• PlayStation 3
• CECH-3001A ¹⁾

• PS3 supports up to a certain size for internal drives; issues formatting imply an unsupported drive ²⁾
• If the update can't be found from a USB drive, try again but disconnect the controller from USB as soon as it starts checking for data (TODO: Where this tip came from/info; there's 3+ instances where this needs to be done)
• Assume anything put onto the PS3 that isn't official firmware will potentially cause the blacklist of the console and/or signed-in Sony accounts from PSN if the console touches the internet ³⁾
• Be sure to hard-copy and note any PlayStation console's serial (2006 launch-PS3+) you sign in-to PSN with, ever ⁴⁾

• https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps3/system-software/
• OFW = Official firmware

• Latest known version: 4.91 released on 02/27/24

1. Using a PC or Mac, create a folder named “PS3” on a USB drive formatted as FAT32.
2. Inside that folder, create another folder named “UPDATE”.
3. Download the update file, and save it in the “UPDATE” folder you created in step 1.
4. Save the file with the file name “PS3UPDAT.PUP”.
5. Turn on your PS3 system and plug the USB device into the system.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reinstallation.

• Linux can be used to format FAT32 drives beyond Windows GUI formatting restrictions ⁵⁾

PS3\UPDATE\PS3UPDAT.PUP

• https://www.psx-place.com/threads/official-ps3hen-v3-3-0-hfw-released-for-4-91-firmware-from-team-ps3xploit.43199/

• HFW = OFW with old webkit injected
• Last tested: 2024/08/29 with HFW 4.91.1

• Same restore process as OFW
• Rename HFW_4.91.1_PS3UPDAT.PUP to PS3UPDAT.PUP
• Preserve the drive for later HEN plugins installs and console data dumps

PS3\UPDATE\PS3UPDAT.PUP

• Last tested: 2024/08/29

• Network → Internet Browser
• Triangle → Tools → Confirm Browser Close: Off
• Start → URL: ps3xploit.me
• Top-left → PS3HEN → HEN Auto Installer (PS3HEN.p3t will download)
• Auto Install HEN
• Select → Add to Bookmarks
• Triangle → Tools → Home Page → Use Blank Page (should be about:blank)
• O → Close Browser → Re-open Internet Browser
• Select → PS3 HEN Auto Installer
• Auto Install HEN (should eventually show Success)
• Reboot
• Browser → Auto Install HEN again (should succeed and do a bunch of on-screen stuff and download prompts, a PS3HEN notification, and auto-reboot when finished)
• XMB → Game → Enable HEN (cursor and stuff should happen, HEN full-screen splash, followed by Welcome to PS3HEN notification)

• Future reboots should present a HEN (egg) splash logo before XMB (still need to do Game → Enable HEN for PS3HEN features)
• Network → Hybrid Firmware Tools → Restart PS3 → Full Restart (nice to know where it's at)

• XMB → Network → Hybrid Firmware Tools → Dump Tools
• IDPS, PSID, Backup xRegistry.sys

• TODO: Presumably all that ends up on PS3's HDD

• System Settings → Control for HDMI: On (CEC; for powering on TV with PS3 and/or switching input to it)
• Date and Time → Date and Time → Set via Internet (DST isn't automatic/might need toggled)
• Display → RGB Full Range (HDMI): Full

• https://github.com/aldostools/webMAN-MOD
• Install pkg from USB drive

• Fan speed: 45-49% (50%+ causes significant vibration; temps around 50C @ 45%)

• The first line is blank by-default
• For broken plugins: Put default/blank boot_plugins.txt on a USB drive and it takes priority over the /dev_hdd0 one

/dev_hdd0/boot_plugins.txt

/dev_hdd0/plugins/webftp_server.sprx

• https://gbatemp.net/download/ps3xpad-3-55-signed-for-hen.37155/
• For using a wired Xbox One controller on PS3
• TODO: Test

/dev_hdd0/boot_plugins.txt

/dev_hdd0/plugins/ps3xpad/xpad_vsh.sprx

• https://github.com/aldostools/webMAN-MOD/wiki/Game-Paths-&-Covers

• Requires webMAN MOD
• Copy files to locations with FileZilla with PS3 on Ethernet (18MB/s vs 2MB/s wifi)
• Mount games from webMAN MOD, check for updates, start from webMAN MOD or XMB Game disc (TODO: Check how that works with PS2)

/dev_hdd0/PS3ISO

/dev_hdd0/PS2ISO

/dev_hdd0/ROMS

• http://redump.org/
• https://ps3.aldostools.org/dkey.html
• https://github.com/Redrrx/ps3dec

WINEPREFIX=~/'.wine/PS3DEC' wine ~/'Downloads/ps3dec.exe' --iso 'x.iso' --dk 'x'

• Requires RetroArch (CEX)