PS3 Laser and Hard Drive Replacement

[2010-11-23 Bill Hung London]

Problem:

The PS3 laser drive can only read half of the PS3 games, some games work, some games don't. The suspicion is that the PS3 laser drive is worn out.

Solution:

Replace the laser drive with a new one. Trying out the blu-ray drive replacement unit from Rob (around 50 pound).

1.
After peeling off the warranty sticker, there's a hole, and within the hole is a T8 screw. The fat PS3 use T8 screw and slim PS3 use T10 screw.

2.
I didn't have a T8 screw driver, so Seb was kind enough to let me borrow his Swiss army knife, which comes with both T8, T10 screw drivers, among others.

3.
After this, just slide the lid to the side.

4.
Underneath, you find standard philip screws. I unscrewed any screw pointed by an arrow, and I had 7 screws when I lift the lid off. I was holding the left and right sides to lift the lid.

5.
Under the lid, I see the Blu-ray drive on the right.

6.
I pulled the grey power cable by holding the 4 wires. The little white part was too short for me to hold.

7.
Pulled the ribbon cable to the right.

8.
Now I can take the Blu-ray drive out. And need to remove 5 screws to get the Blu-ray circuit board out.

9.
After 5 screws, there are 4 ribbon cables to pull.

10.
Then I can lift it up with my fingers.

11.
Turn to the right, as there's a tiny cable at the back on the right. The tiny red and black wire was almost too small to hold. I held the tiny wire and pulled to the right.
I actually broke this tiny wire after pulling it in and out 4 or 5 times...

12.
At this point the reference video did something different. I proceed unscrewing 2 tiny screws on top.

13.
Then I can lift from the side.

14.
Also the other side of the lid.

15.
The white circle lid can be pulled out

16.
Unscrew 5 tiny black screws on the sides.

17.
There's still a tiny wire holding it at the bottom. At this point, the game slided out already.

18.
I can now lift up the lid

19.
Looks like this inside. Need to unscrew the 4 big silver screws, and the tiny screw at the bottom.
Here's my copy of Street Fighter IV. I got the signature of the Street Fighter producer Yoshinara Ono when I met him in Taiwan last month.

20.
Can lift the bottom now.

21.
Pull the white ribbon cable on top and at the bottom.

22.
Then I can lift the blu-ray drive itself.

23.
Some close up on the Made in China motor

24.
More close up shots

25.
What I ended up with

26.
Testing the drive. And unfortunately, putting things together made the disc unable to get out. So it's worst than where I started... U_U
For this, I am getting myself a complete blu-ray drive unit with all the moving parts enclosed.

Hard Drive Replacement

While I am at it, I might as well show you how to replace the hard drive. I replaced the original 60GB hard drive with a 500GB 5400rpm 2.5 inch hard drive.
1.
Take off the lid using your finger.

2.
You should see a blue screw at this point.

3.
Unscrew the blue screw

4.
Use your finger to lift up the level, then pull to the right, and out.

5.
To put back, just slide everything back, and the blue screw will only able to get on if you lock the hard drive into place

Reference: