Need Help Formatting PS3

[Retrodude]

My sister asked me to upgrade the firmware on her PS3 because when you power it on, it says to upgrade and won't let you go to the main menu. I downloaded the update from the Playstation website and saved it to a usb thumb drive, but when I went to install it, the system gave me an error code. I looked up the error code and the description said I need to plug the PS3 into my pc to format the hard drive before it will accept the firmware update. I tried, but I get a message that says "windows does not recognize this usb device". HELP!

[Cronozilla]

You need to format it on Windows. When it says it doesn't recognize it it should also ask you if you want to format ... look here: http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/ ... -p/4265939

[CRTGAMER]

This is strange, never heard of an official update that would require pulling a PS3 hard drive and formatting in a PC. Did the update lockup during the download, maybe wiped out the part of PS3 hard drive or killed the bios? Have care, once you bust the seal to remove the hard drive, you forfeit the factory repair route.

Was the Update downloaded direct to the PC or PS3? Does the PS3 still work without the USB memory stick plugged in?

[Retrodude]

It got worse. I tried hooking the PS3 to my laptop while it was powered on and not only would it not let me format it (it didn't show up in the menu as a formattable usb drive), but it infected my computer with some nasty malware (SVC something) that I can't get rid of. A system restore did nothing and it won't let me boot into safe mode. I'm pressing F8 like a maniac and it just boots normally. My antivirus (Avast) can't get rid of it because when I try to do a scan, it shows the C drive underneath an SVC directory. HELP!

[Niode]

BULLSHIT ALERT!!

Have care, once you bust the seal to remove the hard drive, you forfeit the factory repair route.

This is completely and utterly false. On no model PS3 do you need to break the warrenty seal to remove the hard drive. That is complete and utter hogwash.

[o.pwuaioc]

Retrodude: use this ASAP.

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-A ... tag=button

Also, this is a very good reason why game consoles and internet browsing shouldn't mix.

[CRTGAMER]

Have care, once you bust the seal to remove the hard drive, you forfeit the factory repair route.

This is completely and utterly false. On no model PS3 do you need to break the warrenty seal to remove the hard drive. That is complete and utter hogwash.

Oops. All this time I thought the sticker on the fat PS3 covered a screw so never attempted to remove the panel. This was when my fat PS3 went YLOD and was still in the service replacement window. I guess the point I made would still be valid for dummies like me, remove the panel, but leave that sticker alone.