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How to Swap Disk Drives in PS3s

The PlayStation 3 video game console offers you the option to save game progress and downloaded content from the PlayStation Network onto an internal hard drive. Depending on the version of the console that was purchased, you may begin to run out of storage space on the drive as they accumulate more saved data. One solution to this problem is to replace the existing PS3 hard drive with a larger-capacity drive which the console can format and use to save data.

Things You'll Need

USB flash drive, SD card with USB card reader or other FAT32-formatted USB storage device
Phillips head screwdriver
2.5-inch 5400 RPM laptop hard drive
Latest PS3 firmware update, saved to USB flash drive or other USB storage device

Instructions

- 1
  Plug your flash drive or storage device into one of the PlayStation 3 console's USB ports. Turn on the PS3, select the "Settings" option from the main menu, then choose the "System Settings" option. Run the "Backup Utility" from the system settings menu to back the data up on your current hard drive to the storage device, then disconnect the device and turn the PS3 off.
- 2
  Unplug the PS3 power cable and disconnect all the other cables from the unit.
- 3
  Locate the drive bay labeled "HDD" and remove it. Remove the blue screw that holds the hard drive in place. If a blue screw is not present, turn the unit over and locate a small cover plate on the bottom near the drive bay; pry the cover up and turn it to reveal the blue screw.
- 4
  Lift the wire handle attached to the hard drive tray. Pull on the handle to slide the tray out of the PS3, bringing the hard drive with it.
- 5
  Remove the screws holding the hard drive into the tray, lifting the drive out of the tray once all the screws have been removed. Place the new drive into the tray, making sure it faces the same direction as the previous drive before replacing the screws.
- 6
  Slide the hard drive tray back into the PS3 console, pushing it in completely to dock the new hard drive with the console's hard drive port. Replace the blue screw and drive bay cover, then reconnect the PS3's cables and plug the console in.
- 7
  Turn on the PS3. The console will detect the new hard drive and notify you that the system must be reformatted. Plug a USB flash drive or other storage device containing the latest PS3 firmware update into the console and simultaneously press the "Start" and "Select" buttons on a PS3 controller to begin the system format and software update.
- 8
  Return to the "Backup Utility" screen once the PS3 software has been reinstalled and the console is operating properly again. Run the utility, choosing the option to restore the data you previously backed up. Wait while your data is copied to the new hard drive.

PlayStation 3