Could someone help with a PS3 not going into safe mode?

I have a PS3 with an 80 GB hard drive that just starts to automatically update itself even after I try and boot it into safe mode (holding down power button and waiting for the beeps). Also, after each attempt at its automatic System Update it just gives me an error (8002F14E) WITHOUT finishing the update. Is there some other way to force booting it into safe mode? I am doing this for a good friend. I swapped out his blu ray drive kept original logic board from original drive. Serial: CM097288114-CECHE01 MG

PLEASE HELP!!!

The reason I swapped out the blu ray drive was because the original wasn't accepting or reading discs.