Playstation 3 Blue Light Not Coming on Disk Not Spinning

Although PlayStation3 is one of the best gaming consoles out there, it can still ruin your mood by showing a mechanical error or faulty function in the middle of a game.

Much like any other technology, PlayStation3 has its own quirks.

The "PS3 Cannot Start the Appropriate Storage Was Not Found" error is one of them.

Continue reading to find out how to solve this issue and many more common PS3 problems you may face in the future.

PS3 Cannot Start the Appropriate Storage Was Not Found

If you get this error, something has gone wrong with your hard drive.

Many problems could cause this error.

Dust or other particles might be causing the hard drive to malfunction.

It might have gotten disconnected and loose because of an issue with assembly, an impact, or normal wear and tear.

Unfortunately, it could also mean that your hard drive has gone bad, and it's fried.

Let's not jump to any conclusions, though.

Go through the steps below, in order, and see which one can solve the issue.

A. Clean the Hard Drive

Your best bet is that your hard drive is just a bit dusty or loose.

To clean it, you need a Phillips Head Jeweler's Screwdriver.

1. Turn the PS3 on its right side and find the hard drive door. Pull it off using your finger or any tool you find helpful.

2. Once the lid is off, you should notice a blue 8-mm screw attaching the hard drive cage to the chassis. Remove it using the Phillips head jeweler's screwdriver. Be careful not to lose the screw.

3. Grab the pull tab on the cage and pull it towards you until the hard drive comes out.

4. The hard drive should be secure inside a cage with four 4.3 mm Phillips head screws. Remove them to release the HDD.

5. Now, you should clean both the steel cage and the hard drive carefully. Blow some compressed air into the compartment where the HDD came out of.

6. Leave the hard drive out for a while, and then put everything back in its place carefully. Make sure you push the HDD in far enough and that the screw holes are aligned.

7. Try to start the PS3 again, and hopefully, this time, you won't get that error.

B. Format the Hard Drive

If the method above doesn't work, you should assume that your hard drive is corrupt.

You can attempt to fix the problem by formatting it, but you need to remember that this will delete all your saved data, including games, music, pictures, and videos.

1. Repeat the first two steps in the previous section, but don't pull on the HDD cage yet.

2. Plug the cable of a PS3 game controller into one of the ports sitting in the front of the device.

3. Hold down the "X" button on the controller while pressing the PlayStation's power button.

4. Once the "Utilities" screen appears, remove the hard drive from its compartment. You should see a "0" under "Format."

5. A "Restore incomplete" screen should pop up after a while. Wait for a message to appear asking if you want to format the hard drive.

6. Now, you should insert the HDD back into its compartment and then select "Yes" on the screen using the controller by pressing the "X" button.

7. You should wait for the system to format the hard drive and reboot itself. Once the Home Menu appears, turn off the PlayStation.

8. Reattach the Blue screw and place the lid back into its place. Try starting the PS3 again and see if it works fine.

C. Change the Hard Drive

If none of the methods above works, your hard drive is sadly at the end of its life.

You should replace it with a new 2.5" HDD or SSD.

Make sure the drive you chose has at least 120GB or more capacity.

The process of removing your current HDD is explained in the previous sections.

Once you get it out of the cage, swap it for the new hard drive, and put everything back where you found it.

2. Not Reading Discs, Games, Videos, Etc.

If you insert a disk into the PS3, but the device doesn't read it, consider these scenarios:

1. Your best bet here is that the disc is just dirty.

Eject the disc and clean it thoroughly with a cleaning solution.

2. If the PS3 still can't read the disk, it could be because of a dirty lens.

The lens is a sensitive piece of electronics, but not so sensitive that you can't clean it yourself.

Then again, if you still have a warranty, it's best to let Sony solve your problem for free.

Although cleaning the lens isn't that hard, getting to it can be a pretty challenging job, considering you'd have to completely open up the PlayStation.

To do it right, follow the instructions in this video:

Once you get to the lens, pick a Q-tip, and pour one or two drops of a cleaning solvent on it.

Gently scrub the lens until it's clean.

If you see cotton threads on the lens, wipe them away with a fiber cloth.

3. Unfortunately, cleaning the lens was your last resort.

If the PS3 can't read the disc by now, the Blu-Ray Laser drive is broken and needs replacement.

These drives aren't meant to work forever, and their average lifespan is about one to three years.

To get your console back into working order, you'll have to replace the drive yourself or get Sony to do it for you, or else it'll burn circles on your discs and corrupt them.

If you decide to do it yourself, you should first figure out what type of Blu-Ray drive your PS3 uses.

If you can see an exposed control board at its bottom, the drive's model number is KEM-400.

If not, the model number should be KEM-410.

3. Problems with Audio or Video

1. If you're facing a complete blackout, check if all the cables are correctly connected.

2. Then, see if the display settings on your PS3 and TV are in sync.

There might be compatibility issues with your PS3 video or audio settings and your video output.

Resetting the PS3 will revert the settings to the standard video that is compatible with all TV sets.

To reset the station, disconnect all the components and hold down the power button for five seconds.

3. If you're getting a distorted or bloated image, the video definition might not be the same for the PS3 and TV.

For instance, while using HDTV, you should set up the PS3 accordingly.

4. If your audio disc isn't playing, it might be copy-protected.

5. If your PS3 was working just fine the last time you used it, and it's suddenly having problems with audio and video, you could assume that something's wrong with the Graphics Processor Unit or RSX chip.

It's best to let Sony fix this problem because you won't be able to do it without the essential tools.

4. Freezing

Menu freezing, excessive lag, or any other type of freezing can happen for multiple reasons. Here are a few things you can try.

A. Restart the PlayStation

Restarting the console is a simple solution that works most of the time.

Hold down the power button until the system shuts down.

Wait a while for the PS3 to cool down, and then turn it back on.

B. Check the Connections

A lag in your game could be due to loose cables or a faulty internet connection.

Ensure that all the cables, including the ethernet cable, are correctly plugged in.

It's best if you unplug all of them and connect them again.

C. Check the Internet

Restart your modem or router.

If the lag keeps happening, you might be facing a poor internet connection.

D. Update the Firmware

Sometimes, updating the system is all you need to fix the recurring lag or freezing.

Download the latest updates to solve the bug and system anomaly.

E. Check the Hard drive

If the lag happens when the system is trying to load something from the hard drive, it might be because it's full.

Check the storage capacity and free up some space to fix the problem.

If the HDD has enough free space, it might be faulty and need cleaning or replacement.

F. System Restore

Go to Settings and then System Restore.

This method might solve your problem quickly.

You can also try to remove the hard drive and reinstall it.

If your system freezes without giving you a chance to do so, find a friend with a PS3.

Put your hard drive in their console, so it formats its settings.

Put it back in your PS3, and it should be working fine.

G. Get It Repaired

If none of the solutions gets rid of the lag, you need to send your PS3 to Sony to find out what the problem is and fix it.

5. Overheating

Overheating can occur for any device if you leave it on or use it for a long time, especially if it sits in an enclosed area.

If the system becomes too hot, the safety feature will kick in and shut down the PS3 automatically.

It usually won't turn back on for about 30 minutes because it needs to cool down first.

If this occurs, the first thing you should do is to relocate your PlayStation to a ventilated area.

Purchasing a cooling stand can also be very helpful.

Sometimes, too much dust on the system's components could be causing the overheating.

Take the PS3 outside and blow some compressed air into the bottom vents.

If nothing works, you'll need to open up the PS3 and clean the thermal compounds off the CPU and GPU.

6. Problem with Lights

A. No Lights

If your PS3 is suddenly emitting no lights, there's a good chance that its power supply is damaged.

You'll have to get Sony to fix it or replace it yourself.

Open the PlayStation and see which model of power supply is installed.

Purchase one with the same model, and replace the power supply.

B. The Red Light of Death

The Red Light of Death (RLOD) happens when the PlayStation's power status light turns to a red blinking light before the console shuts off automatically.

That's usually due to overheating, so follow the guides in the overheating section.

The RLOD could also happen because of an aging hard drive.

If you've been using the PS3 for a couple of years, a malfunctioning hard drive is normal, and you'll have to replace it eventually.

However, if this problem keeps happening for an almost new console, get an expert to have a look at it.

C. The Yellow Light of Death

The Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) is one of the most common problems PS3 users face.

It may happen because of overheating, just like the RLOD.

If so, turn off the console and wait for it to cool down.

Then, once you switch it back on, listen closely to the fan.

If you hear the fan starting to work briefly and then powering off immediately, you have a faulty motherboard.

The soldered joints between the motherboard and CPU and GPU chips are failing.

Re-soldering the chips to the motherboard can fix the problem.

However, if you don't hear the fan turning on, there's a problem with the power supply.

Replacing it should solve the issue.

7. Problems with the HDMI Cable

If you get a "No display" error on the screen and there's no audio, your HDMI cable might be damaged.

These cables usually won't work for more than a few years, and you need to replace them to solve the issue.

Get one of high quality if you don't want to go through this problem again soon.

Tips to Keep Your PS3 Working Well

Try to keep your PS3 as cool and possible. Don't put it in an enclosed cabinet or drawer.

Keep the PS3 away from dust, as it can cause many problems. Don't leave it on the floor where it can suck up all the dust. Blow compressed air into the vents once a month.

Don't let a disc sit in the drive if you're not using it. That will cause technical issues in the long run.

If you see a new firmware update ready for installation, wait a few days before downloading it. Sometimes, when Sony releases updates, they contain undiscovered bugs that only surface once enough users install the update.

Ensure there's no disc in the drive before installing updates, or else the Blu-Ray drive can fail.

Under Warranty?

Before attempting to solve any problems on your PS3, you should check if it still has a warranty.

Check the purchase date on the hard copy receipt, and if it hasn't been more than a year since purchase, you can get your PS3 repaired for free by Sony.

If any solution provided in the list below requires you to open up the PS3, you'll have to remove the seal, and you'll end up voiding the warranty.

Before you take your PS3 to Sony for a fix, make sure you clean all the dust out of the system by blowing some compressed air into it.

If they see a machine full of dust, they'll just void your warranty on the spot.

For those of you who don't have a warranty, let's get to how you can solve your PS3 problems yourself.

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Source: https://www.thetechwire.com/ps3-cannot-start-the-appropriate-storage-was-not-found/