[Devilfish]

It doesn't matter if you have the 20GB, 60GB, or even the new 80GB PlayStation 3--you can always use more storage space. All that available harddisk space quickly disappears once you start downloading games, demos, and HD videos. Fortunately, Sony has designed the PS3 to allow console owners to perform their own hard drive upgrades. You can go out and select your own hard drive instead of being forced to buy an official first-party harddisk accessory. However, giving console owners that freedom means aspiring upgraders will need to know how to select the right hard drive upgrade and the proper installation technique.

The first step to replacing the harddisk is going to the store or visiting an online retailer to pick up a new harddisk. The PS3 is compatible with just about any 2.5-inch SATA notebook harddisk. The physical size of the harddisk is important because it has to fit the PS3's 2.5-inch drive tray. As far as storage capacity goes, it doesn't make sense to go through the trouble of upgrading unless you go big: We're talking 120GB, 160GB, or even 250GB.

Once you have your upgrade drive, the next step is to backup the data on your current PS3 hard drive to an external storage unit. You can skip this step if you aren't attached to your music, videos, and game saves, but most of us will probably want to save all that information. The PS3 has a built-in software backup utility that can copy the PS3's hard drive contents to an external storage device, such as a USB thumb drive or a Memory Stick. The removable storage device must use the FAT32 file system in order for the PS3 to recognize it. If you have an external hard drive that's formatted in NTFS, you can use the Disk Management utility in Windows to reformat the drive, but you'll need to create partitions on large external hard drives because Windows can do only FAT32 on drives 32GB or smaller.

Save your data using the PS3's backup utility.

If your storage device isn't large enough to handle a full system backup, you can selectively copy data over through the various music, photo, and game menus in the XMB. Your PlayStation Network login and system settings will remain safe on the system during the entire process. After you have your data safely backed up, you can move on to the actual hard drive swap.

You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver to complete this part of the installation process. The PS3 owner's manual also includes step-by-step details on how to replace the hard drive, in case you need more instructions.

Turn off and unplug the system. Remove the plastic HD side panel, and remove the blue screw.

Open the metal latch, move the drive tray to the right, and slide out the drive.

[Devilfish]

Remove the four screws that hold the hard drive to the tray. Use a screwdriver that fits snugly because the screws are extremely tight and easy to strip.

Swap in the new drive, and replace the screws.

Put the drive tray back into the system and slide it into place. Then replace the blue screw and snap the side panel back onto the system.

Turn on the console and let the system format the new drive. Then load up the PS3 backup utility to restore data from your external storage device back onto the PS3 hard drive.

At this point you should have a newly upgraded PS3 and the leftover hard drive. You could try selling the old drive, but small-capacity used drives may not fetch enough money to be worth the hassle of finding a buyer. If you still want to make the drive useful, you can buy an external drive enclosure to make it into a portable storage device.

[davidharvey75]

Hi Glen, nice forum. This looks that easy that i could do it!!
Just looking for as high a gb hard drive for as little money. Cheapest i've seen is 350gb for £108
If anybody can beat that let me know. Thanks

[Devilfish]

Hi David,

You need to watch when you're putting a high capacity drive in a PS3. The console will only format it 32GB FAT32 partitions.

To make it all the one partition you need to do the following...


1) Delete any NTFS partitions on the drive so the disk is now with unallocated space
2) Create new partition on the drive
3) Select Primary Partition and set the maximum partition size
4) Choose a drive letter for the drive
5) Select "Do not Format this partition" and click Finish

Download the freeware tool fat32format

h**p://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?fat32format.htm

Once downloaded, extract the file and run:

fat32format [drive letter]

You will now have a full sized FAT32 formatted drive :-)

I didn't know you had a PS3?

[davidharvey75]

Yeah got one just after crimbo. Not a big gamer, but i got it for the multimedia. It's amazing! Plays all the avi movies, streams everything to your psp and will record in hi def in march with the addition of "playtv" that they are bringing out.(if hd freeview comes under the current dvb signal!)

[Luckycharms_74]

Originally Posted by Devilfish It doesn't matter if you have the 20GB, 60GB, or even the new 80GB PlayStation 3--you can always use more storage space. All that available harddisk space quickly disappears once you start downloading games, demos, and HD videos. Fortunately, Sony has designed the PS3 to allow console owners to perform their own hard drive upgrades. You can go out and select your own hard drive instead of being forced to buy an official first-party harddisk accessory. However, giving console owners that freedom means aspiring upgraders will need to know how to select the right hard drive upgrade and the proper installation technique. The first step to replacing the harddisk is going to the store or visiting an online retailer to pick up a new harddisk. The PS3 is compatible with just about any 2.5-inch SATA notebook harddisk. The physical size of the harddisk is important because it has to fit the PS3's 2.5-inch drive tray. As far as storage capacity goes, it doesn't make sense to go through the trouble of upgrading unless you go big: We're talking 120GB, 160GB, or even 250GB. Once you have your upgrade drive, the next step is to backup the data on your current PS3 hard drive to an external storage unit. You can skip this step if you aren't attached to your music, videos, and game saves, but most of us will probably want to save all that information. The PS3 has a built-in software backup utility that can copy the PS3's hard drive contents to an external storage device, such as a USB thumb drive or a Memory Stick. The removable storage device must use the FAT32 file system in order for the PS3 to recognize it. If you have an external hard drive that's formatted in NTFS, you can use the Disk Management utility in Windows to reformat the drive, but you'll need to create partitions on large external hard drives because Windows can do only FAT32 on drives 32GB or smaller. Save your data using the PS3's backup utility. If your storage device isn't large enough to handle a full system backup, you can selectively copy data over through the various music, photo, and game menus in the XMB. Your PlayStation Network login and system settings will remain safe on the system during the entire process. After you have your data safely backed up, you can move on to the actual hard drive swap. You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver to complete this part of the installation process. The PS3 owner's manual also includes step-by-step details on how to replace the hard drive, in case you need more instructions. Turn off and unplug the system. Remove the plastic HD side panel, and remove the blue screw. Open the metal latch, move the drive tray to the right, and slide out the drive.

Hey Devilfish

I'm having problems replacing 80gb hard disk on my mates ps3. Its the new type ps3 with an 80gb toshiba hard disk. I wanted to put in a WD 320gb hard disk with has the same 5400rpm speed as whats in it. It comes up with the error wrong hard disk inserted.
I have done it on my own older 60gb ps3 which had a seagate hard disk and it worked perfect. Have sony done anything to stop you upgrading the hard disk??


Any help you be appreciated.

[SwagBag]

Is it formatted to FAT32?

Is it a SATA or IDE HDD you're using?

[shinmusou]

how to replace the new hard drive