Question on new PS3 and hard drive swap

I know I should put this in the sticky but no one has answered my other question in a long time so I figured it was time to make a new thread to get some answers.

My current 60GB launch PS3 sounds and expels as much heat as a jet engine. After about 10 minutes of just leaving the system on and idle, the fans kick into over drive and my room gets extremely hot. I have also noticed that my wireless signal is weaker than it was when I first got it. It is in a well ventilated area and always has been.

With the GS $200 PS3 trade in promotion going on, I have a question. I currently have a 500GB hard drive installed in my PS3 and I refuse to give it up. I still have the old 60GB hard drive so I was just going to re-install it and then trade it in. However, if I want to install my current 500GB hard drive into the new system, will the system format my hdd or what will happen exactly? How do I transfer my game saves and all of that to my new system using my current hard drive?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

[quote name='Pck21']I know I should put this in the sticky but no one has answered my other question in a long time so I figured it was time to make a new thread to get some answers.

My current 60GB launch PS3 sounds and expels as much heat as a jet engine. After about 10 minutes of just leaving the system on and idle, the fans kick into over drive and my room gets extremely hot. I have also noticed that my wireless signal is weaker than it was when I first got it. It is in a well ventilated area and always has been.

With the GS $200 PS3 trade in promotion going on, I have a question. I currently have a 500GB hard drive installed in my PS3 and I refuse to give it up. I still have the old 60GB hard drive so I was just going to re-install it and then trade it in. However, if I want to install my current 500GB hard drive into the new system, will the system format my hdd or what will happen exactly? How do I transfer my game saves and all of that to my new system using my current hard drive?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice! [/QUOTE]

The PS3 has a data transfer built into the OS. Ask the gamestop guys if you can do it in-store, all you need is an ethernet cable and it takes a couple of hours to complete.

Taking out the hard drive from the old ps3 and putting it into a new ps3 will not work as, all data is married to the original system, so it'll ask you to reformat the hard drive.

The other option you have is to just back up your old system onto an external hard drive, and then just restore the information onto your new ps3 once you get it. The only problem with this option is that unlike the system to system transfer, some save files will not transfer over and you will have to re-download all psn purchases.

Thank you for the quick reply! I didn't know the PS3 had a data transfer built in so that's pretty cool. I guess I'm a little confused because I would like to keep my 500GB hard drive so basically I would need to back up my info on an external drive and then restore it again once I reformat it on the new PS3 since I'm going to take out the 120GB included and re-install the 500GB?

Once you put the 500GB HDD into the new PS3 it will reformat it, so the only option I see that you have is to first get an external HDD and do a complete backup of your internal drive. Then when you get the new system and it's reformatted it, go to the backup utility and load the backup from the external HDD.

I haven't tried this, but I'm pretty sure that's how it works.

[quote name='ssjmichael']Once you put the 500GB HDD into the new PS3 it will reformat it, so the only option I see that you have is to first get an external HDD and do a complete backup of your internal drive. Then when you get the new system and it's reformatted it, go to the backup utility and load the backup from the external HDD.

I haven't tried this, but I'm pretty sure that's how it works.[/QUOTE]

Ah ok! Then it looks like this is my only option. I've needed an external drive before so this will be a perfect excuse to get one lol. Thanks!

The best thing I can suggest you do is to get an external drive or a USB stick/iPod and just back up your saves.

Then disable your PS3 from your PSN account. When you get your new PS3, just re-download the games from the store and put your saves back on. Some game saves are copyrighted but not very many.

I doubt they'll let you do the data transfer in store.

[quote name='Microshock']The best thing I can suggest you do is to get an external drive or a USB stick/iPod and just back up your saves.

Then disable your PS3 from your PSN account. When you get your new PS3, just re-download the games from the store and put your saves back on. Some game saves are copyrighted but not very many.

I doubt they'll let you do the data transfer in store.[/QUOTE]

Yea I've decided to go the external hdd route. I just bought one on Amazon and it will be delivered tomorrow. I've honestly needed one for a long, long time so it's all good now. It's a shame I can't just install the hdd into a new PS3 but I understand the reason. I was in denial is all lol.

Thanks for the heads up about disabling my current PS3 from my PSN account. I never even thought of that!

make sure your external HD is formatted to FAT32 and when you reinstall the 500 gb HD, you need to download the latest firmware to a USB stick and put it in the ps3 otherwise it won't do it.