PS3 "the file system on the system may be corrupted"

Ezzio11

Forum Noob
Hey guys, hope you're all doing well.

I was opening MGSV Ground Zeroes and unfortunately I had to close the PS3 the hard way due to the PS3 being stuck, however when I booted it up again it gave me this screen and when I press :but x: it restarts that page again, and when I press :but cir: it checks until 100% then also restarts to the same message.

I've been searching since yesterday and it seems the only way to fix this issue is to format the HDD -which isn't really that big of a deal-.

however I've been told that I can grab my eid_root_key (to use it to back up the HDD before formatting) by plugging an external HDD so I was wondering if that's true? If it is then is there a guide or is it simple?


Another thing is, on this forum : https://www.psu.com/forums/threads/ps3-stuck-in-a-hdd-restore-loop.247687/, the last reply says that by installing CFW again it might solve this issue, so again is it true and if yes is there a guide?

Sorry for the long post and any help is massively appreciated.
 
Hey guys, hope you're all doing well.

I was opening MGSV Ground Zeroes and unfortunately I had to close the PS3 the hard way due to the PS3 being stuck, however when I booted it up again it gave me this screen and when I press :but x: it restarts that page again, and when I press :but cir: it checks until 100% then also restarts to the same message.

I've been searching since yesterday and it seems the only way to fix this issue is to format the HDD -which isn't really that big of a deal-.

however I've been told that I can grab my eid_root_key (to use it to back up the HDD before formatting) by plugging an external HDD so I was wondering if that's true? If it is then is there a guide or is it simple?


Another thing is, on this forum : https://www.psu.com/forums/threads/ps3-stuck-in-a-hdd-restore-loop.247687/, the last reply says that by installing CFW again it might solve this issue, so again is it true and if yes is there a guide?

Sorry for the long post and any help is massively appreciated.
Not sure what screen you are referring to, a screenshot would have helped but anyway here goes.

1. To dump erk (the eid_root_key), you must have access to the XMB & launch a erk dumper, there is currently no alternative.
There are standalone erk dumper executable self files (one self per firmware version, you must pick the right one) available out there but you can also use the Rebug Toolbox to do it & iirc CFW Tools on Evilnat 4.88.2 might also have an erk dumper integrated as a XMB menu item (TBC).

2. I could be wrong but my guess is that one of your hdd partitions might be corrupted, maybe /dev_flash2.
Try booting into the recovery menu using the appropriate power button sequence.
If the recovery menu options (check fs, rebuild db & restore system) don't help, you may need to reinstall the firmware, if you do, you won't lose any data anyway except any XMB customisations you may have applied.


3. And if ever the system won't let you reinstall the firmware either (in recovery mode), as a last resort you can temporarily remove your hdd & insert a spare hdd instead, the system should let you reinstall the firmware.

If you don't care about the data on your hdd, you can reformat it as ntfs on your PC then reinsert it in the ps3 & reinstall the firmware.
If you do care about the hdd data, the eid_root_key remains the same with another hdd so you can dump the eid_root_key when using a newly inserted spare hdd & use that key to read the old hdd on a PC if ever you wish to extract some data from it.
 
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Not sure what screen you are referring to, a screenshot would have helped but anyway here goes.

1. To dump erk (the eid_root_key), you must have access to the XMB & launch a erk dumper, there is currently no alternative.
There are standalone erk dumper executable self files (one self per firmware version, you must pick the right one) available out there but you can also use the Rebug Toolbox to do it & iirc CFW Tools on Evilnat 4.88.2 might also have an erk dumper integrated as a XMB menu item (TBC).

2. I could be wrong but my guess is that one of your hdd partitions might be corrupted, maybe /dev_flash2.
Try booting into the recovery menu using the appropriate power button sequence.
If the recovery menu options (check fs, rebuild db & restore system) don't help, you may need to reinstall the firmware, if you do, you won't lose any data anyway except any XMB customisations you may have applied.


3. And if ever the system won't let you reinstall the firmware either (in recovery mode), as a last resort you can temporarily remove your hdd & insert a spare hdd instead, the system should let you reinstall the firmware.

If you don't care about the data on your hdd, you can reformat it as ntfs on your PC then reinsert it in the ps3 & reinstall the firmware.
If you do care about the hdd data, the eid_root_key remains the same with another hdd so you can dump the eid_root_key when using a newly inserted spare hdd & use that key to read the old hdd on a PC if ever you wish to extract some data from it.

Yeah sorry about the lack of screenshots I tried adding one but for some reason it doesn't let me :(

When doing number 2, do I need to install the original firmware or the custom firmware?

About the formatting, do I need to format it via PC? Can't I just format it in safe mode?

Also doesn't the PS3 only read FAT32, why should I format it in NTFS?

Thank you for your help.
 
I've been told that I can grab my eid_root_key (to use it to back up the HDD before formatting) by plugging an external HDD so I was wondering if that's true? If it is then is there a guide or is it simple?

https://www.psx-place.com/threads/h...on-3-hdd-on-pc-tutorials-tools-hub-faq.36261/

the last reply says that by installing CFW again it might solve this issue, so again is it true and if yes is there a guide?

If You have boot loop on fschk, it means format HDD is mandatory as damages are beyond repair for PS3 (for unknown reason ;]). Installing fw (doesn't matter what fw) doesn't doing fs checking and repairs so I doubt. However, You have nothing to loose to check.

And of course You will not install CFW if You have installed OFW beyond v3.55, as You need working environment to exploit it first.
 
Interesting and definitely useful thread, thanks!

I didn't quite understand the firmware installation part, could you elaborate? My PS3 is already jailbroken and on CFW as well (Slim).
 
Yes, try reinstall CFW. I doubt it will fix Your problem but You have nothing to loose just trying.

Instead of format of current disk, put different disk to PS3, format it, install CFW (on NOR models mandatory step), read ERK, decrypt old HDD and copy contents which You want and can. Or if You don't care about Your data, just format HDD of course.
 
Yes, try reinstall CFW. I doubt it will fix Your problem but You have nothing to loose just trying.

Instead of format of current disk, put different disk to PS3, format it, install CFW (on NOR models mandatory step), read ERK, decrypt old HDD and copy contents which You want and can. Or if You don't care about Your data, just format HDD of course.

Very well then, I hope it works and saves me all this pain :(

Btw can I format using the PS3 option from safe mode? Or is this the only option anyway lol
 
I'm not sure if I'm correct by format from recovery level doing full format, which means overwriting each sector. In write speed ~40MiB/s it will take ages for i.e 1TiB HDD.
 
I'm not sure if I'm correct by format from recovery level doing full format, which means overwriting each sector. In write speed ~40MiB/s it will take ages for i.e 1TiB HDD.
Oh yeah I totally forgot about the time..
Can I format is without the Eid_root_key on my laptop at least?
 
Oh yeah I totally forgot about the time..
Can I format is without the Eid_root_key on my laptop at least?
Of course you can.
You only need the eid_root_key to decrypt partition data if you wish to extract files from a ps3 hdd on another device than the ps3 itself.
 
Yes. ;]

And check if everything is ok, if dump is proper - by trying to read HDD. The best for test is HDD Reader.
 
Yes. ;]

And check if everything is ok, if dump is proper - by trying to read HDD. The best for test is HDD Reader.
Well, now the system Restoring loop is gone but whenever I try to do anything the PS3 just freezes :\ I tried opening games or restarting PS3 via webman and it freezes, while opening irisman is fine for some reason..
 
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