2 Hard drives & a Downgrade

[boxxy27]

Im going to downgrade my PS3 today from 3.5 to 3.41

I have two 2.5inch hard drives (ps3 one and an extra one). Instead of using the backup utility, can I not simply swap the hard drives out before the downgrade and then after the downgrade swap it back out with the one prior?

If i do this...will i still keep everything without going through the backup utility or will it ask me to format the hard drive afterward.

[theruler]

[fyygame_com]

I think you should backup your games. Someone who downgrade the PS3 has found that the games will be cleared.

[Wutangrza]

Im going to downgrade my PS3 today from 3.5 to 3.41

I have two 2.5inch hard drives (ps3 one and an extra one). Instead of using the backup utility, can I not simply swap the hard drives out before the downgrade and then after the downgrade swap it back out with the one prior?

If i do this...will i still keep everything without going through the backup utility or will it ask me to format the hard drive afterward.

Yes, this will work, but depending on what model you have, it's possible none of your PSN content will be activated. If you have a slim (so far I've not heard of a single slim user that it worked for) then your PSN content will transfer but not be activated (unless it's a game where there was a demo and then you purchased the unlock, like Marvel vs Capcom or Castle Crashers etc).

You'll also want to get the timing right. Here are the steps I would take.

1. Make sure you have everything you want on the currently installed 3.50 drive.
2. Swap and place new drive in the PS3 to get a base install of the PS3 system on this device with 3.50 firmware.
3. Go into factory service mode.
4. Downgrade with first file and 3.41 pup
5. Exit factory service mode with second pup but before turning console back on, replace with original 3.50 drive.

If done correctly, the system will ask you for a USB with 3.41 firmware (you'll have to use the retail 3.41 firmware at this point, but no biggie), and it will install the 3.41 firmware on the 3.50 drive without formatting it, but again, if you're on a slim, none of your PSN content will be activated.

edit: Also, if you have a slim, backing up the games via the built in backup utility also won't work. There's pretty much no way to get PSN content to work on a 3.41 slim that I've seen. Unless of course it was activated on 3.41 back when 3.41 could get on PSN.

[netkas]

This will work, on slim at least, but if u have slim, prepare UPDATE.PUP from 3.41 and 3.50, ps3 will ask for them when you will be changing hdd