⟐ Answered abril 15, 2023 at 17:21 GMT-7

My playstation turns on for about 2 seconds, then beeps 3 times and I get a red flashing light.

Does anyone have any ides on how to fix this.

Thanks

⟐ Commented maio 11, 2026 at 0:36 GMT-7

⟐ Answered maio 06, 2026 at 22:25 GMT-7

I opened my PS3 to replace the CMOS battery which involves exposing the processors. The guide I was using said to use a pea-size amount after cleaning the old paste off because the heatsink would spread it out. Is this enough to prevent major problems, or would spreading a thin layer or "X" shape have been better?

Model is CECHL03 (Fat) and thermal paste I used is Arctic MX4 if that changes anything

⟐ Answered maio 04, 2026 at 8:29 GMT-7

⟐ Answered abril 21, 2026 at 22:26 GMT-7

⟐ Answered abril 18, 2026 at 7:05 GMT-7

⟐ Commented abril 08, 2026 at 4:40 GMT-7

⟐ Answered março 22, 2026 at 11:41 GMT-7

I found some help on this site where I can hold the power button to restart the video settings, but I can't get the PS3 to beep twice.

I've also seen something where it may help to put in a dvd of the most updated software which you can download from Sony. I tried that too but nothing, any suggections?

⟐ Answered março 07, 2026 at 14:52 GMT-7

⟐ Commented março 07, 2026 at 7:40 GMT-7

Things I have tried:

-Holding the power button to reset the video settings - no change

-Switching HDMI cables and also trying AV cable - no change

-Switching TVs - no change

-Holding the power to put the ps3 into safe mode - did not work. Safe mode does not seem to load up, and still only a black screen

-I bought a new HDD - This was the most encouraging attempt. The ps3 turned on properly and went through the OS installation process, but then immediately went back to a black screen.

-I've tried loading the latest ps3 firmware update onto a USB flash drive (formatted to FAT32) - no change

-When I turn on the ps3 with no HDD in the system - I do get a video signal and an error message that says "The appropriate system storage was not found"

The best attempts I have are related to the HDD. Though, I'm confused that I wasn't able to install the OS and fix the system using the new HDD...so I'm out of ideas at the moment.

Any help on this would be absolutely amazing!

⟐ Answered março 06, 2026 at 11:29 GMT-7

⟐ Answer edited março 01, 2026 at 9:23 GMT-7

⟐ Commented janeiro 31, 2026 at 18:55 GMT-7

⟐ Answer accepted janeiro 22, 2026 at 8:39 GMT-7

I’m running custom firmware, and when I start up I get the evilnat logo, it goes away, and then the screen will freeze for a few minutes, then it will do almost like a freezing slideshow and then eventually take me to the xmb. In total it takes about 5 minutes. Once I get in it’s decently smooth until you do something where the ps3 has to “think”. The obvious thing would be an HDD issue, but I swapped to a different one. I had an SSD in there then swapped to am hdd and the problem persists. I tried installing OFW but it fails due to 8002F14E and got stuck in an update loop. I tried fixing that but couldn’t, however before this ordeal happened my disc drive was working perfectly fine, I had replaced the laser and had no issues.

I managed to reformat the hard drive and reinstalled CFW but this time the no BD version. I have a replacement drive ( a BD-410, I originally had a BD-400) that I installed and I’m trying to remarry but same issue when I go into FSM it’s painfully slow to boot up, then when I go to marry the drive it freezes for like 2 minutes and fails, but from what I understand the failure is not abnormal. I assume I can do it on the no BD version? Also sometimes on FSM my thumb drive will just disappear and I gotta reboot again, it’s a PITA.

Does anyone have any insight or advice on what can be causing this, or am I doing something wrong? I’m scared to get stuck in a boot loop again installing a different firmware.

Couple others to note:

It’s a Frankie, no artifacting and temps look good, scanned HDD and no issues found.

Thanks!!

⟐ Commented janeiro 20, 2026 at 12:28 GMT-7

⟐ Commented janeiro 12, 2026 at 15:32 GMT-7

⟐ Answer edited dezembro 20, 2025 at 1:35 GMT-7