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3.10.2011

Is the PS3 Firmware 3.60 bricking consoles? It happened to me.

Now I'll never know how to get the worm!
All of you have probably heard the news that Sony has released a new firmware update today. Version 3.60 came out and with that comes some great things. Cloud storage and a new beefy security to fend off all those evil pesky Pirates. This all sounds fucking fantastic, except for one thing.

The firmware bricked my 40GB PS3. I'm dead serious. After installing the update and restarting my PS3 all I got was a red blinking power light.

I went ahead and tried the normal routine of turning it on and off a few times with no luck. So the next option was to try and start it up in safemode and that was a failure as well. The best I could do is get it to turn for for a second then it would power back down.

Has anyone else had an issue with Sony's latest and greatest firmware 3.60 update? Let us know.

After every firmware release it seems, I hear the tales of systems bricking across the land and sea. But I never thought it could happen to me. Sony has burned my toast. FUCK.


UPDATE: 3/12/11 So I called Sony Support. My PS3 is dead and of course its identified as a hardware failure. But I still have my suspicions. It was awfully convenient for it to die directly after the update. Yes I know the software isn't the issue but something happened during that process. Here is the video of the current state of my PS3. According to the light sequence you see that means, death.

53 comments:

  1. i downloaded the 3.60 update and during installation at 59% it cancels the operation giving the error code 80021f1f9.if i restart the installation and remove the hdd it installs to 99% then freezes

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  2. I downloaded it yesterday with no issues. I have the Slim 120GB.

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  3. Yeah I too DLed it yesterday with no issues. Mine is an 80 gig fatty. but I have encountered a few other forums where people are having this same issue.

    I just wonder if it's just the normal amount that happens with every FW update. Or if this instance has more happenings than the usual collateral damage.

    It's pretty sad if you think about it. After every update there's a risk that your PS3 could die :'(.

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  4. I have seen some forums around with some people having the same issue. On the PlayStation blog there are some. Is the problem wide spread, appears not to be. But the issue still stands, this happens every time there is a firmware release.

    When I contact Sony, Ill see if they will charge me for this failure or not.

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  5. my playstation went into an update loop after 3.60.theres a small battery inside the console i disconnected it and bridged the two pins together with a knife now it works fine after quick update.
    make sure all power to ps3 is turned off before taking it apart.
    this is the page i found how to do it. http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/Technical-Help/Stuck-in-system-update-loop-error-8002F1F0/td-p/9465304/page/2

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  6. Wow that's awesome anonymous. I'll have to remember that when/if it happens to me. Too bad Brad encountered a different error or else that could have helped.

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  7. Yep, happened to me, 60 gig version.. .

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  8. @stupid, great name btw. If you get in contact with Sony let us know what they say. Im curious to see if they gives us the same spiel about whats wrong with our consoles.

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  9. My Original modell 60GB was bricked with the 3.60 update.

    The one thing I'm noticing with the bricking is that it is only really the old models and they all seem to have had their HDDs replaced (I swapped my 60 GB out for a 250 GB awhile back).

    Could the security updates be attacking these old consoles with different HDDs, thinking they are hacked?

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  10. #Neodolphino, I did hear that as well. Mine is using the original 40GB hardrive that came with it and I never have installed any homebrew or pirated games on my machine. Not sure if mine got tagged for some reason. All speculation that this point.

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  11. my 320g slim has been freezing in dragon age 2 after 3.60 update. infamous froze after 3.55 update. they should just hire geohot to write their firmware instead of prosecution

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  12. I just updated my 120g slim to 3.6, its bricked now. After it finished updating it powered off to never power on again. Now when I turn on the console the light turns green for 2 second flashes yellow then continues to flash red.

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  13. Damn. This Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks! I can't believe they allow collateral damage like this per update.

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  14. @ Anonymous, that sounds like your hard drive is dead. Its the same results I have. When I spoke to Sony Tech support thats the secret combination for a replacement. Hopefully you backed up your save.

    @Amado, it does kinda suck that Sony doesn't take any responsibility for it. It labeled as coincidence. grrr.

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  15. I have an old 160Gb PS3 and after the update for FW 3.60, my PS3 didn't recognize any disk. What a shame Sony !

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  16. Hey, both of my older model ps3s were bricked after the 3.60 update. I'm going to flip a bitch if they try to tell me it's a coincidental hardware failure.

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  17. Sadly they probably will tell you that :(. Actually you probably have a better chance of not being told that since you have two that it happened to. Please come back and let us know what happened!

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  18. Just updated my fat PS3 60gb with 3.6 and what ????? BRICKED !!!!!!!!

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  19. Mine is bricked too... straight after applying 3.60 update!

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  20. Update to 3.60 on sunday, almost immediately it started freezing, now wont recognise any media at all. formatted drive, started in safe mode, restored file system, nothing works. Thanks Sony, i just happen to have a spare 200 quid lying around, it's yours, no problem, i was only going to spend it on food and rent...

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  21. Jesus Christ so many.

    I feel like this is the sad broken hearted girls corner at the end of prom night.

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  22. Every firmware update its like having unprotected sex, its dangerous to do it.

    by the way, I have the same as you, the 40GB version, and I wont upgrade the firmware.

    pablo04@hotmail.es

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  23. @Pablo04. Lol, nice analogy and so true. If you have to do the upgrade to play a new grade I would back up your hard drive first just in case. Here's a link.

    http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/backuputility.html

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  24. I just bought a refurbished 40GB off of ebay and i'm wondering if this 3.60 update is going to screw it up if i download it. does it affect older models like mine everytime?

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  25. @Anonymous - It seems like it's random. More than likely you'll be fine, but there is that small chance yours'll end up in the graveyard like the ones in this post.

    Honestly if you don't update you won't be able to get on PSN which is a key component to the system so I'd just do it.

    If it does end up dead, it's likely just the hard drive. Do a google search for "how to switch out my hard drive on my PS3" and watch a few videos.

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  26. My fat 80g still works, but the blu ray doesn't recognize any disks now. I've replace the laser and still no good.

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  27. I also have a fatty 60 gig,after 3.60 update my system will not play any games....dvd's work fine,but not the games....totally crushed.

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  28. @Randy have you gone back to try to fix it? You might be able to back up your hard drive and then do a reformat and fix er up good.

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  29. The one thing that I noticed is that I can play some blu rays, but only after I load a DVD first. As far as PS3 games are concerned I have only been able to get Infamous to play, because all my other games are dual layer blu rays. I have a fat boy 80 gig

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  30. @ brad j. Yes,I tried everything....no go on anything at all. :( (oh,this is randy)

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  31. mine bricked tonight after updating to 3.60 ringing them tomorrow let you know what they say....mart

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  32. i just upgraded FW on my fatty 40gb ps3 and it refused to properly shutdown. I ended up just unplugging it from the wall and going to work. When I came home it powered on, told me I hadn't properly shut the system down yada yada yada and then promptly crashed to a blinking red light, never to start again.

    Is anybody out there a lawyer? Is anybody listening? This is ridiculous!

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  33. just rang them they want £130 to fix the problem they wont do anything i said well loads of people are having this problem after the 3.60 upgrade he then replyed if that was the case we would have loads of people rnging in. i was thinking of buying a second hand one but what if this happens again waste of money i think so im going to pay 130 and see how much warranty is a year mart

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  34. Yeah I think that's what Brad ended up doing. As for the Warrenty, they gave him 90 days. You're almost better off just getting a compatible larger hard drive.

    Then again it is Sony's official people working on it... so I don't know. If it were me I'd probably just do it myself cause I figure I can always use the hard drive as a seperate HD on my PC if it fails.

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  35. well i been looking at this continuous play by sony for £2.49 a month they replace your console without hassle its peace of mind for £30 a year....mart

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  36. Hmm! that's interesting. I can't think of anything like that by Sony themselves here in the states. The only thing I can think of is probably a product replacement plan that you'd purchase from the vendor themselves (Best Buy), and I think it's only available to you upon initial purchase, for 1-3 years.

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  37. May 15 2011 - My PS3 died 20min after the 3.61 update, I got the same same shitty story from Sony when I called yesterday.

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  38. I have a PS3 Slim 120 GB and since I have updated the firmware to 3.60 version, the disc is not being recognized any more.
    The disc only comes available after opening any other application that takes me out from the XMB like a downloaded game and then returning back to the XMB.

    I've already updated the firmware to version 3.61 and the issue still there.

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  39. yeah guys.... I have a 40GB FATTY and it happened today during the FW 3.61 update...I had just bought this PS3 from a friend since I had been getting tired of fixing my other ps3's YLOD....and now this crap happens...BRAVO Sony, Bravo....

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  40. If you press a combination of the eject an power button your PS3 may come back on, mine does, not real pattern...

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  41. Updated mine and it bricked.

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  42. just bricked fat 40gb, bunch of colored lines on the screen. Xbox time

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  43. @everyone, it seems these hard drives just can't keep up with all the firmware updates. Flash storage anyone?

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  44. I have 16 games and can't play none of them except black ops, and that's only after the console has been off for at least 3 hours, as I am playing, as soon as the narrator stop informing me about spy planes and other enemy equipment, I know my game is gonna freeze, I am lucky to get 10 min worth of game time.

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  45. I have a 40 gig ps3 that worked just fine until this f'n new firmware came out now I have a red flashing light. My brother has a ps3 on the same router and his is working just fine the manual said the flashing red light is from overheating but for the 3seconds I can cut it on I can hire the fans running. This is bull

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  46. At this rate SONY will lose gamers who chose to move to the XBOX 360. I will stop updating my system. I am afraid of bricking my PS3.

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  47. I have an old fat 60gb ps3. I am running on 3.60 firmware. the unit is stock with NO repairs. i have been waiting to get back online without "bricking" my system. I heard it was 3.61 that did most of the damage to the old style ps3. We are now up to 3.72 but still no word on a fix/stable update for systems bricked by 3.60 or 3.61.


    When in Doubt Don't Update!!!!!

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  48. @most recent anon lol. The only problem with "Don't Update!!!!!" is, then you can't access PSN. Most of the fun of PS3 is PSN with your friends. :(

    I hate that there is collateral damage with each update. Every single update there's a few broken PS3s. They always say it's coincidence.

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  49. sony is noted for being a holes for charging you
    20 years ago I was interested in how mutch it costs to fix a tv they said $45 for the manaul 1st then 45 service call I was like F off so I would not doubt sony could care less if you toast a old machine of course they want you to toast it remember they won the class action law suit so why would they care if you toasted youre playstation having to BUY A NEW SLIM ONE cause sony sucks..
    I have a old phat ps3 with linux on it I was like who cares about online games I only got it cause inlaw gave it to me out of 2 one had red screen of death and other one worked working one was dead when turned on no power so stole power from other one one w red dead screen then
    took red screen apart broke heat sink screw redrilled one using drill press then tapped it w tap and die this worked replaced thermo paste then tried updating after a lot of jail breaks I used segate dm /x disk manager ontrak/kroll dos formating utility and low level formated all partitions away then on other working one I formated it to working 2.51 then swapped it to the red screen one for 2 seconds the music started then it went to red screen of death ..
    SO I STOLE the DVD drive witch worked and got one working ps3..
    LESSON LEARNED if SONY IS GOING TO TAKEITH linux away why would they not take the whole thing away after all it says YOu must AGREE caution.. they just dont admit its not compatible w older bioses they dont want you to know youre going to brick they think you are dumb and are just going to shell out $ to buy a new one. DO NOT UPGRADE YOURE PLAYSTATION to after 2.51 if you havent already if you want to play online and have updates buy a new one sell youre still old one on ebay you can get twice the cost of a new one then buy a jail break usb stick then jail break one and leave the other one alone.. after I updated the red screen one and it failed I was like hmm what a crock..
    at least I didnt fall for there crock I also got the picture thingie updated..
    NOW WHO IS the dumb ass ME because I forgot the linux password for the ps3 now it will take 11 hours to reload linux ubuntu 10.1 power pc in the OEM MODE witch batches .. anyway good luck to all try low level formating the harddrive and deleting all partitions then get a KNOWN good old ps3 fat then format it get it working restore factory then sneak it in the bad one hold power off then back on then back off again then see if it goes into the config c-mos menu then try to start over it might come back.. also take the c-mos 2302 battery out of motherboard then turn on and back off then replace then try restore... good luck that sucks..

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  50. '''''''@most recent anon lol. The only problem with "Don't Update!!!!!" is, then you can't access PSN. Most of the fun of PS3 is PSN with your friends. :(

    I hate that there is collateral damage with each update. Every single update there's a few broken PS3s. They always say it's coincidence. ''''''
    its not a coincidence its a crock why would every one have problems w updating unless sony does not care

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  51. I have a slim and a fat 40 Gb that had to be repaired twice after 15 months and almost no use.
    Now it's working fine and i didn't install (thank GOD) version 3.60
    But i installed version 3.60 in my 6 months old slim PS3. After that 4 avchd movies that i have wont play anymore...There's sound but no image...The curious thing is that they still play in the fat 40 Gb...

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  52. Broken PS3 Slim after upgrade. Loads up to 22% and then it breaks with error code 8002F147. Reformat of HD don't help. Neither does the removal of battery. It is the upgrade that breaks the machines. Is there anyone capable to an advice ho to fix this? Is this a bug implemented by Sony to earn more money or what is it. This is a big issue and Sony should give an explanation to Public. I can't even imaging that this is not a known issue on Sony already.

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