HDD Upgrade Guide (+ How to: Back up & FAT32 Format)

[k1ll1ng5pr33]

Header by pogs2k10

If you've got any questions and/or this guide was helpful and you're not a member of this site yet, please feel free to give me a referral by clicking here. Thanks.

To many movies? Installed many games? Or did that Welcome Back package just ate all your memory? Then this guide is what you need. In the next couple of steps, I’m going to explain to you how to replace your PS3’s HDD (Hard Drive Disk), how to backup your data and if needed, how to format your external HDD to FAT32 for the PS3 to recognize it for your backup.

Don’t worry. This is really simple to do. Even if you haven’t done this kind of thing before, it should only take about 10 minutes!

Before asking any questions, please see the FAQ at the bottom!

>> Replacing your PS3’s HDD won't void the warranty! <<

Requirements

• New Hard Drive
• Small sized crosshead screwdriver
• Optional: USB with the latest firmware (Go to the official Playstation website for your region to download the latest firmware.)
• Optional: External (FAT32) HDD (Size bigger than your current PS3 HDD memory, or at least bigger than the amount of GB's you want to back up.)

What kind of HDD will work?

• 2.5" (Must be a 2.5 inch! Which is your standard Notebook HDD)
• SATA 1 (1.5 Gb/s) or SATA 2 (3.0 Gb/s)
• 5400RPM or 7200RPM
• The tray that holds the HDD supports HDD's up to 9.5mm in depth. (Most HDD's will fit, but be careful with bigger HDD's such as 1TB HDD's.)

Optional: Back up
If you don’t feel like downloading all your games again and transferring all those video’s/images and what not to your new HDD you can simply back-up all your data.

Note: This will not back-up your trophies. Sync your trophies before upgrading your PS3’s HDD!

1: One by one
If you only want to back-up a few images or game saves, you can easily back them up one by one.

• Insert an USB or External HDD (must be FAT32)
• Find the image/save file etc. you want to back up.
• Press and choose Copy.
• Select your USB drive

Note: Some save files can’t be copied because they’re copy protected. You can find out all about it and the save files you can’t copy in GODCHILD1020’s Locked Game Saves thread.
The only way to back up these save files is by using the PS+ Cloud Storage as explained in the next step or by doing a full back up.

PS+ members can also copy their (locked) save files by using the Cloud Storage.

• Find the save file you want to backup
• Press and choose Copy.
• Select the Online Storage.

2: Full backup
If you want to back up everything you have on your current HDD.

• Insert an External FAT32 HDD which is bigger than your current PS3’s HDD
• Go to [System Settings] -> [Backup Utility] -> [Back up]
• Select your External HDD

The preparation can take a few minutes. Afterwards it will back up all your data which can take a few hours, depending on the total size of data.

Formatting your HDD to Fat32
You can check whether your External HDD is FAT32 or not by connecting it to your PC, go to Computer, right-click on the drive and choose properties. At the top of the new opened window it'll mention the Filesystem, which should be FAT32. (The PS3 doesn't recognize a NTFS -which is mostly used- filesystem.)

If your External HDD isn’t FAT32, you can easily format it to FAT32 by using this website: FAT32 GuiFormat It will only take a couple of seconds. WARNING! Formatting your External HDD to FAT32 will format the HDD and delete everything on it!

I have used this myself and successfully formatted my 500GB Seagate External HDD to FAT32 within seconds.

Replacing your HDD
First of all, back up everything you need and sync your trophies. Turn off the system, then turn it off completely by using the switch at the back of your PS3 and unplug all the cables.

Remember! Lefty loosy, righty tighty.

Fat PS3 systems
Taking out the old HDD

• 1. On the left side of the PS3 you will find the HDD cover. Gently pull it off with your hands. (If it doesn’t work, carefully use a flat screwdriver.)
• 2. Remove the blue screw.
  Note: There are 2 possible types of HDD trays. Refer to either step 3A or B.
• 3A. Grab the handle and gently move it to the right and pull it out.
  
• 3B. Grab the handle and pull it out.
  
• 4. Unscrew the 4 screws.
• 5. Slide the HDD out of the tray.

Inserting the new HDD

• 1. Slide the new HDD in the tray. Place it the same as the old HDD.
• 2. Screw back in the 4 screws.
• 3. Put it back in the PS3 as it was.
• 4. Screw back in the blue screw and put the HDD cover back on the PS3.

Slim PS3 systems
Taking out the old HDD

• 1. Turn the PS3 upside down.
• 2. You'll see 2 small black covers at the top. Simply open the right cover.
• 3. Remove the blue screw.
• 4. Now on the front of the PS3, push and slide the cover to the right.
• 5. Grab the handle and pull it out.
• 6. Unscrew the 4 screws.
• 7. Slide the HDD out of the tray.

Inserting the new HDD

• 1. Slide the new HDD in the tray. Place it the same as the old HDD.
• 2. Screw back in the 4 screws.
• 3. Put it back in the PS3 as it was.
• 4. Put the HDD cover back on the PS3.
• 5. Screw back in the blue screw and put the small cover back on the PS3.

Super Slim PS3 systems
Taking out the old HDD

• 1. Put the PS3 vertically, with the PS3 logo on top, facing you.
• 2. Push and slide the black cover gently to the left.
• 3. Remove the blue screw.
• 4. Pull out the tray with the HDD.
• 5. Unscrew the 4 screws.
• 6. Slide the HDD out of the tray.

Inserting the new HDD

• 1. Slide the new HDD in the tray. Place it the same as the old HDD.
• 2. Screw back in the 4 screws.
• 3. Put it back in the PS3 as it was.
• 4. Screw back in the blue screw
• 5. Put the HDD cover back on the PS3.

Now plug back in all the cables and boot up your PS3. Follow the instructions on your screen. The PS3 will ask you to update to the latest firmware. You can either connect your USB drive with the latest firmware, or you can skip this part and format the HDD. The PS3 will update itself to FW1.9 afterwards. When it’s done, connect your PS3 to the internet or use an USB with the latest firmware and update your PS3 to the latest firmware.

Make sure you put the UPDATE file in a folder called UPDATE, and put the UPDATE folder in a folder called PS3. Must all be in caps!

USB device -> PS3 -> UPDATE -> PS3UPDAT.PUP

Restoring your backup
Now it’s time for the final step. Plug back in all the cables and boot up your PS3. It will ask you to format the HDD. It will only take a couple of seconds.

1: One by one

• Plug in your USB.
• Go to images/video’s etc (depending on what you want to restore)
• Select the USB drive.
  Note: If it doesn’t show any data, highlight the USB drive, press and choose to show all.
• Select the files you want to restore, press and choose Copy.

2: Full backup

• Plug in your external HDD with the Backup.
• Go to [System Settings] -> [Backup Utility] -> [Restore] -> Select your External HDD -> Select the backup data. (The backup data should look like this: 201106151018 (Year/Month/Day/Time).
• Now it’s going to restore everything which should take a couple of seconds. Once it’s done, it’s going to restart the PS3 and will restore all your data afterwards. Again, this can take several hours depending on the total size of data.

FAQ
Q: Can I insert my old PS3's HDD in a new PS3 and keep all my data?
A: No. Your new PS3 will see the old HDD as new and format it.

Q: Can I insert my old PS3's HDD back in my original PS3 -after having installed a new HDD- and keep all my data?
A: No. Your original PS3 will see the old HDD as new and format it.

Q: Should I go with a 5400RPM or 7200RPM?
A: Read some test results about speed and heat difference between the two here (Please note, the test results are from 2007): 7200rpm vs 5400rpm HDD for the PS3

Q: What will the Full Backup, Backup?
A: Everything. (Except trophies as explained before. Sync them before upgrading your HDD.)

Q: Why did my trophy list reset to 0%/Why do I unlock trophies I've already earned?
A: Playing games after you've upgraded your PS3's HDD, your trophy lists might reset to 0% and unlock trophies you've already obtained before. Don't worry! Simply sync your trophies once it does and you'll have all your original trophies back. Once synced to the server, you can't lose your trophies!

Q: Why did I lose space on my HDD?
A: The PS3 system itself needs a certain % of your HDD for system files etc. For a more detailed answer, see this post by Kogoro.

[mjc0961]

Nice guide. I can't believe this is sitting who knows how many pages in with no replies while that one about modding the HDD tray so you can fit a 1TB drive in that also does not include complete instructions for the back-up, restore, and instructions for a slim swap is stuck. Not that the other guy didn't write a good set of instructions, but it's instructions for a very specific thing rather than this which is useful to everyone who wants to swap their HDD.

[k1ll1ng5pr33]

Thanks Forgot about this myself Wrote this mainly because the other guide involved a hammer, which as far as I know, isn't needed (anymore), if you can find the right size 1TB HDD.

[OceanH]

This should be stickied.

On another note: damn I hate that crappy blue screw.

[PKopetzky]

This thread should be stickied. Much better than the 1TB-guide.

[k1ll1ng5pr33]

Originally Posted by OceanH

This should be stickied.

On another note: damn I hate that crappy blue screw.

Originally Posted by PKopetzky

This thread should be stickied. Much better than the 1TB-guide.

Thanks

Changed the layout a bit. Should add somewhere in the guide that it's possible you might start to earn trophies you already have. Which is fixed by syncing your trophies again.

[k1ll1ng5pr33]

Added a header made by pogs2k10 (thanks!) and added some info about your trophy list resetting to 0% and reearning trophies.

[ub4of]

Great guide here KS very helpfull

[J-Man]

Nice guide! I've been thinking about upgrading the HDD in my PS3 "fat" 80Gb model. I've seen a bunch of different instructions, but I like that you included steps for backing up and even formatting the external drive to Fat32.

I do have a question that I thought about when reading through the guide. When doing a Full backup (and later restore), does it copy settings information like the Wi-Fi set up? Or do you need to set that up again? Just wondering.

[k1ll1ng5pr33]

Originally Posted by J-Man

Nice guide! I've been thinking about upgrading the HDD in my PS3 "fat" 80Gb model. I've seen a bunch of different instructions, but I like that you included steps for backing up and even formatting the external drive to Fat32.

I do have a question that I thought about when reading through the guide. When doing a Full backup (and later restore), does it copy settings information like the Wi-Fi set up? Or do you need to set that up again? Just wondering.

I'm pretty sure it will also copy all your PS3 settings. Not sure though, it might just be stored on the PS3 itself somewhere other than the HDD, but then again, you're using the same PS3. When I upgraded my HDD, I didn't have to change anything, was as if I never touched it