How to Upgrade Your Playstation 3 (PS3) Hard Drive

Need more room on your PS3 for games, or media? It is very simple to upgrade your PS3 hard drive to a larger one following a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Precision Phillips Screwdriver - No. 0
• New, Larger HDD - Notebook SATA Hard Drive 5400RPM(any size you choose)
• Small Flat-tip Screwdriver
• Portable USB Hard Drive - Optional

1. Gather all the things you will need from the list above and set yourself up with a nice, clean, safe work area.

2. 
   Plug portable USB hard drive into front USB slot on PS3

   Connect USB hard drive to the PS3 to backup all content that you want to save. You will be using the backup utility from the navigation menu on the PS3. The USB hard drive will connect right to the front of the PS3.

3. 
   PS3 Backup Utility

   Using the PS3 menu, navigate to Settings>System Settings>Backup Utility>Backup and follow the on screen instructions to backup your data.

4. Shut down the PS3 and disconnect all power cords, video cords, etc.

5. 
   Pry HDD cover up

   Remove PS3 HDD cover on the side of the PS3. Using your flat tip screwdriver, pry the cover up.

6. 
   Loosen screw to remove HDD

   Loosen the HDD tray screw to remove the PS3 HDD

7. 
   Slide the HDD tray out

   Pull the PS3 HDD tray out.

8. 

   Remove old hard drive by removing the four screws that hold it in the HDD carriage.

9. Place new, bigger hard drive in the carriage and secure with all four screws. Use a notebook SATA hard drive as a replacement with a speed of 5400 RPM.

10. Slide the HDD carriage back in to the PS3 and secure with the one carriage screw. Replace the HDD cover.

11. Reconnect all cables and power the PS3 up. You will be prompted to format the new HDD. Perform the format process.

12. Plug your USB HDD containing your backed up data into the PS3 and perform the restore process. From the navigation menu Settings>System Settings>Backup Utility>Restore. Just follow the on screen instructions.You have now successfully upgraded your PS3 to a larger HDD.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your original HDD in a safe place in case anything goes wrong. You will want to have this handy.
• Make sure all power and peripheral cables are disconnected from the PS3 prior to opening the PS3. Failure to do so could result in electrical shock.
• Make backups of anything you want to save from your old HDD
• Never force or use excessive pressure when removing components, everything should slide easily and freely
• Do not attempt this if you are not comfortable or familiar with installing new hardware into a PC.
• Upgrading your HDD will most likely void any warranty, so this is advisable only after warranty is expired.
• I am not responsible for any damage you may do to your PS3

[thezombiecow]

on 6/16/2008 This video explains exactly what you need to do, in nice close-up detail so there'll be no problems:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-change-a-playstation-3-hard-disc