PS3 Firmware v2.42 Released

[admin]

So, here's the story. All of you with Xbox 360s will be getting an update with a snazzy new dashboard, in addition to a variety of features. PlayStation 3 owners are also getting their fair share up updates via the new PS3 Firmware (v2.42). For some reason though, they didn't exactly go into detail with this particular update.

http://www.actiontrip.com/rei/comments_news.phtml?id=073008_8

It's apparently an audio problem fix

[admin]

The problem described in this (somewhat old) news post just happened to me:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/08/reports_of_ps3_242_firmware_difficulties_surface-2.html

Avoid 2.40+ firmware (especially 2.42) if you still can.

These post on the official PS3 forum also confirms the problem:

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3updates&thread.id=85

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3updates&thread.id=6967

[admin]

Just a note to say that I think this is a different problem to the other more common disc read error problem, that seems to happen due to extended usage. The other one gives you an error message when it tries to load a disc. The problem I have, it's like the PS3 doesn't even realise there is a disc drive attached at all (drive doesn't spin, no error message ... nothing). I'm sure if the firmware could be unrolled, the problem would fix itself.

On the other hand, some people are having this problem with fw 2.4 or 2.41, so it could really be a coincidence, or something changed in 2.40 in regards to the disc drive that is causing a possible hardware fault (with the laser) to show up sooner.

[copyless]

This is getting really bad lately. First all the problems with 2.41 and now with 2.43. I wish I had known about this one, I had 2.36 and when 2.41 came out I heard about the problems it was causing with third party blue tooth devices, so I never loaded it, until they fixed it with 2.42. Now just last night I decided to update to 2.43 and then I find out about this today.

I am going to check later, the playability of my disc, but after the update my son did play GTA 4 for about 16 hrs with no problems. Because after reading the posts you linked, I called and ask him if he had any issues and he said no. Now I do keep two 92mm fans blowing on my PS3 that are hooked to switched side of my receiver so they come on as soon as the PS3 is turned on which keeps it significantly cooler than most.

[admin]

A lot of people are reporting no problems at all after 2.42, so it's hard to say what's going on. I think the scenario is that certain PS3s do have a hardware Blu-ray drive problem, but somehow 2.40+ makes this problem appear sooner than later (the conspiracy theorists might say Sony intended this to happen, so they can identify and fix the hardware problem as soon as possible - good for people who still have warranties I suppose), as I think it changed the way drive reading works or something.

I barely use my console, probably only played around 30 DVD and Blu-ray movies on it (no games), and some video streaming. Probably no more than 100 hours of usage on it since December last year when I purchased it.

Anyway, contacted Sony tech support, and the process should be quite painless. Just print out a barcode, give it to the post office and they will even do the packaging for you. 10 business days is the estimated turnaround time, so it's pretty fast. Of course, I get a refurbished console (new parts to replace any broken components, new outer casing), as opposed to my hardly used one being repaired and returned (there's still a chance for that to happen, but unlikely).

[copyless]

My PS3 is a launch 80gb unit, so naturally I have no warranty, I did read that a few people were getting Sony to fix theirs without the $149 charge, not sure whether this is true or not. Maybe because it has become wide spread.

Where I have changed my HDD to a 250gb, and since they are refurbing, I don't guess you got any info on if one like this would be sent in without the HDD? Or maybe the original one, if someone still had it? Which, I haven't come across any problems as of yet, I was just curious as to what they would want to do in this case, as I know a lot of people do upgrade the HDD.

[admin]

Did you get this problem too copyless?

I posted the instructions provided by my local (Australia) Sony tech support in this blog post, but it seems to be quite different to what people in the US has been told to do:

http://www.digital-digest.com/blog/DVDGuy/2008/09/10/my-ps3-just-broke-part-2/

The tech support guy did ask me if I've opened up my PS3 or not. The HDD upgrade should allowed under the warranty, so they will probably ask you to remove the HDD and to put the original one back in so they can swap the whole thing. Some even say that they had to send in everything, controllers, cables ... I wasn't requested to do this (or to even provide a proof of purchase).

[copyless]

No, I haven't found any problems as of yet, I was just curious if they had mentioned anything about the HDD. I just wondered if they mentioned the HDD, that might be all they do to speed things up, test the one sent in, pull the HDD, stick it in another one and mail it back.