How to Fix a PlayStation 3 Hard Drive

Place a soft cloth on a table. Remove all of the cables from the PS3 and place it on the cloth. Turn the PS3 so the side with the hard drive door faces you.

Insert the flat-edged screwdriver into the seam between the hard drive door and the PS3 case. Wiggle the hard drive door loose from the case. Pull the hard drive door off the PS3 case and put it down on the cloth.

Remove the small blue screw at the middle of the hard drive compartment with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver.

Release the metal latch with your finger by pulling out outward. Grab the metal hard drive tray and pull it and the hard drive out of the case. Put the metal hard drive tray down on the cloth.

Moisten a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. Wipe the cotton swab against the contacts of the hard drive. Let the contacts dry.

Moisten another cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. Use the flashlight to see inside the hard drive compartment as you wipe the contacts with the cotton swab. Let the contacts dry.

Wipe off the hard drive with the lint-free cloth. Blow out the hard drive compartment with compressed air. Reassemble the metal hard drive tray and reattach the cables.