Need help with broken PS3

#1 Posted by Counterclockwork87 (195 posts) - 3 months, 24 days ago

My best friend's PS3 just died and he tells me he believes it to be the "yellow light of death." Is there any way to recover his saved game data? I don't know anything about PS3 (I don't own any current consoles) and am just asking this question on his behalf to a community I trust with this kind of stuff.

#2 Posted by LiquidSaiyan3 (435 posts) - 3 months, 23 days ago

Not really, unless you try reflowing the PS3. I didn't have too much luck when I tried it (PS3 only booted for about 20 minutes) but I also didn't use a proper heat gun either.

The PS3 also uses some proprietary file system on the hard drive that isn't recognized when you connect it to a computer. Not to mention the data is locked to the console it was formatted on, so you can't even pop the drive into a working PS3 to get data off.

If your friend REALLY wants to get those saves off, the only option would be to try a reflow and back up the data when the system boots again. I wouldn't use the system after reflowing as it's bound to need it again. It's not a permanent fix, unfortunately.

#3 Posted by IrrelevantJohn (520 posts) - 3 months, 23 days ago

Unless your friend has PS+, then I don't think he can get his game saves back.

The only other method I can see is what LiquidSaiyan3 suggested or see if the PS3 can boot up for at least 5 mins. and try to back it up to a USB stick.

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PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 (often abbreviated PS3) is the third home video game console created and released by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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