My PS3 arrived today fresh from a factory repair. The first thing I checked was the model number and serial number to see if I got a refurbished unit. The good news is that the system looks like it is my system. Strangle enough my service repair number still does not show up on the online system, and the service receipt that came with the repair does not show what was actually repaired although it does say this “document is a description of the work performed on your unit …”
First the good news. I placed the repair order on June 25, so end-to-end repair time was under 30 days, which is not all that bad. But the bad news is bitterly disappointing.
Straight away I pulled out the original 60GB HDD and replaced it with my 250GB upgrade. This was another confirmation that this is actually my system. I actually almost stripped one of the screws on the HDD harness and it is plainly obvious that this one is mine.
After powering on the system, I got a HDMI device detected, followed by you must format this HDD. Not so good. I chose “no, I really do not want to format my HDD” and the PS3 told me that this HDD was from a different PS3 system. Huh? WTF does that mean? It cannot mean anything good.
So I decided to put the original 60GB HDD back in the system, and everything started correctly. Of course I previously formatted the drive, per the repair order instructions, so everything was basically as good as new. Only without the good part.
I figured I would put my 250GB HDD back in the system to see what would happen. I got the f’ing different system notice again. This time, with my Pass Port in hand, I told the PS3 to format the shit out of my HDD. After all, why should I care? I have this handy little USB HDD with a backup of my 250GB HDD prior to sending it in for repair.
Without any other options, I format. I then go to the system restore option and cannot restore the backup because option, but guess what? I am told that the backup is from another PS3 system, so it cannot be used for a restore. Holy, f’ing shit. You have to be kidding me.
Of course when I backed up the HDD, I did the full backup option. I did not backup individual files, games, game data, etc. Years and years of PSX and PS2 memory card data is gone. Goodbye. F-you later. Screwed. Not to mention all my PS3 downloads, game saves, game data, etc. All gone in a blink of the eye.
Words cannot fully describe my disappointment.
