Technical Help

[dallegri]

I don't know if it helps adding another voice to it, but I'm having the same problem. It hangs at 99%. I will try to buy a drive, but I'm a little bit crossed spending money because there is no recovery from firmware update failures.

[Iyonix]

They should improve the firmware.

At the start of firmware installation it could set a flag to automatically boot into Safe mode. If it installs successfully the flag should be cleared.

If implemented, the installation loop would never occur.

[dallegri]

I found a workaround, though expensive.

I bought a new 2.5" SATA drive 500GB. Replaced the original drive. Restarted the system in Safe Mode. On the Safe Mode Menu I selected the option 5. "Restore PS3 System". Then I followed the instructions, i.e. the first time pressing "Select" and "Start" for formatting the drive, the second time pressing "Select" and "Start" to load the firmware. Of course this time I did it from a memory stick, after downloading the firmware 4.10 from my desktop (nevermore from Internet). Note the path: on the memory stick the file PS3UPDAT.PUP goes into a directory called UPDATE, and in turn UPDATE should be located under a directory called PS3:

/PS3/UPDATE/PS3UPDAT.PUP

Now I have back my playstation with the new firmware 4.10, but it's like new: without all the data and configuration which are stroed in the old disk. I need to buy a SATA-USB adapter and try to get back all the savings from my old drive. But at least it worked.

Let me know if you have problems of if someone is finding a cheaper solution.

[Iyonix]

You won't be able to recover data from the old HDD that way so don't spend more on the SATA-USB adapter.

Have you tried putting the original HDD back as I originally suggested? As the PS3 is on the latest firmware, it might not loop now. It might still require the firmware installed again.

If that works you could back it up and then restore to the new drive if required.

[RabidWalker]

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Iyonix wrote:
You won't be able to recover data from the old HDD that way so don't spend more on the SATA-USB adapter.

Have you tried putting the original HDD back as I originally suggested? As the PS3 is on the latest firmware, it might not loop now. It might still require the firmware installed again.

If that works you could back it up and then restore to the new drive if required.

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If you have an issue during the update and it is caught in a loop, the first suggestion is to try to get into Safe Mode and go to option 6 to install the Firmware of a USB Stick.

If this is not working how did people attempt to install the initial update, through USB or Internet (if so wired or wireless?)

[MALIK-first]

Hello RapidWalker

I have a PS3 slim with 320GB HDD.

The PS3 is stuck at 99% in the installation loop. It's not possible to enter safe mode. At restart the installation start all over.......

The update was downloaded by request of the PS3 and was a demand to continue using the PS3. The PS3 is running wired to the internet.

I do not own a second HDD

[Tsoppannos]

You might have a broken sector on your HDD that might be the case of whats causing the loops.

I had the same problem on my ps3 with firmware 4.00 and it got fixed by changing the HDD.

Now if thats the case then theres something seriously wrong with the ps3 slim thats corrupting the HDD 

[smurfeat]

theres something wrong with the update i have the old 60 gig ps3 it shuts down during update i think its overheating for some reason only does it on this update never done this before the red light even goes off very strange i saw others having problems with wireless after updates that did work sony needs to fix this mess

[MALIK-first]

I contacted Sony support in Denmark by email. The support in Denmark is made by "Nordisk Film Hotline". They are not able to help in this matter, they just suggest to go into safe mode, and if that don't work, the PS3 has to be delivered to the store where you bought it. It's up to the store to decide what to do next, but according to "support" the PS3 is most likely defect.

I can only ask all of you that have this problem to contact Sony through the official channels. This way the problem will be visible for Sony.

Please help us Sony 

[dallegri]

@lyonix: ok I tried to put back the old drive and guess what? It's working now. The PS3 started without trying to install anything. This is good so I can back up some data and now I have two drives available, though I'm going to use the shiny new 500GB. 

Thanks to everyone