HOW TO: Upgrading the Internal HDD

For some people, the default internal HDD is not big enough, with all the HDD games, game caches, music, videos, and save games the HDD can get full quite quickly, Plus if you opt to have Linux installed, there goes another 10GB of HDD space.

Upgrading the HDD is quite easy, and it doesn't void the Sony warranty. The HDD is a standard Seagate brand 2.5" SATA drive, and can be 20, 60, or 80GB in size depending on PS3 model. All that is needed for the upgrade is:

• New 2.5" SATA HDD
• Small tip Philips Head screw driver
• Flat Head screw driver
• External media for backups

First things first, backing up the current data. Skip this area if there is no data on the old HDD. You'll need an external media device like an external HDD (FAT32), big memory card, or USB flash drive. Turn on the PS3 and head to the SETTINGS menu on the XMB. Inside the SYSTEM menu go to the System Settings area and select the Backup tool. Continue with the options for a backup on the media you wont to put it on. A system backup will copy photos, music, videos, game cache, game saves (Including PS/PS2 game saves) games on the HDD, and web browser settings.

Now, turn off the PS3 and unplug the mains power supply. Lay the PS3 down in the flat (horizontal) position and turn the unit so the left side is facing you. On the left panel you'll see a little panel with a sicker on it, get the flat head screw driver and insert it into the little slot on the right side of the little panel and use it to lift it out.

Behind the little panel that was lifted out there is a metal caddy and holding it in is a blue screw. Use the Philips head screw driver to take the blue screw out, and remember your going to need a very small tipped screw driver. Once the blue screw is out, there is a leaver on the caddy, pull that out towards you and push it towards the front of the PS3, it should then be able to slide right out of the unit now.

There are 4 screws holding the HDD in the caddy. Once they are removed the HDD lifts straight out and the new drive can be added. NOTE: If the new drive is a SATAII, a jumper may be needed to bridge a couple of pins on the back of the drive to force it to SATA speeds, consult the drive manufacture before hand to make sure.

Once the new drive is in and all back together, the PS3 can be turned on. When the PS3 first boots with the new drive it will detect it and want to format the drive. This process can take some time so it might be a good time for a break.

When the format is complete it will return to the XMB and allow you to go back into the backup tool in the SETTINGS menu and restore the data. Once the data has been restored, the HDD swapping in complete and can return to normal PS3 use.

NOTE: Although swapping the HDD does not void the PS3 warranty, Sony will only accept a PS3 unit for a warranty job if the original HDD is put back in, so keep the old drive in a safe place.