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Sony blames HDDs for new round of firmware update issues

While there hasn't been too many complaints, a number of PlayStation 3 owners have complained since Friday that Sony's recent 3.41 firmware update has been crashing their console, or just won't install at all.

Sony has been quick to respond, saying the problem doesn't lie with the firmware update but instead with the user's individual hard drives.



Many users upgrade their standard Sony-issued hard drives, especially if they own PS3s that started with tiny 20GB or 40GB HDDs.

If you are having trouble, Sony has suggested switching back to your original PS3 HDD to get the update, first.

Says Sony: "We apologize for any inconvenience you are experiencing with upgrading Internal Hard Disc Drive (for PlayStation3) on your PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system. The information available to our Consumer Services Department does not suggest that this is a problem PlayStation(R) owners are likely to experience when upgrading the HDD with 3.41update. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) strongly supports the quality of its products and backs them with full confidence."

We ask that you update the previous HDD first to see if the update will go through. Then update from the thumb drive that is formatted in FAT 32 and has the 3.41 update downloaded."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 1 Aug 2010 23:10

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• 22 comments

• hikaricor

  How about you just stop breaking things and removing features.

  1.8.2010 23:21 #1

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by hikaricor: How about you just stop breaking things and removing features. Um...this is Sony we are talking about; they would rather stop selling products!
  
  Honestly...to blame a hard drive that works fine with every other version of the firmware for the problem...this is actually worse than when they claimed that linux was a security issue.
  
  I've said it before, and I'll say it again...as soon as the PS3 stops getting the new games that are on PC, I am done with this box forever.

  1.8.2010 23:27 #2

• DXR88

  i'm running a non standard issued drive and have zero issues with this. although i'm not to pleased at sony but that's a story in itself.
  

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  2.8.2010 01:34 #3

• elk1007

  Ok, so please take this information from someone who is experiencing the problem.
  
  The issue ONLY occurs if you upgrade to 3.41, and THEN try to install a new hard drive. The problem is that 3.41 has a bug that won't allow you to restore the firmware form the bootloader. Newer PS3's store the firmware on the hard drive since the flash was reduced to 16mb and cannot store the entire firmware.
  
  DON'T TAKE SONY'S ADVICE. IF YOU UPGRADE TO 3.41 AND THEN TRY TO INSTALL A NEW DRIVE YOU WILL HAVE A SEMI-BRICK LIKE THE REST OF US. IF YOU'RE ON 3.40, THEN INSTALL THE NEW DRIVE, REINSTALL 3.40 ONTO THAT DRIVE, AND THEN UPDATE TO 3.41 OVER THE INTERNET FROM WITHIN THE XMB.
  
  Full thread can be seen here:
  http://boardsus.playstation.com/t5/PlayS...1/td-p/45984903
  
  btw, PSN ID is Ongakukun.

  2.8.2010 02:53 #4

• KillerBug

  So then, this will prevent you from repairing a system if the hard drive dies (or gets corrupted) once you have 3.41 installed?

  2.8.2010 04:29 #5

• SDF_GR

  Yeah right sony ...
  all this PS3's had/have the same HDD for several years with numerous FW's and all the sudden with 3.41 they decided to stop being compatible and is HDD's fault... yeah right......
  
  This fiasco reminds me the clock issue back in february that they said "we fixed it"...my @$$

  2.8.2010 04:53 #6

• elk1007

  Yes, Killerbug, if your hard drive fails after you install 3.41, you'll be unable to install another one and install 3.41 firmware on it. Since this is the highest firmware out, it's not like you have the option to skip that buggy version. We need a 3.42 with a bug fix.
  

  2.8.2010 05:19 #7

• davidike

  Originally posted by hikaricor : How about you just stop breaking things and removing features. when most of the components are made by slave labour at foxconn factories, couple this to a lack in beta testing before the roll out of "continual" dodgy code what do you really expect?
  

  "The public domain is a dicgrace to the forces of evil"
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

  2.8.2010 05:47 #8

• Tristan_2

  -_- I just can't believe Sony would go the same route like Apple is. Sony in a sense is blaming this on the users and not themselves. But whats strange is Sony updated the PSP to 6.31 with the exact same feature as 6.30 which I feel is odd in itself.
  

  2.8.2010 07:18 #9

• DVDBack23

  Originally posted by elk1007: Ok, so please take this information from someone who is experiencing the problem.
  
  The issue ONLY occurs if you upgrade to 3.41, and THEN try to install a new hard drive. The problem is that 3.41 has a bug that won't allow you to restore the firmware form the bootloader. Newer PS3's store the firmware on the hard drive since the flash was reduced to 16mb and cannot store the entire firmware.
  
  DON'T TAKE SONY'S ADVICE. IF YOU UPGRADE TO 3.41 AND THEN TRY TO INSTALL A NEW DRIVE YOU WILL HAVE A SEMI-BRICK LIKE THE REST OF US. IF YOU'RE ON 3.40, THEN INSTALL THE NEW DRIVE, REINSTALL 3.40 ONTO THAT DRIVE, AND THEN UPDATE TO 3.41 OVER THE INTERNET FROM WITHIN THE XMB.
  
  Full thread can be seen here:
  http://boardsus.playstation.com/t5/PlayS...1/td-p/45984903
  
  btw, PSN ID is Ongakukun. Elk, thank you for the insight!
  

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  2.8.2010 08:00 #10

• Gnawnivek

  I heard about this issue... Fortunately I already upgraded the hard drive, but yeah, I feel the pain. Sony should just release another patch to fix this.
  

  Peace!

  2.8.2010 09:45 #11

• bam431

  I had this problem. All you have to do is wait for the HDD indicator light to stop before you update. Atleast that's all I had to do to fix it.
  

  This could be anywhere This could be everywhere
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  2.8.2010 11:52 #12

• dEwMe

  Originally posted by Tristan_2: -_- I just can't believe Sony would go the same route like Apple is. Sony in a sense is blaming this on the users and not themselves. Exactly! Never fear a little duct tape or a bumper and you'll be good to go!!!
  
  

  Just my $0.02,
  
  dEwMe
  

  2.8.2010 12:22 #13

• Mysttic

  Thats because Sony executives are comprised of people that are in it to make money and keep their bottom line secure as possible. When you talk people that invest in stocks the last thing they want to admit to the public is that its the companies fault cause then the value of stock crumble and fast. If you can point it to the users with just enough logic, no matter how stupid it sounds, it just needs to be possible enough, then Sony makes the company look good, the people look stupid and they don't take a big a hit if at all.
  
  At the end of the day consumers are stupid, because we were dumb enough to buy into these toys and expect that support would be honest and fair; well fair use was thrown out the window ever since the piracy arguments started taking a turn for the worst in courts, and honesty has never happened with any executive board members from any multi-million $ company.

  2.8.2010 12:46 #14

• ntense69

  another sony blame lol its called bad programming admit it....what am i saying this is sony

  2.8.2010 13:17 #15

• gnovak1

  Why is everything always the consumers fault?

  2.8.2010 13:34 #16

• Hitman92

  Wow Sony just wow
  
  PSNID: dburger.
  XboxLIVE:modularkeyano
  IGN: living_legend92

  2.8.2010 14:13 #17

• kikzm33z

  All company's make mistakes.
  Such as the older 360's failure rate or the iPhone 4's death grip problem.
  
  Although it is pretty disgraceful that they're blaming the HDDs...
  

  2.8.2010 18:46 #18

• blueboy09

  Here's a simple answer to the solution: Don't upgrade the firmware. Revert back to the back to the old version if necessary, it's as easy as that. Jesus, they are becoming like Apple everyday! If you take away the essentials of any product, consumers will bitch back, it's a guarantee.
  

  Life is about walking on thin ice, if you make too much drama, youll crack under pressure. - BLUEBOY

  2.8.2010 19:09 #19

• GH1987

  *sigh* just like the 3.10 witch eff'd up the bluetooth on some slim ps3's and I think 3.30 witch completely bricked my friend slim ps3 their is something seriously wrong with the software & hardware of the ps3, but I have question why do you update your hard drive? (seriously I'm not being sarcastic)
  

  2.8.2010 19:51 #20

• xnonsuchx

  BTW, Sony has apparently put up an updated FW 3.41 that 'fixes' this issue. So say other sources online, anyway! Leaving it 3.41 instead of 3.42 might be their way of denying 3.41 was a problem.

  2.8.2010 23:32 #21

• DXR88

  Originally posted by GH1987: *sigh* just like the 3.10 witch eff'd up the bluetooth on some slim ps3's and I think 3.30 witch completely bricked my friend slim ps3 their is something seriously wrong with the software & hardware of the ps3, but I have question why do you update your hard drive? (seriously I'm not being sarcastic) people did it so they could have a nice sizable partition for linux with enough room to spare on DLC.
  
  With Linux gone i don't see the point either, unless you use the ps3 as a media hub.
  

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  6.8.2010 18:29 #22