My Repaired PS3 Came Back Without A Hard Drive ‎

Many a video game character begins his story with amnesia, and the malady has befallen Chris's real-life PS3. He sent his system in with an upgraded hard drive he'd installed because he was told he had to do so and even made a special note that he'd need the drive back.

[Focker420]

This guy is either lying and he never sent it in with a hard drive hoping to get a free one, or the csr messed up and filled out the service request wrong (which I doubt)

I think hes a scammer. Customer service said there was no hard drive when it arrived. Also if UPS did anything wouldn't they have taken the whole system and not just the hard drive?!

[ULTIMATE_REVENGE]

This is true and it has happened to so many people. Sony's customer service at sometimes can be very helpful and at other times can be a big pain in the ass. He either got a new re-furbished PS3 or the Sony employees were just really careless and misplaced his HDD, this kind of stuff happens all the time.

A bit off topic: I got my PS3 Re-balled (NOT Re-flowed) with Lead solder for £83 (that includes delivery, repair & redelivery) in the UK. Re-balling is a guaranteed PERMANENT fix for the PS3's YLOD problem. If done by a trained professional your PS3 will last as long as your still working Retro console.

NEVER RE-FLOW YOUR CONSOLE!! whether you do it with an IR (Infrared) gun or a heat gun (the most damaging method) both are only temporary fixes. Both of these methods help delay the YLOD from occurring again but they fail to fix the real problem, which is why people get the YLOD again after 3-4 months or less.

You either get your PS3 Re-balled with with Lead-free solder (basically a new PS3 fresh form the factory) 'OR' You get your PS3 Re-balled with Lead solder (The BEST fix)

I just wanted to help people who are in the same position I am in with a YLOD'd PS3, no warranty and a disc stuck inside a January 2008 60GB model with PS2 B.C

EDIT: £83 is the best price I could find and the service includes the following:

- Labour to eliminate yellow light problem.
- Soak testing to ensure a reliable fix
- 90 day warranty on parts and labour.
- Machine is completely stripped -reflowed – cleaned internally to ensure good cooling
- Artic silver thermal paste is applied on the CPU/GPU (this is 50x's better compared to crap thermal paste Sony use)

[evrfighter]

Sony stealin hard drives now? bet he gets it back infested with root kits.

[Blaze929]

why was he expecting it to come back?

[gaffyh]

This is why the UK Sony method is better. They drop off a PS3 and pick up your broken one at the same time. I removed my HDD and gave them a PS3 with no HDD. The PS3 they gave me had another 60GB in it

[Rot_in_Fail]

there was no hdd, I believe Sony

scumbag attention seeker

[Ocelot525]

@Rot_in_Fail

he must be lying because companies never make mistakes and never lie /sarcasm

*cough* BP *cough*

[Rot_in_Fail]

forgot /jk too bad

Of course it's Sony's fault, I'm sur enobody stole it, such things may happen from time to time.

Doesn't UPS weight the package? that would show the hard drive was there

[HSx9]

Or maybe your hardrive was high jacked off the UPS truck and it is now being sold in the black market.

[zeeshan810]

I never got a YLOD! :D

[jadenkorri]

I had to r/t my ps3 to get it fixed, I was told to "REMOVE MY HARDDRIVE" before sending in as they cannot guarantee I would get it back as I may get a refurbished model. Guess what, Isn't their like, you know, another company that has a hard drive, oh thats right the 360, what does MS tell you when you send your console back in...Cmon guys take a wild guess. Here this might help......

http://support.xbox.com/sup...

For those who are lazy..

Q: How do I pack my console for shipping?

A: When you pack your console for shipment, make sure to provide adequate padding around the console to reduce possible shipping damage. The shipping box that you use will not be returned to you.

* View the packing instructions
* Download the packing instructions (PDF format)

Only send us your console. Please remove the hard drive, accessories, and discs before packing your console for shipping. If a disc is stuck in the disc drive, please see Xbox 360 console disc tray is stuck.

Did you guys read that last paragraph, it says remove your hard drive. Sony does the same thing, so if some fracking idiot sends back his ps3/360 with the hard drive, and you don't get it back, well cry me a fracking river. I know the package you get to send back to sony has the instructions and says to take out the hard drive. Why is this such a big deal and this guy gonna talk to blah blah blah, yes he was advised by a rep to send the hard drive back too, but yeah, call centers go through people like crazy, so the guy was obviously new and probably didn't know to remove the hard drive.

I apologize for not posting sonys policy, i know its their, just can't find it, 2 am in the morning and tired.

[Bereaver]

Why would a company as big as SONY want anything to do with his HD? If there really was one, it was a mistake. But no, these mistakes don't happen ALL THE TIME, or SONY would have a bad reputation like the 360 has with RROD.

[Imperator]

My PS3 went YLOD. Lost all my save data. What really pisses me off is that I lost 13 hours on FFXIII. Sure, I didn't plan on playing it but now I'll probably never finish it.. Learned my lesson though. Now I always back up my saves.

[P_Bomb]

The ones you can anyways. I wish I could backup KZ2, AC2, Demons Souls, even frikkin Fat Princess, lol. NO saves should be locked in this day and age of removable/swappable hard drives.

[jadenkorri]

you should be able to backup those saves files using the backup utility, however if you try to copy to a usb drive, games saves may not work all the time like re5/kz2 etc.

[zeeshan810]

I don't think Sony will mess up. I doubt Sony made a mistake.
This guy is lying!

[commodore64]

This article is fake and the guy is a liar.

We all know that the ps3 NEVER breaks or gets the ylod, nor does Sony ever stuff anything up at all.
Sony is awesome, infallible and beyond reproach.
Sometimes, when I think of SOny before going to sleep, I get a tear of joy rolling down my cheek.

How dare this guy say nasty stuff about Sony!
How come we all can't just be 'real gamers' and love Sony?

/s

[jadenkorri]

love the sarcasm.... but zeeshan810, any company can make mistakes, im not gonna take sides on either as i go by the companys policy, and sony says to remove harddrive, just like the 360 says to remove harddrive. SO really this is the customers fault, and the policy im sure been shoved back in his face.

[jjohan35]

I'd believe the story. This is not Sony we are accusing here. This is stupid employees who are found at every company in every department. There have been many times where I've sent in items only to not receive certain items back when they serviced my items under warranty. It's a nightmare because they don't admit any fault, and it becomes your word against theirs. This has happened numerous times across multiple companies, so it could have happened at Sony or Microsoft or anywhere else.

[jadenkorri]

5 people disagreeed wow, i gave you an agree and a bubble...Its not sonys fault, just stupid employees, yes they represent sony/ms/whomever, but no call center can weed these idiots out. It happens

[Blaze929]

I'm preeeeeetty sure you're supposed to remove your HDD before you send it in for repair...

This goes for any of the big 3 manufactures. Send in hardware for repair and they tell you to remove all accessories, storage devices etc because none of them actually fix your hardware, they just exchange it for refurbished units.

[P_Bomb]

Nothing on Sony's instructions tells you to remove the hard drive. They only tell you to back it up & erase personal info, not to send in any controllers 'n' media. Doesn't really apply for YLOD though, as with YLOD you won't be able to eject your game/movie or even access the XMB.

[AliTheBrit19]

SERIOUSLY?

You can't even contemplate that Sony pure and simple dropped the ball and messed up?

Wow, I seriously pitty fanboys.

[J-Smith]

someone stole my xbox360 & all i can say is - 'THANK YOU' LoL

[cliffbo]

i have sent a ps3 back for repair which had a bigger hd in i was told to remove it before sending as i wont get it back and i received a new ps3 back with a 60gb hd in so i got a free hd to me that is a good service :)

ps the warranty also had been 3 months out of date but since i had a launch machine sony honoured the warranty when they did not have to very good service.

[stuna1]

I know because I sent my ps3 in for repairs, but first I called the service center, who told me exactly what to do. First they asked for the warranty information, which I gave them. They then proceeded to tell me that I would be recieving a shipping label within 2 to 5 business days. When I recieved the shipping label instructions also came with the label, they explicitly state in the instructions not to send any controllers, cords and replaced harddrives as they are not responsible for any harddrives that where not the original ones that were included in the system. They also told me to write a detailed letter of any problems that I had encountered leading up to the systems malfunction, also if there was a game disc that was still in the system. The only thing I had to do was provide the box and packing peanuts. This is just another case of someone too stupid to follow directions and just wants someone shoulder to cry on! For real who would send a add on harddrives in place of the original one? As easy as it was to switch it out, its just as easy to put back in, Duh.

[AAACE5]

I thought whenever you send a console in you are suppose to remove the HDD because there is no guarantee it will be returned to you and the fact that it might get erased!

[crzyjackbauer]

i hope this doesent happen to me
im suppose to get my ps3 slim back soon from sony

[PirateThom]

Bull. Sony would NEVER let you send in a non-standard hard drive and, even if you did, chances are you're getting that models original hard drive back anyway.

Hard drive not sent.

[oohWii]

PirateThom, the fanboy fortune teller. How typical.

[PirateThom]

So, you're saying you've predicted the actual story better?

Have you ever actually sent a PS3 back for repair?

No?

Well, there we go.

[HDgamer]

Do you actually know he has sent his ps3 in for repair?
No. well there we go.

[comp_ali]

It is funny how trolls here gets the most bubbles

[Poseidon]

backcourt2000 (1) | 3h ago
TheMART at Xboxkings (2) | 2h ago
Kingdom Come (1) | 2h ago

[PSfan09]

yes, this is what i think is very defense of xbox fans. They won't talk about their horrid failure rate instead they talk about some guys ps3 hard drive being stolen (so he says), seriously?

[pustulio]

What is even more sad is that you PS3 fanboys defend sony saying they can't steal a hard drive, it's just not possible and the guy must be bullshitting but if a guy says MS did it, you start hell of a shitstorm.

[Darkstorn]

I've got a 320gb Western Digital in my PS3. I'd think that if this were actually a problem it would have more coverage. To my knowledge, this is just an unfortunate case.

[Hellsvacancy]

When my PS3 got ylod (the 1st time) i rang Sony and explained what happened and he told me what id need 2 do and 1 of the things he said was "if youve upgraded your HDD youll need 2 take it out b4 sendin it in coz u WONT get it back"

I never did send it in, the Gilsky guide was alot more efficient imo "£149? hahahahah, yeah, ok buddy"

[ULTIMATE_REVENGE]

The 'not getting it back' part is what's stupid about their repair service. People are peed off with Sony because they don't fix and send back the console YOU sent in.

Sony just hand out Refurbished PS3's which end up breaking down in few months or a year.

Sony ned to do something about their repair service and they need to stop charging people £130 just to get a BS refurbished PS3 that'll break down faster than the one you purchased from the store.

[adlt]

About over a year now, yeah it did piss me off I didn't get my original back, however it's lasted quite long. It is loud as hell though haha. If this one breaks, I'm going to go to gophermods.com which is based in my state. My cousin used their service and was happy, so I'm not worried about mine breaking.

[Count]

Sony does something remotely negative, ''OMG DA GUY IS FULL O SHIT''.

N4G in a nutshell.

[Lionhead]

Joined 21 days ago

Nuff said multi-accounter

[Count]

Assumption

Nuff said stupid

[HolyOrangeCows]

Just as funny are trolls like you who are just as quick to assume that he did everything correctly and Sony made a mistake.

[Count]

I am not quick to assume anything. If you actually bothered to read my post instead of jumping into inaccurate conclusions that my post was against your god, then you'd see that it was the implication that a lot of members see Sony as right even when they are wrong. And they are supposedly NEVER wrong which is impossible.

I also find it funny that you have the nerve to call me a troll. Give me one comment in which I've trolled. You'll see that there is no indication of trolling in.. pretty much every one.

The only reason my comments ever get marked as trolling is because of website bias and the idiocy of N4G's moderators.

[spooky205]

We do have to be realistic here. Why send your console in without taking out the harddrive at all? Especially if i upgraded the one in there. Upgraded items do not go with RMA at least not anywhere that i know of. I dont send a 360 for repairs with a harddrive. Neither would i send a psp with a memory stick. Its also this persons fault for not using some common sense. He claims the customer service rep told him they need a harddrive or else it couldnt get fixed. Perhaps the customer service rep really did tell him that.

I find that doubtful however due to the fact that he probably handles at least 1 call like this everyday. But lets say he did indeed claim this. Why couldnt this person have just gotten his old hardrive and put it in there? Or perhaps his repaired console is actually a refurbished model they supplied him with because they could not fix the issue in the other one. Either way both parties here are at fault.

[mushroomwig]

Mistakes happen, I work in customer service and things like this happen more often than it should, mainly due to new staff.

[ATLGAMER]

When you send it off they tell you to remove your HDD....so he fails

[ian72]

Sony tell you to put original HDD back in before sending for repair. I got YLOD last week 18months after getting a refurb for blu-ray dieing. Phoned Sony and they sent me a refurb the day after with no cost to me. It did cost me £145 18 month ago first time my PS3 broke, but this time they replaced with a refurb 60gig original for free. I called Monday and recieved refurb Tuesday around 1.00pm. Only one day, I was amazed at how quick it was. This was in UK.

[Dylantalon1]

cry your mum some bath water, youre suppose to take out your hdd before you ship your console.

in other news, trees make oxygen.

[olLANDSHARKlo]

Wait the PS3 doesn't have problems, just the 360 if you listen to the PS3 trolls around here. I've had 1 fat PS3 YLOD and no problems with the 360, call it luck, call it what you will.

[peeps]

will be luck. End of the day i've had 2 ps3's and 2 360.. some ppl i know have had their 360 replaced many times but likewise some guys just don't have any luck with the ps3 either.

Statistically 360's are more likely to break but this obv doesn't mean ppl's ps3's can't either

[skip2mylou]

no body said the ps3 doesnt freeze or break ya loser. i said i had got one theres people that have had ylod but fixed it themselves because its easier to fix than the 360, dumb troll

[SpaceFox]

Idk guys, I dont think it's fair to just assume he's lying. Shit happens.

[bobdog626]

Do you have the Receipt for the Hard Drive?Do you have the Old Hard Drive?You should have put the old one back in.Lesson Learned.

[You Noob]

Istruction manual say that you should remove the HDD before send the console on a repair centre.

[Gun_Senshi]

When I send PS3 for my repairs, Sony gave me a brand new sealed PS3 right the same time I traded in. I am happier that way instead of fixing it.

Brand New FTW

[snake-OO]

i have sent my ps3 in three times and every time i removed the HDD.

[Darkstorn]

...but then you have to back it up on a separate drive or else it is reformatted upon reinsertion. It's a bit of a hassle.

[skip2mylou]

why didnt he just take out the hdd like a smart person. also why didnt he have the original hdd he coulda just taken out the "Upgraded" HDD and put in the old one a shipped it out that way if they require a HDD in the ps3

[Alos88]

This reminds me of those nasty rumors about stolen kidneys for some reason.

[Nitrowolf2]

Wait can't they check the weight of it sent in to sony and then how much it was when it came back?
idk if the HDD would add extra weight, it wouldn't be much at all but there should be a difference i think

[spooky205]

however it also depends on how the packaged was wrapped. More wrap material than what was originaly used can add ounces and throw off some measurements as harddrives themselves only way a few ounces too.

[Gladiator7]

Don't look at me!

[Baka-akaB]

They do tell you to not send the hardrive with it . For various reasons obviously , but also because you will loose your saves . They'll either change or format it in the process

[KiLLz]

I had send out my ps3,for repairs had it for about 2 months.ps3 had hdmi problems and they send the same system back to me,problem fixed...fingers crossed...

[NewYork214]

I think this is bull shit. I just sent my PS3 in for repair yesterday and asked the customer service rep what you do if you have a different hard drive then the one that came with the system and he said to just take it out and send it without one. but he told me that the hard drive will be formatted for the new PS3 which sucks because i didnt back it up. all my saves since the PS3's launch are gone and and I have to re download all of my purchased games. plus i lost a bunch of pictures. wishing i backed it up lol

[CherryLu-Chan]

When sending a PS3 in for repair you have to take your hard drive out before hand?
And when the machine comes back it automatically reformats the hd? Really? O_o

My PS3 makes a cracking noise, as if the plastic is overheating somehow and sometimes FMV in games jumps frames. I've been putting off sending it in before my tear's warranty is up.

Any tips before I do?

[madjedi]

Buy a 5-10 dollar usb flash drive, and backup all of your game saves before you try to send it in.

[Dorwrath]

I thought your supposed to remove the HDD before u send it in. The same with Microsoft.

Come on guys, how do you guys know he isn't telling you the truth, your all calling him a liar, yet if this had happened with a 360 you would all be supporting him and calling Microsoft a bunch of thieves.

[madjedi]

And on the same token, how do we know he isn't lying his ass off? I never removed my hdd when i sent my ylod 60 giger in and got a hdd in the replacement/repaired i received.

And with the 360 being an external drive, i wouldn't think that would be a chore to remove unlike the ps3's hdd. Plenty of 360 guys will do the exact same thing to make sony look bad.

And as far as microsoft being a bunch of thieves so is apple, try looking up a movie called pirates of silicon valley, i believe and ms's hard drive and wifi adapters prices if that isn't thievery i don't know what is.

[Dorwrath]

Way to go Sony Fanboy, Microsoft hater.

It's people like you that will stand up if this was Microsoft and scream from the highest tower that Microsoft stole this guys hard drive and demand that Microsoft should send him a replacement.

Yet this happens to this guy and the issue is with Sony, you jump up and defend Sony, call him a liar and a con artist.

It's not whether he is guilty or innocent it's you Sony Fanboys hypocritical points of view.

[SANDWICHMASTA]

man this would piss me off to no end. fucking sony screwed him over big time, first by his console screwing up, then by swiping his hdd. fuckin assholes, they should eat their shit and replace or recompensate him

[skip2mylou]

sorry but when you have no proof of anything you claim to have you have no excuse to be pissed off

[bjornbear]

sh!t happens, deal with it.

[Spenok]

That sucks.

[DoucheVader]

WAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH change your diaper already. This is NON-News and falls under the "Who gives a shit" category.