How To Back Up Your PS3 Game Data 2024
This is about the PS3 built in "Backup Utility" in the PlayStation 3 xmb options menu copying data off the PS3 via the USB port to a hard drive HDD or digital SSD drive. Can also "Restore" from this backup when done if moving data to a new PS3 or need to replace the hard drive. Go to "System Settings" down to "Backup Utility." Need a properly formatted HDD or SSD or USB zip thumb drive in the FAT32 format. exFat file format won't work. (unless I had it in GPT instead of MBR, but even then think 99% sure still needs to be in FAT32). Saw someone says PS3 uses FAT32 and exFat. FAT32 is a file system you have to format into FAT32 it is a little involved as explained here.
Note: You need ADMINSITRATOR account privileges on your Windows 10 computer to do this. Just being on your regular account and entering a admin password to open things might not work, such as with Disk Management, so you need to actually log in to your admin user account on your pc. As in "Sign Out" of your user account and or go to the lower left start button left click it, go up to the top of the menu on the left the picture icon click it, and select admin, it will take you out of your user account to log in to your admin user account with password. When done doing this "sign out" left click start select sign out, instead of restart or shut down pc. Then you can log back into your regular user account. You need admin for 2 things, disc management and also the software app "guiformat" has to run with admin privileges.
The original fat ps3, the slim, the super slim. In reverse order.
The HDD or SSD you send the "back up" data to
1.) has to be in the MBR format not GPT.
Master Boot Record (MBR) disks use the standard BIOS partition table.
GUID partition table (GPT) disks use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).
One advantage of GPT disks is that you can have more than four partitions on each disk. GPT is also required for disks larger than 2 terabytes (TB)
The Master Boot Record (MBR) format is an older partition table format that is used for 32-bit PCs, older PCs, and removable drives. The GUID Partition Table (GPT) format is more robust and is used for most PCs. Here are some differences between the two:
Size: MBR is limited to 2 TB, while GPT can support volumes larger than 2 TB.
Compatibility: MBR is compatible with older operating systems that don't support GPT. GPT is recommended for newer computers with UEFI firmware.
Partitions: MBR can only support up to four partitions on a disk. GPT allows for more partitions.
Boot time: UEFI can speed up boot and shutdown times.
Security: UEFI can provide additional security advantages.
You can convert a disk from MBR to GPT using Disk Management or Command Prompt. Before converting, you should back up any data on the disk.
2.) In order to change your external purchased hdd or ssd to MBR from GPT on Windows 10, log on as the administrator account. In the lower left search box type "disk management" to open the disk management tool, or type run enter diskmgmt.msc and click enter, there are a variety of ways to get to it. This will show all of your hard drives currently on the computer. (C:) is typically the computer HDD drive so later on you need to assign a letter to your new drive so leave (C:) letter alone.
With Disk Managment open down the list on the bottom you will see your new HDD to format or if it is an old laptop hdd may already be formatted. There is the left side box then the longer box which might say "unallocated" be black have lines across it, etc... in the left side small box left click and it will say "convert to MBR disk" if it is currently GPT and if it GPT format it will read convert to MBR. Click to change it to MBR.
No "Partitions" allowed, see the black box and blue, should be 1 box only, right click it and select "delete volume" or format it "new simple volume"
the PS3 reads the 1st partition so can't have any to do this (apparently).
If you don't have it as MBR and it is GPT when you go to your PS3 to back up you data it will say insert a storage media drive or 'whatever' but when you do have it in "MBR" it will show a small square icon for the available storage media to back up your data. ASSUMING it is in FAT32 format. See next.
3.) The back up HDD or SSD has to be in FAT32 format.
3.1.) This is complicated by the fact windows 10 disk management won't let you do it. If it is over 32GB drive or at all. So download a software called guiformat.exe. Click the picture it will download.
[http://ridgecrop.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm]
[link]
Click the top option to select your HDD or SSD not your (C:) drive! then click run and it is FAT32.
Website I downloaded the FAT32 guiformat tool from.
There are other apps, apparently "rufus" & "easus partition manager" etc.., don't use the windows CMD way it may fail, take a long time, etc...
Right click this "guiformat" software (in a Windows 10 folder, the icon or name, right click that, run as admin) and select "Run As Administrator." Then select the HDD you want to format and click run. It will format it to FAT32 in a few seconds. Will do it is 500GB hdd, or larger.
PROBLEMS 1: You should first format your HDD or SSD in the "Disk Management" to NTFS (NOT exFAT) with a drive letter abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz any 1 of them will show when you are going through the options. If you don't select a drive letter then the guiformat can't find your drive to format. So you right click the empty drive in disc mgmt, the black lines area larger box, and select "New Simple Volume" that will then pop up box to go through select, a drive letter and either NTFS or exFAT. If you just right click it will give a smaller box and less options, so be sure you start off with "new simple volume" you can also just "delete volume" and it will delete all partitions and return hdd to like new, so you can then again right click "new simple volume" it depends on the drive apparently a new hdd would used to show mbr or gpt as an option during this process, but now it hasn't, so again the option to see that is in the left box.
SO it has to be MBR -- & -- NTFS -- & -- have a Drive Letter. Like (X:) or (Y:) pick a bottom letter to void picking something you already have as a drive letter, like your dvd drive, or back up drive on your pc (C:) (D:) (E:), you can see the drives by clicking the yellow folder on the lower task bar on your desktop computer bar at the bottom click the folder twice, or left click and go up to "File Explorer" and on the left go to "This PC" there you will see the drives (C:) for your pc (D:) for a different hdd you added if you have 2 drives and chose the letter D, and (E:) for your dvd/cd/blu-ray drive.
SO it has to be MBR -- & -- NTFS -- & -- have a Drive Letter. Like (X:) or (Y:) pick a bottom letter to void picking something you already have as a drive letter, like your dvd drive, or back up drive on your pc (C:) (D:) (E:), you can see the drives by clicking the yellow folder on the lower task bar on your desktop computer bar at the bottom click the folder twice, or left click and go up to "File Explorer" and on the left go to "This PC" there you will see the drives (C:) for your pc (D:) for a different hdd you added if you have 2 drives and chose the letter D, and (E:) for your dvd/cd/blu-ray drive.
So keep the file explorer window open so you can see if your drive is showing like if you named it (X:) then you'd see (C:) (D:) (E:) & (X:) at 465GB if it a 500GB hdd or ssd. Now in the guiformat click the drop down arrow and select (X:) and then run.
PROBLEMS 2: The drive can't have any partitions on it, this is why to format in disk mgmt also.
PROBLEMS 3: The back up can take many hours. Like 200GB of data on your 500GB PS3 is 7 hours on a HDD back up. Someone said theirs took 12 hours no idea how much data.
PROBLEMS 4: Some say to use the CMD on Windows (power shell) command prompt stuff to format a drive to FAT32, but then it will ask more questions, how many save bits to allocate kind of thing potentially you wouldn't know without a step by step tutorial with error information also or error and so not worth the time to learn it but might work for you. Try it also through "Disk Part" saw that video but same technical info missing if done wrong or errors. I don't know. I tried to do it and it through me a error and then also asked me a question. So I just downloaded guiformat.
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Apparently you can have many games installed on the PS3 and then reload older games from your restore point on your back up hdd. I don't know. Would save from downloading from PSN. Seems to mean you can have a 6TB game collection from disc installs and digital games all stored on your hdd but only have 500GB hdd on the PS3.
You can not save to an external hard drive like with the PS4 though apparently, it is just how I said, restore some data, but I am unsure if it able to be selective in what you can restore file by file.
Keep in mind if you have a 1TB hdd you need a 1TB hdd to back up to. 500gb needs a 500gb hdd. Or thumb drive zip drive, usb drive. PS3 is usb 2.0 also. Not 3.0 or 3.1 etc..
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I saw a video that said to add a folder called "GAME" "VIDEO" etc.. but I didn't and it recognizes the hdd and backs up to it without a folder named "GAME."
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FAT32 Format Tool
Remember to always use the FAT32 Format Tool if you have an USB bigger than 32GB and Windows. Apple MAC computers or pc's can apparently format to FAT32.
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There are 2 different save data locations on a PS3 above the game icon when you put a new game disc in and or have digital games and demos all in a line, above that in the XMB bar, as it is called, are several folders, 1 near the bottom of the list above you is for "save data" the other higher up near the top is for "game data." Game data is when you install a new game it goes in this folder, such as 12GB install any "DLC" you downloaded is in this folder. While "Save Data" folder has your game save progress and are small files like 500MB or whatever, you can save these to a thumb drive, zip drive, usb stick drive just in case you ruin your PS3 you have all your save data. This can also be uploaded to the PSN for safe keeping if a PS Plus Member, such as on the PS4 it lets you send your save data to the cloud also. Should you need to back it up 1 day without losing all your progress. So don't delete this files in the save data folder if you need space they are small, go after the larger files up higher in the game data folder.
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NOTE:
When shopping HDD replacements, the PS3 can use a 1TB HDD not 2TB without issue, while 2TB can work it may have performance issues like freezing or crashing (apparently) not sure myself. Saw a video said the PS3 is formatted to accept up to 1TB HDD or SSD drives. Some people on internet think you can use 2TB but others say it will cause issues.
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NOTE:
Go into settings and "turn off" the "sleep" option so your PS3 doesn't enter sleep mode and turn off.
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NOTE:
In order to swap in a new hard drive you will need to make it FAT32. Also a ub drive to add the firmware to it, as in ow it is up to 4.91 or something like that in 2024, seems added support for more blu-rays and other things, some say not to download it if ever want to homebrew your PS3, hack your PS3, crack your PS3, jailbreak your PS3, run your own HDD so can do whatever in any format I think, etc... The store has a notice on it, can't add any funds to buy anything I think, have to do it through the PSN website to add funds to be in your wallet on the PSN store from the PS3.
Sony was going to end support for the PS3 Store back in 2021 so it likely won't be much longer now that it is 2024 about to be 2025 in a couple months. Lots of PS3's for sale on ebay. Be sure you don't buy a "Japanese" console as it will not play American dvds and blu-rays, may play games though.
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Finally:
How to connect a HDD or SSD to your PS3? What hardware to buy?
Assuming you bought a used or new 2.5" HDD (a small 1 from a laptop) not a big normal size 3.5" HDD from a desktop computer. A 2.5" will work with this Benfei SATA III cable USB connection cable. You plug it into your HDD then into your PS3 usb port. The PS3 powers the HDD through the USB port. Otherwise there are "cradles" and "caddies" and all kinds of SATA to USB cables. This BENFEI only works with 2.5 inch small drives or small SSD drives. Its all plug and play.
