68kMLA Classic Interface

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PPC, okay it's a PS3, but technically a PPC, right?
Posted by: SuperToaster on 2014-09-29 20:35:19
I'm eager to see how it turns out after you get a replacement drive, good luck with the repair...
Posted by: techknight on 2014-09-30 09:00:45
You CANNOT replace the drive! The servo board is married to the mainboard.

Youl get the error if the drive isnt original to the machine. If its not original, its done for.

You can also get that error if the hdd is bad.

If your version 3.55 or lower ypu can do a downgrade and remarry but youll lose bluray playback. However if the drive isnt original you lost it anyway.
Posted by: twocargar on 2014-09-30 10:44:57
I planned on using it as a media server and running Netflix, etc.

There is a replacement bluray drive board on eBay that I was going to buy but the seller is saying it's misplaced now.   The board on my bluray drive had a component shearded off, so I am assuming that's why the drive doesn't work (won't insert or eject).

The HDD should be okay.  When it was working I saved some MP3s on it.  It's an 80GB Fujitsu/Apple laptop drive.
Posted by: twocargar on 2014-09-30 13:16:40
Well, I guess I'm glad that sale went south on the bluray's circuit board. I didn't know about that board and the main board being married. I'm guessing that's a DVD/bluray region thing.
Posted by: TheWhiteFalcon on 2014-09-30 13:30:38
Yeah, you can replace the drive but have to swap the board.
Posted by: techknight on 2014-09-30 17:31:54
but if you read, his board is messed up. 

So no, you cannot. Unless you swap the BGA along with it. 
Posted by: TheWhiteFalcon on 2014-09-30 18:41:01
I'm aware of that. It was sort of implied.
Posted by: techknight on 2014-10-01 06:27:42
Ok. Then your also aware that if he doesnt repair the servo board, or swap the bga to the new one , he cannot succeed right?

This is assuming the drive is original to begin with. Also HDD based games wont play without the correct drive either.

I suggest repairing the servo and planting it into the new drive mechanism.
Posted by: twocargar on 2014-10-01 07:46:00
Honestly I don't care about playing games or using the optical drive. I just want to get it set up so I can run it as a media server and do Netflix. I have a PS3 slI'm I use for games and movies. Hopefully I can get it working to do just those things.
Posted by: IPalindromeI on 2014-10-01 16:29:05
How will it be a media /server/? PS3 Linux got killed, and I don't think Netflix works on an older OS.
Posted by: techknight on 2014-10-01 18:45:27
you can probably use a TSOP flasher/downgrader and reflash the unit and take it back to 3.55 This will let you jailbreak/hack it and run linux plus some other stuff. 
Posted by: TheWhiteFalcon on 2014-10-01 18:48:53
How will it be a media /server/? PS3 Linux got killed, and I don't think Netflix works on an older OS.
Stock OS plays just about everything, just dump it from a flashdrive. I have a lot of videos on mine that I put on that way. I had some music but use my Cube for that now.
Posted by: twocargar on 2014-10-01 19:37:12
It's ALIVE (again)!

I was able to solder the sheared off component back onto the bluray's board.  Soooo frickin' teeny!  I'm used to soldering thru-hole stuff.  I threw a random disc in and it recognized it fine.  Since I disassembled the board from the bluray drive, (I read that you can run the PS3 with just the bluray's board attached if the drive is bad) I plugged it in and fired it up.  Instead of erroring out around 70%, it finished to 100% then restarted.  I looked on with my mouth agape. 8^O

IMG_3805.JPG

Amazing that it worked!  I thought I would have to try and marry a new bluray board to the mainboard.  Anyway, I installed Netflix on it and am going to go and enjoy an episode or two of House of Cards!

Thanks for your help and encouragement, everyone!  I love this messageboard!
Posted by: pintodave on 2014-10-01 20:30:10
Awesome! Great job getting it working and congrats on a successful resurrection of a dead device! Now it has some significant personal value, and its something you can take pride in!

This thread helped me get my brother in-law's ps3 working on his sdtv. I remembered someone posting that the video settings had to be reset for it to work. Great timing! 🙂

Posted by: Paralel on 2014-10-02 23:25:54
you can probably use a TSOP flasher/downgrader and reflash the unit and take it back to 3.55 This will let you jailbreak/hack it and run linux plus some other stuff. 
This is really the best route.
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