Possible to transfer PS3 hard-drive between systems?

[the7k]

Alright, I'm thinking about trading in my current PS3 for a PS3 Slim. However, I'm only willing to do this if it is possible to get the data from my old PS3 on to a new one.

The obvious answer is "Back Up The Data, Stupid!", but most of the games I give a shit about (e.g. Demon's Souls) are copy-protected. So, basically, is there any way to back up copy-protected data? The Hard-Drive I'm currently using is the one I'd want to use on a PS3 Slim anyway (It's a 250GB Hard-Drive), but will I have to format my hard-drive when I put it in the new PS3? I had to format my current hard-drive when I first put it in, but is that something it always does, or was it only doing it to make it compatible with the PS3?

[MrPopo]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 317AAM5Xvh

Apparently you always have to format.

[the7k]

Son of a bitch, of course.

Oh well, I guess I won't be getting a Slim.

[REPO Man]

There's an article in the PlayStation 3 Black Book, out now.

[corn619]

Yeah, when I bought my 60GB I lost all my patches, a lot of saves. Man, I miss memory cards.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I thought that to transfer a hard drive between systems all you needed to do was re-create any of your system profiles and then simply re-activate your system to get everything back to normal.

[Cronson]

7k, you have a ton of freaking trophies. I think you have the highest I've ever seen.

[the7k]

Yeah, when I bought my 60GB I lost all my patches, a lot of saves. Man, I miss memory cards.

So, did you transfer using an FAT32 external hard-drive to copy the entire drive, or did you just copy the save files one at a time?

I'm thinking I may just try to beat Demon's Souls and then switch to a Slim. I probably should restart it anyway, considering the way I plan to play the game would be better done with a female character than a male. Still, if I can keep my save files, well then...

7k, you have a ton of freaking trophies. I think you have the highest I've ever seen.

Thanks. It happens when you work a job that gives you easy access to used games and said job also doesn't give you a whole lot of hours.

I thought that to transfer a hard drive between systems all you needed to do was re-create any of your system profiles and then simply re-activate your system to get everything back to normal.

I hope so. I might just have to take the plunge soon and find out.

[corn619]

I just used a Western Digital external HD and used the backup data tool on the PS3. Some stuff transferred and lots didn't. I lost all of my DLC, a lot of saves, and patches. I had to redownload everything. Needless to say, it sucked and won't be doing that again. Although having PS2 BC almost made it worth the trouble. I have to say this whole digital era we live in today sucks. They really need to make it a little easier to transfer data between consoles. My brother has a PS3 as well and we like to play the Motorstorm games together having HD only saves sucks. I miss being able to just bring over my memory card and have all my save data transferable between consoles.