How to Fix a Jammed PlayStation 3

As with any piece of electronics equipment, Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console is not without its occasional hiccup. A common setback finds users with a "jammed" PS3, which is when the video game disc gets physically caught inside the console and will not eject. As the system ages, unfortunately this can become a common occurrence. Though this can be inconvenient, there are a few things you can try to correct the problem. Use this article as a guide as you attempt to fix your jammed PlayStation 3.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Press and hold the console's eject button for 10 seconds. This will restart the mechanism that is in charge of taking in and ejecting a disc. As long as the console isn't jamming as the result of a series hardware problem, this will eject the disc.

2. Reset your PS3. To do this, turn the PS3 off and back on again using the power switch on the back of the console. Next, hold down the power button on the front of the console for 10 seconds, until you hear a series of three beeps. Finally, go into the console's setup menu and select "Format." This will completely clear your system's memory and essentially perform the same operation as in Step 1.

3. Send your console into Sony for repair. If Steps 1 or 2 didn't solve your problem, your console is jamming due to a hardware malfunction. It is not recommended that you open the case and attempt to fix it yourself, as this will void your manufacturer's warranty. Instead, contact Sony, at which point they will instruct you to send in your console for repair. If you are outside of your warranty, they will still perform the repair, but for a fee.

Tips & Warnings

• When you perform a full system reset, every last bit of data that is stored on your hard drive will be deleted. The system will also be restored to its default factory settings. This is a process that cannot be undone, so before you do this, back up any information you cannot recover manually at a later time.