts to make a fluttering noise (from the case itself, not my speakers) and will continue so until I exit to the top menu of PSN. Fan-related is all I know, but it's weird that it's only ever in that one situation that it does it.