PS3 Trying to figure out what HDD format is better

Vebent

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I have an original CECHA-01 model PS3 with a 256GB internal HDD and two 2TB external HDD that are both formatted as FAT32. What I'm trying to find out is it worth it to have them as FAT32? I just found out that the PS3 is capable of reading NTFS. Also that I can't put folder structured games on NTFS drives. Half of my games are folder structured in the GAMES folder. I also found out that you can install .pkg games on an NTFS external HDD. I want to know what format is more worth it. It seems like I should stick with FAT32 just to avoid the headache of converting everything to NTFS, but NTFS can handle everything better.
 
Both webman and multiman supports NTFS formatted USB drives which means no filesize limit so there is a huge advantage over using FAT32
 
Both webman and multiman supports NTFS formatted USB drives which means no filesize limit so there is a huge advantage over using FAT32

It looks like ManaGunz also supports it, but for some reason I run into some random system freezes. One of them put me on a system restore loop. I managed to get out of it, but I had to replace the internal HDD. I'm going to use multiman instead and see how that goes.
 
So multiMAN can play games no problem just run prepNTFS on the drive before hand. Setting up using the file manager with NTFS is a whole new adventure. You have to setup the PFS file which doesn't work with every drive. Now any fork of IRIS like @Zar Managunz & @aldostools IRISMAN file managers work great. In fact it just recently started supporting exFAT recently which is pretty neat as now my PS3 & PS4 files can be on one drive.
 
So multiMAN can play games no problem just run prepNTFS on the drive before hand. Setting up using the file manager with NTFS is a whole new adventure. You have to setup the PFS file which doesn't work with every drive. Now any fork of IRIS like @Zar Managunz & @aldostools IRISMAN file managers work great. In fact it just recently started supporting exFAT recently which is pretty neat as now my PS3 & PS4 files can be on one drive.

I wish I knew this before loading games on it. Will prepNTFS format the drive?
 
I want to know what format is more worth it.

I asked detailed info about how HDD external partitions works and aldotools answered all of my questions.
From this post below you can judge what is better for you.
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/external-hdd-advice.30637/#post-292562

My conclusion: NTFS is not the best because it doesn't have everything, the same goes to FAT32. The main difference is that FAT32 has limitations in file sizes but it supports PSN Games installed in external HDDs and GAME folders (JB) and NTFS support big file sizes.
 
I asked detailed info about how HDD external partitions works and aldotools answered all of my questions.
From this post below you can judge what is better for you.
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/external-hdd-advice.30637/#post-292562

My conclusion: NTFS is not the best because it doesn't have everything, the same goes to FAT32. The main difference is that FAT32 has limitations in file sizes but it supports PSN Games installed in external HDDs and GAME folders (JB) and NTFS support big file sizes.


FAT32 file size isn't really an issue as you can just split ISO files which is easy enough. You should rip all games to ISO anyhow for highest compatibly. Even if you use JB folder you can get around larger then 4gb+ file size by extracting the .psarc files. We had to do this years ago before Cobra Team brought over ISO format thanks to Cards asking the Cobra Team for the source code which was implemented by Habib after cleaning up code.
 
NTFS never worked for me; the PS3 would see the game ISOs in MultiMan and Webman but it would never load them.

I would be willing to split all my ISOs and use fat32, but I wanted the PS3 to be able to recognize a drive this size.
What did it do or say when it wouldn't load the games?
 
What did it do or say when it wouldn't load the games?

When I try to load them in Multiman, no matter what I get this error:

974XUDp.png


and the game never shows up in the XMB.

If I try to use WebManMod (newest release from like 2 days ago) I get this:

B9SgySB.png


But nothing ever loads :(
 
So my CECHB-01 gave me a similar issue using over a 2tb HDD. What I wound up doing was using it as a NAS drive with my 8tb which it worked out great. Have you tried using a smaller drive to rule some stuff out? If it works it could your HDD. I would try both FAT32 & NTFS. Also ensure the drive is MBR. At least then we can rule out hardware issues.
 
When I try to load them in Multiman, no matter what I get this error:

974XUDp.png


and the game never shows up in the XMB.

If I try to use WebManMod (newest release from like 2 days ago) I get this:

B9SgySB.png


But nothing ever loads :(
You probably have a bad dump. What settings did you have selected in PS3 ISO TOOLS to create an iso?
 
So my CECHB-01 gave me a similar issue using over a 2tb HDD. What I wound up doing was using it as a NAS drive with my 8tb which it worked out great. Have you tried using a smaller drive to rule some stuff out? If it works it could your HDD. I would try both FAT32 & NTFS. Also ensure the drive is MBR. At least then we can rule out hardware issues.

It's definitely the size of the drive. I tried NTFS as MBR and it's giving me the issue. FAT32 works fine, but I want to use my 5TB drive.

What's the thing you are talking about with NAS?
 
It's definitely the size of the drive. I tried NTFS as MBR and it's giving me the issue. FAT32 works fine, but I want to use my 5TB drive.

What's the thing you are talking about with NAS?
Definitely not a bad dump because it works just fine when the hard drive is in FAT32.
Did you try to run prep ISO first before running a game? Games will always work when it's FAT32 because that's what the PS3 supports, but when it's NTFS you have to run prep ISO first.
And in webman MOD's setup.ps3, check "disable content scan on startup" and uncheck "dev_NTFS" in the scan for conent tab.
 
It's definitely the size of the drive. I tried NTFS as MBR and it's giving me the issue. FAT32 works fine, but I want to use my 5TB drive.

What's the thing you are talking about with NAS?


PS3Netserv is what you will need and you load games over your network. Aside from PS2 & PSP it works great for PS3 & PS1 without slowdown. There are tons of guides out there on how to do this. Works great with webMAN MOD just make sure you have it scan for new content when you add stuff.


The steps are quite simple:
1- Start multiMAN on the PS3 that will act as server (the one that has the ISO that we want to run).
2- On multiMAN go to Settings column and set "Remote Access Permissions" to Full
3- On another PS3 use webMAN or multiMAN to connect to the PS3.
a) If you use webMAN:
  • Go to /setup.ps3, put a check mark on Scan for LAN games/videos PS3NETSRV#1 (2 or 3...), enter the IP address of the PS3 acting as server, enter 38008 as port and save!!
  • Use webMAN file browser to navigate to the folder containing the ISO in /net0 (or /net1, etc.) and mount it clicking on the 2nd column (size column).

b) If you use multiMAN:
  • Go to Settings column, press X on Network Servers option, enable /net_host0 and enter the IP address of the PS3 acting as server, enter 38008 as port, enter a friendly name (press START on each prompt).
  • Now you can go to mmOS (SELECT+START), navigate to the folder containing the ISO in /net_host0 and mount it double clicking on the file (press X twice).

IMPORTANT: multiMAN must be always running on the PS3 acting as server, unless you use webMAN MOD "full edition" (which has implemented its own PS3 NET Server).

Multi-part ISO or games in JB folders cannot be mounted with multiMAN's PS3 NET Server (neither with webMAN MOD's PS3 NET Server).

Enjoy it!!! ... all credits (and your base) belong to deank
 

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