Ton's of PS3 information! 04-14-2013, 11:37 PM
#1
How to make a account after reaching the limit.
15 Facts About Sony
Web Browser Tips:
How to clean up old files
Countries supported by PSN
Creating a account for a Minor/Under-aged child
Account Deletion
Common PSN problems
PS2 memory card transfer
System Updates via PC
How to contact PlayStation Support
Change user picture
Use your own photo as the XMB background
How to View What Is Stored on the PS3 Hard Drive
How To Deactivate All PS3 And PSP Consoles
How to Transfer All Your Information to a New PS3(Data Transfer)
The PlayStation 3: 16 things you need to know(old but good info!)
Viewing images as a slideshow
Checking PlayStation Store usage
Adding people to your block list
Removing people from your block list
Spoiler:
Go to qriocity.com and click Create account.
Fill in your information.
Click Upgrade Account.
Fill in your information and recover the account on your PS3 console.
Accessing recovery mode:
When the PS3 is off, hold down the power button on the console until you hear a 3rd beep.
Plug in your controller and select one of the options.
What you can do in the Recovery Menu:
Restart System
Restore Default Settings
Restore File System
Rebuild Database
Restore PS3 System6. System Update
Fill in your information.
Click Upgrade Account.
Fill in your information and recover the account on your PS3 console.
Accessing recovery mode:
When the PS3 is off, hold down the power button on the console until you hear a 3rd beep.
Plug in your controller and select one of the options.
What you can do in the Recovery Menu:
Restart System
Restore Default Settings
Restore File System
Rebuild Database
Restore PS3 System6. System Update
15 Facts About Sony
Spoiler:
#1: Sony lost A LOT of market share from last gen to this gen. The PS2 used to be king... by a long shot. But with
a slow start, the PS3 is fighting to keep within grasp of the second place 360. Sony still dominates Asia, and
holds a slight lead in much of the world, but it has lost significant influence in the largest market of all: the
USA. As total numbers of consoles go, the PS3 sits in 3rd place worldwide.
#2: Historically, most multiplatform games are better on the 360. They tend to be more stable and have better
graphics, even if the differences are slight. Just about any game running on the Unreal 3 engine are great examples
. Games like Mass Effect 2 show that parity is coming, but even then the one year old version running on an older
engine is arguably just as good (each has it's ups and downs).
#3: Sony lost big money selling PS3 consoles. Ignoring software sales, Sony lost an estimated 300$ per console at
release, 50$ per console in 2008, 40$ per console in 2009 when the Slim came out, and 18$ per console sold in Feb
2010. The PS3 was reported by Shuhei Yoshida to be finally breaking even for each console sold in June 2010. In
contrast, Wii always sold consoles at a profit. The 360 sold at a loss of 126$ per console when it was released,
and was breaking even after 1.5 years (compared to Sony's 4 years). To rub salt in the wounds, the 360 "slim"
further increased profits per console sold and Kinect was sold at a reported 50$ profit per unit on release.
#4: Sony loses big money with its online PSN. One of Sony's big selling points is also hemorrhaging money. Nothing
in life is free, but at least your gain is Sony's loss. Such losses make the money lost per console sold far
higher than money lost due to selling consoles for less than the hardware costs. As such, the 360 becomes even
more profitable than the PS3.
#5: Sony sells less software per console than the 360. Royalty fees from software sales is what finally allowed
the PS3 to become profitable, but even there the PS3 has lagged behind the 360. VCGhartz estimates put the 360 at
9.4 units software sold per console. The PS3 trails at 7.2 units software per PS3 sold.
#6: PS3 failure rates are higher than Sony will admit, and 360 failure rates are lower than the "interwebz" would
have you believe. 360 fail rates are undoubtedly higher than the PS3, but at least they do a better job standing
behind their failed consoles with a solid warranty and prompt replacement.
#7: PS3 online gaming is being corrupted by hackers right now. You have to look no further than the COD series
than to realize that with the recent compromise with PS3 security, PSN gaming has taken a hit with glitches and
cheaters. One can only expect this to get worse if Steam services continue to expand and increase ties with the PC
world... known for a strong hacking/glitching community.
#8: Blu-ray is slow. What the blue-ray does well is play movies and hold lots of storage space. What it does not
do well is go fast. Copy speeds are slower than the 360 drive. Yes, games will fit on only one disk, but few games
actually require more than one disk on the 360. And given the popularity of large hard-drives on new consoles, most
games are best played when downloaded to your console, making multiple disks a moot point. Sadly, copying just takes
longer on the PS3.
#9: Digital downloaded content is the way of the future, not blu-ray. A lot of people bashed Microsoft for sticking
with it's DVD drive and not adopting Blu-ray. Microsoft countered by saying that digitally distributed content
was the way of the future. These days Sony is linking with Steam, and even Mass Effect 2 was a day one digital
download. At least Sony is doing a good job with their adoption of the digital model.
#10: Move is lagging behind Kinect. Moving into the casual market was a smart move for Sony and Microsoft. The
problem is that the Move was too close to the Wii to really capture the imagination of the casual market (who
probably had a Wii anyway). Kinect was unique, and better or worse, it stood out... and sold far better than the
Move, in far lass time. The fact that Sony is quiet about actual sales to end customers like you and me is very
telling... in a bad way for Move.
#11: Move has a weak game line-up. At the moment Kinect actually has a few decent games. All the good Move games
are "coming soon". Move is all hype and no content at the moment. And on the subject of hype...
#12: PS3 exclusives are not living up to "fanboy hype." The PS3's largest strength at the moment is in it's large
exclusive lineup (another very large cost to Sony...). Any Sony fanboy can send you a list of upcoming PS3
exclusives, and a much shorter 360 list. And to date, the exclusives that have been released are solid, and
arguably the best showcase of what the PS3 can do. However, Uncharted 2 aside, PS3 exclusives have just not been
living up to the hype of the PS3 fanboys. GT5 was not a game-changer. GOW was beautiful, but not revolutionary.
LBP2 was solid, but more of the same. To be fair, these were all great games, but they were over-hyped, and gamers
were left expecting more, and not appreciating what they had. When the reviews are finished at the end of 2011,
don't be surprised to find out that games like Killzone 3 are just more of the same. Fans will scream bloody murder
and "play games not reviews," but at the end of the day the content will not match the hype. It never does.
#13: Sony is terrified of the next gen consoles. As outlined above, Sony has invested a lot of money in the PS3
and has adsorbed a large amount of loss to get the PS3 to where it is today. As such, for the PS3 to be a financial
success for Sony, they need to extend the life of the PS3 as long as possible. The next Wii, and the next 360 will
be out sooner since their consoles were far more profitable, and can thus afford to move to the next gen. They
smell blood.
#14: Sony is already designing the PS4: Sony knows that the next gen Wii and 360 will be announced within a year
or so (Wii desperately needs it, and the 360 will follow). As such they are surely smart enough to already have a
team that is designing the PS4. Sadly for PS3 gamers, the losses Sony takes this gen will force Sony to sell the
PS4 at less of a loss than the PS3. As such, to get a good price-point, Sony will have to cut back on hardware
quality.
#15: PSN will eventually charge for multiplayer. Xbox Live is a proven cash cow, and Sony wants in. PlayStation
Plus is testing the waters this gen. Expect paid PSN mutliplayer to begin with the next gen, and don't expect PS3
multiplayer to stay free at that point either. Sadly, hackers will be used as an excuse to charge for m
ulti-player... because the increased patches and security will cost money.[s/poiler]
Some tricks Sony doesn't tell you:
[spoiler]1) Play games from any country
Harbouring a desire to play Super Gaiden Ninja XI? Now you can. In fact, you can handily play any PS3 game from any
country. On holiday in the States and spot the latest release at a bargain dollar-to-pound price? Help yourself.
So far, at least, PS3 games aren't being region coded. That said PS2 and PS1 games are so you can't play a US title
on a Euro console.
And let's not forget that Blu-ray movies are region-coded so the barriers aren't completely down yet.
2) The secret video reset
One of the most annoying aspects of the PS3 are its video settings. Take it up to the bedroom portable or round to
a friend's house and there's a good chance that you won't be able to see anything on screen because your 'new' TV
is running at a different resolution or using a different cable connection. And - because you can't see anything
- you can't change it.
Until now. Shut down your PS3 then restart by pressing and holding the power button.This will reset your PS3 to its
most basic 480p graphics mode so you'll be able to see enough to choose RGB SCART, component, HDMI or whatever
from here.
3) See how much charge is on your pad
There's no indication of how much charge is left on the pad itself. Instead it appears on screen during games.
Press and hold the PS button on any joypad. An indicator will appear, showing your pad's charge as a small battery.
A full battery pic means a fully-charged pad. Neat.
4) Download game saves
Chances are someone out there has already beaten that boss for you and saved their game afterwards. Why not take
advantage of it? Google 'PS3 game saves'. There are hundreds of finished and half finished game saves scattered
all over the internet. Download the save you want - it'll come in a 'PS3' folder that you can lift onto a USB
stick and put into your PS3. Go to the Game menu, choose your stick and the game save you downloaded should be
right there. Press Triangle to copy it to your hard drive.
5) Make free video phone calls
You will need a USB headset (like the one you use for PS2 Socom) and an EyeToy camera. Plug in both via USB then
go to your Friends menu. Choose a friend you've signed up earlier and press Triangle. Choose Start New Chat and
type a message. Something like 'Videochat?' should do the trick. Now, providing they're in front of their
powered-up PS3 (perhaps you could text them to tell them to be in position?) then they'll see your message and be
given the option to accept your videochat.
Now, provided they too have a camera and headset, two windows will open, one showing you (so you can make sure
you're looking your best), the other displaying your mate. Best of all you can hit Triangle again and invite more
people to join your chat - up to a maximum of six. And the cost? Not a bean above your usual broadband connection
charges.
6) Browse multiple internet windows
Open the browser (go to Network) and surf to a page you want. Now open up the menu with a press of Triangle and
choose 'Open In New Window'. Enter another URL and then do the same again. Keep going until you've got six windows
open. Now press L3 (done by clicking down the left stick). You're now in multi-page mode. Move the left stick to
flick through the webpages as though they were bits of paper, then click L3 again to zoom in.
7) Upgrade your hard drive
We took the drive out of our PS3 and found it to be a Seagate Momentus 5400rpm 60GB 2.5inch SATA drive. We swapped
ours out effortlessly for a Seagate Momentus 120GB 2.5inch SATA drive and it worked perfectly. Remove the cover
flap on the bottom of your PS3 with a fingernail. Undo the blue screw and slide the drive over to the right and
out of your PS3. Undo the four screws on the 'caddy' and remove the old drive.
Put your new drive in the caddy (it should be exactly the same size, of course) and re-do the four screws. Slot it
back in and slide to the left to make the connections. Re-do the blue screw, pop the cover back on and restart your
PS3. Say 'yes' to the message on screen and voila - new super-size hard-drive. (Go to Settings, System Settings,
System Information to check).
8) Share your bought downloads
You can download anything you've bought from the store to five PlayStation 3s. This is useful if you've got more
than one PS3 (of course) and also if you've wiped your hard-drive and don't fancy paying for the same download
twice...
However, you can also choose to share your download with your mates. The PlayStation Store logs how many times
each download has been downloaded by each user. On your mate's PS3 Create New User and log onto the store with
your ID. You'll now be able to go to your download and see that you've already downloaded whatever it was that
you paid for. You can now download it again, using another of your downloads and giving it to your mate for free.
Or a small optional charge...
9) Force a PS3 to show your files
Put your photos in a folder called 'PICTURE' or your videos in a folder called 'VIDEO' or simply *force* your PS3
to look at your files on your stick regardless of what you called them or where you put them. Insert your stick and
go to the menu option you want (Photos, Music, whatever). PressTriangle to bring up a menu and choose Display All.
This will show every file on the stick. It even works for a plugged-in iPod, though the multi-folder structure
you'll reveal is a bit baffling. Still, your songs are in there if you've got the patience to find them.
10) Change your album art
When you import a insert a CD your PS3 automatically pulls down the album art and stores it with the tracks.
Occasionally it gets it wrong, however, or it may simply not be able to find the art of your hipper, less
commercial tracks. This is easily fixed however.
Download a pic of the art you need as a jpg on your PC and put it onto a stick (in a folder called PICTURE,
ideally). Copy it to your Photo menu (press Triangle). Now go to Music and select the album folder with the
offending art. Press Triangle and select Information. Go to the Photo menu and select your new picture. Bingo.
a slow start, the PS3 is fighting to keep within grasp of the second place 360. Sony still dominates Asia, and
holds a slight lead in much of the world, but it has lost significant influence in the largest market of all: the
USA. As total numbers of consoles go, the PS3 sits in 3rd place worldwide.
#2: Historically, most multiplatform games are better on the 360. They tend to be more stable and have better
graphics, even if the differences are slight. Just about any game running on the Unreal 3 engine are great examples
. Games like Mass Effect 2 show that parity is coming, but even then the one year old version running on an older
engine is arguably just as good (each has it's ups and downs).
#3: Sony lost big money selling PS3 consoles. Ignoring software sales, Sony lost an estimated 300$ per console at
release, 50$ per console in 2008, 40$ per console in 2009 when the Slim came out, and 18$ per console sold in Feb
2010. The PS3 was reported by Shuhei Yoshida to be finally breaking even for each console sold in June 2010. In
contrast, Wii always sold consoles at a profit. The 360 sold at a loss of 126$ per console when it was released,
and was breaking even after 1.5 years (compared to Sony's 4 years). To rub salt in the wounds, the 360 "slim"
further increased profits per console sold and Kinect was sold at a reported 50$ profit per unit on release.
#4: Sony loses big money with its online PSN. One of Sony's big selling points is also hemorrhaging money. Nothing
in life is free, but at least your gain is Sony's loss. Such losses make the money lost per console sold far
higher than money lost due to selling consoles for less than the hardware costs. As such, the 360 becomes even
more profitable than the PS3.
#5: Sony sells less software per console than the 360. Royalty fees from software sales is what finally allowed
the PS3 to become profitable, but even there the PS3 has lagged behind the 360. VCGhartz estimates put the 360 at
9.4 units software sold per console. The PS3 trails at 7.2 units software per PS3 sold.
#6: PS3 failure rates are higher than Sony will admit, and 360 failure rates are lower than the "interwebz" would
have you believe. 360 fail rates are undoubtedly higher than the PS3, but at least they do a better job standing
behind their failed consoles with a solid warranty and prompt replacement.
#7: PS3 online gaming is being corrupted by hackers right now. You have to look no further than the COD series
than to realize that with the recent compromise with PS3 security, PSN gaming has taken a hit with glitches and
cheaters. One can only expect this to get worse if Steam services continue to expand and increase ties with the PC
world... known for a strong hacking/glitching community.
#8: Blu-ray is slow. What the blue-ray does well is play movies and hold lots of storage space. What it does not
do well is go fast. Copy speeds are slower than the 360 drive. Yes, games will fit on only one disk, but few games
actually require more than one disk on the 360. And given the popularity of large hard-drives on new consoles, most
games are best played when downloaded to your console, making multiple disks a moot point. Sadly, copying just takes
longer on the PS3.
#9: Digital downloaded content is the way of the future, not blu-ray. A lot of people bashed Microsoft for sticking
with it's DVD drive and not adopting Blu-ray. Microsoft countered by saying that digitally distributed content
was the way of the future. These days Sony is linking with Steam, and even Mass Effect 2 was a day one digital
download. At least Sony is doing a good job with their adoption of the digital model.
#10: Move is lagging behind Kinect. Moving into the casual market was a smart move for Sony and Microsoft. The
problem is that the Move was too close to the Wii to really capture the imagination of the casual market (who
probably had a Wii anyway). Kinect was unique, and better or worse, it stood out... and sold far better than the
Move, in far lass time. The fact that Sony is quiet about actual sales to end customers like you and me is very
telling... in a bad way for Move.
#11: Move has a weak game line-up. At the moment Kinect actually has a few decent games. All the good Move games
are "coming soon". Move is all hype and no content at the moment. And on the subject of hype...
#12: PS3 exclusives are not living up to "fanboy hype." The PS3's largest strength at the moment is in it's large
exclusive lineup (another very large cost to Sony...). Any Sony fanboy can send you a list of upcoming PS3
exclusives, and a much shorter 360 list. And to date, the exclusives that have been released are solid, and
arguably the best showcase of what the PS3 can do. However, Uncharted 2 aside, PS3 exclusives have just not been
living up to the hype of the PS3 fanboys. GT5 was not a game-changer. GOW was beautiful, but not revolutionary.
LBP2 was solid, but more of the same. To be fair, these were all great games, but they were over-hyped, and gamers
were left expecting more, and not appreciating what they had. When the reviews are finished at the end of 2011,
don't be surprised to find out that games like Killzone 3 are just more of the same. Fans will scream bloody murder
and "play games not reviews," but at the end of the day the content will not match the hype. It never does.
#13: Sony is terrified of the next gen consoles. As outlined above, Sony has invested a lot of money in the PS3
and has adsorbed a large amount of loss to get the PS3 to where it is today. As such, for the PS3 to be a financial
success for Sony, they need to extend the life of the PS3 as long as possible. The next Wii, and the next 360 will
be out sooner since their consoles were far more profitable, and can thus afford to move to the next gen. They
smell blood.
#14: Sony is already designing the PS4: Sony knows that the next gen Wii and 360 will be announced within a year
or so (Wii desperately needs it, and the 360 will follow). As such they are surely smart enough to already have a
team that is designing the PS4. Sadly for PS3 gamers, the losses Sony takes this gen will force Sony to sell the
PS4 at less of a loss than the PS3. As such, to get a good price-point, Sony will have to cut back on hardware
quality.
#15: PSN will eventually charge for multiplayer. Xbox Live is a proven cash cow, and Sony wants in. PlayStation
Plus is testing the waters this gen. Expect paid PSN mutliplayer to begin with the next gen, and don't expect PS3
multiplayer to stay free at that point either. Sadly, hackers will be used as an excuse to charge for m
ulti-player... because the increased patches and security will cost money.[s/poiler]
Some tricks Sony doesn't tell you:
[spoiler]1) Play games from any country
Harbouring a desire to play Super Gaiden Ninja XI? Now you can. In fact, you can handily play any PS3 game from any
country. On holiday in the States and spot the latest release at a bargain dollar-to-pound price? Help yourself.
So far, at least, PS3 games aren't being region coded. That said PS2 and PS1 games are so you can't play a US title
on a Euro console.
And let's not forget that Blu-ray movies are region-coded so the barriers aren't completely down yet.
2) The secret video reset
One of the most annoying aspects of the PS3 are its video settings. Take it up to the bedroom portable or round to
a friend's house and there's a good chance that you won't be able to see anything on screen because your 'new' TV
is running at a different resolution or using a different cable connection. And - because you can't see anything
- you can't change it.
Until now. Shut down your PS3 then restart by pressing and holding the power button.This will reset your PS3 to its
most basic 480p graphics mode so you'll be able to see enough to choose RGB SCART, component, HDMI or whatever
from here.
3) See how much charge is on your pad
There's no indication of how much charge is left on the pad itself. Instead it appears on screen during games.
Press and hold the PS button on any joypad. An indicator will appear, showing your pad's charge as a small battery.
A full battery pic means a fully-charged pad. Neat.
4) Download game saves
Chances are someone out there has already beaten that boss for you and saved their game afterwards. Why not take
advantage of it? Google 'PS3 game saves'. There are hundreds of finished and half finished game saves scattered
all over the internet. Download the save you want - it'll come in a 'PS3' folder that you can lift onto a USB
stick and put into your PS3. Go to the Game menu, choose your stick and the game save you downloaded should be
right there. Press Triangle to copy it to your hard drive.
5) Make free video phone calls
You will need a USB headset (like the one you use for PS2 Socom) and an EyeToy camera. Plug in both via USB then
go to your Friends menu. Choose a friend you've signed up earlier and press Triangle. Choose Start New Chat and
type a message. Something like 'Videochat?' should do the trick. Now, providing they're in front of their
powered-up PS3 (perhaps you could text them to tell them to be in position?) then they'll see your message and be
given the option to accept your videochat.
Now, provided they too have a camera and headset, two windows will open, one showing you (so you can make sure
you're looking your best), the other displaying your mate. Best of all you can hit Triangle again and invite more
people to join your chat - up to a maximum of six. And the cost? Not a bean above your usual broadband connection
charges.
6) Browse multiple internet windows
Open the browser (go to Network) and surf to a page you want. Now open up the menu with a press of Triangle and
choose 'Open In New Window'. Enter another URL and then do the same again. Keep going until you've got six windows
open. Now press L3 (done by clicking down the left stick). You're now in multi-page mode. Move the left stick to
flick through the webpages as though they were bits of paper, then click L3 again to zoom in.
7) Upgrade your hard drive
We took the drive out of our PS3 and found it to be a Seagate Momentus 5400rpm 60GB 2.5inch SATA drive. We swapped
ours out effortlessly for a Seagate Momentus 120GB 2.5inch SATA drive and it worked perfectly. Remove the cover
flap on the bottom of your PS3 with a fingernail. Undo the blue screw and slide the drive over to the right and
out of your PS3. Undo the four screws on the 'caddy' and remove the old drive.
Put your new drive in the caddy (it should be exactly the same size, of course) and re-do the four screws. Slot it
back in and slide to the left to make the connections. Re-do the blue screw, pop the cover back on and restart your
PS3. Say 'yes' to the message on screen and voila - new super-size hard-drive. (Go to Settings, System Settings,
System Information to check).
8) Share your bought downloads
You can download anything you've bought from the store to five PlayStation 3s. This is useful if you've got more
than one PS3 (of course) and also if you've wiped your hard-drive and don't fancy paying for the same download
twice...
However, you can also choose to share your download with your mates. The PlayStation Store logs how many times
each download has been downloaded by each user. On your mate's PS3 Create New User and log onto the store with
your ID. You'll now be able to go to your download and see that you've already downloaded whatever it was that
you paid for. You can now download it again, using another of your downloads and giving it to your mate for free.
Or a small optional charge...
9) Force a PS3 to show your files
Put your photos in a folder called 'PICTURE' or your videos in a folder called 'VIDEO' or simply *force* your PS3
to look at your files on your stick regardless of what you called them or where you put them. Insert your stick and
go to the menu option you want (Photos, Music, whatever). PressTriangle to bring up a menu and choose Display All.
This will show every file on the stick. It even works for a plugged-in iPod, though the multi-folder structure
you'll reveal is a bit baffling. Still, your songs are in there if you've got the patience to find them.
10) Change your album art
When you import a insert a CD your PS3 automatically pulls down the album art and stores it with the tracks.
Occasionally it gets it wrong, however, or it may simply not be able to find the art of your hipper, less
commercial tracks. This is easily fixed however.
Download a pic of the art you need as a jpg on your PC and put it onto a stick (in a folder called PICTURE,
ideally). Copy it to your Photo menu (press Triangle). Now go to Music and select the album folder with the
offending art. Press Triangle and select Information. Go to the Photo menu and select your new picture. Bingo.
Web Browser Tips:
Spoiler:
The web browser that Sony implemented into their new next gen PS3 console was a great idea as it gives your
console more functionality. There are also a lot of concerns from people as to its security and to its security
for children. It can also be a pain as it can take a while to load up pages or you might find that your PlayStation
will freeze from time to time due to using it. I have a list of tips below which might resolve these problems and
help you with your browsing.
When you open your browser on the Ps3 it will load up the PlayStation home page. The triangle button is the key to
your browsing as it holds all your options within browsing. You can add bookmarks to your favourite sites for
handier browsing and page opening, simply just press the start button and type in the site's URL and the site you
want to visit will be displayed. Press the triangle button and select the bookmarks option, then select my bookmarks
and then select add to bookmarks. There is a quicker option to bookmark though, once your page opens press the
select button and your bookmarks will open, then just add to bookmarks, simple.
You may find that your PS3 freezes from time to time while web browsing or that it is taking quite a while to load
up sites, this tip may resolve that problem. Simply click the triangle button and select the tools option. Once
you have done that go down and delete the cookies and delete the cache, this may smooth things out for you.
You may also fear for your child's safety and consoles safety while browsing the web. Sony have provided you with
an internet security option. You can get a 90 day free trial of this option and then purchase if you feel necessary.
This security is from Trend micro and may stop viruses and bugs from your console, it can also block certain sites
from being accessed that you don't want your children accessing. To get your security simply click the triangle
button, select browser security and then select Trend micro for PS3. You can then get your 90 day free trial. For
this I would recommend reading the terms and conditions and the FAQs to find out if this is suitable for you.
The PS3 web browser also has other great options like a history button so that you can go back to those previous
pages of importance with ease. You can also save certain pictures directly to your HDD by selecting the triangle
button, then selecting the file option and then clicking the save image option.
I am sure you all will agree that the web browser addition to the PS3 is a great one and I hope these tips will
help your future browsing and make it more enjoyable.
console more functionality. There are also a lot of concerns from people as to its security and to its security
for children. It can also be a pain as it can take a while to load up pages or you might find that your PlayStation
will freeze from time to time due to using it. I have a list of tips below which might resolve these problems and
help you with your browsing.
When you open your browser on the Ps3 it will load up the PlayStation home page. The triangle button is the key to
your browsing as it holds all your options within browsing. You can add bookmarks to your favourite sites for
handier browsing and page opening, simply just press the start button and type in the site's URL and the site you
want to visit will be displayed. Press the triangle button and select the bookmarks option, then select my bookmarks
and then select add to bookmarks. There is a quicker option to bookmark though, once your page opens press the
select button and your bookmarks will open, then just add to bookmarks, simple.
You may find that your PS3 freezes from time to time while web browsing or that it is taking quite a while to load
up sites, this tip may resolve that problem. Simply click the triangle button and select the tools option. Once
you have done that go down and delete the cookies and delete the cache, this may smooth things out for you.
You may also fear for your child's safety and consoles safety while browsing the web. Sony have provided you with
an internet security option. You can get a 90 day free trial of this option and then purchase if you feel necessary.
This security is from Trend micro and may stop viruses and bugs from your console, it can also block certain sites
from being accessed that you don't want your children accessing. To get your security simply click the triangle
button, select browser security and then select Trend micro for PS3. You can then get your 90 day free trial. For
this I would recommend reading the terms and conditions and the FAQs to find out if this is suitable for you.
The PS3 web browser also has other great options like a history button so that you can go back to those previous
pages of importance with ease. You can also save certain pictures directly to your HDD by selecting the triangle
button, then selecting the file option and then clicking the save image option.
I am sure you all will agree that the web browser addition to the PS3 is a great one and I hope these tips will
help your future browsing and make it more enjoyable.
How to clean up old files
Spoiler:
Over time your PS3 will accumulate various files on its hard-drive, mostly from games that you have played but
also videos or other media that you may have downloaded. Some games can even require gigabytes for installation!
These files dont clean themselves up automatically so eventually your console can get cluttered and run out of
room. Every now and again its worth doing a spring clean!
How much free space do I have?
Go to the Settings menu in the XMB and choose System Settings[Screenshot]
Scroll down to the bottom and choose System information[Screenshot]
The Free space information will show how much space (GBs) is free and the total capacity of the PS3s
hard-disk[Screenshot]
XMB settings menu
System Settings menu
System Information showing Free space
1:Remove old game demos
Have you downloaded any game demos from Playstation Store that you dont play any more?
Go to the Game menu and find the demo you wish to delete[Screenshot]
Press the Triangle button on your controller to show the options[Screenshot]
If you want to see how big the demo file is, choose Information and check the Size field[Screenshot]
Choose Delete from the options and choose Yes to confirm the deletion[Screenshot]
XMB Game menu
Game demo files options
Game demo file information
Confirm deletion of game demo
2: Delete game installation files
The Game Data Utility stores installation files and patches. Some Blu-ray games install content to the hard-drive.
Do not delete anything from here unless you have finished with the associated game.
Go to the Game menu and choose the Game Data Utility feature[Screenshot]
Check for files of games you dont have or play any more. Press the controllers Triangle button to bring up the
options[Screenshot]
To see the size of the file, go into Information[Screenshot]
To remove it, choose Delete and then Yes to confirm
Game menu showing Game Data Utility
Options for game installation file
Game installation info
3: Delete media (video/music/photos)
If you ever downloaded videos off the Playstation Store or copied across media like music or photos that you no
longer need, you may want to remove them. Heres an example where I delete a game trailer video:
Go to the Video menu[Screenshot]
Find the file you want to remove, press the controllers Triangle button to bring up the options[Screenshot]
Choose Delete. You can see the filesize of the video on the confirmation screen. Choose Yes to confirm
also videos or other media that you may have downloaded. Some games can even require gigabytes for installation!
These files dont clean themselves up automatically so eventually your console can get cluttered and run out of
room. Every now and again its worth doing a spring clean!
How much free space do I have?
Go to the Settings menu in the XMB and choose System Settings[Screenshot]
Scroll down to the bottom and choose System information[Screenshot]
The Free space information will show how much space (GBs) is free and the total capacity of the PS3s
hard-disk[Screenshot]
XMB settings menu
System Settings menu
System Information showing Free space
1:Remove old game demos
Have you downloaded any game demos from Playstation Store that you dont play any more?
Go to the Game menu and find the demo you wish to delete[Screenshot]
Press the Triangle button on your controller to show the options[Screenshot]
If you want to see how big the demo file is, choose Information and check the Size field[Screenshot]
Choose Delete from the options and choose Yes to confirm the deletion[Screenshot]
XMB Game menu
Game demo files options
Game demo file information
Confirm deletion of game demo
2: Delete game installation files
The Game Data Utility stores installation files and patches. Some Blu-ray games install content to the hard-drive.
Do not delete anything from here unless you have finished with the associated game.
Go to the Game menu and choose the Game Data Utility feature[Screenshot]
Check for files of games you dont have or play any more. Press the controllers Triangle button to bring up the
options[Screenshot]
To see the size of the file, go into Information[Screenshot]
To remove it, choose Delete and then Yes to confirm
Game menu showing Game Data Utility
Options for game installation file
Game installation info
3: Delete media (video/music/photos)
If you ever downloaded videos off the Playstation Store or copied across media like music or photos that you no
longer need, you may want to remove them. Heres an example where I delete a game trailer video:
Go to the Video menu[Screenshot]
Find the file you want to remove, press the controllers Triangle button to bring up the options[Screenshot]
Choose Delete. You can see the filesize of the video on the confirmation screen. Choose Yes to confirm
Countries supported by PSN
Spoiler:
These are the countries available (officially supported) when signing up for Playstation Network (PSN). The
country you choose determines various validation rules for steps in the PSN sign-up processfor example minimum
age requirement or valid residental address.
Although it is against the terms and conditions to provide incorrect information, there are guides elsewhere
online for signing up with a different country (e.g. creating a US account) to allow you to use the PSN.
Argentina
Australia *
Austria *
Bahrain
Belgium *
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada *
Chile
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic *
Denmark *
Finland *
France *
Germany *
Greece *
Hong Kong *
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland *
Israel
Italy *
Japan *
Korea *
Kuwait
Lebanon
Luxembourg *
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Netherlands *
New Zealand *
Norway *
Oman
Peru
Poland *
Portugal *
Qatar
Romania
Russia *
Saudi Arabia *
Singapore *
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa *
Spain *
Sweden *
Switzerland *
Taiwan *
Turkey
UAE *
United Kingdom *
United States *
* Countries available via store.playstation.com
Update: Ive just checked the account registration through PS Store for PC and oddly the list of countries is
shorter! If a country listed above has a star/asterisk then it is available when signing up via the online store
country you choose determines various validation rules for steps in the PSN sign-up processfor example minimum
age requirement or valid residental address.
Although it is against the terms and conditions to provide incorrect information, there are guides elsewhere
online for signing up with a different country (e.g. creating a US account) to allow you to use the PSN.
Argentina
Australia *
Austria *
Bahrain
Belgium *
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada *
Chile
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic *
Denmark *
Finland *
France *
Germany *
Greece *
Hong Kong *
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland *
Israel
Italy *
Japan *
Korea *
Kuwait
Lebanon
Luxembourg *
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Netherlands *
New Zealand *
Norway *
Oman
Peru
Poland *
Portugal *
Qatar
Romania
Russia *
Saudi Arabia *
Singapore *
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa *
Spain *
Sweden *
Switzerland *
Taiwan *
Turkey
UAE *
United Kingdom *
United States *
* Countries available via store.playstation.com
Update: Ive just checked the account registration through PS Store for PC and oddly the list of countries is
shorter! If a country listed above has a star/asterisk then it is available when signing up via the online store
Creating a account for a Minor/Under-aged child
Spoiler:
The following is a guide to creating a Playstation Network (PSN) account for an under-age person (minor/child;
generally under 18 years old). A master account is required before creating any sub-accounts. These articles may
be helpful before you start:
How to create a Master Account
Master- and Sub-Accounts explained
1. Create new user
If you havent already done so you will need to create a new PS3 user that the sub-account is going to be assigned
to.
2. Authorise creation of sub-account
A Master account must be used to authorise that a Sub Account be created. Once the consent is given, a code is
emailed to the master account and the remainder of the sign-up process is done through the Playstation Store for PC
website.
I recommend that you also authorise using the PS Store website. However: not all countries are available when
signing up via the PS Store as are available via the PS3 (we have no idea why not). Check our list of supported
countries.
Proceed to:
2A. Authorise via PS Store for PC
2B. Authorise via PS3
2A. Authorise via PS Store for PC
Go to the Playstation Store for PC New Account page (open in new window)
Choose Continue
Choose your country, language and date of birth
You will be told that you do not meet the eligibility requirements for creating an account and that a parent or
legal guardian (master account) is needed to help create the account. Choose Continue
Enter the email and password of the Master Account that will be associated with the new sub-account
Choose Continue to We must have your consent to collect your childs personal information and to share that
information with third parties so that your child can access online services and content on Playstation Network.
PSN will send an email to the master accounts email address. Check the email and follow instructions to complete
the sub-account registration (paraphased)
You will now be told that an email has been sent to the master accounts email address. Choose Continue
Jump to section 3: Continue registration
Start registration process
Enter info
Eligibility requirements
Enter master sign-in
Consent required
Email sent
2B. Authorise via PS3
Log in to the user you are creating an account for. Go to the Playstation Network menu and choose Sign up for
Playstation Network
When the account sign-up page appears, choose Yes, I want to create a new account
On the registration process page, choose Continue
Choose your country, language and date of birth
You will be told that a parent or legal guardian (master account) is needed to help create the account. Choose
Continue
Enter the email and password of the Master Account that will be associated with the new sub-account
Choose Continue to confirm that the master account will be associated and can control the sub-account
Choose Continue to We must have your consent to collect your childs personal information and to share that
information with third parties so that your child can access online services and content on Playstation Network.
PSN will send an email to the master accounts email address. Check the email on your PC and follow instructions
to complete the sub-account registration (paraphased)
You will now be told that an email has been sent to the master accounts email address and that you will need to
continue the registration on a PC. Choose Continue
Section 3: Continue registration
Sign up for PSN
Account signup
Registration process
Enter info
Eligibility requirements
Master account info
Master confirmation
Consent required to collect childs information
Email sent to master account
3. Continue registration
Open the email titled PLAYSTATION®Network Account Registration for a Child and go to the Web site for account
registration URL
Type, or copy & paste, the code from the email into the Enter code form field. Tick the consent box, then click
Continue
You should now be told Email verification successful. Click Continue
Click Continue to accept the terms of service and privacy policy
Enter new sign-in information for the child: a valid email address (sign-in ID) and password
Enter an online ID for your child. This will be a publicly viewable username and can not be edited later
Enter your childs information: first name, surname and residential address (the address should be auto-populated
from the master account details)
Review the account information, then click Confirm
The new sub-account should now be created!
Log in as your child on your PS3, go to the Playstation Network menu, choose Signup/Sign-in and try out the new
account
generally under 18 years old). A master account is required before creating any sub-accounts. These articles may
be helpful before you start:
How to create a Master Account
Master- and Sub-Accounts explained
1. Create new user
If you havent already done so you will need to create a new PS3 user that the sub-account is going to be assigned
to.
2. Authorise creation of sub-account
A Master account must be used to authorise that a Sub Account be created. Once the consent is given, a code is
emailed to the master account and the remainder of the sign-up process is done through the Playstation Store for PC
website.
I recommend that you also authorise using the PS Store website. However: not all countries are available when
signing up via the PS Store as are available via the PS3 (we have no idea why not). Check our list of supported
countries.
Proceed to:
2A. Authorise via PS Store for PC
2B. Authorise via PS3
2A. Authorise via PS Store for PC
Go to the Playstation Store for PC New Account page (open in new window)
Choose Continue
Choose your country, language and date of birth
You will be told that you do not meet the eligibility requirements for creating an account and that a parent or
legal guardian (master account) is needed to help create the account. Choose Continue
Enter the email and password of the Master Account that will be associated with the new sub-account
Choose Continue to We must have your consent to collect your childs personal information and to share that
information with third parties so that your child can access online services and content on Playstation Network.
PSN will send an email to the master accounts email address. Check the email and follow instructions to complete
the sub-account registration (paraphased)
You will now be told that an email has been sent to the master accounts email address. Choose Continue
Jump to section 3: Continue registration
Start registration process
Enter info
Eligibility requirements
Enter master sign-in
Consent required
Email sent
2B. Authorise via PS3
Log in to the user you are creating an account for. Go to the Playstation Network menu and choose Sign up for
Playstation Network
When the account sign-up page appears, choose Yes, I want to create a new account
On the registration process page, choose Continue
Choose your country, language and date of birth
You will be told that a parent or legal guardian (master account) is needed to help create the account. Choose
Continue
Enter the email and password of the Master Account that will be associated with the new sub-account
Choose Continue to confirm that the master account will be associated and can control the sub-account
Choose Continue to We must have your consent to collect your childs personal information and to share that
information with third parties so that your child can access online services and content on Playstation Network.
PSN will send an email to the master accounts email address. Check the email on your PC and follow instructions
to complete the sub-account registration (paraphased)
You will now be told that an email has been sent to the master accounts email address and that you will need to
continue the registration on a PC. Choose Continue
Section 3: Continue registration
Sign up for PSN
Account signup
Registration process
Enter info
Eligibility requirements
Master account info
Master confirmation
Consent required to collect childs information
Email sent to master account
3. Continue registration
Open the email titled PLAYSTATION®Network Account Registration for a Child and go to the Web site for account
registration URL
Type, or copy & paste, the code from the email into the Enter code form field. Tick the consent box, then click
Continue
You should now be told Email verification successful. Click Continue
Click Continue to accept the terms of service and privacy policy
Enter new sign-in information for the child: a valid email address (sign-in ID) and password
Enter an online ID for your child. This will be a publicly viewable username and can not be edited later
Enter your childs information: first name, surname and residential address (the address should be auto-populated
from the master account details)
Review the account information, then click Confirm
The new sub-account should now be created!
Log in as your child on your PS3, go to the Playstation Network menu, choose Signup/Sign-in and try out the new
account
Account Deletion
Spoiler:
If your PLAYSTATION Network Master Account is terminated, you will not able to access your account on the
PLAYSTATIONNetwork. This means all of the following:
You will not have access to your master account. If you have sub accounts associated with your master account,
then your sub account holders will also not be able to access their sub accounts.
Any remaining funds in your wallet will not be returned to you.
Any content or services you or your sub accounts may have purchased that may be accessible on the PLAYSTATION
Network will not be available to you or your sub accounts, including any content that may have been downloaded to
your PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system(s). Other content that may be accessible offline may be available
for use after termination of your PLAYSTATION Network account if permitted under the specific terms and conditions
for the content.
Any ranking or scores, or game related information will not be retained or accessible by you or your sub accounts.
You will not receive any refunds, or fees as a result of termination of your account. If you subsequently sign up
for another PLAYSTATION Network account, your prior Online ID and the prior Online ID of your sub accounts may not
be available to you or your sub accounts.
Sub account termination
FAQ #221 (updated 2008-03-10)
If your PLAYSTATION Network Sub Account is terminated, you will not able to access your account on the
PLAYSTATIONNetwork. This means all of the following:
Any content or services you may have purchased that may be accessible on the PLAYSTATIONNetwork will not be
available to you, including any content that may have been downloaded to your PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment
system(s). Other content that may be accessible offline may be available for use after termination of your account
if permitted under the specific terms and conditions for the content.
You will not receive any refunds, or fees as a result of termination of your account. If you subsequently sign up
for another PLAYSTATION Network account, your prior Online ID may not be available to you.
Any ranking or scores, or game related information will not be retained or accessible.
Can I delete a PLAYSTATIONNetwork account?
FAQ #342 (updated 2007-11-21)
Once a PLAYSTATION Network account is created, it cannot be deleted. If you would like to use a new (different)
account, you will have to create an entirely new PLAYSTATION Network account.
PLAYSTATIONNetwork. This means all of the following:
You will not have access to your master account. If you have sub accounts associated with your master account,
then your sub account holders will also not be able to access their sub accounts.
Any remaining funds in your wallet will not be returned to you.
Any content or services you or your sub accounts may have purchased that may be accessible on the PLAYSTATION
Network will not be available to you or your sub accounts, including any content that may have been downloaded to
your PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system(s). Other content that may be accessible offline may be available
for use after termination of your PLAYSTATION Network account if permitted under the specific terms and conditions
for the content.
Any ranking or scores, or game related information will not be retained or accessible by you or your sub accounts.
You will not receive any refunds, or fees as a result of termination of your account. If you subsequently sign up
for another PLAYSTATION Network account, your prior Online ID and the prior Online ID of your sub accounts may not
be available to you or your sub accounts.
Sub account termination
FAQ #221 (updated 2008-03-10)
If your PLAYSTATION Network Sub Account is terminated, you will not able to access your account on the
PLAYSTATIONNetwork. This means all of the following:
Any content or services you may have purchased that may be accessible on the PLAYSTATIONNetwork will not be
available to you, including any content that may have been downloaded to your PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment
system(s). Other content that may be accessible offline may be available for use after termination of your account
if permitted under the specific terms and conditions for the content.
You will not receive any refunds, or fees as a result of termination of your account. If you subsequently sign up
for another PLAYSTATION Network account, your prior Online ID may not be available to you.
Any ranking or scores, or game related information will not be retained or accessible.
Can I delete a PLAYSTATIONNetwork account?
FAQ #342 (updated 2007-11-21)
Once a PLAYSTATION Network account is created, it cannot be deleted. If you would like to use a new (different)
account, you will have to create an entirely new PLAYSTATION Network account.
Common PSN problems
Spoiler:
1: Online ID can not be used
The phrase The online ID you entered cannot be used is very common when you are trying to sign up for a Playstation
Network account. It may be because the ID you want does not meet the rules or simply that it is already taken by
someone else.
You will need to choose another ID. Suggestions:
Try adding numbers e.g. billy888
Try adding hyphens (-) or underscores (_) e.g. billy_the-kid
Does your ID contain words? Some words/terms are not allowed e.g. PS3
2: Accept the terms/agreement/policy using the Master Account
Sometimes the Playstation Network terms of service/conditions/user agreement/privacy policy will change and you
will be required to accept the changes. On a Master Account (see differences between master and sub accounts),
when you next log in, you automatically get prompted to read and accept the new terms.
However on a Sub Account its different because it is supervised by a Master Account. Before a Sub Account can go
online it will be told to accept the new terms using the associated Master Account. You will need to first log in
to the Master Account and accept the terms, which then allows the Sub Account to log in.
All Sub Accounts have an associated Master Account. If you no longer know the Master details, you will need to
contact Playstation support and ask for help tracking down the Master details. If you do know the Master details
but the account is no longer on your PS3, you can try logging in to the Playstation Store using your computers
browser.
3: Profile name
The online ID (profile name) that you choose when signing up for a Playstation Network account gets locked in.
There is no facility to edit/change the ID. So pick one you are not going to regret
4: Profile avatar
Its possible to change your PSN avatar, but the images are restricted to those provided by Sony. Its not currently
possible to use your own image; we assume this is to prevent improper avatars.
5: Unsupported Countries
If your country is not available as an option when signing up to Playstation Network (see list of supported
countries) then you are out of luck. However, if you are willing to go against the terms and conditions which
tell you not to provide incorrect details then it is possible to sign up using details that are valid for another
country (e.g. United States). Search online to find more information.
6: Communication with the server
In April 2011 Sony disabled PSN services to investigate an attack. During the outage you may not be able to sign
into PSN, play online, or create accounts. The most common error codes were:
80710A06
80023121
Sometimes you may get these errors:
An error occurred during communication with the server.
This is a DNS error.
(8002AE1D)
An error occurred during communication with the server.
This is a DNS error.
(8002AF02)
(Signing into PSN account)
An error occurred during communication with the server.
This is a DNS error.
(80710102)
An error occurred during the download operation.
(80710102)
(Downloading from PS Store)
It seems to only happen occasionally and most likely due to the PSN servers having some temporary glitches.
The phrase The online ID you entered cannot be used is very common when you are trying to sign up for a Playstation
Network account. It may be because the ID you want does not meet the rules or simply that it is already taken by
someone else.
You will need to choose another ID. Suggestions:
Try adding numbers e.g. billy888
Try adding hyphens (-) or underscores (_) e.g. billy_the-kid
Does your ID contain words? Some words/terms are not allowed e.g. PS3
2: Accept the terms/agreement/policy using the Master Account
Sometimes the Playstation Network terms of service/conditions/user agreement/privacy policy will change and you
will be required to accept the changes. On a Master Account (see differences between master and sub accounts),
when you next log in, you automatically get prompted to read and accept the new terms.
However on a Sub Account its different because it is supervised by a Master Account. Before a Sub Account can go
online it will be told to accept the new terms using the associated Master Account. You will need to first log in
to the Master Account and accept the terms, which then allows the Sub Account to log in.
All Sub Accounts have an associated Master Account. If you no longer know the Master details, you will need to
contact Playstation support and ask for help tracking down the Master details. If you do know the Master details
but the account is no longer on your PS3, you can try logging in to the Playstation Store using your computers
browser.
3: Profile name
The online ID (profile name) that you choose when signing up for a Playstation Network account gets locked in.
There is no facility to edit/change the ID. So pick one you are not going to regret
4: Profile avatar
Its possible to change your PSN avatar, but the images are restricted to those provided by Sony. Its not currently
possible to use your own image; we assume this is to prevent improper avatars.
5: Unsupported Countries
If your country is not available as an option when signing up to Playstation Network (see list of supported
countries) then you are out of luck. However, if you are willing to go against the terms and conditions which
tell you not to provide incorrect details then it is possible to sign up using details that are valid for another
country (e.g. United States). Search online to find more information.
6: Communication with the server
In April 2011 Sony disabled PSN services to investigate an attack. During the outage you may not be able to sign
into PSN, play online, or create accounts. The most common error codes were:
80710A06
80023121
Sometimes you may get these errors:
An error occurred during communication with the server.
This is a DNS error.
(8002AE1D)
An error occurred during communication with the server.
This is a DNS error.
(8002AF02)
(Signing into PSN account)
An error occurred during communication with the server.
This is a DNS error.
(80710102)
An error occurred during the download operation.
(80710102)
(Downloading from PS Store)
It seems to only happen occasionally and most likely due to the PSN servers having some temporary glitches.
PS2 memory card transfer
Spoiler:
I have a stack of old PS2 games that I started and never finished. I can play the games on my PS3 but whats the
point when Ill lose all my previous progress? Fortunately, its possible to transfer the old game saves from my PS2s
memory card onto the PS3s hard drive!
Prerequisites
Sony's Memory Card Adaptor There is no PS2 memory card slot in the PS3 so will need a Memory Card Adaptor. Sony
make an official adapter but there are also a number of cheaper alternatives. Buy one online:
Official Sony PS3 Memory Card Adapter (recommended)
Data Bank Convertor odd name but does the right thing
Try eBay
Steps
Plug your PS2 memory card into the adaptor
Plug the adaptor into a free USB port on your PS3
Go to the Game menu in the XMB and choose Memory Card Utility (PS/PS2)
If the adaptor is working you should see an item called Memory Card (PS2). Below the title should be the size of
the card and how much is in use.
Press the controllers Triange button to get the Memory Card options, Select Copy
Select Yes to confirm the copy from memory card to the hard drive
Enter a name for the new Internal Memory Card that will be created on the hard drive, or leave the default name. I
named mine Original PS2 saves. Select OK\
The data will be copied. If the amount of saved data is too large, the system will automatically create multiple
internal memory cards
You may be informed that the new internal card has been assigned to a slot. Screenshot These slots are an
emulation of the physical memory card slots in the PS2, so similarly you may only have two internal/virtual cards
plugged in (assigned) at a time. The internal memory card must be assigned to slot 1 or 2 to be available when you
run PS2 games
The new internal memory card should now be showing in the XMB, under Game > Memory Card Utility
Selecting the card will allow you to browse the game saves that were copied across!
Copying from PS3 back to PS2 memory card
The Memory Card Adaptor is now available as a destination when copying game saves off Internal Memory Cardsso you
can copy off the PS3 back to your PS1/PS2 card
How to make PS3 Themes
This is just a basic of what it could be but for right now, we'll start out with just a thread. If you guys really
want a theme section, help contribute to making themes and posting them up in this thread. If it is active enough,
an administrator will expand it into a section by itself.
In this thread, you will find a tutorial on how to make you own themes which is quite easy and fun. Many of you
Photoshop users would like this. You will also find themes that I posted up to give you guys an idea of what you
can do with them. If anyone here would like to request a theme, please do so and maybe I or someone else will be
able to post one up for you. So continue to look at this thread frequently if you are interested in downloading
new themes or uploading your own.
Remember, if this thread is active enough and we have a good amount of contributors, it will be expanded into a
section and new ideas will be included. Of those ideas, they would be more in-depth tutorials, Theme of the Week
competitons, battles between users, and more. You can say it could be comparable to our Graphics section. Thanks
for reading.
How To Make Your Own Themes
All you will is:
an image editing program MSPaint ,Adobe PhotoShop , etc.)
the provided compiler program
a little time
Start by downloading the How To Make PS3 Theme and extracting it onto your computer.
In this zip are folders with the necessary files for each step of the process.
Step 1: Create
Lets start at the very beginning.
In this folder, youll find the images that make the XMB, its sub-icons, and the background wallpapers for HD and
SD resolutions.
There is also a file called PS3Theme_template.xml, but well come back to that a little later.
Its important that you dont change any of the file names in this folder. If you do, it will cause problems later
on.
Start by deciding which icon youd like to customize and open that image in your image editing program.
You can alter the image any way youd like (change the color, skin the icon, add effects, etc.). You can even
replace the image completely with personal photos if youd like.
Just make sure not to change the Pixel Dimensions of the image; so if the icon image is 140 x 140 pixels at the
start, make sure its the same size at the end.
When you are done with your new icon, overwrite the original image with your new custom image.
Make sure you save it as a PNG file, and not a JPG, BMP, GIF, or any other file type.
To create your background wallpaper, follow the same steps above, making sure to maintain the original Pixel
Dimensions.
The only difference is that when you save your wallpaper image, youre going to save it as a JPG file, and not a PNG
file like the icons.
Step 2: Assemble
When youre done making your new icons, its time to put the whole thing together and make the actual Theme file.
It helps to have two windows open for this part, one showing the contents of the Step 1_Create folder, the other
showing Step 2_Assemble.
From the Step 1_Create folder, click and drag the PS3Theme_template.xml file and drop it onto the p3tcompiler.exe
program found in the Step 2_Assemble folder.
A new window should appear, showing the program working as it puts together your Theme.
If there are any errors, the program will stop at the error, letting you know which file is causing problems.
When it has finished assembling the pieces successfully, a message will appear, prompting you to press ENTER and
close the program.
Step 3: Install
Return to your Step 1_Create folder.
You should see a bunch of new files in the folder.
The files with the GIM extension are special temp files. They were created during assembly but can be deleted now.
You should also find a new file called PS3Theme_template.p3t. This is your new Theme file.
Copy the file onto a detectable USB device or a one of the compatible memory sticks into the proper Theme folder
( \PS3\THEME )
Connect the device to your PS3 or insert the memory stick into the reader.
Under Settings, select Theme Settings, and then Theme.
At the very top, there is an Install option. Once youve installed your Theme to your PS3, your theme will now be
selectable your Theme List.
and thats how you make your own PS3 Themes!
For those of you thatd like a little more customization, please read the Advanced Tips Guide in the included Step 4
folder with some extra info on how to:
change your Themes title
change your Themes preview art
change your Themes font
change your Themes color selection
change your Themes Author avatar
create a Theme with random background images
If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
- William Arthur Ward
Themes
How To Install A Theme
All themes files (.p3t) need to be saved to a memory card/HDD/USB thumbstick, in the following directory structure:
/PS3/THEME/<theme file>
1. Create a folder titled: PS3
2. Inside the PS3 folder, make another folder titled: THEME
3. Put all the themes you have inside the THEME folder.
4. Plug your USB drive to your PS3 and on the XMB, select:
Then go to: Settings>Theme Settings>Theme>Install (hidden at the top)> and then select your theme you wish to
install.
I would also like to note that you are able to download themes straight to your PS3s hard drive via the consoles
web browser.
Theme Websites
PS3Themes.com
AllPS3Themes.com
PSU.com
BestPS3Themes.com
point when Ill lose all my previous progress? Fortunately, its possible to transfer the old game saves from my PS2s
memory card onto the PS3s hard drive!
Prerequisites
Sony's Memory Card Adaptor There is no PS2 memory card slot in the PS3 so will need a Memory Card Adaptor. Sony
make an official adapter but there are also a number of cheaper alternatives. Buy one online:
Official Sony PS3 Memory Card Adapter (recommended)
Data Bank Convertor odd name but does the right thing
Try eBay
Steps
Plug your PS2 memory card into the adaptor
Plug the adaptor into a free USB port on your PS3
Go to the Game menu in the XMB and choose Memory Card Utility (PS/PS2)
If the adaptor is working you should see an item called Memory Card (PS2). Below the title should be the size of
the card and how much is in use.
Press the controllers Triange button to get the Memory Card options, Select Copy
Select Yes to confirm the copy from memory card to the hard drive
Enter a name for the new Internal Memory Card that will be created on the hard drive, or leave the default name. I
named mine Original PS2 saves. Select OK\
The data will be copied. If the amount of saved data is too large, the system will automatically create multiple
internal memory cards
You may be informed that the new internal card has been assigned to a slot. Screenshot These slots are an
emulation of the physical memory card slots in the PS2, so similarly you may only have two internal/virtual cards
plugged in (assigned) at a time. The internal memory card must be assigned to slot 1 or 2 to be available when you
run PS2 games
The new internal memory card should now be showing in the XMB, under Game > Memory Card Utility
Selecting the card will allow you to browse the game saves that were copied across!
Copying from PS3 back to PS2 memory card
The Memory Card Adaptor is now available as a destination when copying game saves off Internal Memory Cardsso you
can copy off the PS3 back to your PS1/PS2 card
How to make PS3 Themes
This is just a basic of what it could be but for right now, we'll start out with just a thread. If you guys really
want a theme section, help contribute to making themes and posting them up in this thread. If it is active enough,
an administrator will expand it into a section by itself.
In this thread, you will find a tutorial on how to make you own themes which is quite easy and fun. Many of you
Photoshop users would like this. You will also find themes that I posted up to give you guys an idea of what you
can do with them. If anyone here would like to request a theme, please do so and maybe I or someone else will be
able to post one up for you. So continue to look at this thread frequently if you are interested in downloading
new themes or uploading your own.
Remember, if this thread is active enough and we have a good amount of contributors, it will be expanded into a
section and new ideas will be included. Of those ideas, they would be more in-depth tutorials, Theme of the Week
competitons, battles between users, and more. You can say it could be comparable to our Graphics section. Thanks
for reading.
How To Make Your Own Themes
All you will is:
an image editing program MSPaint ,Adobe PhotoShop , etc.)
the provided compiler program
a little time
Start by downloading the How To Make PS3 Theme and extracting it onto your computer.
In this zip are folders with the necessary files for each step of the process.
Step 1: Create
Lets start at the very beginning.
In this folder, youll find the images that make the XMB, its sub-icons, and the background wallpapers for HD and
SD resolutions.
There is also a file called PS3Theme_template.xml, but well come back to that a little later.
Its important that you dont change any of the file names in this folder. If you do, it will cause problems later
on.
Start by deciding which icon youd like to customize and open that image in your image editing program.
You can alter the image any way youd like (change the color, skin the icon, add effects, etc.). You can even
replace the image completely with personal photos if youd like.
Just make sure not to change the Pixel Dimensions of the image; so if the icon image is 140 x 140 pixels at the
start, make sure its the same size at the end.
When you are done with your new icon, overwrite the original image with your new custom image.
Make sure you save it as a PNG file, and not a JPG, BMP, GIF, or any other file type.
To create your background wallpaper, follow the same steps above, making sure to maintain the original Pixel
Dimensions.
The only difference is that when you save your wallpaper image, youre going to save it as a JPG file, and not a PNG
file like the icons.
Step 2: Assemble
When youre done making your new icons, its time to put the whole thing together and make the actual Theme file.
It helps to have two windows open for this part, one showing the contents of the Step 1_Create folder, the other
showing Step 2_Assemble.
From the Step 1_Create folder, click and drag the PS3Theme_template.xml file and drop it onto the p3tcompiler.exe
program found in the Step 2_Assemble folder.
A new window should appear, showing the program working as it puts together your Theme.
If there are any errors, the program will stop at the error, letting you know which file is causing problems.
When it has finished assembling the pieces successfully, a message will appear, prompting you to press ENTER and
close the program.
Step 3: Install
Return to your Step 1_Create folder.
You should see a bunch of new files in the folder.
The files with the GIM extension are special temp files. They were created during assembly but can be deleted now.
You should also find a new file called PS3Theme_template.p3t. This is your new Theme file.
Copy the file onto a detectable USB device or a one of the compatible memory sticks into the proper Theme folder
( \PS3\THEME )
Connect the device to your PS3 or insert the memory stick into the reader.
Under Settings, select Theme Settings, and then Theme.
At the very top, there is an Install option. Once youve installed your Theme to your PS3, your theme will now be
selectable your Theme List.
and thats how you make your own PS3 Themes!
For those of you thatd like a little more customization, please read the Advanced Tips Guide in the included Step 4
folder with some extra info on how to:
change your Themes title
change your Themes preview art
change your Themes font
change your Themes color selection
change your Themes Author avatar
create a Theme with random background images
If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
- William Arthur Ward
Themes
How To Install A Theme
All themes files (.p3t) need to be saved to a memory card/HDD/USB thumbstick, in the following directory structure:
/PS3/THEME/<theme file>
1. Create a folder titled: PS3
2. Inside the PS3 folder, make another folder titled: THEME
3. Put all the themes you have inside the THEME folder.
4. Plug your USB drive to your PS3 and on the XMB, select:
Then go to: Settings>Theme Settings>Theme>Install (hidden at the top)> and then select your theme you wish to
install.
I would also like to note that you are able to download themes straight to your PS3s hard drive via the consoles
web browser.
Theme Websites
PS3Themes.com
AllPS3Themes.com
PSU.com
BestPS3Themes.com
System Updates via PC
Spoiler:
Step 1: Prepare your removable media
Plug your USB drive into your PC
Create a new folder on it called PS3 (must be in capitals)
Inside that PS3 folder, create a new folder called UPDATE (must be in capitals)
Step 2: Download the update file on your PC
You must download the update file suitable for your region. Start at www.playstation.com and find the System
Software Updates page
Regional links: Australia: Click the Box, United Kingdom: Click the box, New Zealand: The Box, click it!, North
America: The Box...
Find the Download link
Save the file PS3UPDAT.PUP into the UPDATE folder on your USB storage device
Step 3: Copy the file to your PS3
Unplug the flash drive from your PC and plug into any free USB slot on your PS3
Go to the Settings XMB menu, choose System Update
Choose Update via storage media
The USB drive will be scanned. If you get an error that no update file was found, ensure that the folder structure
is correct (Step 1)
Select OK to copy the update file to the PS3s hard disk
Wait for the file to be copied and the PS3 should reboot automatically (leave the USB drive plugged in during this
phase)
Step 4: Install the update
When the PS3 has started up again you should be presented with a screen showing the version of the system software
ready to install. Press the PS button
Wait for the Checking for update data to complete
Accept the user agreement
Press X button to confirm the installation
The update will be installed and the PS3 should be rebooted!
Plug your USB drive into your PC
Create a new folder on it called PS3 (must be in capitals)
Inside that PS3 folder, create a new folder called UPDATE (must be in capitals)
Step 2: Download the update file on your PC
You must download the update file suitable for your region. Start at www.playstation.com and find the System
Software Updates page
Regional links: Australia: Click the Box, United Kingdom: Click the box, New Zealand: The Box, click it!, North
America: The Box...
Find the Download link
Save the file PS3UPDAT.PUP into the UPDATE folder on your USB storage device
Step 3: Copy the file to your PS3
Unplug the flash drive from your PC and plug into any free USB slot on your PS3
Go to the Settings XMB menu, choose System Update
Choose Update via storage media
The USB drive will be scanned. If you get an error that no update file was found, ensure that the folder structure
is correct (Step 1)
Select OK to copy the update file to the PS3s hard disk
Wait for the file to be copied and the PS3 should reboot automatically (leave the USB drive plugged in during this
phase)
Step 4: Install the update
When the PS3 has started up again you should be presented with a screen showing the version of the system software
ready to install. Press the PS button
Wait for the Checking for update data to complete
Accept the user agreement
Press X button to confirm the installation
The update will be installed and the PS3 should be rebooted!
How to contact PlayStation Support
Spoiler:
North America
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Phone: 800-345-7669 (800-345-SONY)
M-SAT 6:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. PST
Sunday 7:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m
Email Support: Click teh box now!
Australia
PlayStation Customer Service
Phone: 1300 365 911 (cost of a local call)
Hours: Mon to Fri 08:00 20:00, Sat 10:00 18:00 AEST
PO BOX 2033
Hornsby Northgate
NSW 1635
Email: support@playstation.com.au
Japan
TEL 0570-000-929PHSIP03-3475-7444 10001800
Sony Computer Information Center
TEL 0570-000-929 (PHS, in some cases IP phone 03-3475-7444) Hours 10:00 to 18:00
Korea
080-723-7235
Cyber Customer Support, CLICK THE BOX
Singapore
Online Contact Form... BOX
Thailand
No Playstation-specific support?
Sony Thai contact form (): In English, In Thai
United Kingdom
08447 36 05 951 (previously it was 08705 99 88 77)
Consumer Services
Sony Computer Entertainment UK
PO BOX 2047
London W1A 5HY
help@uk.playstation.com
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Phone: 800-345-7669 (800-345-SONY)
M-SAT 6:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. PST
Sunday 7:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m
Email Support: Click teh box now!
Australia
PlayStation Customer Service
Phone: 1300 365 911 (cost of a local call)
Hours: Mon to Fri 08:00 20:00, Sat 10:00 18:00 AEST
PO BOX 2033
Hornsby Northgate
NSW 1635
Email: support@playstation.com.au
Japan
TEL 0570-000-929PHSIP03-3475-7444 10001800
Sony Computer Information Center
TEL 0570-000-929 (PHS, in some cases IP phone 03-3475-7444) Hours 10:00 to 18:00
Korea
080-723-7235
Cyber Customer Support, CLICK THE BOX
Singapore
Online Contact Form... BOX
Thailand
No Playstation-specific support?
Sony Thai contact form (): In English, In Thai
United Kingdom
08447 36 05 951 (previously it was 08705 99 88 77)
Consumer Services
Sony Computer Entertainment UK
PO BOX 2047
London W1A 5HY
help@uk.playstation.com
Change user picture
Spoiler:
User accounts are given a default grey smiley face for their picture (icon/avatar).
I'll explain how to select a new oneeither another preset image or your own photo!
1. Log in to the user you wish to change the picture of
2. Highlight the user in the Users menu and press your controllers Triangle button to get the options for the user
and choose Information
3. Press your controllers X button to edit the current picture
4. You can now browse the preset images of which there are several colour variations but only three designs. If
you have your own photos stored on your PS3 you may want to browse them instead, so select Select from [Photo].
Otherwise select a preset image that appeals to you
5. If you chose to browse photos you will see the usual folder presentation, When you find a photo you like, select
it
6.The picture will now have changed in your account information page
7. Select Back to return to the menu (XMB) where the new picture will now be showing!
I'll explain how to select a new oneeither another preset image or your own photo!
1. Log in to the user you wish to change the picture of
2. Highlight the user in the Users menu and press your controllers Triangle button to get the options for the user
and choose Information
3. Press your controllers X button to edit the current picture
4. You can now browse the preset images of which there are several colour variations but only three designs. If
you have your own photos stored on your PS3 you may want to browse them instead, so select Select from [Photo].
Otherwise select a preset image that appeals to you
5. If you chose to browse photos you will see the usual folder presentation, When you find a photo you like, select
it
6.The picture will now have changed in your account information page
7. Select Back to return to the menu (XMB) where the new picture will now be showing!
Use your own photo as the XMB background
Spoiler:
By default the PS3s menu system, the Xross Media Bar (XMB), displays very smooth animated waves in the background.
However, its very easy to select your own picture or photo to use as the background wallpaper instead!
You will need to have an image file (photo, picture, etc) on your PS3s hard drive to use as the wallpaper. Copy one
across using a USB drive, or try downloading one from the Playstation Store.
Applying a picture as new wallpaper
1. Go to the Photo menu
2. Browse and find the image you want to use as the wallpaper
3. Open the image to view it
4. Bring up the options by pressing the controllers Triangle button
5. Choose the Set as Wallpaper option
6. You will now be able to choose which portion of the picture to use as the wallpaper. Its kind of like a crop too
l. Use the controllers sticks to zoom in and out and move the range box around. Choose Enter when done
7. You may be asked to replace a previous wallpaper image that has been used. Select Yes to overwrite (dont worry,
you wont lose the default XMB animated background)
8. Your picture will now be applied!
Restore background to original
1. Go to the Settings menu and choose Theme settings
2. Choose the Background settings
3. Choose Original[/spoil]
#16 Install an XMB theme via USB
Download theme (.p3t) to USB storage
1. Plug a USB flash drive into your PC
2. On the USB device, create a folder called PS3
3. Inside that PS3 folder create a new folder called THEME
4. Find a theme you want to download. Go to these sites for themes!
PS3Themes.com
AllPS3Themes.com
PSU.com
BestPS3Themes.com
5. Save the theme into the THEME folder on your USB device
Install theme on your PS3
1. Plug the USB device into your PS3
2. Go to the Settings XMB menu and choose Theme settings
3. Choose Theme
4. Choose the Install option
5. Select the storage media (the USB device you plugged in)
6. You should now be shown a list of themes found on USB device. Choose the theme you want to install. Repeat the
steps for multiple themes. If you get the message There are no themes, check that the theme is located in the
correct folder on the device (see steps above).
7. The theme should now be available in the Theme options. Choose the themes Apply option
8. After a short pause the theme will be applied to the XMB!
However, its very easy to select your own picture or photo to use as the background wallpaper instead!
You will need to have an image file (photo, picture, etc) on your PS3s hard drive to use as the wallpaper. Copy one
across using a USB drive, or try downloading one from the Playstation Store.
Applying a picture as new wallpaper
1. Go to the Photo menu
2. Browse and find the image you want to use as the wallpaper
3. Open the image to view it
4. Bring up the options by pressing the controllers Triangle button
5. Choose the Set as Wallpaper option
6. You will now be able to choose which portion of the picture to use as the wallpaper. Its kind of like a crop too
l. Use the controllers sticks to zoom in and out and move the range box around. Choose Enter when done
7. You may be asked to replace a previous wallpaper image that has been used. Select Yes to overwrite (dont worry,
you wont lose the default XMB animated background)
8. Your picture will now be applied!
Restore background to original
1. Go to the Settings menu and choose Theme settings
2. Choose the Background settings
3. Choose Original[/spoil]
#16 Install an XMB theme via USB
Download theme (.p3t) to USB storage
1. Plug a USB flash drive into your PC
2. On the USB device, create a folder called PS3
3. Inside that PS3 folder create a new folder called THEME
4. Find a theme you want to download. Go to these sites for themes!
PS3Themes.com
AllPS3Themes.com
PSU.com
BestPS3Themes.com
5. Save the theme into the THEME folder on your USB device
Install theme on your PS3
1. Plug the USB device into your PS3
2. Go to the Settings XMB menu and choose Theme settings
3. Choose Theme
4. Choose the Install option
5. Select the storage media (the USB device you plugged in)
6. You should now be shown a list of themes found on USB device. Choose the theme you want to install. Repeat the
steps for multiple themes. If you get the message There are no themes, check that the theme is located in the
correct folder on the device (see steps above).
7. The theme should now be available in the Theme options. Choose the themes Apply option
8. After a short pause the theme will be applied to the XMB!
How to View What Is Stored on the PS3 Hard Drive
Spoiler:
Sony's PlayStation 3 game console allows users to store game saves and full digital game copies -- as well as video
, music and picture files -- on the system's hard drive. If you wish to view what is stored on PS3's hard drive,
you can do so in a few simple steps by browsing through each section of the PlayStation 3's XrossMediaBar.
Step 1
Turn on the PS3 system. Scroll over to the "Settings" section of the XrossMediaBar, scroll down to the "System
Settings" option and press the "X" button. Scroll down to the "System Information" option and press the "X" button.
On the System Information page, the amount of free space on your hard drive will be displayed next to the
"Free Space" heading. Press the "Circle" button twice to return to the main menu.
Step 2
Scroll over to the "Photo" section of the XMB. Scroll down to the "Photo Gallery" option and press the "X" button.
Within the Photo Gallery, you will be able to view all of the photos saved to the PS3's hard drive. When you are
finished, press the "Circle" button to return to the main menu.
Step 3
Scroll over to the "Music" section of the XMB. Scroll down to view all of the songs saved on the PS3 hard drive.
Depending on how you have the songs organized on the system, the songs may be grouped by album, artist, genre,
track name or release date.
Step 4
Scroll over to the "Video" section of the XMB. Scroll down to view all of the videos saved on the PS3 hard drive.
Depending on how you have the videos organized on the system, the videos may be grouped by title, month or album
name.
Step 5
Scroll over the "Game" section of the XMB. Scroll down to view the game demos and digital game copies saved onto
the PS3 hard drive. Depending on how you have the games organized, they may be grouped by format or album.
Step 6
Scroll up to the "Save Data Utility (PS3)" option in the "Game" section of the XMB and press the "X" button. Inside
, you can view all of the PS3 game saves stored on the PS3 hard drive. When you are finished, press the "Circle"
button to return to the main menu.
Step 7
Scroll up to the "Memory Card Utility (PS/PS2)" option in the "Game" section of the XMB and press the "X" button.
Inside, you can view all of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 game saves stored on the PS3 hard drive. Press the
"Circle" button to return to the main menu once you are finished.
Step 8
Scroll up to the "Game Data Utility" option in the "Game" section of the XMB and press the "X" button. Inside, you
can view all of the game data stored on the PS3 hard drive. Press the "Circle" button to return to the main menu
once you are finished.
, music and picture files -- on the system's hard drive. If you wish to view what is stored on PS3's hard drive,
you can do so in a few simple steps by browsing through each section of the PlayStation 3's XrossMediaBar.
Step 1
Turn on the PS3 system. Scroll over to the "Settings" section of the XrossMediaBar, scroll down to the "System
Settings" option and press the "X" button. Scroll down to the "System Information" option and press the "X" button.
On the System Information page, the amount of free space on your hard drive will be displayed next to the
"Free Space" heading. Press the "Circle" button twice to return to the main menu.
Step 2
Scroll over to the "Photo" section of the XMB. Scroll down to the "Photo Gallery" option and press the "X" button.
Within the Photo Gallery, you will be able to view all of the photos saved to the PS3's hard drive. When you are
finished, press the "Circle" button to return to the main menu.
Step 3
Scroll over to the "Music" section of the XMB. Scroll down to view all of the songs saved on the PS3 hard drive.
Depending on how you have the songs organized on the system, the songs may be grouped by album, artist, genre,
track name or release date.
Step 4
Scroll over to the "Video" section of the XMB. Scroll down to view all of the videos saved on the PS3 hard drive.
Depending on how you have the videos organized on the system, the videos may be grouped by title, month or album
name.
Step 5
Scroll over the "Game" section of the XMB. Scroll down to view the game demos and digital game copies saved onto
the PS3 hard drive. Depending on how you have the games organized, they may be grouped by format or album.
Step 6
Scroll up to the "Save Data Utility (PS3)" option in the "Game" section of the XMB and press the "X" button. Inside
, you can view all of the PS3 game saves stored on the PS3 hard drive. When you are finished, press the "Circle"
button to return to the main menu.
Step 7
Scroll up to the "Memory Card Utility (PS/PS2)" option in the "Game" section of the XMB and press the "X" button.
Inside, you can view all of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 game saves stored on the PS3 hard drive. Press the
"Circle" button to return to the main menu once you are finished.
Step 8
Scroll up to the "Game Data Utility" option in the "Game" section of the XMB and press the "X" button. Inside, you
can view all of the game data stored on the PS3 hard drive. Press the "Circle" button to return to the main menu
once you are finished.
How To Deactivate All PS3 And PSP Consoles
Spoiler:
This wont be important for everyone, or it might be more important than you think.
Previously when you wanted to deactivate a games console from PSN, you needed to do it via the console itself, now
this was not possible, if you have a Jailbroken console as you wont be able to connect to PSN, or if your console
is broke, or if you have game shared with someone, you cant very well go to their house and deactivate their
console from your account.
This situation with accounts, became even more problematic, when Sony dropped the allowed PSN account slots/shares
that one is allowed, from five to two, previously, the only way to get all consoles/slots cleared was to call Sony,
but since they dropped the amount of slots, they now allow you to do it via your computer, here is how, thanks to
a video tutorial by HolmesInFive.
First go to this link and sign in with your PSN email and password, then follow the video tutorial:
https://account.sony...pc/login.action
Again to clarify why this might be important to you, as Sony changed the amount of shareable slots on a PSN account
from five to two.
Your console is broken, so you obviously cant connect to PSN to deactivate.
You have a Jailbroken console, so cant connect to PSN to deactivate.
You remained on firmware 3.15 to keep the OtherOS function, Sony has barred your access to PSN.
You have game shared and the other people wont deactivate, also helps with those scammed through game sharing.
You are getting a Vita and want to deactivate a slot, but cant do because of one of the above.
You want to deactivate all consoles at once.
Previously when you wanted to deactivate a games console from PSN, you needed to do it via the console itself, now
this was not possible, if you have a Jailbroken console as you wont be able to connect to PSN, or if your console
is broke, or if you have game shared with someone, you cant very well go to their house and deactivate their
console from your account.
This situation with accounts, became even more problematic, when Sony dropped the allowed PSN account slots/shares
that one is allowed, from five to two, previously, the only way to get all consoles/slots cleared was to call Sony,
but since they dropped the amount of slots, they now allow you to do it via your computer, here is how, thanks to
a video tutorial by HolmesInFive.
First go to this link and sign in with your PSN email and password, then follow the video tutorial:
https://account.sony...pc/login.action
Again to clarify why this might be important to you, as Sony changed the amount of shareable slots on a PSN account
from five to two.
Your console is broken, so you obviously cant connect to PSN to deactivate.
You have a Jailbroken console, so cant connect to PSN to deactivate.
You remained on firmware 3.15 to keep the OtherOS function, Sony has barred your access to PSN.
You have game shared and the other people wont deactivate, also helps with those scammed through game sharing.
You are getting a Vita and want to deactivate a slot, but cant do because of one of the above.
You want to deactivate all consoles at once.
How to Transfer All Your Information to a New PS3(Data Transfer)
Spoiler:
The PlayStation 3 now costs half the price, has double the storage, and uses half the power. If you need another
reason to upgrade, Sony also makes it easy to transfer all of your information to a new console.
Transferring all of your games, data, and settings is easier than ever, and all you need is an ethernet cable.
Read on as we walk you through the whole process of setting up your new PS3 and wiping all your information off
the old one.
Step 1: Prep the old PlayStation 3
The first thing you need to do is sync all of your trophy information to Sonys servers. In the XMB go to game ->
trophy collection and push triangle on your controller. The menu will open and you can select sync with server.
The sync will take a few minutes but once it completes all of your trophies will be safely copied on Sonys servers.
Next you should deactivate your system. To do that go to PlayStation network -> account management -> system
activation and deactivate your system for game and video data.
Now go to the settings menu and check for updates. To avoid errors during the transfer, scroll down to network
connections and disable media server connection. Then disable internet connection. Finally scroll up in the system
menu to the data transfer utility.
At this point you should connect your old and new PlayStation 3 together with an ethernet cable. You should also
have your new PS3 plugged into your TV so that you can get ready to begin the transfer once the old system is
waiting for a connection.
Note: You can use either a crossover ethernet cable or a standard patch cable. The PS3 will be able to internally
switch to know which cable you used.
Select transfer data from this system to the other PS3 system in the next step. If you have any other users on the
system it is also a good time to deactivate the system under their PSN accounts and sync their trophy information
too. You have to back all the way out of the process to do that, but at least you are warned before you continue.
Click OK on the next screen after you have connected the new system with an ethernet cable.
Leave your old system at the waiting to transfer data screen and switch TV inputs to the new PS3 system.
Step 2: Transfer to the New System
Just like the old system you will want to check for updates, disable media server connection, and disable internet
connection on the new system and then start the data transfer utility.
This time select the option to transfer data from the other PS3 system to this one. Once the system connects it
will ask you to format the new system which will erase all data. Only do this if you are sure that you dont have
any information stored on the new system.
Note: The old system will not be erased during this process
Let the format finish and the system will automatically reboot and should connect again to the old system and
begin transferring data.
Note: Depending on how much information you had on the old system this may take quite a while. Once finished the
new PS3 will automatically reboot. All of your information should be on the new system exactly as it was on the
original.
You may need to re-authenticate some services like Netflix and Hulu Plus but otherwise games and settings should
be the same.
Step 3: Wipe Old PS3
Some games may store data elsewhere on the system and you will want to make sure that you have a backup of any game
s that may support extra data. Little Big Planet and PlayStation Home both have extra areas you may want to check
to make sure your data is backup up before proceeding to the next step.
You can also verify all of the information on the new system before continuing with wiping the old system.
We had already deactivated the system and synced our trophy information earlier but if you havent you will want to
do that now.
Select what method you want to use to format the PS3 with. Unless there is something really personal on the system
a quick format should be good enough. The format will go really fast and then ask you to restart your PS3. After it
has finished it will walk you through the initial setup of the system. You dont need to walk through the setup if
you plan on selling the system so you can also just shut it down.
Once you verify you have any information you need and want to erase your personal data go to the settings menu ->
system -> restore PS3 system.
reason to upgrade, Sony also makes it easy to transfer all of your information to a new console.
Transferring all of your games, data, and settings is easier than ever, and all you need is an ethernet cable.
Read on as we walk you through the whole process of setting up your new PS3 and wiping all your information off
the old one.
Step 1: Prep the old PlayStation 3
The first thing you need to do is sync all of your trophy information to Sonys servers. In the XMB go to game ->
trophy collection and push triangle on your controller. The menu will open and you can select sync with server.
The sync will take a few minutes but once it completes all of your trophies will be safely copied on Sonys servers.
Next you should deactivate your system. To do that go to PlayStation network -> account management -> system
activation and deactivate your system for game and video data.
Now go to the settings menu and check for updates. To avoid errors during the transfer, scroll down to network
connections and disable media server connection. Then disable internet connection. Finally scroll up in the system
menu to the data transfer utility.
At this point you should connect your old and new PlayStation 3 together with an ethernet cable. You should also
have your new PS3 plugged into your TV so that you can get ready to begin the transfer once the old system is
waiting for a connection.
Note: You can use either a crossover ethernet cable or a standard patch cable. The PS3 will be able to internally
switch to know which cable you used.
Select transfer data from this system to the other PS3 system in the next step. If you have any other users on the
system it is also a good time to deactivate the system under their PSN accounts and sync their trophy information
too. You have to back all the way out of the process to do that, but at least you are warned before you continue.
Click OK on the next screen after you have connected the new system with an ethernet cable.
Leave your old system at the waiting to transfer data screen and switch TV inputs to the new PS3 system.
Step 2: Transfer to the New System
Just like the old system you will want to check for updates, disable media server connection, and disable internet
connection on the new system and then start the data transfer utility.
This time select the option to transfer data from the other PS3 system to this one. Once the system connects it
will ask you to format the new system which will erase all data. Only do this if you are sure that you dont have
any information stored on the new system.
Note: The old system will not be erased during this process
Let the format finish and the system will automatically reboot and should connect again to the old system and
begin transferring data.
Note: Depending on how much information you had on the old system this may take quite a while. Once finished the
new PS3 will automatically reboot. All of your information should be on the new system exactly as it was on the
original.
You may need to re-authenticate some services like Netflix and Hulu Plus but otherwise games and settings should
be the same.
Step 3: Wipe Old PS3
Some games may store data elsewhere on the system and you will want to make sure that you have a backup of any game
s that may support extra data. Little Big Planet and PlayStation Home both have extra areas you may want to check
to make sure your data is backup up before proceeding to the next step.
You can also verify all of the information on the new system before continuing with wiping the old system.
We had already deactivated the system and synced our trophy information earlier but if you havent you will want to
do that now.
Select what method you want to use to format the PS3 with. Unless there is something really personal on the system
a quick format should be good enough. The format will go really fast and then ask you to restart your PS3. After it
has finished it will walk you through the initial setup of the system. You dont need to walk through the setup if
you plan on selling the system so you can also just shut it down.
Once you verify you have any information you need and want to erase your personal data go to the settings menu ->
system -> restore PS3 system.
The PlayStation 3: 16 things you need to know(old but good info!)
Spoiler:
1: Touch-sensitive power and eject buttons are a nice touch literally
The eject and power on buttons on the face of the PS3 are touch sensitive, not unlike the iPods wheel or the
Chocolate phones softkeys. Its a nice, classy addition that helps give the PS3 a more cutting-edge look and feel,
especially compared to the somewhat clunky clicky Xbox 360 power and eject buttons. A small detail, perhaps, but
on worth noting.
2: The PS3 is not just a cheap Blu-ray player
Nothing about the unit looks or feels cheap. The build quality of the console itself seems to be sturdy and
substantial. The familiar red and blue/green LED lights, which indicate the system status, make a return from the
PS2, but look more slick and futuristic. There are also tiny feet on the units left side handy for standing it in
a stable vertical position. And the chrome trim is a surprisingly cool bonus on the $599 premium model, for purely
aesthetic reasons.
3: Not all games will be 1080p
Although the hardware is certainly capable of delivering 1080p at 60 frames per second, certain titles will not
reach this destination. In some cases, its a matter of not having enough time or resources before launch to
include the feature. In other cases, the game is so visually complex that ensuring 60 FPS 1080p might be more
trouble than its worth. We were informed that Resistance: Fall of Man maxes out at 720p but this is understandable
in light of its ambitious multiplayer. The game uses some pretty advanced physics calculations that require a ton
of horsepower. Motorstorm also does not support 1080p and requires some serious calculation for its crash sequences
, if appearances are any indication.
4: The Sixaxis controller doesnt feel too light
In fact, it feels just about right; light enough to move easily for motion-sensing controls, but still sturdy
enough to withstand some serious grip pressure. So much for those other reports that called it cheap, plasticky
and uncomfortable, huh?
5: The PSP will connect via Wi-Fi to the PS3s hard drive
While using the PSP as a rear-view mirror in Gran Turismo would necessitate a mutation of controllable limbs,
Sony has come up with something much more intriguing lately. You can access the PS3s system menus via the PSP,
wirelessly, using a feature called Remote Play. Big Kahuna Phil Harrison also says that the PSP will eventually be
able to access the PS3s hard drive from any Wi-Fi spot in the world, rather than just on your local wireless
network.
6: Sixaxis gets roughly 30 hours of battery life
Though there doesnt seem to be a way to swap out the battery once its been exhausted. Oh, well we officially
entered the age of disposable technology with the iPod anyway.
7: Theres no lag on the wireless Sixaxis controller, either
Bluetooth technology has come a long way, apparently; to see an example of poorly implemented Bluetooth wireless
controllers, just check out the wildly erratic performance of Apples Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. But theres no
need to worry about the Sixaxis in our experience, it stayed smooth, lag-free, and responsive in wireless mode.
8: The Sixaxiss wireless range tops out at over 65 feet (20 meters)
This should be plenty of room for players with big, huge living room setups.
8: A new controller will set you back 50 dollars
Sony confirmed this bit of news in their Gamers Day 06 presentation. The price is roughly in line with the Xbox
3
60s wireless controller, though in the case of the PlayStation 3, theres only one version of the controller.
9: Your PlayStation 2 save game files can be transferred to the PS3
With a $14.99 adaptor, youll be able to move over all your saves, something you cant do with the Xbox 360.
Backwards compatibility in the PS3 is a hardware solution theres actually PS2 and PS1 silicon inside that shiny
black machine. Because of this, neither the games nor their saves have to be altered to operate on the new system.
(The 360 requires its developers to go back on a case-by-case basis to add support for each title.)
10: One LED on the PS3 seems dedicated to tracking hard drive activity
This isnt exactly a sexy revelation, but it does prove two things. One, that Sony has structured the entire system
around having a standard hard drive. And another, that the PS3 is a notch closer to a personal computer than any
video game console yet.
11: Theres still a hard power-off switch on the back of the system, just like the PS2(Phat version)
We used it at one point to power down the system manually when the unit wouldnt shut down during a loading
sequence. It works just like youd expect.
12: The PS3 is very, very shiny
So shiny that its hard to take photos of it without capturing a mirror like reflection of a nearby light source.
But its an interesting design choice, and should look super-sexy in a living room lineup
13: You can plug in a USB keyboard and surf the Net
The PS3 will come packaged with a free Internet browser. The front end has been highly customized, to the point
where its impossible to tell if its using Mozilla, Opera, or Internet Explorer. You can place multiple Web pages
within view and stream media from several Internet locations simultaneously. You can use the Sony USB keyboard or
a Standard USB Keyboard.
14: The power supply is integrated directly into the system
Phil Harrison said that Sony made this choice for performance reasons, to keep the power supply as close to the
CPU chipset as possible. And though the Xbox 360s external power brick is hardly a massive disadvantage, having
the power supply integrated in the main chassis is sleeker, slicker, and all around preferable.
15: Re-download all your merch to someone elses PS3
The stuff that you bought on the PS3s online store wont stay imprisoned on your console. Just log in with your
account info on someone elses unit, and you can pull everything down although each item has a limit of two
transfers before Sony pierces your ears with a "ENOUGH!" Spartan yell.
16: First-party games are priced at $59.99
Which is in line with the Xbox 360 software pricing structure. Which is one thing that makes them a enemy to
Xbox's sales. So if you plan to buy a New Call of Duty or any other mainstream game, be prepared with 60 pieces
of the green paper.
The eject and power on buttons on the face of the PS3 are touch sensitive, not unlike the iPods wheel or the
Chocolate phones softkeys. Its a nice, classy addition that helps give the PS3 a more cutting-edge look and feel,
especially compared to the somewhat clunky clicky Xbox 360 power and eject buttons. A small detail, perhaps, but
on worth noting.
2: The PS3 is not just a cheap Blu-ray player
Nothing about the unit looks or feels cheap. The build quality of the console itself seems to be sturdy and
substantial. The familiar red and blue/green LED lights, which indicate the system status, make a return from the
PS2, but look more slick and futuristic. There are also tiny feet on the units left side handy for standing it in
a stable vertical position. And the chrome trim is a surprisingly cool bonus on the $599 premium model, for purely
aesthetic reasons.
3: Not all games will be 1080p
Although the hardware is certainly capable of delivering 1080p at 60 frames per second, certain titles will not
reach this destination. In some cases, its a matter of not having enough time or resources before launch to
include the feature. In other cases, the game is so visually complex that ensuring 60 FPS 1080p might be more
trouble than its worth. We were informed that Resistance: Fall of Man maxes out at 720p but this is understandable
in light of its ambitious multiplayer. The game uses some pretty advanced physics calculations that require a ton
of horsepower. Motorstorm also does not support 1080p and requires some serious calculation for its crash sequences
, if appearances are any indication.
4: The Sixaxis controller doesnt feel too light
In fact, it feels just about right; light enough to move easily for motion-sensing controls, but still sturdy
enough to withstand some serious grip pressure. So much for those other reports that called it cheap, plasticky
and uncomfortable, huh?
5: The PSP will connect via Wi-Fi to the PS3s hard drive
While using the PSP as a rear-view mirror in Gran Turismo would necessitate a mutation of controllable limbs,
Sony has come up with something much more intriguing lately. You can access the PS3s system menus via the PSP,
wirelessly, using a feature called Remote Play. Big Kahuna Phil Harrison also says that the PSP will eventually be
able to access the PS3s hard drive from any Wi-Fi spot in the world, rather than just on your local wireless
network.
6: Sixaxis gets roughly 30 hours of battery life
Though there doesnt seem to be a way to swap out the battery once its been exhausted. Oh, well we officially
entered the age of disposable technology with the iPod anyway.
7: Theres no lag on the wireless Sixaxis controller, either
Bluetooth technology has come a long way, apparently; to see an example of poorly implemented Bluetooth wireless
controllers, just check out the wildly erratic performance of Apples Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. But theres no
need to worry about the Sixaxis in our experience, it stayed smooth, lag-free, and responsive in wireless mode.
8: The Sixaxiss wireless range tops out at over 65 feet (20 meters)
This should be plenty of room for players with big, huge living room setups.
8: A new controller will set you back 50 dollars
Sony confirmed this bit of news in their Gamers Day 06 presentation. The price is roughly in line with the Xbox
3
60s wireless controller, though in the case of the PlayStation 3, theres only one version of the controller.
9: Your PlayStation 2 save game files can be transferred to the PS3
With a $14.99 adaptor, youll be able to move over all your saves, something you cant do with the Xbox 360.
Backwards compatibility in the PS3 is a hardware solution theres actually PS2 and PS1 silicon inside that shiny
black machine. Because of this, neither the games nor their saves have to be altered to operate on the new system.
(The 360 requires its developers to go back on a case-by-case basis to add support for each title.)
10: One LED on the PS3 seems dedicated to tracking hard drive activity
This isnt exactly a sexy revelation, but it does prove two things. One, that Sony has structured the entire system
around having a standard hard drive. And another, that the PS3 is a notch closer to a personal computer than any
video game console yet.
11: Theres still a hard power-off switch on the back of the system, just like the PS2(Phat version)
We used it at one point to power down the system manually when the unit wouldnt shut down during a loading
sequence. It works just like youd expect.
12: The PS3 is very, very shiny
So shiny that its hard to take photos of it without capturing a mirror like reflection of a nearby light source.
But its an interesting design choice, and should look super-sexy in a living room lineup
13: You can plug in a USB keyboard and surf the Net
The PS3 will come packaged with a free Internet browser. The front end has been highly customized, to the point
where its impossible to tell if its using Mozilla, Opera, or Internet Explorer. You can place multiple Web pages
within view and stream media from several Internet locations simultaneously. You can use the Sony USB keyboard or
a Standard USB Keyboard.
14: The power supply is integrated directly into the system
Phil Harrison said that Sony made this choice for performance reasons, to keep the power supply as close to the
CPU chipset as possible. And though the Xbox 360s external power brick is hardly a massive disadvantage, having
the power supply integrated in the main chassis is sleeker, slicker, and all around preferable.
15: Re-download all your merch to someone elses PS3
The stuff that you bought on the PS3s online store wont stay imprisoned on your console. Just log in with your
account info on someone elses unit, and you can pull everything down although each item has a limit of two
transfers before Sony pierces your ears with a "ENOUGH!" Spartan yell.
16: First-party games are priced at $59.99
Which is in line with the Xbox 360 software pricing structure. Which is one thing that makes them a enemy to
Xbox's sales. So if you plan to buy a New Call of Duty or any other mainstream game, be prepared with 60 pieces
of the green paper.
Viewing images as a slideshow
Spoiler:
Each image is automatically displayed in order. After selecting the icon for a folder or media containing images and then pressing the START button, the slideshow will begin.
Hints
The slideshow can also be started from the control panel or options menu for an image
If the slideshow cannot be started by pressing the START button, you perform this operation from the control panel
Using the slideshow control panel
After pressing the triangle button during a slideshow, the control panel will be displayed.
Hint
When Slideshow Style is set to [Photo Album] or [Photo Album 2], use the SIXAXIS wireless controller's right stick to operate functions such as enlarging or reducing the image size or adjusting the slideshow speed.
Playing a slideshow while playing music
You can play a slideshow and music at the same time.
1. Start playback of music in the music section
2. Press the PS button.
The XMB menu is displayed.
3. Go to the photo section, select the images or folder that you want to view in the slideshow and then press the START button.
Hints
If you press the PS button during simultaneous playback, the XMB menu will be displayed and you can change the music or images.
To quit, you must stop playing the slideshow and music separately. After stopping either one, select the track or image that is being played and stop playback.
You cannot play a super audio CD at the same time as a slideshow.
If (Settings) > (Music Settings) > [Output Frequency] is set to [44.1 / 88.2 / 176.4 kHz], you cannot play music content at the same time as a slideshow.
Hints
The slideshow can also be started from the control panel or options menu for an image
If the slideshow cannot be started by pressing the START button, you perform this operation from the control panel
Using the slideshow control panel
After pressing the triangle button during a slideshow, the control panel will be displayed.
Hint
When Slideshow Style is set to [Photo Album] or [Photo Album 2], use the SIXAXIS wireless controller's right stick to operate functions such as enlarging or reducing the image size or adjusting the slideshow speed.
Playing a slideshow while playing music
You can play a slideshow and music at the same time.
1. Start playback of music in the music section
2. Press the PS button.
The XMB menu is displayed.
3. Go to the photo section, select the images or folder that you want to view in the slideshow and then press the START button.
Hints
If you press the PS button during simultaneous playback, the XMB menu will be displayed and you can change the music or images.
To quit, you must stop playing the slideshow and music separately. After stopping either one, select the track or image that is being played and stop playback.
You cannot play a super audio CD at the same time as a slideshow.
If (Settings) > (Music Settings) > [Output Frequency] is set to [44.1 / 88.2 / 176.4 kHz], you cannot play music content at the same time as a slideshow.
Checking PlayStation Store usage
Spoiler:
To use this feature, you may be required to update the system software.
Check the history of products and services you have downloaded (as a purchase or for free) from PlayStation Store, as well as information on past usage. Select Account Management under PlayStationNetwork, and then select Transaction Management.
Items displayed under [Transaction Management]
1. Add Funds - Add funds to the wallet
2. Require Password at Checkout - Set to require a password at the time of purchase
3. Automatic Funding(Playstation Plus) - If this option is set to [On], funds will be automatically added to the wallet using the credit card for the account when the wallet does not have enough funds to renew a subscription service. Subscriptions are services that can be used for a predetermined period such as 30 or 60 days. When the subscription expires, an extension for another subscription period is automatically purchased.
4. Transaction History - Check the record of transactions and funding operations that occurred on your account during a specified period.
5. Download List - A list of the data items downloaded from PlayStationStore is displayed.
You can re-download some items that were downloaded in the past.
6. Services List(Playstation Plus) - Active services can be confirmed or modified.
You can check the subscription period or cancel the automatic funding option for a subscription service.
Check the history of products and services you have downloaded (as a purchase or for free) from PlayStation Store, as well as information on past usage. Select Account Management under PlayStationNetwork, and then select Transaction Management.
Items displayed under [Transaction Management]
1. Add Funds - Add funds to the wallet
2. Require Password at Checkout - Set to require a password at the time of purchase
3. Automatic Funding(Playstation Plus) - If this option is set to [On], funds will be automatically added to the wallet using the credit card for the account when the wallet does not have enough funds to renew a subscription service. Subscriptions are services that can be used for a predetermined period such as 30 or 60 days. When the subscription expires, an extension for another subscription period is automatically purchased.
4. Transaction History - Check the record of transactions and funding operations that occurred on your account during a specified period.
5. Download List - A list of the data items downloaded from PlayStationStore is displayed.
You can re-download some items that were downloaded in the past.
6. Services List(Playstation Plus) - Active services can be confirmed or modified.
You can check the subscription period or cancel the automatic funding option for a subscription service.
Adding people to your block list
Spoiler:
You can add a person to your block list if you no longer want to receive messages from that person. Messages sent to you from that person will not be delivered.
1. Select a message sent from the person whom you want to block, and then press the triangle button.
2. Select [Add to Block List].
The person is added to your block list.
Note:
You cannot add someone who is currently on your Friends list to your block list. If you no longer want to receive messages from a person, remove that person from your Friends list. Note that you will also be removed from that person's Friends list.
1. Select a message sent from the person whom you want to block, and then press the triangle button.
2. Select [Add to Block List].
The person is added to your block list.
Note:
You cannot add someone who is currently on your Friends list to your block list. If you no longer want to receive messages from a person, remove that person from your Friends list. Note that you will also be removed from that person's Friends list.
Removing people from your block list
Spoiler:
You can remove a person from your block list. Select the person whom you want to remove, and then press the triangle button. Then select [Delete from Block List] from the options menu.
Note:
If you remove someone from your block list, you will be able to receive messages from that person.
Note:
If you remove someone from your block list, you will be able to receive messages from that person.
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