Power and eject buttons: hidden uses

Here are some additional “hidden” uses of the PS3′s Power and Eject buttons.

Force a shutdown

Press and hold the Power button on the front of the PS3 for about 10 seconds to force the system to shutdown (safely).

Use this method if your PS3 freezes/crashes. Do not flick the power switch on the back of the unit to shutdown because it could potentially corrupt your files.

Force disk eject

Press and hold down the Eject button on the front of the PS3 for about 10 seconds to force the system’s drive to eject.

Useful for example if you try to launch a PS2 game and it freezes. You should be able to force eject the disc and then force shutdown the system.

Reset video settings

With your PS3 turned off, press and hold the Power button on the front of the PS3 for about 10 seconds (the system will beep as normal as it starts up but after 7-10 seconds it will beep again). The video settings should now be reverted. Doing this will also reset any theme settings.

I use this method to revert from HDMI 1080p to Composite 576p, without having to swap cables and change settings.

Paul

There is one more. Turn off your PS3 entirely. Then, flip the backswitch and Eject button at the same time. The cooling fans will start to blow at max capacity to blow out all the interior dust. This only works with 40GB models

Ronai

This also works on the drake bundle(160gb)
none

Seems to work on the 80Gb version too
no one

That could potentially burn out your PS3′s graphic card and it works on 60 GB models to I’ve tried it ONCE!
umar farooq khan

i dont think i wanna do that

http://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html edepot

More secrets about PS3 are at http://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html
grad2008

has anyone tried to do what paul says?
skillz

what paul says is true but dont do it…it damages ur ps3 vid card …i ran into a prob after i did it…,i couldnt use the a/v cables anymore for some reason…only hdmi
Jordan829

DO NOT do what paul says !!!!
I have even asked sony, it can potentially damage your Ps3′s graphics card
barry

your only surging a current to the fan. you can potentially fuse your ps3
DERRICK

That method who Paul posted doent work. Thats the fastes way to broke ur ps3. It will damage ur video card, and burn ur ps3 to the YLOD stage. What a useless post Paul.

Dan

No, that was with another way. Some people would do the same thing by turning the PS3 upside down, so the heat would go into the card. The way he suggested simply spins the fans faster – the worst you could do is wear out the fans faster.
plankt0n

There is no graphics/video card in the PS3. There is a motherboard inside with a processor on it and a graphics processor on it.

Divaldo

My PS3 died today (red light and 3 beeps within a second of powering it on). It died with a disk stuck inside it. I phoned Sony and they got me to do what Paul suggested. It did indeed make the fan blow at maximum, but it also (thankfully!) forced the system to eject my disk.

Now i just have to send my dead PS3 away and hope they decide to fix/replace it despite it being a month out of warranty…

eidolon1138

Hey, I have the same problem, can you tell me exactly what you did to get the disk out? Does it have something to do with attempting the eject while the fan is in hurricane mode?

Thanks!
vampgirl

Ours did the same thing today, but I tried holding the ejecct button and pressing it and the back button at the same time and nothing happens. Our Harry Potter Lego game is inside.

Who did you call?

eidolon1138

I never did, my GTA:IV is still stuck in there.
lewis

yeah! i have recently bought the lego harry potter game aswell! it turned itself off half way through and now i cant turn it back on or eject the disc out

Gaby

My PS3 died a month ago, its a 60GB and it has the yellow light, i have a game disc inside and i cant get it out can somone help me???

ellis

you can get it repclace for free

Divaldo

That’s exactly what happened to me Gaby. See my post above…

It has since been replaced by the lovely people at Sony, even though it was out of warranty.
http://WTF thomas baldwin

my ps3 got the yellow light of death , but my modern warfare 2 was stuck in it does anyone know how i could get it out without smashing the ps3 ???

Divaldo

Modern Warfare 2 is garbage.

Get a real game, then we’ll help you.

umar farooq khan

MW2 sure is garbage mate

joexps

Here’s how a country boy does it. I had the hated red light and yellow lightback to red lights of death trapping my Blue Ray movie inside which Sony said they would not replace. My PS3 is out of waranty. FIRST UNPLUG PS3. Get a dinner knife, not the sharp steak knife. Now take the fake chrome plastic cd cover off. Now wrap one layer of duck tape around blade of knife ( a popcicle stick might work also ). Locate disk in slot. Take knife and gently slide under disk. Slowly slide from right to left. When you feel disk is free. Keep knife inside and under disk. Have a friend carefully pickup ps3 and hold it up above you with slot facing down towards you. Now if done right the disk will slide out. Try again if not successful , this has worked for everyone who I told how when their ps3 died.

timbob

I wanna see someone do that and the other person drop the ps3 on them which pushes the knife into their eyeball that’d be great.

Guest

That’d be fuckin kick ass!

Magicmogwai

Had the same problem,
Froze while playing game then switched itself off and got the red blinking light of death! No matter what combinations of power switch, eject buttons and swearing would release the disc so had no other option than to take the bugger apart….

Not hard but will void any warranties you may have on your machine.

First remove small torx screw from left side of unit (under warranty sticker and rubber plug) then slide cover left and remove, undo 9 or so screws from top which will release the top half of the machine, the Disc drive will simply lift out (there is a ribbon cable to detatch also) Under the drive there will be 5 small screws holding the metal cover on, take these off then remove the six or so screws holding the two halves of the drive together and Tadaaa you hostage can simply be lifted out.

Putting the thing back together is the reverse of above or you could find the nearest blunt heavy object and exact some sort of revenge!!!
Mystress

I’ve had a problem with my 80 gig backwards compatible ps3 for some time now because my loving dog (who’s overly energetic) knocked my ps3 off of the shelf and it landed on the floor with a nice crash, since then a disk has been stuck inside… I’ve tried everything and just recently got the courage up to take it apart after trying tweezers a license or a knife finding out that I have the stupid little gate and it was stuck. My ps3 will flash yellow go beep beep beep then turn red flashing light on, so finally I took the sucker apart and after reading magicmogwai’s idea I went to walmart to get an eye glass screwdriver, but it’s too small, and the other tiny screwdriver I have is too big, so I found at wally mart they sell those kits for tiny repair stuff the only bummer is like eye glass repair they’re flat heads not phillips anyhow you need one of those kind of screwdrivers they come in a pack of usually 4 or 6 and they are different sizes. It runs in mm size. They sell them in the hardware department I know that much too. So if I ever get this stupid disk drive apart I’ll come back and let you know if I actually was able to fix it since I’ve heard the reason mine does the flashy beep beeps is due to hardware malfunction or something maybe with the disc out it’ll go back to normal functioning.
danimalmanimal

Do what Paul did to eject a disc that is stuck due to red blinking light. Turn the system completely off in the back. Then hold your finger on the eject button and turn the system back on. It will power up the PS with enought time to eject your disc. But, it will not fix the main problem with the PS.

Brookechook05

Thankyou thankyou thankyou my sons ps3 died this morning with MY new game just got it out doing what u said

TUHIN

This is the best trick i got mine working,,,
put your hand over the eject button and do little tap,do that also around the eject button,
hit it slowly,
it will work again,
worked for me when the disk was not ejecting
http://ps3explained.com/intermediate/power-and-eject-buttons-hidden-uses/ HMMMMMMM

Pauls suggestion did not work for mine. Oh well, I knew the ps3 was too good to be true….
http://yahoo.com frank

i got the yellow light of death to. can someone tell me how to fix it.

And divaldo mw2 doesnt suck,yeah the game has overpowered guns and some stupid add ons but i does’nt suck.

ballenGT420

you can fix your ylod problem w varying degrees of success at home. the fix could last a week or a year. basically it involves dismantling your ps3 to reflow your motherboard, as a failed heat sink is the problem. best i found was go to youtube search ylod gilsky repair its 3 detailed step by step vids to walk you through. you need to be slightly technically competent to do this. i have done 3 and each worked again, with 1 dying again in a week, 1 lasting 2 months, and the 3rd still works 6 months in. good luck i hope some of you find this helpful.

http://yahoo.com frank

tuhin was your ps3 on or off

Tuhin

no it was off, it was on standby, redlight.

Allan

The PS3 Has a system recovery menu. Let me explain.

You press and hold the power button, you should hear the initial power-up beep. Then you keep holding until you hear 2 more beeps.

Then make sure your ps3 is on the old AV Cables.
Then press and hold again, you will hear the first beep, then a second beep, then finally followed by a double beep.

Connect your dualshock or sixaxis with a usb to mini-usb cable and press the PS button.

Then it will finally bring you to a menu which contains 6 things you can do to your ps3.

1.Restart System
2.Restore Default Settings
3.Restore File System
4.Rebuild Database
5.Restore PS3 System
6.System Update
teekann

I had the yellow and red lights of death after my dog took a piss on the “media center”. My amplifier also died but after cleaning the outside of the ps and giving it some high pressure air from a compressor it worked again. Since that day the eject button doesn’t work so i can only retrieve my discs with the eject disc menu entry.
I suggest everyone to clean your ps with high pressure air from time to time. often the lights of death are caused by insufficient cooling because of the dust in your ps
http://kghdioh yasmin

How can I get rid of the dust from my ps3 250gb. Games keep freezing??

umar farooq khan

go to a sony or any electronic shop they’ll do it 4 you
StarAngelDB

I use my air compressor that I also use for airbrushing. I blast all the vents about 40psi or more until no more dust comes out. the manual also says you can use a vacuum but my compressor seems to do a better job..do not!! use can air! some of those have a liquid propellant. so I wouldn’t suggest it..stick with a vac if you don’t have a compressor.

DrTeath

Dont ever use an air compressor on electronics . The hi speed air creates statis as i passes over the components and is potentially damaging.

Ibrahim43

its quit easy. just turn on yur ps3 then keep it running for 5 to 10 minutes. after take off the power cable at the back but hold the power switch . after put back the cable while u hold the power swich and u can see that it takes out all the dust. if u want further information check youtube.

vaggos

ONLY open to playstation 3 show me the background with a selected color algae something grames nodded and after nothing happens what to do;
Seminolefan34

i need help, my 60gb ps3 won’t eject the disk, i was playing, and then turned the system off, 10 mins later i turned it on to eject and play a different game, it wouldn’t eject. how do i make the system eject that disk, the rest of the system works

Mdcorman

I have the same PS3. If the systems boots up into the screen and you can move around the menu s and go online then the BLU-RAY unit is jammed. You have to take the blue ray apart and then get the disk out and while its apart you have to see what it does. My guess is that the gears came off track and you have to realine them. Google. I fix PS3 at my home but I am not certified. But I could do it. Wont charge anything if it doesnt work.

Jthurt

om gosh thats for the “hold the power button down” a half broken off dvd game got stuck and it got it out. thanks
Geneva77777

SONY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!this does not work , went to watch a blue ray movie put in to ps3 as it took movie system shut itself off. Waited to see if it was rebooting itself. It did nothing went into Red light standby mode. Turned power off on back and when comes back on still in standby. You can press power button on front and it goes completely off. My system has not been used very much have watched maybe 8 movies and played a game on it three times tops. It is well ventilated and keep it dusted. I think Sony sent out a bad product you can hear the witch kick off when hit power button. Remote, Game remote nothing works. For the cost this is a big old lemon.

Mdcorman

Like everything you got a bad unit, If under warrenty send it in…If not you need to reflow the CPU and VGA on motherboard. Lot of work (about two hours tops) but worth it. Cars…Tvs…Consoles… all make a few bad products and I understand your frustration..but have to take bad with the good

Geneva77777

P S our new Blue Ray movie is stuck inside of this junk
Geneva77777

P.P.S. Researched problem tried holding power button down it just shuts off no beeps can hear a click when switch shuts off/down.

Mdcorman

If it clicks and nothing else your blu-ray unit is jammed. You can try and fix it but you have to REALLY know what to do.Especially having the right TOOLS. Small screwdriver and I think Phillips.Also maybe (and that a MAYBE) a 00 or 000 tri screwdriver

Geneva77777

Thanks, for tip about tape around butter knife or kitchen knife. It worked got our DVD out does not seemed to be damaged. You will ave to work DVD above stop after getting a hold of it. have someone hold system above your head and work toward top of tray. System still malfunctioning but at least did not get our blue ray Harry Potter movie with it.
joshua

will the ps3 break even more if i force it to eject the disc

http://ps3explained.com/ Flame

The methods is this article are supported by the console, so should be safe. Tips in the comments use at your own risk!
Mdcorman

No it wont but if nothing is working its your system. could need to have it serviced by sony for around $160 bucks or a tech in your area…problem is it will cost about the same….They got you either way unless you try and fix it yourself. My motto I am broke so I figure what the hay I will try and fix it…So far so Good. As many times as my PS3 breaks down I would be broke lol

Keaton skalski

i got a question about my ps3, everytime i plug in the power cord and try to turn it on, it comes beeps then turns off. then i wait ten minutes and i turn it on, it stays on. so when i get to my main screen everything is fine, but then when i pick something else besides the game it freezes. so what do u think.
Another question i got on top of that is when i start a game the screen is black for 5 minutes, then it goes to the home page and when i start, say my modern warfare 2 campaign the game works for about 15 seconds then the game freezes or the screen has like this messed up image on it and i cant here sound. so i just want to know what u think the problem is, sorry for the huge story, i dont feel like spending any more money if its just a quick fix

http://www.facebook.com/KikiLovemore Kristina Criss

hey dude did you ever get it fixed cause i havin the same prob
Bbserenityr

Sounds like the YLOD is near. Good luck.
Mdcorman

did you try other games? Did you try inserting a cd? a DVD Movie? If they work then its the game. Otherwise like Keaton is saying its going to go into shock (YLOD). I fix mine all the time.

Mdcorman

sorry meant BbSERENTITY

Bradleybushman

what do u do when a disk isnt work but all your other games are….. i took it in last night to get it buffered at family video. but it seems like they broke it more. the screen is black for 5 mins thAN GOES TO THE BLACK OPS MAIN MENU AND FRREZES……..WHAT DO I DO PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crashahotrod

Hey delete your game data not your game save i asked treyarch and that’s what they told me only bad thing u have to re download your dlc. don’t buffer blu-ray no use unless you get some dried on food or something. Alcohol pads will clean everything else off.

Raymond

Question about my PS3;

Next to the eject button and the power button on the PS3 slim there are 2 small lights. 1 blue, the other either red or green. Recently, on my PS3, these 2 lights have not been showing, and the eject button doesn’t work, so I have to eject discs via the controller. If anyone knows what the problem is please reply; as I would like to try and get it sorted.

Mdcorman

The problem is your power ribbon isn’t making a complete connection. take it apart and push it down some more or wiggle it to the right. I had the same problem only my on switch doesnt work because I messed up the part it connects to the motherboard. But it works fine

Anthony Tomasuolo

when u eject a game from the ps3 does it make a double clicking noise?

matthew m91

oi wtf my eject and power buttons dont light up is this supposed to happen???????

UnDeRFLiP

I’ve noticed the same thing with my new PS3 slim that I just bought a couple weeks ago. A friend of mine has a slim as well but the eject/power buttons light up on his. Do I have a defective unit?

matthew m91

oi wtf my eject and power buttons dont light up is this supposed to happen???????
H Davis55

My ps3 starts and the lights are red and blue? cann anyone help?
Janetlinklater

every time my harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2 gets to the part where there have to go though the picture it does not come on it just stays on the words there keep going on and on repeated over and over again please help me sort this out because it coast a lot of money
Fdj

thank it worked, the holding for 30 seconds
Lakerfanforlife122287

my slim 320 gb ps3 wont eject discs or read any sort of disc at all..what do i do? it makes noise..but doesnt read anything or eject time to time..manual eject doesnt work either..idk what to do!!!!

http://ps3explained.com/ Flame

Sounds like the blu-ray drive is faulty. Can you replace the PS3 on warranty? You may want to do a backup to an external hard-drive first.
PS3 Maniak;)

Yeaah i had same prob until i went on u tube and tht boy shoed me

PS3 Maniak;)

my ps3 has just jammed which means we carnt turn it off or eject it?? eny suggestions

PS3 Explained