I have a PS3 "fat" 40g system version 3.15. I have previously donwloaded games from the sony playstation store but I am no longer interested in downloading more games and want to install linux on this system. Will I lose the games I have already downloaded if I install linux?
There are a few things you need to know before you could proceed ~
1) You will have to format/partition the hard drive and if you do not do a backup you WILL lose all your game data, game saves, music, movies, games you downloaded etc.
2) Once you have it partitioned you can install Linux.
3) You can then boot BETWEEN either OS at any time, so you will not lose any ability to play on the PS3 XMB or the PS3 OS (Linux).
So basically if you don't do a backup & restore after you partition you will lose everything on the XMB side. Hope that helps.
Edited to correct mistaken information as discussed below.
Originally posted by marcusita: If you have an EXternal HDD, install Linux on that, it means that you wont have to touch your PS3's internal HDD.
Forgot about that...but does it work with any version of Linux? Is it universally supported? I haven't done it yet myself but am interested to do so as it would be easier for updating/adding emu's and games etc. (though support has dropped severely...obviously).
Originally posted by marcusita: If you have an EXternal HDD, install Linux on that, it means that you wont have to touch your PS3's internal HDD.
Forgot about that...but does it work with any version of Linux? Is it universally supported? I haven't done it yet myself but am interested to do so as it would be easier for updating/adding emu's and games etc. (though support has dropped severely...obviously).
As far as i know, it has been done on Ubuntu, but i don't think it has been done with any other distro, my mate madshaun1984 created a tutorial http://www.haxnetwork.net/showthread.php?t=10394 , its for PSubuntu 8.1, but he is using 10.04 externally on his PS3 now.
http://www.haxnetwork.net/showthread.php?t=12075 <--- If you follow the first part of that tut upto installing the cellsdk, it will get you setup with the latest ubuntu distro (10.04) on the ps3 via an external hdd, (no need to format your ps3's internal hdd).
It does not work with all versions of linux, but there are a few different distros out there; I was using Yellow Dog before Sony killed the feature. Note that if you format the hard drive, you will have to login to the playstation store to download your games again, and you will need a new firmware to do this.
Originally posted by KillerBug: ...Note that if you format the hard drive, you will have to login to the playstation store to download your games again, and you will need a new firmware to do this.
Totally didn't even think about this! Great catch KB! I personally would only use YDL on USB because of it's compatibility with ZeroGame, but it looks that won't be possible for me to create as no one has done it. So unless I get my hands on someones previously owned official Fixstars YDL on USB I have to stick with my partition...
