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How to Back Up Data on a PS3

The Sony PlayStation 3 video game console, like other current generation consoles, is more like a computer than its predecessors and offers many new functions such as the ability to back up the data stored in the onboard hard drive. The PS3's Backup Utility allows you to backup game save data and downloads like music, videos and game updates and content. Starting the backup process only takes about one minute, but the actual process can take much longer depending on how much data you have to backup.

Things You'll Need

USB flash drive
FAT32 formatted external hard drive

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the USB flash drive or the FAT32 formatted hard drive to one of the USB ports on your PlayStation 3.
- 2
  Navigate to the "Settings" menu on the XMB dashboard and select "System Settings" from the list. Scroll down and select the "Backup Utility" option.
- 3
  Select the "Back Up" option--it will be the first one in the list. You will be reminded that Trophies must be backed up elsewhere and the system will ask if you wish to continue; click "Yes." The system will then ask you to confirm that you want to back up the data to an external storage device; select "Yes" again. Choose the destination for the backup data, whichever device you connected to the PS3, and press "X" to start the process. Allow the backup process to complete before disconnecting the storage device.

PlayStation 3