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How to Install New Firmware on a Bricked PS3

If your PS3 is bricked, it won't allow you to access the menu system to install new firmware through the Settings menu. That doesn't mean your console is now a paperweight, or you have to return it for expensive repairs. You can install new firmware through the system's recovery menu. This menu is available to all PS3 consoles running firmware version 2.50 or higher.

Things You'll Need

Computer
USB flash drive

Instructions

- 1
  Insert the USB flash drive into an open USB port on your computer.
- 2
  Click the "Start" button and select "Computer." The drive will appear under "Devices with Removable Storage." Open the drive and right-click on an empty area to bring up a menu.
- 3
  Click "New" and select "Folder." Name the folder "PS3" and press "Enter." Open the folder you just created and repeat this step. Name the new folder "UPDATE" and press "Enter."
- 4
  Open the browser on your computer and enter "us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/ps3/pc_update/index.htm" in the address bar. Click the "DOWNLOAD NOW" button and the browser will prompt you to save a PS3UPDAT.PUP file. Save the file in the UPDATE folder in the PS3 folder on the USB flash drive.
- 5
  Turn on your PS3 system, but keep holding down the power button. The system will beep once, then wait several seconds and beep twice. Release the power button when you hear the two beeps.
- 6
  Plug in a controller using the USB cord and press the "PS" button when prompted. The recovery menu will show up on the screen.
- 7
  Unplug the USB flash drive from the computer and plug it into the second USB port on the PS3.
- 8
  Select "System Update" to install the new firmware version.

PlayStation 3