Extract root key without video?

M

MisterFurious

Member
Hello everyone.

I have a CECHA01 model PS3 that still boots (I had the latest firmware on it), but the graphics card is dead. I even tried using the multiport to component adapter with no success at getting video from it. I understand that replacing the graphics card is not possible without replacing the entire motherboard, which would force me to erase my hard drive. I grew tired of these machines YLOD'ing on me so I finally bit the bullet, gave up on PS2 compatibility, and got a more reliable slim model.

I would still like to try and recover some data from the old PS3 hard drive that cannot be restored from PSN, but I was never able to back it up (every time I tried I got some kind of error, which I suspect is because I had a game that was larger than 4GB so it couldn't write to a FAT32 partition).I know there are tools that will let me access the files on the old PS3 hard drive but I need the EID root key to decrypt it. I am still able to boot my old PS3, but is there a way to extract the root key without being able to access video? I know it's a long shot, but I thought this would be the place to ask if there was.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.
 
while the ps3 is off, hold down the power button untill it beeps one time then let go. this will reset the video. this may not be your problem but ita worth a try.
 
Maybe you could try to use the XMB in a blind way: move all the way to right, press Left 2 times to access Network column. Press up several times then try to access Remote Play. Use a PSP or PC (vaio if you're on OFW) for remote access.

Another alternative is try to access the Data Transfer Utility... which is harder to access.

If it has webMAN installed, you don't need the display, just use FTP... but I guess this is not the case.
 
aldostools said:
Maybe you could try to use the XMB in a blind way: move all the way to right, press Left 2 times to access Network column. Press up several times then try to access Remote Play. Use a PSP or PC (vaio if you're on OFW) for remote access.

Another alternative is try to access the Data Transfer Utility... which is harder to access.

If it has webMAN installed, you don't need the display, just use FTP... but I guess this is not the case.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the response. No, webMAN is not installed, but the idea of trying to use the XMB in the blind sounds promising since I have a working PS3 at the ready. I could use the working one to document the number of left, right, up, or down presses of the controller and create a "Konami cheat code" of sorts to get me to the desired function on the old PS3, assuming it's not totally dead. In fact, if the audio still works I would be able to hear the "ticks" as I navigate through the XMB. It's worth a shot.

Is the data transfer utility you're referring to the one where you connect the PS3's to each other with an ethernet cable? That would not help me since the data I am trying to transfer to my replacement PS3 is specifically listed as excluded from the transfer (Singstar songs - the only DLC that is locked to machine hardware rather than just a PSN account).

I've never used remote play, Would that get me access to these files, or am I stuck trying to see if I can decrypt the drive?

Thanks again!
 
MisterFurious said:
...the idea of trying to use the XMB in the blind sounds promising since I have a working PS3 at the ready. I could use the working one to document the number of left, right, up, or down presses of the controller and create a "Konami cheat code" of sorts to get me to the desired function on the old PS3, assuming it's not totally dead. In fact, if the audio still works I would be able to hear the "ticks" as I navigate through the XMB.
Click to expand...

LIGHT BULB! If I can figure out a way to navigate the XMB in the blind, wouldn't I also be able to run a tool to extract the EID root key file? Or do I have to make modifications to the PS3 before I run the tool?
 
MisterFurious said:
Thank you so much for the response. No, webMAN is not installed, but the idea of trying to use the XMB in the blind sounds promising since I have a working PS3 at the ready. I could use the working one to document the number of left, right, up, or down presses of the controller and create a "Konami cheat code" of sorts to get me to the desired function on the old PS3, assuming it's not totally dead. In fact, if the audio still works I would be able to hear the "ticks" as I navigate through the XMB. It's worth a shot.

Is the data transfer utility you're referring to the one where you connect the PS3's to each other with an ethernet cable? That would not help me since the data I am trying to transfer to my replacement PS3 is specifically listed as excluded from the transfer (Singstar songs - the only DLC that is locked to machine hardware rather than just a PSN account).

I've never used remote play, Would that get me access to these files, or am I stuck trying to see if I can decrypt the drive?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Remote Play would allow you use a PSP or a PC as a secondary screen...
Then you can install any ftp server (webMAN, multiman, rebug toolbox, etc.) and transfer your files.

If it has Cobra 8, you could burn a DVD with multiMAN or IRISMAN and try to launch it (specially if you had disc auto-start enabled).
Then use the FTP server of these back managers. For this solution you need to resign the eboot of the backup managers as retail.
 
aldostools said:
Remote Play would allow you use a PSP or a PC as a secondary screen...
Then you can install any ftp server (webMAN, multiman, rebug toolbox, etc.) and transfer your files.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I no longer have a PSP. How does this work with PC? Does it have to be Windows?

aldostools said:
If it has Cobra 8, you could burn a DVD with multiMAN or IRISMAN and try to launch it (specially if you had disc auto-start enabled).
Then use the FTP server of these back managers. For this solution you need to resign the eboot of the backup managers as retail.
Click to expand...
Would Cobra 8 have to be installed on the PS3? Sorry, I'm a noob at this. I've never tried modding my PS3 in any way, not even when it had the "other OS" option.
 
MisterFurious said:
Unfortunately I no longer have a PSP. How does this work with PC? Does it have to be Windows?
Click to expand...
Remote Play only works with PSP, PSP Vita and Sony Vaio laptops. Custom firmware have this function patched to use it on any PC.

MisterFurious said:
Would Cobra 8 have to be installed on the PS3?
Click to expand...
Yes.

MisterFurious said:
Sorry, I'm a noob at this. I've never tried modding my PS3 in any way, not even when it had the "other OS" option.
Click to expand...
As you're on OFW, your options are very limited.
 
If You would have already CFW, then it will be only a matter of memorize the steps (to install something which will dump ERK, and something which will offering FTP Server; besides network configuration). But on pure OFW this will be a challenge.

IMO, the best way for You is creating SBS copy of PS3HDD on PC (just in case), then use blindly Data Transfer Utility to working console.

The lesson from this for You is not only making backups but also designing for yourself recovery solutions before fuckup happened. ;) In case of PS3, two most important keys for the end user are IDPS and ERK. With first You would be able to extract secure part of the System Backup, and the other of course to get ATA and VFLASH keys. Since PS3/X360 unhacked consoles have very limited functionality, especially in case of offline backup and restore capabilities, on which none of those firms care.
 
You should be able to do most stuff blind. I have updated consoles CFW before blind, Installing apps like webman/rebug toolbox should not be too difficult. If you can get into rebug toolbox you can dump the EID key or use FTP.

Installing CFW from scratch though would be difficult. You would need to run a web exploit blind.. not easy as you would need to type URLS etc. Remote play would be one way to get it set up, create bookmarks etc, still not easy but theoretically possible
 
MisterFurious said:
Hello everyone.

I have a CECHA01 model PS3 that still boots (I had the latest firmware on it), but the graphics card is dead. I even tried using the multiport to component adapter with no success at getting video from it. I understand that replacing the graphics card is not possible without replacing the entire motherboard, which would force me to erase my hard drive. I grew tired of these machines YLOD'ing on me so I finally bit the bullet, gave up on PS2 compatibility, and got a more reliable slim model.

I would still like to try and recover some data from the old PS3 hard drive that cannot be restored from PSN, but I was never able to back it up (every time I tried I got some kind of error, which I suspect is because I had a game that was larger than 4GB so it couldn't write to a FAT32 partition).I know there are tools that will let me access the files on the old PS3 hard drive but I need the EID root key to decrypt it. I am still able to boot my old PS3, but is there a way to extract the root key without being able to access video? I know it's a long shot, but I thought this would be the place to ask if there was.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.
Click to expand...
Sorry about this stupid question, but did you try to access recovery?

Just to be sure it's not a wrong video configuration. On recovery, I think all video settings would be the default. Just to be sure the video is really dead...
 
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