I will check them. I think now that UFS is built-in and I'm using mounter 1.6c version loading bswap16, will work for me with read/write permission. The folder for hdd0 opening first to home folder after mounting and going back manually is just minor inconvenience which only happens after UFS is built-in working with write permission.${HOME} is in Your case "/home/iridule/". ${ROOT} is "/". So I don't have idea WTH until You have "ps3" with stuff in root too.
BTW: Instead using "PS3 KO Manager.sh", try Gimpf scripts. They are far superior than mine.
I did manage to compile a custom kernel and have been doing some testing on mint 21.1 with kernel version 6.2 stable, and have noticed I had to build the UFS module into the Kernel before it would work properly(it would not work as a loadable module even with write permission chekced)
@gmipf I was just testing your scripts. I have some errors is this because I have a custom kernel name and no headers installed maybe? Also .config has a unique filename in my case. However I already have UFS module built-in with write support active. I was just testing your scripts for bswap16 out of curiosity.
View attachment 40548
I tried that method originally with no success though the touch command said write support was on when I actually tried to write files to the drive it failed saying read-only. The only way for me to get it to work was have it built in which does make it work for sure in my case. All is working well except for improper folder opening automatically once mounted which I think @Berion will be addressing in next update not sure. It really is no major issue in my opinion just minor inconvenience. Though backup gives me many permission denied errors when I try to use it even with write support on. For my uses the major things are working well.For me in-place loading the ufs module was possible with write support. You need to first unload any instances of ufs (check with lsmod and unload with modprobe -r) and then use insmod to load by providing the path to your compiled ufs.ko file, do not use modprobe for loading in that case.
- Added "PS3 HDD Expander" script for expanding UFS2 on cloned drives (extremely unsafe, avoid it ;p).
- Added "PS3 HDD Mounter (Missing PS3PT)" script for mounting PS3 disks initialized (killed
) by Windows.
- Added "PS3 HDD Umounter (Missing PS3PT)" script for unmounting PS3 disks without PS3 partition table.
- Added "Updater" script for checking if there is new version of PS3 HDD Decryption Helper toolkit.
- Added "dev_hdd1_empty.xz" image of cache partition, needed for...

sudo losetup -f "/media/<mounted windows partition with disk image>/<image name>.bin"
"Every great journey starting from first step."I am super enthusiast about tech, as I am in the first year of Eletronic Eng., but I am still very noob when it comes to linux side. I really want my precious 13yo data back![]()
Thanks. ^^BROOOOOOO I JUST SAW YOU ARE FROM POLAND, than remembered the partitioning table transplant guide I read was from a polish guy, IT WAS YOU
BROOOO you are awesome, really! woww
STEP 1: Devices
Choose your HDD from PS3 (type eg: /dev/sdx) from below device list:
MODEL SIZE NAME
4K /dev/fd0
ST9160821AS 149,1G /dev/sda ##HDD with Linux Mint installation
489M ├─/dev/sda1
489M ├─/dev/sda2
148,1G └─/dev/sda3
SAMSUNG HD102UJ 931,5G /dev/sdb ##A HDD which has the .bin image
398,1G ├─/dev/sdb1
1K ├─/dev/sdb2
133,4G ├─/dev/sdb5
400G └─/dev/sdb6
Generic 298,1G /dev/sdd ##The broken HDD.
/dev/sdd
Ok, so You've chose: "/dev/sdd".
Press any key to continue.
STEP 2: Mounting
Choose WISELY:
1. Mount HDD came from Fat with NAND memory.
2. Mount HDD came from Fat with NOR memory.
3. Mount HDD came from Slim with NOR memory.
3
Choose sector of "dev_flash2" partition:
a. user defined LBA
b. LBA 439816
b
Choose sector of "dev_hdd0" partition:
a. user defined LBA
b. LBA 524304
c. LBA 524312
d. LBA 524320
b
WARNING: Device /dev/sdd already contains a 'dos' partition signature.
WARNING!
========
Detected device signature(s) on /dev/sdd. Proceeding further may damage existing data.
Are you sure? (Type 'yes' in capital letters): YES
Device ps3hdd-bs already exists.
Device /dev/mapper/ps3hdd does not exist or access denied.
losetup: /dev/mapper/ps3vflash: failed to set up loop device: No such file or directory
losetup: /dev/mapper/ps3hdd: failed to set up loop device: No such file or directory
mount: /root/ps3/storage/hdd/dev_flash2: mount point does not exist.
mount: /root/ps3/storage/hdd/dev_hdd0: mount point does not exist.
NAME
sdd
"/dev/loop40":
"/dev/loop41":
All done. Press any key to exit (also, yes, I mounted it while having already tried to mount, this was just to get the code to copy)
You're welcome.wow that's some quick response, thanks
But that was not necessary, on Linux You can attach image to loop device and it will be treat like eg. virtual HDD. If You are know eg. Daemon Tools on Windows, then it is the same conception but instead virtual optical drives it is for all kind devices which history burried, current or even not designed yet from the future. ;]As I'm already taking the image back to the original HDD (takes super long time),
It means that every time You change kernel like eg. updating it or downgrading, You will need compile bswap16-ecb and ufs again because kernel modules matching to specific kernel versions only. Consider *.ko like drivers in ring 0 in Windows. There are methods to force them to work but that's asking for troubles.My other question though, I use Ubuntu with the 6.5 kernel version in my machine. (...) It means that it was done to work specifically with 6.4 or does it mean that if I upgrade my Ubuntu version, then kernel will change, then I will have to recompile (not planing to upgrade any time soon).
There is "Edit" button under Your posts. But I'm not sure if it is not disabled after some period of time due to prevent modifying old posts by inmature users turning discussion into dead conversations when half of commentaries dissapeard. So only mods, admins and trusted people can do it without time limits.I'm really sorry, I feel that I'm spamming right now. Never been much into forum, I mean like, actually posting, so I do lack some sense in that. I'm really sorry, I will try more things before posting.
Yep, this is distribution all-in-one, "for idiots" as some orthodoxies saying, so I'm using it daily with pleasure and stress-less.The error I mentioned is gone (just as you said that Mint has every thing needed installed already).
Yes, but also You didn't removed old loops which script make because "Device ps3hdd-bs already exists." says that this mapper already existing, and Umounter removing also mappers and loop devices. I bet You didn't do proper Umount (something prevent script doing it and You was not aware reading warning on red ;]).I guess the problem might be with the sector number.
sudo cryptsetup create -q -c bswap16-ecb -d /dev/zero ps3hdd-bs $DEVICE
But that was not necessary, on Linux You can attach image to loop device and it will be treat like eg. virtual HDD.
Yep, this is distribution all-in-one, "for idiots" as some orthodoxies saying, so I'm using it daily with pleasure and stress-less.Recommending.
Yes, but also You didn't removed old loops which script make because "Device ps3hdd-bs already exists." says that this mapper already existing, and Umounter removing also mappers and loop devices. I bet You didn't do proper Umount (something prevent script doing it and You was not aware reading warning on red ;]).
Why You saying that?and as I'm somewhat stupid
I'm very afraid of shitting the only backup I have lol. Also, although very annoying, I can wait for it to copy the sectors 1 by 1, so it's ok.
sudo losetup -f -r <image>
I tried to do the partition table transplant a lot of times, maybe about 10 times (so yes, I asked dmde to wrote 300GB of data at least 5 times lmaooo)
You cannot downgrade on HEN. And HEN works on 4.90 HFW, so no need to downgrade.Then I realized I was using HEN on the 4.88, so it was a pain in the ass to downgrade it back
So it means that transplantation was successful. ;]Then, with the 4.88 installed, I made the same thing again, formated the original drive, got the first sector, etc etc. But this time, when I got it back into the PS3, now the welcoming PS5 boot logo actually appeared instead of the annoying safe-mode-like experience (yes lmao PS3 4K PRO was the last thing I was screwing arround before droping the console)
Rather strange. Even if You installed mod for CFW on HEN, worst scenario is fw reinstall force, not drive format.It gave me some hope, but then it said it needed to rebuild the database or something, I don't remember (but I can easily recreate this situation, maybe take a photo if you want). I selected confirm, but it got a instant error saying it would be actually necessary to format.
Something is broken here, so for sure, You cannot fix it by messing with PS3PT alone. That confirms that start clean is best option for You.Then I got this 1st sector out of this again, remade the process, but same thing again.
No, successful. And no, that have nothing to do what You experienced. It looks like other issue You have in parallel to the main one.Then I think I made the first try with the PS3 HDD Decryption Helper. As at the time I believed the transplant was unsuccessful, I treated it as with no PS3 partition. Maybe the errors were because of that (or so I thought at least)
No.Also, I've been thinking about something, maybe high customization and intrusion in the system files can affect the PS3PT somehow, maybe some mismatch?
Yes, but ending with fw reinstall, not HDD formatting.Also, between versions, like what happened to me first, the PS3 itself with 4.90 OFW and the HDD with 4.88 HFW, maybe it impacts somehow, like another mismatch?
Nah, that will be waste of time. You have probably broken UFS2. So safe whatever You can then.I'll try to do some tests like this to see if there are any differences
I believe You can talk with @andshrew to join forces on NetBSD journey and UserData expanding tests. ^^If you have any tests you'd like to throw in my console version, I'd be more than happy to help you with this. I got a liking to this subject I must say. I've got a PS3 Slim CECH-2501B and some different HDDs I could try also. Furthermore, I'm on vacation 'till march so time is basically infinite for me now (finally). Consider this as a thanks and as new a enthusiast being born i guess?
@Woolfy982 Hello. Thanks.
Decrypted dumps can be mount by "PS3 HDD Mounter (Decrypted).sh" script as name suggest.
You can write decrypted image on any device but if you willing to use it on PS3, then you cannot because she expecting encrypted each sector by her keys (decrypted be treating like empty). If you want clone (in meaning: sector by sector copy) drive to another, you need do that on non-altered drive (not byte swap and decrypted) eg. via dd or ddrescue. I will add that option in future update (near end of this year).