HOWTO: Install the package on your custom firmware PS3 and run it. It finds the active superblock of the gameOS partition and do the necessary patches. Usually 8 percent of the memory is reserved, the app sets this value to 1 percent. The optimization value is set to 1, for minimize disk fragmentation. The changes are permanent. Using its attached metal handle, pull the hard drive out of its bay. This is a SATA 2.5" Hard Drive. It can be swapped to another HDD or to a SSD, just make sure it meets these two specs. Step 4 — Hard Drive Remove the four 4.3 mm Phillips screws securing the hard drive to its tray. PlayStation 3 Slim Hard Drive Replaceme… With the top panel removed, you'll see a screw with the PlayStation symbols on it. Remove this by turning the screw anti-clockwise to remove the HDD. Pull the HDD toward the front of the system to remove it. Add a Comment. Fat and superslim should use 2,5" HDD so yes you can swap a HDD but you will need to format it because every PS3 has own decryption key to read a HDD so you can swap a hdd but you will need to delete all data. If you have eid root key you can connect HDD from fat to pc and backup data. If you will use fat HDD like a extermal Plug the external USB hard drive into one of the PS3's USB ports. In the Xross Media Bar go to Settings > System Settings > Backup Utility. Follow the on screen directions and select "Back Up" to back up all game saves, downloads, media and game installs to the USB drive. Disconnect the USB drive when backup is complete. BACK UP your old PlayStation 3 first if you're transferring a hard drive.NOTE: When you start up the system for the first time with the new hard drive instal If your PlayStation 3 is not reading discs, or is reading discs inconsistently, then follow this flow chart to fully diagnose the problems with your Blu-Ray Drive. Step 1. Insert a disk into the PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Drive. Q1. Does the PlayStation accept the disk? Yes - Go to "Step 2". No - Go to "Q2". Like all computers the PS3 use HDD space as a sort of RAM for file accessing and temporary storage of temp files as there is now where on the flash memory for certain things. The link for the formatting utility is long dead, you may already have the one with the right option which is for ' XP Compatibility '. This link will show you how to manually remove a disc from a PS3 Slim. If that doesn’t work, here is an alternative method that will void the warranty, if it’s still under one. You may want to look into replacing the drive if you do end up taking the PS3 Slim apart. Here is a guide for replacing the drive. And this is the drive you would need. Trophies, RIF files, act.dat, PSN account info, are surely not migrated using DEX HDD upgrade tool. Also, as @Berion said, you need to be on DEX mode. According to the video the backup and restoration process took over 9 hours (which is insane and prone to errors). kBHXA.