Well, Fuck.

[DuplicateValue]

So today I try to turn on my PS3 and the green light comes on, followed by a yellow light, followed by a flashing red light. It does this every time.
I can only assume that this is the "yellow light of death" or whatever. Not good.

I'm not sure whether or not it still comes under warranty, or if it's even fixable. I'm hoping that I don't need to get a new one as there's hundreds of hours worth of game saves (both PS2 and PS3) on it that I don't feel like starting again.
It's the original 60gb model with backwards compatibility, and I play a lot of PS2 games on it, so getting one of the newer models isn't really an option anyway.

Also, I don't have a 360, nor do I want one.

So Escapists, what's the best course of action for me to take?

Edit: I just found out the warranty is 12 months, so my PS3 falls outside it. More good news.

 

[Aerodynamic]

See if it is on warranty, my PS3 crapped out on me a while back, I called sony, told them whats wrong, Got the box in about 3 days, Sent it, got it back in a week and a half, fully functional and like new.

Oh yeah, they are going to have to delete everything saved on your PS3 in order to fix it, sorry buddy.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

Well, obviously, find out if it's still in warranty.

If not, take it to a repair shop, and ask what they can do about it.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

If it's under warrenty then I'm sure you could get it fixed. If not, then your only option may be to buy a new one. Sorry.

 

[EeveeElectro]

See if it is on warranty, my PS3 crapped out on me a while back, I called sony, told them whats wrong, Got the box in about 3 days, Sent it, got it back in a week and a half, fully functional and like new.

Oh yeah, they are going to have to delete everything saved on your PS3 in order to fix it, sorry buddy.

That's impressively good customer service. My boyfriend refused to get a PS3 because he said they treat their consumers like crap. Why he finally decided to buy one I'll never know...

 

[DuplicateValue]

Well, obviously, find out if it's still in warranty.

If not, take it to a repair shop, and ask what they can do about it.

I just did some googling, and it turns out the warranty is 12 months, so it seems I'm outside it.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Warranty is the obvious plan of action #1

#2 is me suggesting that you see if you can find someone who wants to get into some prpfession that involves fixing things, there's a chance he will fix your Ps3 for free as practice.

If that fails there's always #3 which involvestrying to turn it on every 2 hrs for the next week.

And if that fails there's #4 Which involves checking the other suggestions my fellow Escapists mention.

 

[DuplicateValue]

If that fails there's always #3 which involvestrying to turn it on every 2 hrs for the next week.

Huh? How would that help?

 

[Frequen-Z]

My friend (who had his PS3 well over a year) got the Yellow light, and therefore sent it off for repair, they offered a replacement but since he wanted his game saves, he declined it, they then repaired and sent his old one back to him.

So just send it off if you can, and decline the offer of a newer model.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

Well, obviously, find out if it's still in warranty.

If not, take it to a repair shop, and ask what they can do about it.

I just did some googling, and it turns out the warranty is 12 months, so it seems I'm outside it.

Oh.

Well, fuck.

I'm trying to find info about the YLoD on the Sony website, but that thing is laid out really badly.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

If that fails there's always #3 which involvestrying to turn it on every 2 hrs for the next week.

Huh? How would that help?

I dunno. For some reason, when my brother first got the RROD I was able to get it working enough to get a disc out by turning it on and off over and over again. A similar thing happened where my brothers 3rd or 4th Xbox Red Ringed and after he tried turning it back on it worked. Not sure it it'll work for Ps3, but somehow doing it seems to screw up whatever is screwing up the Ps3 to make it yellow light. Doesn't hurt to try if it's pretty much busted anyways.

 

[Fwee]

Chuck the whole thing in the trash, and go outside and find yourself a nice guy/girl/guy-girl/girl-guy with whom to spend the rest of your life, start having lots of kids, coach a little league football team, and die of old age on the farm you've been tending for the last 20 years with your adopted Paraguayan family.
Or contact Sony about getting it repaired?

 

[LeonLethality]

Oh yeah, they are going to have to delete everything saved on your PS3 in order to fix it, sorry buddy.

The sad flaw with internal memory... still it can be mighty convenient at other times

OT: I would try getting it repaired, buying a new PS3 is often more expensive.

 

[TheEarlOfGrey]

Might be time for a new machine. Could always be a good time to get some new releases with them combo deals.

 

[srm79]

See if it is on warranty, my PS3 crapped out on me a while back, I called sony, told them whats wrong, Got the box in about 3 days, Sent it, got it back in a week and a half, fully functional and like new.

Oh yeah, they are going to have to delete everything saved on your PS3 in order to fix it, sorry buddy.

That's impressively good customer service. My boyfriend refused to get a PS3 because he said they treat their consumers like crap. Why he finally decided to buy one I'll never know...

Back in 2002 my PS2 crapped out on me under warranty. I called, a courier arrived the next day to take the old one away and drop off the shiny brand new one at the same time. A friend had his break after the warranty had expired. The only difference? £40 or so charge and his replacement was a reconditioned one. Very impressive customer service I reckon. I don't think they use couriers any more, but then again I don't actually know anybody whose PS3 has failed, apart from a couple of the early ones - I believe there was a defect with the powerpacks or something? But not in the last couple of years certainly.

 

[Rancid0ffspring]

Outside warranty your looking at paying around 130 quid to get it replaced with a refurb. If you are in UK that'd happen next working day. Afraid you lost all your game saves buddy but your online details like trophies are stored on PSN

 

[Jeronus]

I hate to tell you this but even Gamestop won't take a PS3 with a yellow ring of death. I saw a guy try to sell his yellow ring PS3 while I was waiting to sell my red ring 360. They took my Xbox but not his PS3. I don't know the exact problem but if Gamestop won't take it that means either two things.

1. The problem is so expensive that Gamestop can't make any profit if they fix it. Which means the average consumer (i.e. you) are double screwed.

2. The problem can't be fixed at all which would leave you triple screwed.

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Edit: I just found out the warranty is 12 months, so my PS3 fall outside it. More good news.

Not to sound... well... not sure I should even say this...

Some people... Lie about their warranty. Somehow they get away with it... Not that I am suggesting it or anything! I just... wanted to... share this information so that... you could learn something new today.

What you do with this information is up to you.

 

[DuplicateValue]

Oh.

Well, fuck.

I'm trying to find info about the YLoD on the Sony website, but that thing is laid out really badly.

What's annoying me the most is that I think that this might have happened to my PS3 before, but it got over it. Though I can't remember if this actually happened, or if it's just wishful thinking.

I dunno. For some reason, when my brother first got the RROD I was able to get it working enough to get a disc out by turning it on and off over and over again. A similar thing happened where my brothers 3rd or 4th Xbox Red Ringed and after he tried turning it back on it worked. Not sure it it'll work for Ps3, but somehow doing it seems to screw up whatever is screwing up the Ps3 to make it yellow light. Doesn't hurt to try if it's pretty much busted anyways.

Apparently it has something to do with a disconnected motherboard or something, and I don't think turning it on and off is going to reconnect it...

Thanks anyway, though. =]

 

[DuplicateValue]

Edit: I just found out the warranty is 12 months, so my PS3 fall outside it. More good news.

Not to sound... well... not sure I should even say this...

Some people... Lie about their warranty. Somehow they get away with it... Not that I am suggesting it or anything! I just... wanted to... share this information so that... you could learn something new today.

What you do with this information is up to you.

They'll probably want to see the receipt, so I don't think I'd get away with that.

If I was gonna try, that is.

Which I wasn't. >.>