How to Troubleshoot a Sony Playstation 3

Disc Read Errors

• 1

  Begin by removing the disc you are trying to play in the PlayStation 3 and check for scratches or dust and fingerprints. When the console is attempting to read data from discs, having any sort of extra material on the disc will prevent proper functioning.

• 2

  Use a smooth, dry cloth to gently wipe the disc clean, beginning at the inside of the disc and moving toward the edge. Do not use a wet cloth, as this may cause damage to the game.

• 3

  Use a disc repair kit for any deep scratches on the disc. The kits will attempt to buff away the issue, although, if there is still trouble with the game, you may need to seek a replacement disk.

• 4

  Adjust the display settings of the console if the disc is clean and the game starts but there is no image coming up on your television. Games that do not support 1080p 24Hz Output(HDMI) will need that option turned off in the Settings menu. You can find this by selecting "Settings," "Video settings" and then setting the option for 1080p 24Hz Output(HDMI) to "Off."

• 5

  Contact Sony customer support if the PlayStation 3 is having trouble reading all discs. This can indicate a problem with the disc drive or the laser used to read data from discs. These issues must be fixed by Sony, as attempting to do so on your own will void the warranty and can further damage the console.

Corrupted Data

• 6

  Connect your PlayStation 3 to the Internet using the included wireless or wired support. Run the game with the corrupted save file to see if there is an update or patch for the game. Companies update games on a continual basis, and these updates may not recover save files, but will prevent the issue from occurring again.

• 7

  Reinstall games that have corrupted game data. If the game is displaying an error message when attempting to read the data saved to the hard drive, delete and reinstall the data. This will keep your saved game files intact so you don't lose any progress.

• 8

  Install a new hard drive. If both game and save data are being corrupted for multiple games, consider purchasing and installing a new hard drive. You can transfer data from your old hard drive to a new one and install it directly into the PlayStation 3.