PS3 Upgrading the HDD on a CFW-hacked Slim PS3?

[Cyber Akuma]

So I just got a hack-able PS3 slim to replace my overheating old fat PS3.

I want to install CFW on it, but the issue is that unlike my 60GB fat model, the later fat and all slim models stored most of the firmware on the HDD, meaning that once I replace the HDD I will need to reinstall the firmware. I am not sure how to do this if you already have CFW. I don't need to restore a backup, as I just got the PS3 and I don't care about keeping the data from the HDD (sorta, I will elaborate on that) and most of the guides I saw mentioned several steps whose intention is merely to make sure you keep your data from the old HDD.

If I just want to basically wipe the PS3 clean and start over, how would I go about installing a new HDD on a PS3 with CFW on it?

The HDD did some with quite a large amount of games pre-installed on it, which is why I want to install CFW first so I can extract them, but I don't want to make a backup that will contain all the saves and other nonsense from the previous owner on that PS3 which I do not want.

 

[Joonie]

So I just got a hack-able PS3 slim to replace my overheating old fat PS3.

I want to install CFW on it, but the issue is that unlike my 60GB fat model, the later fat and all slim models stored most of the firmware on the HDD, meaning that once I replace the HDD I will need to reinstall the firmware. I am not sure how to do this if you already have CFW. I don't need to restore a backup, as I just got the PS3 and I don't care about keeping the data from the HDD (sorta, I will elaborate on that) and most of the guides I saw mentioned several steps whose intention is merely to make sure you keep your data from the old HDD.

If I just want to basically wipe the PS3 clean and start over, how would I go about installing a new HDD on a PS3 with CFW on it?

The HDD did some with quite a large amount of games pre-installed on it, which is why I want to install CFW first so I can extract them, but I don't want to make a backup that will contain all the saves and other nonsense from the previous owner on that PS3 which I do not want.

Reinstalling FW after replacing HDD is the same as what people do for OFW, download the CFW file and put that file on the USB that has FAT32 partition. the path is the same

X:\PS3\UPDATE\PS3UPDAT.PUP

when you plug a new HDD then you'll be prompted to format the HDD first then you hit OK, after it completes formatting, it will start updating the FW.

 

[Cyber Akuma]

I heard something about if it's CFW how it has to be installed under recovery mode instead of normally? Is that true?

 

[UniqueUserName]

So I just got a hack-able PS3 slim to replace my overheating old fat PS3.

I want to install CFW on it, but the issue is that unlike my 60GB fat model, the later fat and all slim models stored most of the firmware on the HDD, meaning that once I replace the HDD I will need to reinstall the firmware. I am not sure how to do this if you already have CFW. I don't need to restore a backup, as I just got the PS3 and I don't care about keeping the data from the HDD (sorta, I will elaborate on that) and most of the guides I saw mentioned several steps whose intention is merely to make sure you keep your data from the old HDD.

If I just want to basically wipe the PS3 clean and start over, how would I go about installing a new HDD on a PS3 with CFW on it?

The HDD did some with quite a large amount of games pre-installed on it, which is why I want to install CFW first so I can extract them, but I don't want to make a backup that will contain all the saves and other nonsense from the previous owner on that PS3 which I do not want.

Reinstalling FW after replacing HDD is the same as what people do for OFW, download the CFW file and put that file on the USB that has FAT32 partition. the path is the same

X:\PS3\UPDATE\PS3UPDAT.PUP

when you plug a new HDD then you'll be prompted to format the HDD first then you hit OK, after it completes formatting, it will start updating the FW.

@Cyber Akuma

@Joonie is totally correct!


IF installing a new-HDD to the SAME-PS3 (I just did this yesterday):
The only input I can think about adding to what Ive read here today, is this...

Make sure you(r):
Extract your games 1st !... as once you install the new HDD, you will be forced to format (which will delete them obviously LOL)...
Enable QA-Toggle in Rebug-Toolbox before you change the drive out...
FAT-32-Formatted-USB-device is pre-set-up and is plugged-in and ready to go with the CFW-UPDAT.PUP (when you first boot the new-HDD)...

My transition went very smoothly with no hiccups... you should be fine!

However, if you want the steps I had taken, immediately after the fresh-format-and-HDD-install completed, you can find them here:
....... PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 Games on CFW REBUG .......



IF installing CFW on a DIFFERENT-PS3 (here is where I went through that):
....... Journey of a Noob in the PS3 World .......


Good luck!

-Uni

 

[Joonie]

I heard something about if it's CFW how it has to be installed under recovery mode instead of normally? Is that true?

When you put a NEW HDD your system won't boot but only to recovery mode. (except for the old models of PS3 known as NAND system)

 

[Cyber Akuma]

I'm still somewhat confused. So, I have it running Rebug 4.82 right now with it's original HDD.

I was told about this video, where Rebug has a built-in feature to do a HDD upgrade:

But the issue with this is that it does a complete transfer of the old HDD to the new one. I don't want to do that. I only want to transfer the specific games I want, not the user profiles or their old savegames. This would especially be problematic since I need to do a system transfer from my old PS3 after installing the new HDD.

 

[DeViL303]

Just ftp the specific games you want off onto an external, format the new drive, ftp them back on.

 

[Cyber Akuma]

Just ftp the specific games you want off onto an external, format the new drive, ftp them back on.

How can I tell which game is which? And wouldn't I have to do something about re-activating them?

 

[DeViL303]

How can I tell which game is which? And wouldn't I have to do something about re-activating them?

Well you can check param.sfo or icon0 to see which game is which, or google the content ID.

Edit: You could also just delete any games you don't want from the XMB, then backup the rest.

TBH I thought you meant CFW games like ISOs or folder rips. Yes you would have to backup the licences too if they need them, but then you will also need the xregisty and act.dat containing the old owners details, tbh its a bit messy trying to keep someone elses games like that, if it was me I would just get my own games.

 

[Cyber Akuma]

TBH I thought you meant CFW games like ISOs or folder rips. Yes you would have to backup the licences too if they need them, but then you will also need the xregisty and act.dat containing the old owners details, tbh its a bit messy trying to keep someone elses games like that, if it was me I would just get my own games.

I see. Are there any tools or guides that anyone did on how to do this? And would it be just as hard if the game was a digital version of a retail disk game, if it was a digital-only PS3 game, or if it was even a PS1 classic? Because there is a mix of all three of those on the system.