Home Gaming It’s safe to update your PS3 again

It’s safe to update your PS3 again

2 min read
24

phew

Sony’s last firmware update for the now positively ancient and immediately obsolete PlayStation 3 had potential to “brick” systems, causing some units to get stuck while booting. Sony’s since pulled that volatile update – but has now released a newer, safer version.

Update 4.46 is now available, and there have been absolutely zero reports of it leaving consoles inoperable. If you updated to 4.45 without issues, or haven’t updated yet, feel free to do so without worry.

If you were one of the unfortunates who did end up with a dead PS3 as a result of the previous firmware, there is help at hand. All you’ll have to do is download 4.46, which you can do here, and pop it on a USB flash drive and pop it, saved as PS3UPDAT.PUP, located in “PS3/UPDATE/”

From there, switch on your Ps3 and enter safe mode, using these handy instructions pilfered from Sony’s Support site.

  1. With the PS3 off (power light should be red), touch and hold the Power button, you will hear the 1st beep indicating that the PS3 is powering on.
  2. Continue to hold the power button, and after approximately 5 seconds you will hear a 2nd beep.
  3. Continue to hold the power button and after 5 more seconds you’ll hear a 3rd beep, and system will power off (Power light goes red).
  4. Release power button.
  5. Touch and hold the Power button, you will hear the 1st beep, again for PS3 power on.
  6. Continue to hold and after approximately 5 seconds you will hear the 2nd beep for video reset.
  7. Continue to hold and after 5 seconds you will hear a quick double beep.  At that point release power button.
  8. If you succeeded in activating Safe Mode, you will see a message on screen saying, "Connect the controller using a USB cable and then press the PS button". 
  9. Connect a controller to the PS3 with a USB cable.

If your console won’t boot in to safe mode..well, then you’ve got troubles and you’ll have to send it in to Sony or a repair agent. In South Africa, that would be Partserve, who you can contact on 0861 773 783. If, however, your console does boot in to safe mode, you’re ready to re-flash your system.

  1. Connect the storage media to PS3 system.
  2. Select [6 – System Update] and Press X.
    • Please note: Data and settings may be deleted if you choose any of the first (5) options. Please make sure to only choose option [6 – System Update].
  3. Press Start and Select at the same time.
  4. The PS3 system will restart and recognizes the update file in the storage media.
  5. Press right on the d-pad to scroll through the update description and user agreement.
  6. Press X to confirm the update.
  7. The system will now install the new system software and restart automatically upon completion.

If everything’s gone well, in a few seemingly long minutes, you’ll finally be able to play The Last of Us, instead of crying in to your cereal every morning, and your beer every evening.

Last Updated: June 27, 2013

24 Comments

  1. LordCaptainAwesomeness

    June 27, 2013 at 09:08

    …instead of crying in to your cereal every morning, and your beer every evening…

    Beer is not the answer….

    Beer is the Question, and the Answer is YES!

    Reply

  2. OVG

    June 27, 2013 at 09:14

    Since when did gaming become as complicated as a flight checklist?
    Funk dat, just play off-line and press start.

    Reply

  3. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 27, 2013 at 09:22

    MY EYES!!!!!

    Reply

  4. Happy Hamster

    June 27, 2013 at 09:23

    And cry in the left corner of a cold shower asking yourself whyyyyyyyyyy me whyyyyyyyyyyyy me

    Reply

  5. RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

    June 27, 2013 at 09:56

    I don’t know why, but when reading this I had Eddie Izzard in my head…

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 27, 2013 at 10:01

      I watch this once every two months, at least.

      Reply

      • RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

        June 27, 2013 at 10:03

        I saw him last week, man oh man he was AWESOME. He did the canteen scene. Only this time it was Jeff Vader and GOD. Brilliant!

        Reply

        • Captain Minion TallTwit

          June 27, 2013 at 10:23

          Have not seen him live, but he is brilliant!

          Reply

    • Captain Minion TallTwit

      June 27, 2013 at 10:19

      Black Brick of Death.

      Reply

  6. FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

    June 27, 2013 at 10:47

    So Sony’s annual bricking spree is done now…everyone can connect online.

    Reply

  7. At Least I Have Steam

    June 29, 2013 at 03:21

    4.46 made my PS3 inoperable. This is at least one report.

    Reply

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