New User: How to access system files?

I'm a new PS3 user and don't know anything about the PS3 mod/homebrew/hacking/etc scene. But I am a professional programmer though (just not PS3) so I do know my way around computers, I'm just new to PS3 hacking.

I want to perform this hack (sort titles alphabetically) (this BB won't let me post a URL, so I had to obfuscate it):

psx-scene [DOT] com [SLASH] forums [SLASH] content [SLASH] tut-alphabetically-order-games-xmb-1816

But I have no idea what the proper way is to access the system files in the first place. Do I need to jailbreak the system? (if so, how?) Or do I just take out the PS3's hard drive and connect it to a computer? (if so, what file system does it use?) Or something else? Does any of this risk a PSN ban? (If so, how to avoid it?)

First step look at the bottom of your ps3 if it's a slim, if it's manufactured in 2010 or before then your good to go if it's not then it's not able to be jailbroken. All ps3 fats are. Okay if your ps3 is able to be jailbroken you must be on firmware 3.55.. you'll need to downgrade using E3 flasher.. Once you downgrade to 3.55 your able to install cfw. If you play online with backup games or pirated games then yes there will be a chance of ban but there's a homebrew that prevents it and unbans you even if you do get banned.. It's call ps unban. Once you get your cfw ps3 use a program called multiman to access system files. You can edit files from a pc using the ftp or do it manually in multiman.

Once it's jail broken, you can install FTP software on your PS3 and access the file system that way.

Thanks. Unfortunately, mine is a 2011 slim. I guess that means that I can't add the "sort games alphabetically" at all then? Not even if I take out the HDD and connect it directly to a PC?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Abscissa

Not even if I take out the HDD and connect it directly to a PC?

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No. The hard drive is encrypted with a per console key. This key can only be obtained by jail breaking.