Hobbies And Interests
Bricking
If you have a bricked PlayStation 3, that simply means that your PlayStation 3 will no longer boot up -- or work -- when you try starting it. When you turn your PlayStation 3 on, the red light turns to green, an indication that the system is working. With a bricked system, the light will still turn green, but nothing else will happen. Your controller will not sync with your system, your screen will remain blank and no audio will be heard. This has become known as a "bricked" PlayStation 3 because it makes your system as useful as a brick sitting on your desk.
Update
According to Mark Wilson of Gizmodo.com, one cause of a PlayStation 3 becoming bricked is a firmware update, which isn't successful. A firmware update -- in the broad sense -- allows your PlayStation 3 to do more or run preexisting programs at a smoother rate. However, if this firmware update is not installed properly -- or if you turn off your PlayStation 3 while the update is in progress -- you can brick your system. Other times, the firmware update installs, your system turns on, but you will still notice problems such as not being able to connect to the Internet as quickly.
Heat And Liquid
Hard drive failure is another root cause of a bricked PlayStation 3. Your hard drive can crash for numerous reasons such as simply being too old, having corrupted programs downloaded onto it, or by overheating. If possible, keep a fan near your PlayStation 3 to prevent overheating. Keep your hard drive -- and your PlayStation 3 in general -- dust free. Try spraying compressed air into the ventilation holes on the side of the system to blow away any dust. Do not keep liquids by your system. If liquids spill and dampen the insides of your PlayStation 3, the machine will brick.
Fixing Brick
The first generation of PS3s began to malfunction and stop working when firmware update 3.21 was made available and installed. Although not all first generation systems failed, those that did experienced a collection of problems, including not being able to play Blu-ray films and video games. HDMI settings would alter on their own as well. Another firmware update -- firmware update 2.4 -- also caused problems on some systems, including newer models. If you can still access the main menu screen of your PS3, you should be able to reverse the brick problem. Simply press the center button on your controller and select "Settings" from the "System Settings" option. Then select "Restore PS3 System." This should get your PlayStation 3 working again, although the process will delete all saved games and data from your hard drive.