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PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace your PlayStation 3's hard drive.

What you need

  1. PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive Backup: step 1, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive Backup: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • If you need to backup the data on your current hard drive, follow the instructions in this step. Otherwise, continue to the next step.

    • On a Windows/OS X/Linux machine, format an external USB hard drive (with enough space available to backup your current hard content) into the FAT32 file system.

    • Make sure it's formatted FAT32. The Playstation 3 backup utility will not recognize any other file system.

    • Connect your formatted hard drive to the Playstation 3 through a USB port and power the console up.

    • Navigate the XMB to the 'Settings' menu and select 'System Settings'

    • Select the 'Backup Utility' function to create a backup of your data - this can take up to 2 hours if you have a lot of data on the PS3.

    Edit

  2. PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 2, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive door away from the lower case.

    • Remove the hard drive door from the PS3.

    Edit

  4. PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the blue 8 mm Phillips screw securing the hard drive cage to the chassis.

    Edit

  5. PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 3 PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 3 PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Grab the hard drive pull tab and pull the hard drive toward the front face of the PS3.

    • Pull the hard drive assembly out of the PS3.

    Edit

  6. PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 5, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 5, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Screw Extracting Pliers
    $19.99
    Buy

    • Remove the four 4.3 mm Phillips screws securing the hard drive cage to the hard drive.

    • These 4 screws can sometimes be very difficult to remove. If you strip the heads our Screw Extracting Pliers remove the damaged screws nicely.

    Edit

  7. PlayStation 3 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the hard drive from its steel cage.

    • If you're installing a new hard drive into your PS3, use this guide to restore the data you backed up.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

159 other people completed this guide.

16 Comments

Hi there!

Thank you for this (and all the other) guide!

My Hard Drive Slot looks a little bit different.

You have to spudge away the door from the left side and after removing the Blue Screw you can easily pull out the harddrive and you don't have to slide the tray to the side and out afterwards.

Maybe worth a note that there are several versions around..

Jay Ho - Reply

Nice explenatory guide!

Dirk Ronsmans - Reply

My playstation3 fell over" lost all my icons on screen. I took it in to see what's wrong, they say I need to replace hard drive. Were can I buy a hard drive and how much does it cost? Can I do it myself? Please give me some answers or tips

alexhuman49 - Reply

if you can’t figure that out you should stop gaming…

Azhrei2000 -

You can find a new hard drive on Amazon. Data's gone, though.

TheTank20 -

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