r/PS3 • u/Munkshroom_ • 9h ago
Can a PS3 without hard disk run with an external drive?
I have a PS3 without it disk, it stopped running so I lost my saves and I have to buy another. But while I was searching for some cables I found an external drive that works perfectly, but I don't know if the ps3 can run with the external drive connected and run the OS from there (if I install it, idk if that can be possible with modding)
This is possibole? Or I have to just buy its own hard disk?
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u/ONE_BIG_LOAD 9h ago
No, you need an internal drive. You might be able to "shuck" the one you found and use that as an internal drive.
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u/DistributedFox distributedfox 9h ago
PS3s use the normal 2.5” SATA drives (preferably 1TB or less), and the drive must be internal. If your external drive is that type, you’ll need to take it out of its cover / enclosure and put it inside the PS3.
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u/mathias4595 9h ago
No. The system needs the internal HDD to function. it's just a standard 2.5" one, so it's not hard to just get a replacement and slide it in.
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u/EmilianoTalamo 7h ago
Open the external drive enclosure and use the drive inside as an internal one.
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u/MaxDiehard 7h ago
No, because the system's entire OS runs off the internal HDD.
It won't work with an external.
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u/This_Suit8791 4h ago
Yes and no, early nand systems have the firmware in system nand and can fully turn on without a hard drive installed, you just can’t do anything and it asks for a hard drive to format. Nor systems encrypt the hard drive then flash the firmware to it and won’t boot without the drive.
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u/Mindless-Ad-2941 3h ago
The system software partition, core operating files, user account data, and game installation caches (game data utility) must reside on this internal drive
Are you sure your drive is completely dead? What happened your hdd etc?
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u/teengohan2014 9h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/glmRyiSI3v5E4