Bought RSOD PS3 on eBay. Corrupted flash; No recovery menu. Firmware unknown.

[Owndapwn]

I was interested in jailbreaking my PS3, but I have one of the rare four USB/media port 80GB (And it's on current firmware) and didn't want to risk it, so I bought a broken one on eBay.

It has the red screen of death, and I have verified it is in the flash and not the HDD, as I can not boot without HDD to get the "Insert HDD" prompt, nor can I access safe mode / recovery menu.
Because I bought it on eBay, I don't know the firmware. Though it seems like it shouldn't matter if it's the OS that's broken.
It is a CECHK PS3 Fat with an aftermarket HDD (Western Digital Caviar Blue, 80GB 2.5").

I have both SIXAXIS/DualShock and SIXAXIS only controllers, and no shortage of cables for everything save optical.
Unfortunately, I do not have a 2.5" SATA to USB chip, but I do have several friends who have those external HDD's that use them, so I can get one. (IDE computer at the moment)

If I had access to the recovery menu, I would've been done in 15minutes as planned.

So now I come to you, the experts in all things PS3, and ask, What the **** do I do now?
Can I use the double male USB or ethernet on my computer and access something useful? If I plug it into ether, can I use FTP to get in?
Is there a way to force it to boot from whatever is on a flashdrive?
Should I use this time to social engineer a free repair out of Sony and hope I can somehow downgrade it?

My desktop is running Windows XP with Linux Ubuntu 11.04 on the slave HDD.
I do not have a TI-84 calculator like this guy ( youtube watch?v=cfEmc6uGuGc ) requires. (Though I might be able to borrow one, if I can find someone who owns one)

Oh, and the obligatory new-member first-post help request:
OMG CN U HELP ME??!?!?!!!111!!!1!!!!!!!!11!!11!! MY PS3 IS BROKEN AND IT WONT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FIXI T PLZZ!!!!!!!! :)))))))))))

That was mildly painful to write....

[fantazar]

hey there.

I brought one similar to you on our local auction site and it was on 3.73ofw
So I used E3 Flasher to downgrade it from RSOD screen
You also need to wire up the Tristate as you'll need to go into Flashfun during downgrading

So once you're ready to go, set your switches as follows D-D-U-D-D-D and turn on the PS3.

Press start on E3 and save backup to MiniSD
when finished, turn off console
Save your backup files to your PC
Don't lose them or you'll be farrrrrked

E3 - D-D-D-D-D-U
E3downgrade.bin on MiniSD card with your backup files
Turn on console
MiniSD inserted
Press Start

when finished, the downgrading is done blindly as the RSOD is still present

DOWNGRADING:
Use downgrade dongle and console switches off (START ---> EJECT)
Use downgrade PUP file and lv2diag (STEP 1) on root of USB stick formatted in FAT32
Turn on console with USB in RIGHT-MOST port
Console switches OFF

Swap lv2diag on USB stick to Service Mode exit (lv2diag STEP 2)
Plug in RIGHT-MOST port and turn console ON
Console switches OFF

Turn on console without USB
Console beeps 3x and switches OFF

E3FLASHER ----> U-D-D-D-D-U (FUNFLASH)
MiniSD plugged into E3
Press START on E3

When finished, console restored and downgraded if you did everything right

[Owndapwn]

I figured it would work with E3, but I really want to avoid spending $100 on something like that at the moment.
I'm building a new PC, and all I need is the CPU and the PSU to get minimum operating levels, so I can't really rationalize spending more money.
Is there any other method I can do with common items lying around?

I'm putting off calling Sony and social engineering a free repair out of them because I've heard rumors of "free fifteen minutes" followed by a high rate, with staff instructed to prolong the call. (Can anyone verify this?)
If it's free, nothing to stop me from calling multiple times, you know?

[No0bZiLLa]

you can always try putting the ps3 into FSM, and then try installing the RSOD fix that way.

[fantazar]

But he can't get into Recovery Menu to do that

[No0bZiLLa]

But he can't get into Recovery Menu to do that

What does recovery menu have to do with FSM?

Have you ever put a ps3 into FSM? your gonna need a ps3break or e3 card reader (not e3 flasher). and just put the ps3 into FSM,the ps3 will turn off 5 - 10 secs after you toggle FSM. then just put RSOD fix.PUP and the lv2diag.self on the root of the usb thumb drive. (be sure your using the correct lv2diag.self, there are many version for different things.) and put it in the right most usb port. then turn on the ps3 and it install. within 5 or 6 mins, the ps3 light will blink. if it blinks instanly, then that means it is more than likely on a higher firmware then 3.55 because that would more than likely mean you have 3.56+ hash checks on your mobo and the ps3 is rejecting it. if that happens you only other option would be to get an e3 flasher.

you could also try to install rogero v3.1 also. this firmware has syscon check bypassed, but i dunno if that would help. the ps3 is already RSOD, so anything you do could either potentially brick it, or save it. right now its semi bricked


an a side note, if your console specific stuff on your flash is corrupted, then your more than liely got a perma brick, i dunno even if the E3 can fix that, but just hope for the best:P

[Owndapwn]

I actually just managed to get into recovery mode, about five minutes ago.
In my sleepy morning stupor, I held the button down longer than you're supposed to on the second button holding session and was greeted with "Please connect controller" and that lead to the recovery menu.
I am downloading the 3.55 firmware right now.

[Owndapwn]

"Please insert a flash memory device with PS3 Firmware 3.55 or later."
alltheragefaces com /img/faces/jpg/****-yeah-aww-yeah jpg

[No0bZiLLa]

nice. congrats.

[Owndapwn]

Alright, so I'm still getting the RSOD, but we at least know the firmware now.

It looks like that dongle thing is only $15-$20, so I might be able to get that, if it will work.
Now, what does it do exactly, as pertaining to my situation?
It boots the PS3 from the USB and allows me to run a hacked executable that fixes the RSOD?