Hobbies And Interests
The Dust
If dust enters the inside of your PS3, it can cause your machine to fail. Dust can collect in tight areas, so make sure to position your PS3 in an open area with plenty of air circulation. If dust is causing your PS3 to behave oddly, you can clean it out using a dry, soft cloth and a vacuum cleaner. Turn your PS3 off and use the vacuum cleaner with a hand-held attachment to suck out the dust from the vents located on the side of the machine. Use the soft cloth to wipe away the remaining dust around the vents. Use the cloth to wipe off your PS3 at least once a week to prevent further dust buildup.
The Overheat
Overheating, another root cause of PS3 system failure, is easily prevented. Make sure your PS3 has enough room to breathe wherever you put it, meaning that air is circulating around it. Place a fan by the device to help keep it cool. Physically touch your PS3 with your hand and, if it feels warm or hot, turn it off for a while so that it can cool down. Just make sure to save any game progress before you do.
The Jailbreak
Although it may seem like a good idea to jailbreak, or modify, your PS3 to remove any restrictions imposed on the device by the manufacturer, be warned that the process can damage your machine's ability to do all it was meant to do. For example, once your PS3 has become jailbroken, you will no longer be able to play online video games, a major perk of owning the system in the first place. A PS3 that has been jailbroken will also no longer be under warranty with Sony, since the company does not promote the practice in any way. Your system can also become compromised if it is hacked. In April 2011, hackers took down the PlayStation Network, which disabled the ability to download games, play games online and purchase upgrades from the PSN store.
Warning
Unless you fancy yourself a PS3 technician, do not attempt to fix major problems on your own. Removing the top of the PS3 and messing around with the drives and inner workings can cause more harm than good if you don't know what you're doing, voiding any remaining warranty in the process. Use common sense when operating a PS3. Do not leave liquids of any kind near the system, as liquid will definitely cause major damage if spilled on or in the system. Do not play bootlegged games, as they may contain viruses. The better you treat your system, the better it will treat you.