When PS3s go bad...

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11864

Fat PS3s borked:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388872
Seems like it could be big. Chatting to a coleague he (apparently) can't access any PSN games, anything which requires online connectivity and no trophy based games.

Trousers · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 3073

Bobbyaro wrote:

Fat PS3s borked:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388872
Seems like it could be big. Chatting to a coleague he (apparently) can't access any PSN games, anything which requires online connectivity and no trophy based games.

Christ - I'm certainly not turning mine on until this gets sorted. Sounds like a major fuck up - just hope it's a quick fix.

TheVision · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:23

Someone had better warn Grim...

The Rev Owen · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:36

I hope Lovefilm don't send me any Blu-Rays while this is still a problem.

TheVision · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:40

From reading that, it seems that it'd be fixed by tomorrow? Or have I read that wrong.

Either way, I'm sure Sony will be working flat out to get it sorted.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Definitely affecting mine. The clock at the top right reads 12/31 23:30 and it won't sign into PSN. Everything else works though.

Weirdest leap year bug I've ever seen. I bet it'll be OK tomorrow.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12329

I bet more PS3s get turned on today just to see what happens than would otherwise have been turned on.

LaceSensor · **Joined:** 2nd Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 3137

mine is fudged too

not impressed

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Blimey! That's quite the fuck-up. I haven't actually used mine in a few days so haven't encountered this yet, so I think I'll probably keep it powered down for the time being.

LaceSensor · **Joined:** 2nd Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 3137

wish id come on here before trying to play heavy rain

do you reckon its all the old fat models that are ruined? It seems that the slim ones work ok?
would it matter if you had turned on or not then today? people saying the error is Sonys end, but that one model of PS3 is not affected. seems wierd

i am not prepared to buy another ps3 thats for sure

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38608

LaceSensor wrote:

i am not prepared to buy another ps3 thats for sure

It won't come to that. Even if PSN is proper fucked, I'm sure a patch CD would work. Or even a USB stick with a download upon it.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

You won't need to buy another PS3. Sony will be obligated to fix this somehow if the problem is as widespread as appears.

TheVision · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:49

Here's the text off that link in case anyone can't get access to it.. It might shed some light on the situation but from what I have read, it looks like it'll be sorted pretty quick.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Here's what's going on right now: something with the PS3's internal clock has borked in some pre-slim models. This is not a PSN issue; it has to do with your PS3's clock. This clock is NOT related to the OS clock. It seems to be a leap year bug. Setting your clock ahead will do nothing. All PS3s around the world were affected at the exact same time.

Does this affect me?

-If you have a Slim PS3, you're good to go. Continue playing it as normal.
-If you have a "fat" PS3, you may be affected. Some fat PS3s have worked ok, but it seems a good majority have been bugged.

What does this bug mean?

-If affected, your date and time has been set to a random past date. This prevents you from signing into PSN, playing any PSN games, or using any DLC. Your trophies will also not display correctly or be able to sync.

How do I fix it?

-You can't. Even if you don't sign into PSN, it won't help. This is a hardware issue.

So, what do I do?

-Wait 24 hours. Other products that have had similar bugs have corrected themselves after the "bugged" day. On Monday around 6pm central time, all PS3s will automatically correct themselves...maybe.

-If that doesn't work, we'll need a firmware update from Sony, which should be a pretty important priority for them right now.

Did I lose my data/themes/etc?

Your save data/games/dlc/themes are fine. They'll be fixed when the PS3 is fixed. Trophies are uncertain right now, but they'll be fine if you've synced them before the PS3 was bugged. Unsynced trophies are an unknown right now.

If I have a bugged PS3, can I still use it?

It's probably not a good idea, as I have no idea what will happen to the trophies you earn during the bugged time. Movies/media will work fine.

So there ya go, my handy FAQ.

Possible explanation:

Originally Posted by iammeiam:
The going theory is that the PS3 is storing some form of date in GMT, then modifying that to get whatever you see in the on-screen clock. That modification process seems to be fine--the system can take 2/28/2010, 9PM GMT, add four hours, and get 3/1/2010, 1AM random time zone.

What's apparently effed, as speculation goes, is when the internal GMT-tracking rolls over to 3/1. It's either not rolling, or rolling to 2/29, at which point a system tries to add/subtract from 2/29, which it can't do because the front-end calendar doesn't have a 2/29/2010, and shit explodes. Seemed to happen around 4PM PDT, which I think is 12AM GMT, so.

And the PS3 launched in 2006; it's hit 4 2/28s so far. 2007 and 2009 were odd-numbered years; 2008 was an even, and a leap year. 2010 is the first even non-leap-year the system's been around for. If some sort of base-level math is choking on itself, it may have ruled out the odd 2007 and 2009 successfully, but is convinced the even 2010 is a leap year (this part I'm less sure of, but is why leap year could theoretically come into play at some point.)

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

This is living _tm

LaceSensor · **Joined:** 2nd Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 3137

This is Gay (C) 2010 Sony

Wanted to waste some work time playing Heavy Rain too blast it.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 13:02

Why not just unplug the network cable and carry on?

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 13:09

Grim... wrote:

Why not just unplug the network cable and carry on?

Don't all PS3s have WIFI? I don't have mine wired into the network I don't think. I have heard many people complain that it is shit over wifi but mine is literally 2 foot from the modem and streams video seamlessly.

Also, though I agree with the sentiment aren't there some games that require you to be signed in to play? I thought Heavy Rain was one of these??

LaceSensor · **Joined:** 2nd Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 3137

Heavy Rain needs to synch trophies or it just boots you out, need to be online to do that apparently.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

It is an internal calender bug, which is breaking PSN and other stuff, not a PSN problem.

Like millennium bug, except real.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 13:15

LaceSensor wrote:

Heavy Rain needs to synch trophies or it just boots you out, need to be online to do that apparently.

Surprised Lewie isn't doing his nut.

[edit]Here he is!

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

LewieP wrote:

It is an internal calender bug, which is breaking PSN and other stuff, not a PSN problem.

Not reading 16 posts, eh?

I strongly suspect this'll go away on its own tomorrow, then by permanently fixed by a firmware update. Assuming that it somehow permanently breaks something in the PS3, I will watch Sony's reaction with interest. I'm not sure you can reflash a PS3 without PSN access, so they may have some entertaining hoops to jump through.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

LewieP wrote:

It is an internal calender bug, which is breaking PSN and other stuff, not a PSN problem.

Like millennium bug, except real.

Factoid: I owned possibly the only computer ever to actually be affected by the millenium bug (possibly, there might have been others). It was an ancient Pentium P90 tower, and if you switched it on at any point from 1/1/2000 onwards, the clock would reset to some point in 1970. You could manually change it in Windows, but it would reset itself again on the next boot up. Surprisingly annoying, it was. But then it did give me the perfect excuse to replace the ageing lump of shit, so not all bad.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38608

You had a P90 in 2000?

Wow. Did your arms get tired from shovelling coal?

AlphaRich · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:09

This is a right pickle. Kotaku is updating their article on this with relevant news, so far nothing you could call a solution. I too haven't used my PS3 online in a month or so, but I hope it's fixed by Friday - Battlefield day.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:15

I haven't turned on my ps3. I am now scared to.

I'd be quite miffed if I had an old B/C model, and this borked it enough to need a replacement.

LaceSensor · **Joined:** 2nd Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 3137

I think there might be a class action lawsuit or whatever its called by PS3 owners worldwide if that was the case.

if this bricks my system, ill demand a replacement FOC

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:45

Fornicating Oral Creampie.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:48

Mmm, turned mine on just now. It updated the system, then date set to 1/1/2000, and nosigny in. Cannot grab time of internet, so set manually and unsurprisingly still doesn't work.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:51

(What's more annoying is I didn't mean to turn it on anyway) Tidying up and it turns on as I've put something on the controller. ah well)

myp · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:52

Mr Dave wrote:

(What's more annoying is I didn't mean to turn it on anyway) Tidying up and it turns on as I've put something on the controller. ah well)

Well done for preempting my question.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:55

myoptikakaka wrote:

Mr Dave wrote:

(What's more annoying is I didn't mean to turn it on anyway) Tidying up and it turns on as I've put something on the controller. ah well)

Well done for preempting my question.

It's also debatable whether standby is considered off in this case anyway. I usually flick the switch at the back off if I haven't used it for a few days, but hadn't done so.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 16:57

Also: The quality of support as compared to XBox is frankly shocking. In cases of widespread problems, you'll usually find something about it on the support pages. Here no. As far as I'm aware Sony have been entirely quiet on the matter,

AlphaRich · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 17:07

Sony is twittering about it.

http://twitter.com/SonyPlaystation

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

It's also mentioned on the official support blog, so not a total black out.

It amuses me that people were hesitent to turn their systems on. It was the first thing I did! I'd quite like a free new PS3.

LaceSensor · **Joined:** 2nd Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 3137

Just say hypothetically that this DOES brick systems, what leverage do consumers have on this kinda issue?
I cant remember the millenium bug speculation much - if it had borked all PCs would there have been freebies? out of warranty?

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

It's also mentioned on the official support blog, so not a total black out.

It amuses me that people were hesitent to turn their systems on. It was the first thing I did! I'd quite like a free new PS3.

If I bork my PS3 and have to settle for a non-B/C machine as a replacement... why... why I'd crush this plastic cup!

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12329

They would have to be replaced even out of warranty as they would have been sold not fit for purpose.

metalangel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 18:25

LaceSensor wrote:

I cant remember the millenium bug speculation much - if it had borked all PCs would there have been freebies? out of warranty?

If it had borked all PCs you'd have been too busy hitting people in the face with chains so you could steal their gasoline.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

It's not even a leap year you clowns!

Anonymous X · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2046

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

It amuses me that people were hesitent to turn their systems on. It was the first thing I did! I'd quite like a free new PS3.

I know what you mean, but mine's a launch model with BC. I'd literally cry :'(

if it was replaced with a modern one.

AlphaRich · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 19:16

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

It's not even a leap year you clowns!

Yeah... I though there was something fishy about the maths on this one. Maybe all the PS3s thought it was a leap year.

I've not taken it online but my PS3 thinks its 31st December each time I switch it on.

Morte · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 19:20

AlphaRich wrote:

Sony is twittering about it.

http://twitter.com/SonyPlaystation

I love the fact that their in depth support is to advise 'Do not use your PS3'. Genius boys, sheer genius.

TheVision · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 19:26

Someone just made an interesting point. What about those without internet access? What's happening to them? Is it effecting them even?!?

Oh.. and UK:Resistance are LOVING this!

metalangel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 20:12

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/s ... -Sony.html

All claims that 'the PS3 has a more mature userbase than the 360 with its screaming elmos' are null and void after reading some of the comments there!

a complete fucking mong wrote:

sony . this shouldent of happend to any ones ps3s. for the last few days games have froze and crashed computer. also on network freezing and jumping all over the place the gaming quiltey we buy the ps3 for has not been forfilled and coustermers should be componsated. friends i no have gone and bought xbox 360 becauese of the messing around all the time . not good custermers should be compensated! a. hodson

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

Feel the RAGE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aimPRKfq ... re=related

metalangel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 20:20

Waiting to see if my fake comment gets onto the Telegraph...

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

ZOMG SNOY AER TEH NEW TOYOTA THIS SI A DESGRAICE NWO I HAEV 2 TALKS TO MY GRILFRIED OH NOES FOURGOT SHE LEFT ME MUNS AGO COS PLAYIN 2 MUCH KILLZONE

TheAlbin0Kid · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 20:54

MetalAngel wrote:

Waiting to see if my fake comment gets onto the Telegraph...

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

ZOMG SNOY AER TEH NEW TOYOTA THIS SI A DESGRAICE NWO I HAEV 2 TALKS TO MY GRILFRIED OH NOES FOURGOT SHE LEFT ME MUNS AGO COS PLAYIN 2 MUCH KILLZONE

Probably not the Telegraph, but The Sun would use it as their editorial...

Also, has anybody said that PS3s go bad when you take them out of the box yet? No? May I?

Trousers · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 3073

I turned mine on just because I was curious and got the error. I'm intrigued as to what will happen next.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

Trousers wrote:

I turned mine on just because I was curious and got the error. I'm intrigued as to what will happen next.

This is one of the most beautiful, inexplicable attributes of human nature. There were 3 outcomes.

A - Nothing unusual. PS3 works
B - PS3 doesn't work, but will be fixed easily (probably tomorrow)
C - PS3 fails to work. For some reason, it is a cunt to fix.

Why, when A is the best possible option, and is nothing, do you feel the need to check? I ask, of course, knowing that I would do exactly the same.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2010 22:25

At least I can now say I survived (maybe) the PS3 fake late millenium bug of DOOM

Be Excellent To Each Other

When PS3s go bad...

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