PS3 Ultimate userdata backup guide
Miguel Brochu
Member
My PS3 was a CECH-3001B wich was not CFW compatible so i wouldn't of been able to get that information i beleive. It did not have HEN as well. It is all tooken apart now after trying to repaste after failed delid, plus i cooked the motherboard in the oven for last fix attemp incase i broke solderballs under the GPU or CPU. Only thing left from it is my backup from backup utility tool to my WD exterternal drive. I still have the original harddrive in hand but i cannot acess it since the encryption as i am aware. I think i am out of luck unless there is another way to get dump file with what ive got. Thank you man thanks again for your effort bro
Berion
Developer
If You desolder NOR chip from this dead motherboard and read it on reader, You can get IDPS, which means getting access to protected archives of Your system backup copy (but no ERK to get access to HDD because bootloader is encrypted in unknown way). If You throw all stuff to trash already, well, then You are out of luck because half of IDPS is random but still it is enough values to making bruteforce attack on current GPU/CPUs rather not enough in reasonable time period.
Miguel Brochu
Member
Thanks man! I indeed kept the motherboard. If i have someone knowledgeable to be able to do this for me in the future i will look into it! Many thanks for quick replys my freind
Hi! I was attempting to export my PS3 received and sent messages - however, the folders that they would be in (imin and imout) are empty, save for some Game[numberstring] files that I'm unsure how to view, despite the messages still being available and readable on the PS3 itself.
Berion
Developer
@lea Hello.
Inside imin and imout are only messages from chat build-in XMB (at least on 3.55 because it was last fw on which I using network features other than trophies syncing). If some game or other app have such functionality, it saves only in his folder in savedata in user's home.
If You do not afraid of private data leaking (in home there are eg. passwords to facebook), You can send me Your home contents (packed into eg. 7z, with long passowrd, archive uploading to mediafire, link plus password on private message) and I could look for them.
Inside imin and imout are only messages from chat build-in XMB (at least on 3.55 because it was last fw on which I using network features other than trophies syncing). If some game or other app have such functionality, it saves only in his folder in savedata in user's home.
If You do not afraid of private data leaking (in home there are eg. passwords to facebook), You can send me Your home contents (packed into eg. 7z, with long passowrd, archive uploading to mediafire, link plus password on private message) and I could look for them.
Lost_Lombax
Forum Noob
Hi there!
This tutorial is awesome Berion, it clarifies many doubts I encountered. So I'm trying to renew my old PS3 and the first thing I want to do is change the hard disk without losing anything. I have seen different ways but I think only manual copy ensures 200% that you don't lose something. Or maybe there is an automatic way I haven't discovered yet. I haven't tinkered with my consoles for some years so I'm a bit rusted with everything.
I haven't seen a complete good tutorial except this one here but it's missing some steps to be able to carry the process completely. So I'm gathering info in how to do it and we could make a full tutorial that can be useful to everyone.
1. Backup SYSTEM Important Files
So I have PS3 Slim CECH-2504B with 4.84.2 Rebug REX. I have 2 users only, mine and ReAct user for pkg.
I have backup the system important files which are:
xRegistry.sys -> Done with Rebug Toolbox directly to USB Drive
EID Root Key -> Done with Rebug Toolbox, the system restarts for this (is it normal?) then it will be saved in the HDD but you can export it to a USB Drive.
Dump NAND/NOR memory image from which you can read the IDPS -> Done with Rebug Toolbox directly to USB Drive (Look for Export Flash to File).
2. Backup USER data:
Installed games, covers, patches and add-ons and Programs: dev_hdd0/game/<GameID>/
dev_hdd0/home/<user>/savedata/
dev_hdd0/home/<user>/trophy/
dev_hdd0/theme/
Licenses: dev_hdd0/home/<user>/exdata/ In the PDF you say The data is signed. What do you mean here?
Multimedia: "dev_hdd0/video/", "dev_hdd0/music/", "dev_hdd0/photo/".
dev_hdd0/home/<user>/chat/room/
dev_hdd0/home/<user>/friendim/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS1 and PS2 and minis/PSP saves not needed for me check PDF
Games copied form disk and Disc Images not needed for me check PDF
dev_hdd0/PKG/ and dev_hdd0/packages/ are empty for me
PUP packages: dev_hdd0/updater/<number e.g. 01>/*.pup I don't have it
So these folders can be copied if I'm not mistaken via FTP-PC or copying it to USB Drive (or external HDD) using file manager inside the PS3 right? Or is there a problem in doing it this way? Another method would be using EID Root Key + Linux PC and getting the data directly from the HDD. But without a Linux or Virtual Machine this is not possible, is this correct or it can be done in Windows too?
3. Prepare New HDD
Remove the Old HDD from your PS3 and place the New HDD (format of the New HDD?). Install OFW 4.84 then install CFW 4.84.2 Rebug REX. Or maybe I can Install directly the CFW I'm not sure about this step.
4. Restore Backed Up USER files
Connect via FTP or connect the USB Drive where the backup is and place back all the folders which were backed up before. It's important that the user number is still the same. Afterwards turn off the PS3 and turn on in Service Mode, execute Rebuild Database.
If something goes wrong with the restoration here or you are missing something can you swap to the Old HDD in your PS3 to back up what you forgot? Or after having the new one installed this is not possible?
5. Enjoy your new HDD
So this would be the complete process if I haven't mistaken or forgotten something. I placed in red my doubts. For what I have read this process would get everything in its place. But I'm wondering if I have forgotten something important. For example, I activated my console with PSN when I was in OFW and I think this was important for certain stuff which I don't remember, where is this stored? Is there something important to backup out of the hdd0?
Berion
Developer
@Lost_Lombax Hello, welcome on forum and thanks for the opinion. ^^
About ERK dumping, I don't remember now but if key appears, then it is probably valid (48 bytes long). But would be wise to test it anyway to be 100% sure.
Activation (act.dat) and licenses (*.rif/*.edat/*.mln) are inside exdata folder. But they will work only on this specific mother board. In other words, they will not work on different console. That's why You should convert (decrypting by IDPS and extracting klicense from it) *.rif's to *.raf (i.e by Apollo). Activation will work after changing HDD (the same with *.rif's) but on another PS3, You will need to make activation by ReActPsn, or better now, by Apollo SaveData Tool, or just by official way.
Problem with FTP Servers is they are not stable. If You experience transfer freezing, You must re-transfer all files on which it froze (FTP Client logs each connection) because they will stay broken.
You can read data on Windows via:
https://www.psx-place.com/resources/ps3-hdd-reader.1278/
But do not afraid of Linux (it is now just better Windows
). If You don't want install it, You don't need to because most distributions works from RAM. Just put on USB by e.g Rufus e.g Mint with Cinnamon and boot PC from that USB.
https://www.psx-place.com/resources/ps3-hdd-decryption-helper.1293/
But with writing to PS3 HDD, there is some real struggle.
You don't have choice but to format new HDD for the reason that Windows cannot made PS3PT partition tables, in case of NOR models, recreated VFLASH partition, not support UFS2 filesystem, and on top of that, cannot encrypt it in a way user choosing.
In theory You cannot use at once two HDDs because once one is assigned, another replacing it and old become unrecognized until change in xRegistry been made or of course until format be performed. However, reports are mixed, some people says that they can freely using few HDDs (of course all formatted on the same PS3 due to unique encryption key(s)). But normally You cannot do that and no one knows why it is possible for some others (models doesn't matter as reports mixed for NANDs and NORs).
If something goes wrong with restoration, You will be able read anything on PC while You have ERK and ATA/VFLASH keys which came from ERK. However, Windows is aggressive and misleading, so remember to NOT agree for disk initializing if You don't want become my client for data retrieving.
NEVER again install OFW. Once You have installed CFW, You don't need OFW for anything. When You put new drive, feed console on USB the CFW, not OFW/HFW.
About ERK dumping, I don't remember now but if key appears, then it is probably valid (48 bytes long). But would be wise to test it anyway to be 100% sure.
Activation (act.dat) and licenses (*.rif/*.edat/*.mln) are inside exdata folder. But they will work only on this specific mother board. In other words, they will not work on different console. That's why You should convert (decrypting by IDPS and extracting klicense from it) *.rif's to *.raf (i.e by Apollo). Activation will work after changing HDD (the same with *.rif's) but on another PS3, You will need to make activation by ReActPsn, or better now, by Apollo SaveData Tool, or just by official way.
Problem with FTP Servers is they are not stable. If You experience transfer freezing, You must re-transfer all files on which it froze (FTP Client logs each connection) because they will stay broken.
You can read data on Windows via:
https://www.psx-place.com/resources/ps3-hdd-reader.1278/
But do not afraid of Linux (it is now just better Windows
). If You don't want install it, You don't need to because most distributions works from RAM. Just put on USB by e.g Rufus e.g Mint with Cinnamon and boot PC from that USB.https://www.psx-place.com/resources/ps3-hdd-decryption-helper.1293/
But with writing to PS3 HDD, there is some real struggle.
You don't have choice but to format new HDD for the reason that Windows cannot made PS3PT partition tables, in case of NOR models, recreated VFLASH partition, not support UFS2 filesystem, and on top of that, cannot encrypt it in a way user choosing.
In theory You cannot use at once two HDDs because once one is assigned, another replacing it and old become unrecognized until change in xRegistry been made or of course until format be performed. However, reports are mixed, some people says that they can freely using few HDDs (of course all formatted on the same PS3 due to unique encryption key(s)). But normally You cannot do that and no one knows why it is possible for some others (models doesn't matter as reports mixed for NANDs and NORs).
If something goes wrong with restoration, You will be able read anything on PC while You have ERK and ATA/VFLASH keys which came from ERK. However, Windows is aggressive and misleading, so remember to NOT agree for disk initializing if You don't want become my client for data retrieving.
NEVER again install OFW. Once You have installed CFW, You don't need OFW for anything. When You put new drive, feed console on USB the CFW, not OFW/HFW.
Lost_Lombax
Forum Noob
Thanks for the nice reply. You know how a PS3 works completly you are amazing!
Yeah I can confirm that when you dump ERK the console will restart and the file 48 bytes will appear. I googled this and I read a couple of post of people asking the same. I haven't test if it works yet tough.
For now I only want to change the HDD so it's ok if the license only works in my motherboard. I have downloaded Apollo SaveData Tool and it looks really handy. I hope I don't have problems with the re-activation as it might be one of the most important steps. To do the activation officially you need to be in the last OFW? Or it can be done in lower CFW somehow?
Ok I will try Linux beacuse it must be faster also than FTP I don't want to take me ages to backup everything. Also I think it is wise to delete games and things I'm not using to make this process faster. I have a question so are all files in hdd0 able to copy manually or can some of them left behind because some kind of protection? I know you mentioned some save files not being able to copy using the official backup setting.
So I must be pretty sure to have everything in place before placing the New HDD because there are a lot of possibilities that I can't place the Old HDD back noted! Quite important the disk inizialiting thing, so when the windows apperas just close it or cancel it right? Because this is a one time thing it's pretty easy to mess it up. It is more secure then using Linux for this step.
Berion
Developer
No one knows completely how it works. ;} But thanks.
Never install again OFW because it makes Your life harder and past 3.55 You need web exploitation before again be able install CFW from USB/HDD. If You really really want as much as possible pure CFW, then use CFW DualFirmware along to cleaning HDD from homebrew traces. :P It is OFW with only a patch which allows You install normal CFW again. Hard to imagine safer CFW.
Direct HDD connection to PC is faster (because You getting full HDD SATA-III interface speed if connected via SATA or USB 3.x, not limited to PS3 network card and SATA-I) and safer (FTP Servers issues mentioned earlier).
Limitations are on XMB only. Homebrew on PS3 (like eg. file manager build-in multiMAN) while console is on CFW and of course anything accessing drive outside PS3, have no limits to access any data on HDD.
You don't need to deleting games, it is even not wise because not all game patches are still online on Sony and developer's servers. In example, You will not be able to get all patches for Motorstorm, they are gone for good if no one who have them installed share them with others.
If You want to use HDD Reader on Windows, then yes, You must cancel it or close the window. Or else PS3PT will be overwritten by MBR or GPT. Some people claims that Windows did that without asking, which I personally don't believe but... well, be warned. ;}
Never install again OFW because it makes Your life harder and past 3.55 You need web exploitation before again be able install CFW from USB/HDD. If You really really want as much as possible pure CFW, then use CFW DualFirmware along to cleaning HDD from homebrew traces. :P It is OFW with only a patch which allows You install normal CFW again. Hard to imagine safer CFW.
Direct HDD connection to PC is faster (because You getting full HDD SATA-III interface speed if connected via SATA or USB 3.x, not limited to PS3 network card and SATA-I) and safer (FTP Servers issues mentioned earlier).
Limitations are on XMB only. Homebrew on PS3 (like eg. file manager build-in multiMAN) while console is on CFW and of course anything accessing drive outside PS3, have no limits to access any data on HDD.
You don't need to deleting games, it is even not wise because not all game patches are still online on Sony and developer's servers. In example, You will not be able to get all patches for Motorstorm, they are gone for good if no one who have them installed share them with others.
If You want to use HDD Reader on Windows, then yes, You must cancel it or close the window. Or else PS3PT will be overwritten by MBR or GPT. Some people claims that Windows did that without asking, which I personally don't believe but... well, be warned. ;}
Lost_Lombax
Forum Noob
Haha may be not even Sony develovers know in depth how their systems end up working. Too many brains and hands working in the same code.
I backed up everything and I placed the New HDD inside. Then I installed back 4.84.2 Rebug Rex. I just forgot how I did this some years ago, but going through a folder I kept with the files I used then I was able to remember that I went from 4.84 OFW > 4.84 HFW > 4.84 CFW. Thanks for mentioning to not installing OFW again that would have been a pain in the ass. I'm taking a lot of notes I don't want to do this kind of research ever again
for the New 3DS, PSVita and PS4 I did wrote all the process, doing this is quite useful if you need to do this kind of things.Now I need to place all the data back, but for now everything is working. I used the 1Tb of my PS4 Pro because I changed it for 2Tb as soon as I bought it. It's a bit noiser I think than my 320 Gb old HDD that's unexpected and a bit sad
but at least I have doubled the capacity of the PS3 and also renew the quite used HDD. I see 100 Gb are eaten by the system, are there secure ways to free this a bit?I didn't know about patches being removed by Sony that's awful. Now that I have more disk capacity I will have backups of the patches and some games.
Berion
Developer
If for some reason, You would end on OFW, then You need to go to bgtoolset (**ps3xploit.com >Domain no Longer owned by team** (ps3xploit.me =new)?), patch the fw, and then You would be able to install CFW again. But that's unnecessary, and the less NAND/NOR writes, the better for those chips.
Use headphones, then? PS4 is vacuum cleaner by design. Not so horrible as first X360 but still.
Well, no. 1TB is not the same as 1TiB. PS3 taking 2GiB for Cache partition, 256MiB for VFLASH partition (if this is NOR model), 512MiB for swap file on UserData partition and creme de la creme, 8% of UserData partition for... nothing. All data rest are symbolic size in compare to other.
Use headphones, then?
PS4 is vacuum cleaner by design. Not so horrible as first X360 but still.Well, no. 1TB is not the same as 1TiB. PS3 taking 2GiB for Cache partition, 256MiB for VFLASH partition (if this is NOR model), 512MiB for swap file on UserData partition and creme de la creme,
8% of UserData partition for... nothing. All data rest are symbolic size in compare to other.
Lost_Lombax
Forum Noob
If for some reason, You would end on OFW, then You need to go to bgtoolset (****ps3xploit.com >Domain no Longer owned by team** (ps3xploit.me =new) >Domain no Longer owned by team** (ps3xploit.me =new)?), patch the fw, and then You would be able to install CFW again. But that's unnecessary, and the less NAND/NOR writes, the better for those..................... not the same as 1TiB. PS3 taking 2GiB for Cache partition, 256MiB for VFLASH partition (if this is NOR model), 512MiB for swap file on UserData partition and creme de la creme,
Thanks again for the help! I was able to finish all the process and now I have my 1Tb HDD working with my savedata and games and everything.
I have 2 questions, if I restored the xRegistry.sys do I need to do any activation of licenses or is it done? Apollo says it's done so just wondering and all the games are working. Second question is about copying data, I read some users saying that Irisman and Multiman are not able to copy files with @ or doubles spaces in their names. Is this true? I backed up everything through an external drive because I had few games so I'm worried something was left behind.
Hahahaha yeah headphones are always so useful if you want full inmerse gaming experience!
Ok so I won't be tinkering with system saved stuff, It's ok with 3x the capacity I have now.
Berion
Developer
In xRegistry.sys, there are setup of Your home. Which users have which user numbers and eventually what NP Account ID. That was the reason backup and to restore it, otherwise saves and trophies would not work and would need resigning.
I don't know TBH. First to hear but nothing I have using such symbols.
If You would backup on PC by connecting HDD, You would not have fear about anything left behind. ;d
I don't know TBH. First to hear but nothing I have using such symbols.
If You would backup on PC by connecting HDD, You would not have fear about anything left behind. ;d
Lost_Lombax
Forum Noob
Ok I understand now about the xRegistry
The user @pinky in this thread said this about @ files and double space files but I haven't seen more peoble saying this. Also it can happen it was already fixed in newer versions of Multiman or Irisman.
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/best-ps3-file-manager.8947/
Yeah I know I just didn't want to screw up with the old HDD initialization and tinkering with Linux would have taken me more time :') now that I have the PS3 with the New HDD and everything working for now I can try it without fear.
I'm sorry for the bump. I have a superslim console with HFW 4.90.1, hen installed, WebMAN MOD and multiman.
I'd like to upgrade the hard drive from 512gb to 1tb.
If I dump both directories: dev_hdd0 and dev_flash2 by ftp, swap the drive to the new one and paste the file back, will I be good? Will I need to rebuild the database or activate the games again?
Unlucky I was unable to enable the ps3 on psn before installing hen (I kept receiving the message about qr code even if I used the unlock code as password).
Thank you.
Berion
Developer
There no reason to sorry for bumping thread if You have some question(s) or something valuable to add, critique etc. etc.
Those are not folders but partitions.
Will be ok if this is the same console, but You need rebuild database after that. In that manner, CFW or HEN are not different.
Take attention to any errors in FTP client side. If transfer failed, You must retransfer that file or it will stay broken. FTP servers are unstable on PS3.
Those are not folders but partitions.
Will be ok if this is the same console, but You need rebuild database after that. In that manner, CFW or HEN are not different.
Take attention to any errors in FTP client side. If transfer failed, You must retransfer that file or it will stay broken. FTP servers are unstable on PS3.
Thank you for the clarification.
Very same console, just a new hdd.
There would be another way to transfer the files? I noticed that the ftp transfer is very unstable, it completely refused to copy 3 files so far.
If I can recover a third hard drive how can I use it as a bridge from one hard drive to the other?
Edit: I've been able to complete the dump of the 2 partitions.
The only file I wasn't able to transfer is: /dev/hdd0/hen/xml/hen_enable.xml
Is this normal?
I do need some clarification the "dev_hdd0" transfered is like 164gb.
But when I go to check the console free space: 248/465 gb.
That's way more, so I am missing something? The other used space is for the Ps3 OS or there is some space that is wasted somehow?
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Berion
Developer
FTP or USB. No other way for You because You are on HEN on which ERK cannot be read to decrypt HDD on PC.
What do you mean by "bridge"?
I'm not familiar with HEN. Normally HV guards access to some data on HDD, on which CFW is patched and no limitations. But AFAIK, HEN payloads allows You also to read/write anywhere on HDD. So I dunno.
Space additionally count in XMB as used is 8% of total UserData partition (dev_hdd0), 2GiB of Cache partition (dev_hdd1) and 256MiB of VFLASH partition in Your case.
What do you mean by "bridge"?
I'm not familiar with HEN. Normally HV guards access to some data on HDD, on which CFW is patched and no limitations. But AFAIK, HEN payloads allows You also to read/write anywhere on HDD. So I dunno.
Space additionally count in XMB as used is 8% of total UserData partition (dev_hdd0), 2GiB of Cache partition (dev_hdd1) and 256MiB of VFLASH partition in Your case.
It seems like I have successfully upgraded my PS3 hard drive from 320 GB to 500 GB, and most of the data, including save games and trophies, has been transferred. However, I am encountering issues when starting a game, with the error code 80022D11 (Trophy Error), and also experiencing a message indicating that the save point does not belong to the user after clearing the trophy folder.
The trophies doesn't matter for me. The savegames would be enough cause I cannot bring my "gaming hours" / stats back.
I have only copied the 0000001 folder from my old hdd and pasted it to my new hdd then 4. rebuild database.
The trophies doesn't matter for me. The savegames would be enough cause I cannot bring my "gaming hours" / stats back.
I have only copied the 0000001 folder from my old hdd and pasted it to my new hdd then 4. rebuild database.
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