PS3 Ultimate userdata backup guide

Berion

Berion

Developer
People from time to time asking about their saves, trophies, games etc. Where are they, how to copy them, how to restore them etc. So, I put all important data locations in one tutorial.

Thanks to @AdamCatalyst, You can download and read tutorial in both languages: Polish and English.

Addendum:
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/userdata-forensics.43420/
 

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Hello @Berion, thank you for the comprehensive guide.
This is what I understand:

-We need console EID_KEY to mount PS3 encrypted HDD. This can only be done under Linux;
-To backup PS3 content we have to copy Directories as mentioned in your guide, from PS3 to PC;
-To Restore content, we simply paste all those Directories from PC to PS3, and I can find all my previous content, like installed PKG games? Even on newly formatted PS3 CFW?

Thank you!
 
From ERK (EID Root Key) are calculated all keys involved in internal HDD encryption. So yes, it is mandatory if You want read or write content to it on PC or other platforms (You can mount it also on PS4 Linux if You have ATA and VFLASH keys :D). Currently impossible to get on HEN (CFW is mandatory to retrieve decrypted meta loader in which ERK is glued). On Linux You have full access to everywhere on HDD, including write support if You compile kernel module with -rw privileges for UFS2, but if You are interested to only read data, just save Yourself time and use HDD Reader (for Windows (works on XP/Vista/7 but in theory should also on 8/8.1 and all 10 builds) or any Linux with 64bit support).

Yes. Use any file manager and copy to/from USB or FTP client on PC side.

Yes, however contents which are written in database to displaying in XMB needs additionally Database Rebuilding or You will not see them in XMB. And contents which are signed needs following ownership rules (different, depend if user is tied to SEN account or not). That's the main reason of copying xRegistry.sys, to save Yourself needs of resigning saves and trophies.

If PS3 user have tied it's account to SEN account (which means: activated console and log to SEN at least once on this specific account, then ownership based only on NP Account ID. If not, then ownership base only on User Number (number in folder name inside home) and PSID (do not mislead with IDPS).
 
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@Berion, I'm been looking for exactly his information for so long, thank-you so much for taking the time to write this out! Unfortunately, I don't speak Polish, and am having difficulty understanding the English translated PDF that has been graciously shared by @depaul. Would you be willing to share with me the original Word (or whatever it was) Polish document with images, and I will try to auto-translate it myself, and then have my Polish family help me out with the parts that don't translate right. I would then send you back the updated translation for your records, and I would never share it with anyone without your permission.
 
I do not using Word but Libre Office. MS Word have crippled support of *.odt because this format is strongly against their business model. So be prepared for a disaster after opening it in this application. If You want "source file", well yes, I think I can share it. It is not super secret file anyway with something valuable. I didn't uploaded editable document (at least easy editable) because there are many idiots out there who doesn't respect author and it's time. In the past, I was few times saw my text, rewritten with errors, under different author. PDF put a solid wall for such peoples because they are also lazy; lazy enough to not bother tinkering with it. ^^
 
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I don't use Word either, but Libre Office as well. :)

I completely understand. I promise, your source file will not ever appear anywhere. And I'll privately send you back what I do to it, so you can decide if you want to release it, modify it, or whatever.
 
AdamCatalyst said:
I don't use Word either, but Libre Office as well.
Click to expand...
I've used Libre Office for years as I prefer the UI to modern MS Office. 2003 was the last one I used that I liked, and so have used Libre Office ever since.

It's amazing how many people think that MS Office is the only option for creating documents, slideshows, spreadsheets etc. and are willing to pay good money when there are equally capable freeware alternatives available which handle the proprietary file formats.
 
LO guys want in near future use also "ribbon" (MSO 2K7+ ui) but I hope we will still be able to choose UI style. I also hate it. It is to high and grouping options in a way I don't like, while LO allow me to use fully custom, like below:

libreoffice_gui.jpg
 
BTW @AdamCatalyst, if you only want to backup PS3 installed games, you can plug an external HDD to your PS3 :

- Copy 'game' directory into your backup media
- After you install your new system, copy back your 'game' folder from your backup media
- Rebuild database. All your installed games should be there. Activate them again.
 
depaul said:
BTW @AdamCatalyst, if you only want to backup PS3 installed games, you can plug an external HDD to your PS3 :

- Copy 'game' directory into your backup media
- After you install your new system, copy back your 'game' folder from your backup media
- Rebuild database. All your installed games should be there. Activate them again.
Click to expand...

Thank-you for this! My goal is actually two-fold:

1. Make sure I have a backup of my PS3 HDD, that I can use to rebuild it manually with my stuff when that drive inevitably dies. What stuff? Well, all my game are self-ripped ISOs, so I have that covered. I'm not even sure what other stuff I need… but save games and PS2 virtual memory cards, etc. come to mind. It would also be nice not to go through the arduous process of re-installing hundreds of gigs of games, updates, & dlc.

2. I an a noob when it comes to the PS3. I want to better understand the folder structure, what goes where, and get more comfortable under the hood.

I've taken note of everything you have said here. Keeping notes. Learning. Appreciating all the tips being shared.
 
IMO the easiest thing is to just dump your complete dev_hdd0 contents, and your complete dev_flash2 contents via FTP or a file manager. This will cover everything like saves, user folders, games, system settings, licenses , account info etc, everything. Using these backups you can completely restore the console to it's current state after a format or HDD failure.

Note: Doing it this way you will end up backing up about 500MB of unneeded stuff, but it just easier to do it that way, rather than picking each folder and file individually.
 
DeViL303 said:
IMO the easiest thing is to just dump your complete dev_hdd0 contents, and your complete dev_flash2 contents via FTP or a file manager. This will cover everything like saves, user folders, games, system settings, licenses , account info etc, everything. Using these backups you can completely restore the console to it's current state after a format or HDD failure.

Note: Doing it this way you will end up backing up about 500MB of unneeded stuff, but it just easier to do it that way, rather than picking each folder and file individually.
Click to expand...

OK, cool thanks! That's what I do for all my other systems, and have no problem with wasting a proportionately inconsequential amount of space. The only issue I seem to have with the PS3 is that FTP is not copying every file, giving me errors on some. I will go check out threads on that, and try those recommendations.
 
You could try using an app for FTP, so for example when you have rebug toolbox open it allows FTP access too. In some cases it can be better than background ftp via plugin.

Note you would need to disable the webman.sprx first, as it's ftp server will take priority. You can do this by temporarily renaming the sprx in dev_hdd0/plugins/ , or by temporarily renaming the dev_hdd0/boot_plugins.txt file
 
DeViL303 said:
You could try using an app for FTP, so for example when you have rebug toolbox open it allows FTP access too. In some cases it can be better than background ftp via plugin.

Note you would need to disable the webman.sprx first, as it's ftp server will take priority. You can do this by temporarily renaming the sprx in dev_hdd0/plugins/ , or by temporarily renaming the dev_hdd0/boot_plugins.txt file
Click to expand...

Woah, your right! Getting much better reliability with other FTPs, such as the one in Irisman. Thanks for your help!
 
"Games copied from Disc That is, disc content copied to folders, used by backup managers, i.e. jailbreak format (an idiotic term by-theway, but unfortunately it caught on).

I agree.
 
Berion said:
People from time to time asking about their saves, trophies, games etc. Where are they, how to copy them, how to restore them etc. So, I put all important data locations in one tutorial.

Thanks to @AdamCatalyst, You can download and read tutorial in both languages: Polish and English.
Click to expand...
Thank you Berion! This is all the info i needed right here! Super helpfull! This is a hidden gem aha. Been stressing over a month on finding this info and now it is all on one pdf. Awesome. Just wish my first ps3 had CFW so i couldve did a proper full back up not like Sony's knock off back up lol, well back to restarting a bunch of games but this time with a legit back up plan aha cheers
 
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