PS3 Freezing problem

[Riqz85]

Hi everyone.

I have recently Re-encountered freezing problems with my ps3.

I say re-encountered because it had happened to me once before. It was with Heavy Rain. I had installed it to the hard drive and it used to freeze VERY often. I actually had to shut down the ps3 manually (couldnt access the PSmenu). I blamed the used game copy i bought. I thought to reinstall it and it still gave me problems. I reinstalled it once more and it ran smoothly.

I have since then played a few games flawlessly until yesterday:

The game is Valkyria chronicles. I saw that the loading times were ludicrous so decided to install it to the hard drive. It has since frozen my ps3 up 3 times making me lose gamesaves and a lot of time.

Now... anyone have any idea what the problem could be?
I'll try and reinstall it to the harddrive when i get home...

[dsheinem]

Not sure as I haven't had this happen with my PS3, but on the 360, freezing is a harbinger of an upcoming RROD...

[AppleQueso]

could just be a laser going bad too. If that's the case, it's a pretty easy and inexpensive repair.

[Riqz85]

It really has rarely been used though, and to my knowledge it has only happened on "installed to hd" games.

[Exile]

It seem like some hdd problem, since as you say that Heavy Rain ran smoothly after the 3rd install and Valkyria chronicles froze only after the installation.
Backup everything (on ps3 xmb go to: Settings > System Settings > Backup Utility > Back Up) and then format your hdd. IIRC in the official playstation forum some people where having those problems and after formatting their hdd everything worked fine.

If after formatting and restoring the data, the ps3 keeps freezing with the installed games, it may be the hdd that needs to be replaced.

[Niode]

It really has rarely been used though, and to my knowledge it has only happened on "installed to hd" games.

Could be a corrupt sector on the hard drive if you're only having problems with HDD install games. Do the games work fine when they're not installed?

If it was me, I'd just back up your important data (IE Gamesaves) don't forget to do a trophy sync (because PSN is a bag of shite and doesn't update as and when you get a trophy, you have to manually sync them) and then do a HDD reformat. Don't bother backing up your PSN/Demos/Gamedata because they could be part of the problem as well. Reformat and then try again and see if that fixes the problem. This was/is Sony's default response to people having issues with games freezing on the system.

Personally, I think it's a combination of corrupt data and overheating, and the fact that you are getting them means that you need to strip the PS3 down and give it a good clean, lube the fan, and reapply thermal paste to the heatsink. It's better to do some work now, than have it crap out on you. Remember, Sony don't believe that there is anything wrong the PS3, ever. It's their perfect little child in every single possible conceivable way and will tell you to go fuck yourself if you try and get a replacement. If you're lucky and live in the EU you can tell Sony to go fuck themselves right back and go to Trading Standards and get them sort it out for you, or do what my friend did and threaten to take them to small claims court because the device is not fit for purpose.

[Riqz85]

I'll try reformatting. I'll do a backup cos i have a few jap games i don't want to go through all the hassle to redownload!

[AppleQueso]

Didn't sony also refuse to admit the tons of issues the ps1 and 2 had as well?

[Niode]

Didn't sony also refuse to admit the tons of issues the ps1 and 2 had as well?

Yep. The company is just pure arrogance. Then they go crying when another company calls them out on their bullshit (IE Nintendo saying that sans-glasses 3D is the future). I just wish more companies were willing to take them down a peg or two more often, it would be beneficial to the consumer.

[Riqz85]

4 Hours and still going to fully format and backup the PS3?!?!?!? This is worse than itunes...