Brand New PS3 HDD Swap Before First Start Up

**Giaps** · 05-02-2012

I just bought a new 160gb slim to replace my long time 80gb fatty (RIP, my friend). I have a 500gb HDD I want to swap in immediately, but does it matter if I swap it in before I start up the system for the first time or is there some stuff on the stock HDD that I need to backup first?

Thanks for your input in advance!

**Lethal_NFS** · 05-02-2012

Backup your game saves to a usb thumb drive or if you have PS+ you can upload them to the cloud. Then just pop in your new hdd and follow the steps.

After reading again I see that the PS3 is brand new. Just go ahead and toss in your new hdd. You can go ahead and boot up the PS3 for the first time and add all the settings. These are saved to the PS3 and not the hdd.

**AaronSOLDIER** · 05-02-2012

Id update the system then swap in the new HDD, I tried to swap a 500GB into a 160GB slim before starting up and it came up with an error at the beginning for some reason (something to d with the firmware).

**coolguy** · 05-02-2012

you need to download the newset fw to a usb stick. then put install the usb stick in the ps3 then place the new hard drive in the machine and start it up. then it will work. the usb stick will put the fw on the hard drive and format it.
i had to do thiswhen i put my 250 gig hd to replace my 20 gig slim

the old days of the ps3 phat we where able to just swap out the hard drive and install the new one and install and it will be ok
the new slims have less meomory

**Giaps** · 05-03-2012

Thanks for your replies guys. I went ahead and downloaded the FW update to a usb stick, swapped in the new HDD and popped them both in. The PS3 started to format then stopped at 99% where it has been for over an hour. A google search shows that this is not an uncommon problem BUT there is no clear way to fix this. I have seen 10 different ways that it's worked for people and others who says those 10 different way didn't work for them. This is a major screw up by Sony.

I will be trying one of these methods to fix the problem. One is to have the original HDD in, pop it out as it begins to format, let it restart itself then pop in the new one and proceed... strange, I know but it worked for some. If anybody has any info on this problem please let me know! Thanks!

EDIT: This is the exact problem I'm having http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcD-OBHx_P8 -- I am worried about powering off the unit as you're not supposed to while formatting as it can be dangerous, but there is no other option other than to wait and I have read people saying they let it go for 20+ hours and it did not complete. This sucks.

EDIT#2: That video is actually for installing the update and it says "Installing". Mine is for formatting and says "Formatting". Seems to be the same problem though.

**EatSleepAndPlay** · 05-03-2012

Originally Posted by Giaps

I just bought a new 160gb slim to replace my long time 80gb fatty (RIP, my friend). I have a 500gb HDD I want to swap in immediately, but does it matter if I swap it in before I start up the system for the first time or is there some stuff on the stock HDD that I need to backup first?

Thanks for your input in advance!

Off Topic: That Sig has to be against the rules.

**Giaps** · 05-03-2012

Update:

I swapped back the original 160GB HDD and was able to install the firmware from the USB stick. Loaded my settings and turned off the unit. Swapped the 500GB in and am now greeted with the following message "Cannot start. The correct hard disk was not found." Anybody have any ideas?

**mickice** · 05-03-2012

try powering it on with no HDD?
Maybe your new HDD is faulty?
I cant say I had any issues upgrading my well used 120gb slim to a 750gb demon.

**AaronSOLDIER** · 05-03-2012

You shouldve just downloaded the FW to the stock HDD like I said. Try putting the original HDD back in and if it starts up ok then try formatting that HDD, then take it out and swap your 500GB in.

**Lethal_NFS** · 05-03-2012

You only need to put the newest fw on a memory stick if it prompts you to. Put the new hard drive in to your ps3 and enter the PS3 recovery mode. From there you can install the new firmware from your usb stick. Make sure you have the fw in the proper folder. PS3>UPDATE

Your PS3 will then format your hard drive and you can proceed by installing the firmware.

**Giaps** · 05-03-2012

Thank you all for your replies.

Originally Posted by mickice

try powering it on with no HDD?
Maybe your new HDD is faulty?
I cant say I had any issues upgrading my well used 120gb slim to a 750gb demon.

It's possible the new HDD is faulty, but it is BRAND NEW. Literally opened the package and popped it in.

Originally Posted by AaronSOLDIER

You shouldve just downloaded the FW to the stock HDD like I said. Try putting the original HDD back in and if it starts up ok then try formatting that HDD, then take it out and swap your 500GB in.

I did put the stock HDD back in along with the memory stick with the FW. It updated fine then I tried popping in the 500gb and it didn't work. Didn't even prompt me to format. You're saying to format the old one now?

Originally Posted by Lethal_NFS

You only need to put the newest fw on a memory stick if it prompts you to. Put the new hard drive in to your ps3 and enter the PS3 recovery mode. From there you can install the new firmware from your usb stick. Make sure you have the fw in the proper folder. PS3>UPDATE

Your PS3 will then format your hard drive and you can proceed by installing the firmware.

Well I got the FW updated as you said by popping the old HDD in. It's now updated and I can access the XMB but when I put in the new 500gb it gives me the error message "Cannot start. The correct hard disk was not found." I'm not sure what to try here.