PS3 YLoD

[Catalyst6]

Well, Escapists, my loyal PS3 has finally died. That's right, my wonderful PS3. What happy times we have had together. Resistance, Oblivion, MGS4, it has all been so great. It even was one of the first ones, the ones with backwards compatibility, the wonderful ones that were around before Sony completely lost its mind. Wow, this depressing.

But, it has fallen under the Yellow Light of Death's unholy sway, and it has caused a bit of a problem. You see, it died with the hard drive still holding all my un-backed-up data (why back it up? The PS3 is breakproof, right?) and the drive still holds a copy of Red Dead Redemption. Which is a rental. Yes, it's as bad is it sounds.

Thus, I beg of you Escapist PS3 owners: How the hell do I get my data/disk out?

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

Can't you just take it to a Gamestop/send it in to Sony and have them fix it? I've heard that they have some device that just solves the problem.

At the very least, Gamestop could probably remove the disk for you.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Screwdriver and hammer

/thread

For real: I have no idea I don't own a PS3... when I heard about the YLOD I thought it was like the Red Ring as you could still switch the console on and remove the disk / hard drive.

 

[Catalyst6]

Can't you just take it to a Gamestop/send it in to Sony and have them fix it? I've heard that they have some device that just solves the problem.

At the very least, Gamestop could probably remove the disk for you.

Sure, Sony could fix it, as they cheerfully told me on the phone. It'll just cost me $178. New consoles cost $288, so I'm probably going to end up buying a new console from those bastards anyways. However, Gamestop might be able to magic the disk out, perhaps I'll try that.

Screwdriver and hammer

/thread

For real: I have no idea I don't own a PS3... when I heard about the YLOD I thought it was like the Red Ring as you could still switch the console on and remove the disk / hard drive.

Yeah, that's plan B. Also, YLOD is basically Sony's RRoD, however the system is completely non responsive. There's a certain way to do a hard eject on some models, i.e. not mine.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Yeah, that's plan B. Also, YLOD is basically Sony's RRoD, however the system is completely non responsive. There's a certain way to do a hard eject on some models, i.e. not mine.

That sucks dude... I always thought the PS3 had a removable hard drive too... not as easily removable, but still removable.

And that's kind of a massive oversight if the whole system locks up and even the disc tray won't open...

I say go with my hammer and screwdriver idea.

 

[elcamino41383]

Wish I knew. My original 80gb did the same thing while I was playing something. Actually it did it several times because Asurion (the warranty company my extended warranty was under) sucks! Of the 4 times I had to send my system in for repair (yes...4...) 3 times I wasn't able to remove whatever disc was stuck in there. The one time I got it out, I left the system alone for a few minutes, then hit eject and got the disc out them immediately shut it back down. After the 4th send in, Asurion cut me a check for a new system...went and got a 250gb. Though the slims are apparently have even more protection against it, I'm forever a bit paranoid something will happen again. I went about 4 months without a proper system because this happened around Thanksgiving and Christmas...wonderful times to send things in the mail...

 

[Catalyst6]

Yeah, that's plan B. Also, YLOD is basically Sony's RRoD, however the system is completely non responsive. There's a certain way to do a hard eject on some models, i.e. not mine.

That sucks dude... I always thought the PS3 had a removable hard drive too... not as easily removable, but still removable.

And that's kind of a massive oversight if the whole system locks up and even the disc tray won't open...

I say go with my hammer and screwdriver idea.

Heh, I'll probably have to. And yes, the hard drive is removable (I believe) but what's the point in having the square peg if everything in the world is how in circles? I'm not sure how one copies a hard drive, but I can image that it isn't easy.

 

[Hawk of Battle]

I've had YLoD. During that time I discovered it is nearly impossible to actually back up save data. Yes, you can take out the HD (it's not hard, just unhook/unscrew the panel on the left) but then once you connect the thing to a pc, it won't read it. At all. The only way to actually transfer data off the HD is to do it while the console is alive, which it now isn't. That is of course, assuming the games you have saved on there aren't protected, which most are these days. So the ability to back up save data (a feature of all ps3 consoles) is now overwritten by game makers who don't want people copying save data. And of course, you can't send the console in for repair without the HD.

Fortunately, YLoD won't delete your save data anyway, so it's perfectly safe to send the console and have it sent back with all you stuff still stored.

As for the disk, I'm not sure there is a way to eject it. If the game's a rental, check how long you have before they send out a late fee. At most, sending the console to Sony should take a couple of weeks.

I take it you're not still in warranty either? That repair fee sounds excessive though.

 

[wrecker77]

My prayers are with you.

You can do the trick where you turn it on while you eject it in, and you trick the fan into pushing out the disc. I forget how to do it, and it may not work for you(Didn't for me, but I know it works)

DO NOT HULK SMASH IT. It may seem like it will work to start breaking through the thing with a hammer and retrieve the disc, but (Iv had multiple ps3's, and helped a friend with his) but the guts of the system have a weird see saw effect if you hit it with a hammer and it will snap the whole damn system in half along with the disc.

 

[chazwasser8]

When that happened to my PS3 I sent it to Blue Raven Tech and they fixed it right up and got my disk out unharmed for less than sony will charge you($150).

 

[Catalyst6]

I take it you're not still in warranty either? That repair fee sounds excessive though.

That's what I told Sony, twice. After all, it's *their* fault that it broke. But alas, no, the thing is four years old and way out of warranty. Still, $178 is an insane amount of money. What, are the replacing everything but the hard exterior?

My prayers are with you.

You can do the trick where you turn it on while you eject it in, and you trick the fan into pushing out the disc. I forget how to do it, and it may not work for you(Didn't for me, but I know it works)

DO NOT HULK SMASH IT. It may seem like it will work to start breaking through the thing with a hammer and retrieve the disc, but (Iv had multiple ps3's, and helped a friend with his) but the guts of the system have a weird see saw effect if you hit it with a hammer and it will snap the whole damn system in half along with the disc.

Yeah, I tried that, but I'm one of the lucky bastards that has a system that the trick doesn't work on. Apparently it's a crapshoot if it works or not, depending on your system.

 

[Kurokami]

Well, Escapists, my loyal PS3 has finally died. That's right, my wonderful PS3. What happy times we have had together. Resistance, Oblivion, MGS4, it has all been so great. It even was one of the first ones, the ones with backwards compatibility, the wonderful ones that were around before Sony completely lost its mind. Wow, this depressing.

But, it has fallen under the Yellow Light of Death's unholy sway, and it has caused a bit of a problem. You see, it died with the hard drive still holding all my un-backed-up data (why back it up? The PS3 is breakproof, right?) and the drive still holds a copy of Red Dead Redemption. Which is a rental. Yes, it's as bad is it sounds.

Thus, I beg of you Escapist PS3 owners: How the hell do I get my data/disk out?

Sony fixed mine for free, though admittedly me and my brother had to do some research before hand into consumer laws and blahblah before they'd agree. (though I think it was NZ/Aus specific)

Anyway go to the video store and explain it to them I think, they should understand provided you're acting on fixing it.

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

I got YLOD about a month ago. Luckily, I was able to get the disk out (and get it to work for a few more hours so I could back up data on to an external hardrive) with Gilksy's PS3 fix. Look it up on Youtube. It's a pain in the ass to do and took about 3 hours for me. BUt it was worth it, I got my disk out and was able to back up my data.

 

[Judgement101]

Over 9000!!!!!! gun salute

 

[commandersqwigly]

i had YLOD to, just send it in and then it works even better then before

 

[Legendairy314]

A similar thing happened with my last xbox and I just got an elite instead. You however have strong reasons NOT to get a new console so I'd just pay them so you can keep on playing sooner rather than later.