Hacking PS3 Won't Recognize External HDD

[lordofthereef]

Yes, there are dozens of threads all over the interwebs about this same issue...
Yes, I have read them all (or damn near it)
No, nothing has fixed my problem.


I have a 2TB WD USB 3.0 external SELF POWERED hard drive (it plugs into an outlet for power). I have tried NTFS. I have tried FAT32. I have tried making the partition smaller. NOTHING works. What gives?

 

[Deleted User]

When it's formatted as FAT32, does it show up as a drive under the PS3 Save Data? (as in you can copy save files to the USB)

If there's anything I've learned over the years, is that the PS3 is hands down picky with what drives work and what doesn't. It seems the 1TB+ drives seem to have the most issues. (especially externals with NTFS and 4k clusters)

 

[trumpet-205]

Make sure the drive is in MBR and that FAT32 is the first partition.

Also, try to make FAT32 a logic partition rather than primary partition.

 

[lordofthereef]

Not sure what MBR means.

As far as logical versus primary, I don't seem to be given the option.

The ps3 isn't able to see the device at all.

 

[aeolus426]

if you already have it formatted to fat 32 then your problem is that the ps3 usb port doesnt send enough power to to the HD initially. i too have a WD my passport usb 3.0 the way i got mine to work was using, dont know what it's called splitter i guess? basically i have a cable that it plugs into and at the other end has 2 usb plugs. i have to plug both in for the ps3 to power it up and read it.
and like everyone says it's gotta be formatted to fat 32. i used HP(Hewlett- Packard) USB Disk Storage Format Tool


and the cable i have looks like this, except mine is 2.0 to 2.0. this one might work better

just noticed you said it has an ac adapter and is fat 32, my guess is to try this cable. my WD will not work unless i use this and after it reads it i can unplug one of them... the ps3 is VERY picky as gunner says

 

[lordofthereef]

So... I am likely never going to be able to explain this...

Formatting in WINDOWS I couldn't read the drive (with ps3). I tried various programs including that which is built into Windows...

Formatting in OSX (As FAT) did the trick... makes a lot of sense right?

Anyway, games load straight away now. Sometimes you just have to try the things that don't seem like they would make a difference lol.

 

[lordofthereef]

I figured I would ask this here rather than start a new thread...

I downloaded some updates (for black flag) via MM. How do I apply them?

Also, my first load of black flag (it is installed on the internal HDD) is REALLY slow... like 3+ minutes to load. I can only assume this isn't normal? What gives?

 

[lordofthereef]

Correction... more like a ten minute initial load time lol. That can't be right...

 

[trumpet-205]

Not sure what MBR means.

As far as logical versus primary, I don't seem to be given the option.

The ps3 isn't able to see the device at all.

Use EaseUS Partition Manager to format the drive on Windows, not shitty Windows format utility. MBR is master boot record, an older method of labeling partition, while most new drive uses GPT instead.

Assassin's Creed indeed has long load time initially. This is normal, as game is unpacking and installing files to internal drive. This is even slower if you put the game on internal drive as the drive has to juggle read and write back and forward.

Also games that uses multiple small files, like Hyperdimension, will too be slow.

 

[Deleted User]

If you try to format anything larger than 32GB in Windows, it will format it as exFAT. Need a separate utility to format as FAT32.

AC4 like trumpet says has 5+ GB install to start off, so it should take awhile to get going. The boot time is around a minute or two if I remember anyway.

I was able to format as FAT 32 on my Seagate 2TB just fine. I eventually moved over to NTFS as 60 files was better for me to manage than 66,000.

But I still stand by the fact that the PS3 is one of the pickiest systems for external devices. I can see why the PS4 has none.

 

[somewhereovertherainbow]

western digital is usually a safe choice. Both my small and big WD works perfectly.

I use FAT32, Primary, . And a NTFS Partition 200gb for all PS3ISOs ... PS3ISO is a lifesaver when it comes to *big games* . You download.. you convert to ISO you put iso on NTFS Partition.. Plug into PS3, open MultiMan and just start the game like any other game. So easy. No internal space required

 

[lordofthereef]

Use EaseUS Partition Manager to format the drive on Windows, not shitty Windows format utility. MBR is master boot record, an older method of labeling partition, while most new drive uses GPT instead.

Assassin's Creed indeed has long load time initially. This is normal, as game is unpacking and installing files to internal drive. This is even slower if you put the game on internal drive as the drive has to juggle read and write back and forward.

Also games that uses multiple small files, like Hyperdimension, will too be slow.

I tried all of that. I literally tried five different partition managers. None of them worked. OSX worked first time. Surprising, to say the least.

 

[huma_dawii]

Tried everything, and it wont work T_T

 

[MadBob]

Guys, I know i'm resurrecting a dead thread!

But I struggled with a Canvio basics (Toshiba) 2TB drive and my PS3, although a Canvio basics (Toshiba) 1TB worked fine.

Fix for me was to use Fat32Formatter 1.1 http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html and Initialise the drive, then Quick Format.

Now working in my PS3

 

[RaulFigueiredo]

Guys, I know i'm resurrecting a dead thread!

But I struggled with a Canvio basics (Toshiba) 2TB drive and my PS3, although a Canvio basics (Toshiba) 1TB worked fine.

Fix for me was to use Fat32Formatter 1.1 http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html and Initialise the drive, then Quick Format.

Now working in my PS3

Hi, it seems I'm "re-reviving" the thread, if that's even possible!
This question is mainly directed to MadBob, but you guys can leave your own feedback, if you like.
I'm thinking about buying that exact External Hard Drive that you mentioned (the Toshiba one) and I would like to know a couple of things from your experience:

1- Is your PS3 model Phat, Slim or SuperSlim?
2- Do you use your External HDD for games too? If yes, how well do they run?
3- As far as I know, that drive is USB-powered. Did you need to plug it into a power supply to make the PS3 recognize it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NIght_Fox]

I had the same issue as lordofthereef. I figured out that you have to format a external HHD it needs to formatted as a Primary MBR in fat32 i used acronis disk director and it worked just fine. I'm going to try a different HHD then the Toshiba MQ01ABF050 REV AAD AB00/AM0P1D. Yes I do realize that its 2021 but trumpet-205's post about trying MBR was a life saver and just wanted to expand on that bc like his was the first post ive seen talking about MBR.