PS3 How to prep for CFW?

i0sen

Forum Noob
Hello everyone!
I'm getting ready to install CFW on my CECH-25XX console (I have confirmed that it supports CFW using the toolset) and have a few questions and requests for those who've done this before.

First of all, I currently use my old fat model (A CECHA01) which has all of my game saves as well as some games I've purchased on PSN. Is there a way to transfer all my data to the new console before or after I install CFW? I've thought about using the built-in system transfer tool, but not sure if that will do what I'm looking for. I do want to keep my PSN games available for me to play as I don't own them on Blu-ray at all and would prefer not to have to hunt down copies of those games. Some advice I've gotten is that as long as I disable syscalls using something like webMAN I can just sign in and download those games post CFW, but not sure if that's correct or not. I was always told that as soon as you're running CFW, you can't sign into PSN at all anymore.

Secondly, what is the current recommendation for CFW. I've heard EVILNAT a bunch, but wondering if that's the best path forward for me.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
 
Regarding savefiles, best way to transfer them is with Apollo Save Tool. Make a backup on your old console, and recover them on your Slim. It's the easiest way, and you can resign them on the fly.

For your games, you will have to activate your Slim first and link it to your PSN account. You can login to PSN on CFW (it's a lie that you can't) but it's not advisable. It's better to activate your console, download all your games, and then install CFW.

Evilnat is the only CFW available since FW 4.88 and above, so no other options to choose from. It's full of features and with active support. One of the most stable CFW flavors I've used.
 
Regarding savefiles, best way to transfer them is with Apollo Save Tool. Make a backup on your old console, and recover them on your Slim. It's the easiest way, and you can resign them on the fly.

For your games, you will have to activate your Slim first and link it to your PSN account. You can login to PSN on CFW (it's a lie that you can't) but it's not advisable. It's better to activate your console, download all your games, and then install CFW.

Evilnat is the only CFW available since FW 4.88 and above, so no other options to choose from. It's full of features and with active support. One of the most stable CFW flavors I've used.

Ok. Good to know. Is there a reason NOT to use the system transfer tool that's part of the OFW? Seems like it would save me time and just migrate everything over.
 
TDU and SBU aren't reliable and takes ages them to do its job, due to unnecessary nonsensical tasks they doing. Plus, not all data will be transferred/backuped.

Best way is copy by hand, but for that, you need already hacked console.
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/ultimate-userdata-backup-guide.29037/

So... if source console is on OFW and you don't want hack it for some reason, before use DTU (better than SBU), make on PC sector by sector copy of disk. Just in case... And if you using Windows and want do that on Windows (i.e by IsoBuster, DMDE, HDD RAw Copy Tool etc.), then do NOT agree for disk initializing because that means that Windows will overwrite PS3PT by MBR or GPT and makes disk unrecognized by PS3 until format (possible to fix or data recovery in that state but it is quite tedious task).
 
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TDU and SBU aren't reliable and takes ages them to do its job, due to unnecessary nonsensical tasks they doing. Plus, not all data will be transferred/backuped.

Best way is copy by hand, but for that, you need already hacked console.
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/ultimate-userdata-backup-guide.29037/

So... if source console is on OFW and you don't want hack it for some reason, before use DTU (better than SBU), make on PC sector by sector copy of disk. Just in case... And if you using Windows and want do that on Windows (i.e by IsoBuster, DMDE, HDD RAw Copy Tool etc.), then do NOT agree for disk initializing because that means that Windows will overwrite PS3PT by MBR or GPT and makes disk unrecognized by PS3 until format (possible to fix or data recovery in that state but it is quite tedious task).

Ok. I do want to keep the source console on OFW. I will make a block backup onto my PC and then give the TDU a try. Thank you both for your help.
 

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