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PS3 PS3 HDD Reader 2021-03-24

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Berion

Berion

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Berion submitted a new resource:

PS3 HDD Reader - Internal hard drive reader for PC.

Application that allows to read PS3 internal HDD on PC with Windows or Linux (both versions in archive, included source code).

EID Root Key is mandatory! More details in readme.
Do NOT initialize HDD on Windows!

Programmed by Picard (3141card).
Click to expand...

Read more about this resource...

If You want know what is worth to backup, see our tutorials & guides section:
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/ultimate-userdata-backup-guide.29037/
 
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Good bro, could you explain more how this function works? why so far I didn't understand very well about this, do you connect your ps3 hd to your pc and use this function? :confused3:
 
I don't understand what You asking for.
  • You must dump EID Root Key from Your console (so You need CFW, not HAN or HEN which means not possible currently on all models) and place it under "eid_root_key" file name (no extension) where application executable is.
  • PS3 HDD connected to PC via SATA (in theory should works with USB controllers too but often doesn't).
  • Run application as Administrator (Windows)/Root (Linux) in CMD or PowerShell (Windows)/terminal (Linux).
And that's it, You can now copy data from PS3 HDD to PC. Syntax is well described in readme.

Outdated but should help You understand how to use it:
https://consolemods.org/wiki/PS3:Recovering_Data#(Method_1)_Reading_the_PS3_HDD_on_Windows
 
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Hello and thank you for this program.
I am using CFW EVILNAT 4.89 COBRA 8.3 and multiMAN_04.85.01
Are these too new [latest] to support Root Key Dump? as when I have tried, it goes to a black screen and after a long time nothing happens and I have to force the power off.

I am new to PS3 CFW, I found my old PS3 in the loft so thought I would bring it to life for the kids.
It's working fine and loads of games now installed, but I'd like to master this part :)

Thanks
 
@HappyJoe1 Thank to the application author who is 3141card (known also as Picard on other forums), not me. :P

On this specific CFW, for dump ERK, use build-in tools with Evilnat's CFW.

Along to ERK, don't forget to dump also other important stuff like IDPS and/or NAND/NOR image.
 
Berion said:
@HappyJoe1 Thank to the application author who is 3141card (known also as Picard on other forums), not me. :P

On this specific CFW, for dump ERK, use build-in tools with Evilnat's CFW.

Along to ERK, don't forget to dump also other important stuff like IDPS and/or NAND/NOR image.
Click to expand...

Hi Berion, thank you for your swift response.

I have done that now, all backed up :)

Spoke to soon... In windows, the HDD is showing up as not initialized and I can't change the drive letter, or even assign one.
 
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Ignore me, the read me said: "Run: ps3_hdd_reader.exe hdd", but the file inside Windows was named "PS3 HDD Reader (2021-03-24).exe", so I re-named it to, "ps3_hdd_reader.exe" and it worked perfectly.
 
HappyJoe1 said:
In windows, the HDD is showing up as not initialized and I can't change the drive letter, or even assign one.
Click to expand...
You CANNOT initialize HDD. By "initialization", Windows understand to OVERWRITE PS3 partition table by MBR or GPT (depend of total size), which kills whole drive logic. So until You don't want read another tutorial helping fix this mess, avoid any agreement for that.

Drive letter cannot be assigned because Windows not understand PS3 HDD. It doesn't support her partition table and main partition later but even if would be, it is encrypted anyway. So for Windows (and any other operating systems) and its tools, this HDD is empty, while in reality obviously is not. PS3 HDD Reader access to the disk on lower level than that, and handle everything on it's own.

There is only one alternative to PS3 HDD Reader, which using bswap16 and various of standard tools but so far exclusives only for Linux and restricted for more advanced users, especially those which want write support on all partitions.

Ignore me, the read me said: "Run: ps3_hdd_reader.exe hdd", but the file inside Windows was named "PS3 HDD Reader (2021-03-24).exe", so I re-named it to, "ps3_hdd_reader.exe" and it worked perfectly.
Click to expand...
I'm a fan of full application names so this repack have it. I didn't altering any files, so in readme there is original file name. File name can be any, eg. "x" alone, even without ".exe" suffix if this will be more handy for You. ;) Full name can be also used in CMD or PS if You close it in quotation.
 
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Berion said:
You CANNOT initialize HDD. By "initialization", Windows understand to OVERWRITE PS3 partition table by MBR or GPT (depend of total size), which kills whole drive logic. So until You don't want read another tutorial helping fix this mess, avoid any agreement for that.

Drive letter cannot be assigned because Windows not understand PS3 HDD. It doesn't support her partition table and main partition later but even if would be, it is encrypted anyway. So for Windows (and any other operating systems) and its tools, this HDD is empty, while in reality obviously is not. PS3 HDD Reader access to the disk on lower level than that, and handle everything on it's own.

There is only one alternative to PS3 HDD Reader, which using bswap16 and various of standard tools but so far exclusives only for Linux and restricted for more advanced users, especially those which want write support on all partitions.


I'm a fan of full application names so this repack have it. I didn't altering any files, so in readme there is original file name. File name can be any, eg. "x" alone, even without ".exe" suffix if this will be more handy for You. ;)
Click to expand...


I did read the tutorial and got it all working.
I've only been messing with the PS3 for a couple of days, I've learnt so much, yet plenty more to learn.
I'm not onto learning how to "Renew licence for PlayStation store" as a few games are snagged on that!

Seriously, thank you for all your help :)
 
Hi. A couple of years has passed and I wonder if current HWF / HEN on 4.92 / 4.93 would be able to dump the eid_root_key ??
 
@montcer No, and until some exploit to get deeper will not be found, then such key dumping will not be possible. In current times we using BadWDSD+qCFW for that because no one found such exploit which can be deployed fully software side way, and still not ERK but clever sniffing ATA and ENCDEC keys (these are disk encryption keys, normally derived from ERK and seeds).

In summary:
  • disk encryption/decryption keys can be read on CFW (on CFW compatible models) and qCFW (on non compatible models with CFW). qCFW needs hw side hack to work and for now, covers all models except eMMC models (but in future it will I believe).
  • Cannot be retrieved on HAN and HEN.
 
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