PS3 – How to do a factory / hard reset

Contributor Icon Contributed by seamonkey420 Date Icon April 9, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Games

Well, i had some major problems w/my PS3 recently locking up and not playing any games/movies. After calling Customer Support, they suggested that i do a hard reset. This did seem to solve my problems, so here is the procedure per Sony CS. I would consider this a last resort troubleshooting procedure.


Hard Reset procedure for the PS3 (as instructed by Sony CS).

Be sure to backup your settings/games saves by doing a System > Backup on your PS3 or you may lose your game saves! Also, this is a last resort procedure prior to exchanging/returning to sony.

1. Power Off the PS3 via the power switch in back and power back on w/switch.

2. Hold Power Button on the Front until you hear 3 beeps.

3. Then go through the initial setup and then run a full Format via System > Format. (will take approx 3 1/1 hours). You may need to have our AV cables ready if your using HDMI (in case HDMI isn’t detected after initial reset).

4. Restore your backup you made prior to doing factory/hard reset (optional, if you created a backup).

Hopefully this will solve your freezing problems.

Problems/symptons that this appears to have resolved:
-freezing when doing anything
-no harddrive activity
-freezing when trying to use onboard keyboard or bringing up keyboard
-game/movie disc freezes system

(Video of my problems prior to hard reset)

Prior to doing the hard reset i had tried the following things:
-restoring my PS3 system and a quick format (did nothing, via System menu)
-full format (no hard reset though, via System menu)
-restore default PS3 settings (via System menu)

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  • robert
    what is a system backup
  • dan
    Thank you sooo much, you saved my ps3 :D
  • Naturekill
    A new GOD is "born"
    THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!
    I thought my system were totally crushed, because I didn't format my hdd and tried to install ydl. After that only kboot terminal was there and nothing else! I tried everything but nothing works. But this option!!!!
  • NEED HELP
    is this an option for solving the problem of discs that do no tregister with the system, whether it be games, dvds, or BRdiscs? i mean i put the disc into the drive, and nothing happens except a few odd, quiet noises form the dist drive.
  • Maccaz
    Nope this can't be fixed by hard drive reset or anything else you try. It is a hardware problem to do with your bluray diode (the disc reader) not functioning. It is Error Code "80010514"
    and you will need to send it back to Sony for a new copy for free, or if your don't have a warranty for a fee.

    Or you can try and fix it by buying the faulty part and following tutorials on the internet to install it.
  • 3398
    It fixed mine. It wouldn't register any games or movies after a power outage. I thought the Blu Ray drive was screwed but the reset fixed it. Thanks!!!
  • abe
    ok hey dude plz i really need ur help my msn is soccerowner_72@homail.com i need u to help me ok when ever i turn my ps3 there is this updata and when it gets to 62% it says error and give me a Gay code i turn of my ps3 and on Same problem i really need ur help plz and thank u MY wish SO far IS TO FIX MY PS3 PLZ HELP ME
  • yee ting
    ps3 not able to restore; doesn't hear the 3 beeps.
  • cattle77
    Hey bro just wanted to say thanx , i was really bummed out about my playstation. worked like a champ. At first i thought it wasnt going to but it was just not registering the hd. Have a good one bro thanks for sharing that.
  • ed
    it didnt work
  • Mark Cordoba
    can you make a video of how to do the hard reset and what shows on the screen?
  • James
    Thanks a lot!
  • Sal
    my ps3 isn't giving me a picture.. i just bought it pre-owned.
    I haven't got a HD TV so im using the av cable, but it wont work in either jack mode or scart socket.
    I've tried a system hard reset but it dont help coz i have no picture.. any ideas would be good!
    pls add me on msn rs_redbabe@hotmail.com
  • Jonathan Molloy
    My PS3 hasnt been reading any kind of disc. I talked to the company and because I dont have my reciept anymore they wont take it back. Can anyone help me out? jonathan.s.molloy@gmail.com
  • sb
    cheers was helpful!
  • user name=mideasternmafia
    hello my ps3 was working fine yesterday with no problems at all then today it won't even get to the main menu. it will turn on then make the sony ps3 noise then it will freeze. and the only way i can turn it off is through the back switch? i dont want to lose my content or user name or anything. what do I do?
  • DrillPress
    Mideasternmafia, Did you resolve your problem? Mine just quit in the same fashion. Title screen only, menu does not load. It looks like a firmware/hardware lockup. Can you give me some info on how you solved your problem? Can anyone else help?
    Thanks.
    DrillPress.
  • hey
    Thank you so much for the help... Will be back to tell you if I fixed it or not... But thanks a bunch...
  • Mike hunt
    It didn't help I can sign in but the screen freezes after I sign in I have tried to reset but it doesn't work please help me
  • Scidude0
    this solved all my problems with my ps3! thank you sooo much!
  • desperate dude
    I have a problem that my ps3 doesn't read any disc's. But i can watch videos/movies from an external hard drive. I tried this "factory reset" but it didn't do anything. I just lost 3,5 hours of my day.
  • frdranger
    Strange - I held the button in but only heard one beep, followed by a pause and another beep and it shut down. No three beeps.

    However, it did reset everything back to default as if it were out of the box (Settings wise). Proceeding with a full-format now.

    My issue was freezing/locking up the system when playing anything disc related, such as a Blu-ray movie or a retail game.
  • petmalu
    my ps3 freeze when i update the firmware 2.80,I have tried to reset but it doesn't work please help me
  • tom94tom
    ive got same problem :<
  • Bought older (backwards compatible) ps3
    wont let me connect online with new e-mail (let me do it once or twice after first booting up, now it just brings up original user)
    will hard reset work?
  • tom94tom
    my ps3 wont update and its nothing to do with internet connection is gets error 8002f147 at 3% on install advice?
  • bewareofme_17
    Yo minedid that before but i restored my ps3 settings and work i still dnt know how it work it only work about 4 months than stop ... i think u should try that.. if it works good luck .... if it does not work send it back to sony and buy a new one peace out .....
  • aubreyb420
    whooohooo... fixed mine!!
  • Bobbie
    Power outage for few seconds.....blank when hooked up to tv...tried hard reset, got three beeps, third one shut off machine......HELP! Cannot use my PS3! Same happened to my WII and my PSP, can't use any of my consoles..........HELP
  • mary villa
    my ps3 does not any discs and tried everything i tried to restore the settings and still nothing happen!!!!! i even tried to delete all the settings of the ps3
  • bewareofme_17
    Yo i need help with my ps3 i took it apart and clean the vents and nothing happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i tried to delete all the things in my hard disc and it took 4 hours of my day i just want to play my games not to sit around and do nothing who can help me just text me in the psn= the playstation network u can add me so u can help me with my huge problem bye ........
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