Forget YLOD, has anyone else been getting this?

[Kinetic]

Sorry to bump this but,,

I'm starting to have the same problems all over again, now the PS3 takes 3 minutes to load the XMB. Is this level related? Is it my hard drive? I'm tired of getting to level 26 and having to backup/format


How many fat PS3 users are experiencing similar problems? If you're on a fat one (pardon the pun) and everything runs smoothly, please raise your e-hand.


edit-

Also, loading up GT5 takes 15 minutes.

Happend with my Original FAT.. formatting only worked for so long.. I just got it replaced.. however you could try a new harddrive first!

 

[tdk]

Ok have you done a 'restore system files' on your ps3 yet, the one on the hidden start up menu?

I'm too scared to do that, because last time I did it never finished and started an infinite loop so I had to reformat. I'll leave that option to when I back up my data first.

Turning it off will be fine so long as it's not writing to disk. Basically, if the HDD light is on, leave it 'til it settles down.

@tdk: Don't give up!

Your hard drive is obviously knackered. Maybe it's had a bad life, a few impacts, whatever. Try to get it cleaned up again using Seatools and don't use it until you've backed it up (preferably using a proper "make image" option, or similar, somewhere - the PS3 might try to access / save stuff before doing the backup, introducing the risk of corruption again) and buy a new (or borrow a known working) 2.5" SATA I (1.5 Gb/s) hard-drive. Copy the image to the new disk (clean if necessary) and shove it in the PS3 for it to do its "magic" on.

If your current disk is bad, writing to it is a bad idea, since you'll only make it worse. If you go down the "borrow a known working" route then you can be sure of the fault before buying a new hard-drive.

The HDD installed on the PS3 was brand new

I only bought it 2 or 3 weeks before GT5, especially for it.

Well formatting the drive would zero bad sectors. so it cant be that. Probably a dodgy HDD. like you said, time for a new one....

Um, the idea of fixing a bad sector isn't zeroing it. It's re-mapping the HDD to completely avoid the sector, like lock it. Seatools does that.



I'm going to free up some space on one of my externals, back up to an image and then attempt to seatool the HDD. If it fails, I'll just buy a new HDD and hopefully it'll work.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I sort of feel safer now lol.

 

[BWX]

This one works great.. link just to show you drive. I bought one a while ago to replace my 120GB and it's worked flawlessly.

Western Digital Scorpio Black WD5000BEKT 500GB 7200 RPM 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136692

 

[Griffith500]

I'm too scared to do that, because last time I did it never finished and started an infinite loop so I had to reformat. I'll leave that option to when I back up my data first.


The HDD installed on the PS3 was brand new

I only bought it 2 or 3 weeks before GT5, especially for it.


Um, the idea of fixing a bad sector isn't zeroing it. It's re-mapping the HDD to completely avoid the sector, like lock it. Seatools does that.



I'm going to free up some space on one of my externals, back up to an image and then attempt to seatool the HDD. If it fails, I'll just buy a new HDD and hopefully it'll work.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I sort of feel safer now lol.

If you can be certain that the disk is faulty, you might be able to get it replaced under warranty. That probably means sending it off, of course, depending on the specific warranty.

Seatools should be able to tell the difference between corrupt data (in the sense that it doesn't match what should be there) and corrupt / faulty areas of the disk. If you have a growing number of these bad areas on the disk, then it's probably a dodgy one. If it's just got a few bad areas, it might have been damaged in transit or in use, somehow.
Anyway, this is why it's a good idea to borrow a known-working harddrive and see if you get the same problems, if you can. It seems unlikely that the PS3's disk controller or I/O is at fault, but you never know.

Make the image, as you say, and take it from there. Once it's backed up in that manner, you're pretty much safe (as long as the backup drive doesn't fail!)
If you do have to get a new drive, shop around. Certain drives (and batches of drives) can be notoriously dodgy. That's why I don't buy Western Digitals anymore, but things could well have changed since I last bought a HDD, so gen up first.

 

[CoolColJ]

Well formatting the drive would zero bad sectors. so it cant be that. Probably a dodgy HDD. like you said, time for a new one...

And to Coolcolj... Sometimes when it crashes/freezes, it will never power down. Pressing it once or holding it just gives you triple beeps...

Just wait it out, it will eventually power down, it can take up to a minute or so sometimes

 

[Griffith500]

Just wait it out, it will eventually power down, it can take up to a minute or so sometimes

I left mine for four hours and got bored. It was a tense start-up after that...
Mind you, I checked the activity light first - but it's best to double-check by ear.

 

[tdk]

If you can be certain that the disk is faulty, you might be able to get it replaced under warranty. That probably means sending it off, of course, depending on the specific warranty.

Seatools should be able to tell the difference between corrupt data (in the sense that it doesn't match what should be there) and corrupt / faulty areas of the disk. If you have a growing number of these bad areas on the disk, then it's probably a dodgy one. If it's just got a few bad areas, it might have been damaged in transit or in use, somehow.
Anyway, this is why it's a good idea to borrow a known-working harddrive and see if you get the same problems, if you can. It seems unlikely that the PS3's disk controller or I/O is at fault, but you never know.

Make the image, as you say, and take it from there. Once it's backed up in that manner, you're pretty much safe (as long as the backup drive doesn't fail!)
If you do have to get a new drive, shop around. Certain drives (and batches of drives) can be notoriously dodgy. That's why I don't buy Western Digitals anymore, but things could well have changed since I last bought a HDD, so gen up first.

It's still under warranty but I lost the damn receipt and I'm sure the shop wouldn't accept it without it -.-

I'll see if I can use my oldest laptop's 80 gigs HDD.

This one works great.. link just to show you drive. I bought one a while ago to replace my 120GB and it's worked flawlessly.

Western Digital Scorpio Black WD5000BEKT 500GB 7200 RPM 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136692

I don't like buying stuff online -.-

If I still can't find my warranty though, I'll

Just wait it out, it will eventually power down, it can take up to a minute or so sometimes

I once waited 30 minutes.


Is it possible my PS3's too cold? I just noticed it does this when I leave it off for a long while and god knows the weather's been freezing lately. I wake up clicking my teeth every morning!

 

[tdk]

Really starting to hate my life now.

the backup operation could not be completed 80010038

I thought it's because my old backup was there so I deleted it. It kept coming up, wouldn't even get past 0%.

Now I lost my old backup and I can't backup my current ****. *Sigh*

 

[TJ31]

Sounds like a bad HDD. And sometimes, even HDD with zero "bads" will have the problems, for example it could be a faulty hdd controller. You said you have old laptop hdd, why not try it, it's not hard to install.


And backup to your PC next time as well, at least every few days, just in case.

 

[tdk]

How do you backup to your PC?

 

[TJ31]

Well, i just meant saves, because it's the most important things, installed data can be re-installed, downloads can re-downloaded.
I'm not really sure if that's possible to copy the whole backup folder from external HDD, that you've used to backup files, to PC, never tried. But why not, after all external hdd in FAT32 that you'll use to backup still will be in the same FAT32 file system, so your PC should "see" it.
It's not hard if you're not on OFW tho, with FTP client...

 

[Griffith500]

How do you backup to your PC?

If your harddrive is broken, the PS3 will just keep complaining and potentially make things worse, which is why I recommended not using the PS3's backup function. It's a shame now you've lost your old backup.

Just copying your saves and any media off the disk might be fine, but there is always the chance of corruption (admittedly, this is true of making an image, too) - that is, it might be fine on the disk, but depending on the nature of the fault, it might be possible that as the file is copied ("backed up") it becomes corrupted. This is the risk you face. You might get lucky after multiple attempts, depending on what exactly is wrong.

But: you cannot just copy all the files from the PS3, format the drive, replace the files and expect it to work. There's issues with file system etc., again why I suggested the image method (since it preserves all the low-level formatting, invisible in most file systems).


I'll try to break it down, if it seems a little unhelpful so far:

1. Limit all activity on the corrupt hard-drive to the minimum operations - any and all access (read / write) could lead to further corruption, depending on the fault.
   
2. Back up:
   • Either copy the minimum files (saves etc., as in the post above) from the PS3's drive to storage
   • Or make an image of the PS3's drive by connecting it to your PC and using an image making (or "cloning") tool and save it somewhere on your PC, or external storage.
3. Format (a preferably new, or at least a different) HDD for the PS3 - test it's working fine (install a game, do all the things that reported corruption before etc.) - if you still get errors, and you're certain the new disk is fine, then the PS3 could be at fault (unlikely).
   
4. If all is well, restore the backup to the new HDD.
   • If you just backed your save files up, this should be a simple copy (assuming users match, I'm not sure on that though - others probably will know more.)
   • If you imaged the old drive, connect the new drive to your PC and write the image to the new drive (using an image / cloning) tool and test it in the PS3. There might be some corruption that needs fixing, which the PS3 might be able to do by itself. A suite of disk repair tools (like Seatools) could help here, too.

To be honest with you, I'm leaning towards just copying your saves and sticking a new drive in the PS3. If you need anything else, keep the old disk just in case.
Whatever you do, be sure to plan each step and make sure you know you're not going to lose data you need (i.e. data you don't have anywhere else and can't get hold of again.) Welcome to computers, by the way.

Finally, Good Luck. 👍

 

[BWX]

I don't like buying stuff online -.-

If I still can't find my warranty though, I'll

Well if you do end up getting a new HD, try to get that one somewhere.. locally or whatever. It's a fast drive and actually speeds up loading times a little. 500 GB is nice too.

 

[tdk]

Well, i just meant saves, because it's the most important things, installed data can be re-installed, downloads can re-downloaded.
I'm not really sure if that's possible to copy the whole backup folder from external HDD, that you've used to backup files, to PC, never tried. But why not, after all external hdd in FAT32 that you'll use to backup still will be in the same FAT32 file system, so your PC should "see" it.
It's not hard if you're not on OFW tho, with FTP client...

Some saved games are locked, can't be copied onto a flash -.-

I have no choice though I guess.

If your harddrive is broken, the PS3 will just keep complaining and potentially make things worse, which is why I recommended not using the PS3's backup function. It's a shame now you've lost your old backup.

Just copying your saves and any media off the disk might be fine, but there is always the chance of corruption (admittedly, this is true of making an image, too) - that is, it might be fine on the disk, but depending on the nature of the fault, it might be possible that as the file is copied ("backed up") it becomes corrupted. This is the risk you face. You might get lucky after multiple attempts, depending on what exactly is wrong.

But: you cannot just copy all the files from the PS3, format the drive, replace the files and expect it to work. There's issues with file system etc., again why I suggested the image method (since it preserves all the low-level formatting, invisible in most file systems).


I'll try to break it down, if it seems a little unhelpful so far:

1. Limit all activity on the corrupt hard-drive to the minimum operations - any and all access (read / write) could lead to further corruption, depending on the fault.
   
2. Back up:
   • Either copy the minimum files (saves etc., as in the post above) from the PS3's drive to storage
   • Or make an image of the PS3's drive by connecting it to your PC and using an image making (or "cloning") tool and save it somewhere on your PC, or external storage.
3. Format (a preferably new, or at least a different) HDD for the PS3 - test it's working fine (install a game, do all the things that reported corruption before etc.) - if you still get errors, and you're certain the new disk is fine, then the PS3 could be at fault (unlikely).
   
4. If all is well, restore the backup to the new HDD.
   • If you just backed your save files up, this should be a simple copy (assuming users match, I'm not sure on that though - others probably will know more.)
   • If you imaged the old drive, connect the new drive to your PC and write the image to the new drive (using an image / cloning) tool and test it in the PS3. There might be some corruption that needs fixing, which the PS3 might be able to do by itself. A suite of disk repair tools (like Seatools) could help here, too.

To be honest with you, I'm leaning towards just copying your saves and sticking a new drive in the PS3. If you need anything else, keep the old disk just in case.
Whatever you do, be sure to plan each step and make sure you know you're not going to lose data you need (i.e. data you don't have anywhere else and can't get hold of again.) Welcome to computers, by the way.

Finally, Good Luck. 👍

Thanks. My biggest struggle at the moment is to unscrew the HDD bay, I was sure I left it loose last time now it's hard again. I'll get a different screw driver later, try seatools and if it fails I'll get a new HDD.


I just need to be sure it's the HDD not my PS3

Well if you do end up getting a new HD, try to get that one somewhere.. locally or whatever. It's a fast drive and actually speeds up loading times a little. 500 GB is nice too.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks

 

[tdk]

UPDATE---

Got a replacement HDD from the store, updated GT5 and now installing. It's been stuck at "Approx. 20 mins. left" for 40 minutes now and the bar is not moving. Whos neck do I have to snap now?

edit-

IT MOVED!

Seriously, if it starts happening again what would the problem be, if not the HDD? I'll get a new PS3 for sure but wtf?

 

[El Zondalator]

Sorry to bump this but,,

I'm starting to have the same problems all over again, now the PS3 takes 3 minutes to load the XMB. Is this level related? Is it my hard drive? I'm tired of getting to level 26 and having to backup/format


How many fat PS3 users are experiencing similar problems? If you're on a fat one (pardon the pun) and everything runs smoothly, please raise your e-hand.


edit-

Also, loading up GT5 takes 15 minutes.

My original 40GB fatty has been running smoothly since day one...(crosses fingers)