PS3 freezing randomly

[stevenv]

I have a slim 250GB, about two years old, that has suddenly started freezing at random times. This occurs during gameplay and streaming media from my PC, sometimes a few minutes in but most only after half an hour or so. I've also occasionally seen it freeze while just idle in XMB. This requires that the console be shutdown by holding the power button for 10 seconds, after which it can be turned on without problem but more often than not it freezes again. I have serious doubts that this is an overheating issue as the console hasn't been moved from where it's been for at least a year and I recently checked that all the vents were not being blocked. Have also booted into safe mode and tried restoring the file system as well as reinstalling the firmware, neither one fixing the problem. I'm running firmware 3.66 and from searching online, a few people around the world are also experiencing this problem and I was just wondering if anyone else in SA has and if anyone has a possible solution.

 

[DCS]

Hey, had a similar problem myself not too long ago, though my ps3 would randomly turn off instead of freezing. To fix it I followed a repair video from youtube where I had to open it up and adjust a setting in the power supply. The video was in a different language so not too sure what the setting was for, though after some searching I think it adjusted how sensitive the power supply is. My playstation was basically brand new when it started doing this (was a gift from overseas so returning it was not an option). Though as yours is freezing and not turning off it might help, though as a last ditch effort it cant really hurt... I will search for the link a little later - maybe it can help.

Does the light on the playstation flash at all when it freezes? does the light do anything at all?

You could try replacing the hard drive if you have a spare one lying around coz maybe thats on its way out...

 

[stevenv]

Thanks for the reply DCS. Don't think my problem is power related, was purchased locally but yours was from overseas. If I remember correctly there isn't any light flashing and the power light is the "normal" colour, it just freezes up whatever is on the screen whether that be a game, video or XMB. I can even try to press the eject button (no disc in the drive) and it beeps indicating no disc. Was thinking of opening it to give it a good cleaning, don't care about voiding warranty as it's already out. My reason for this is that my place gets quite dusty with all the electronics and there was quite a bit of dust around the vents, I'm thinking the fan is blocked (happens to my desktop PC as well). Also, don't remember how loud the PS3 usually is but mine is definitely not whisper quiet.

 

[DCS]

You could take a vacuum cleaner to all the vents to try suck out any dust before opening it up. There is also a fan cleaning mode thingee you could try (I am not sure if this only works with the old fat playstations - have not tried it on my slim yet). Turn off the playstation with the switch on the back and when turning it back on Hold down the Eject button. This should runs all the fans at max speed.

All PS3 are created equally, so there is no difference between the models you get from overseas (the power supply is universal). I managed to find the link to the video I mentioned (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ENdoxIVshM). If you are handy with a screwdriver and want to try save some cash I would seriously recommend you try this before sending it in for repairs as it only takes a few minutes and costs nothing, plus you can always change the settings back if you want. I believe my playstation was shutting down because of overheating as I had it stuck in a small little dusty space with no ventilation, so the setting in the powersupply is not just for power related issues.

They also use a cheap and nasty thermal paste for the processor, so if you are going to open the playstation I would also replace that with some decent thermal paste same time.

 

[KopiteZA]

Have the same problem on my ps3, running latest firmware. I think it might have something to do with the wifi connection being unstable because it only happens when i have my ps3 connected to the internet, so maybe you wanna try disabling your network connection and also the media player thingamajig. Let up know if this method works for you, holding thumbs here!

 

[stevenv]

I used to be on WiFi ages ago but had a compatibility problem with my router so now using wired connection and have been for agest. I opened the console up on the weekend (after going to buy a T8 driver, madness) and it's not dusty at all. I'm not all that surprised though as it's powered down when not in use and not a heavy user as it is. Also out of desperation I tried rolling back my router's firmware (upgraded recently) but still have the same problem.