Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Console Won't Turn On
Situate the console so you can see the front. Watch the lights as you attempt to turn it on.
Notice if the lights briefly flash green, then yellow and then begin to blink red. This sequence of lights is a symptom of a problem commonly referred to as the "Yellow Light of Death" and indicates that your PlayStation 3 requires repair. If your PS3 is under warranty, contact Sony for information about repairs covered by your warranty.
Inspect the location where your PS3 has been used. The PS3 is sensitive to overheating, which most often occurs if the console's bottom or side vents have been covered. Placing the PS3 on the floor or against a wall can cause overheating. If overheating is a possibility, move the console to a location where the vents will not be blocked.
Visually inspect the ventilation areas. Remove any lint or dust that may be clogging the vents. Clogged vents can cause overheating.
Unplug your PS3 from its power source. Allow it to sit unplugged for 30 or more minutes, then plug it back in again and see if it will run.
Remove the hard drive and allow it to sit off for a few minutes before plugging it back in. Test the PS3 to see if the error has been fixed.
Borrow a working hard drive and install it in your PS3. If your PS3 works with the borrowed hard drive, the problem lies with your original hard drive. Buy a new hard drive for your PS3 to fix the problem.
Freezing or Stuttering Games
Notice if your game seems to stutter like a scratched CD, or if a game or movie freezes during viewing. Stuttering or freezing indicates a problem with the Blu-ray disc drive in your PS3. If your PS3 is under warranty, contact Sony for information about repairs covered by your warranty.
Clean the lens of the Blu-ray laser. Use a chamois or cleaning designed for use with electronics. Or, buy a cleaning product marketed for use with CD, DVD or Blu-ray drives and clean the laser according to the product instructions. Test your PS3 by playing movies or games.
Download a firmware update from Sony Online. Update your firmware as instructed and test your PS3 to determine if the stuttering or freezing has stopped.
Attempt to run a System Restore on your PS3. Backup any data stored on your system's hard drive before running the System Restore. Once the system restore process is complete, test your PS3 to determine if the stuttering or freezing has stopped.
Replace the Blu-ray drive. If you are not comfortable replacing the drive at home, you can pay an electronics repair shop to replace it for you.