Friday, December 9, 2011

Set up media servers for your PS3

The most recent Playstation 3 firmware update (1.80) from Sony not only gave us HDTV owners great
new resolution-scaling options, but they slipped in support for media servers as well! I don't run a
Media Center PC at home, but found a couple of options for easily setting up a media server on my
home PC despite the fact.

PC
I've found these two as good options for a PC media server. The first is Microsoft's Windows Media
Player 11 and the second is Simplecenter. I went with Simplecenter because I don't have WMP11
installed and after seeing what Simplecenter could do, I definitely thought it was the better option.
Both of these set up guides require that you already have your Playstation 3 connected to your home
network as well as your PC. Sony's help for network configuration is here.

Using Windows Media Player 11 as the server
Open Windows Media Player 11ഊBlu-Ray Media Links
From the toolbar, select Library then Media Sharing
Check "Share my media"
On the PS3 - Under Video, Photos or Music, select "Scan for media server"
Go back to the PC, and you should see a pop up showing an unknown device trying to connect.
Allow the device, and everything should work.

Using Simplecenter as the server
Download simpleserver from http://www.simplecenter.com/
Install - If you only want the basic version, just click next when it asks you to create an account.
Select your shared media folders and let it scan.
Click next one last time.
Check your PS3 and your media server should now be visible.

Other Windows Notes
I've heard that many people are using Nero MediaHome and consider it to be the most feature-rich
server.Mac
We recently tried setting up my roommate's macbook as a media server using two different products:
Allegro Media Server and TwonkyMedia. We had numerous problems with both, including
configuration issues, lack of functionality and just general business. I've been told that Elgato
Eyeconnect works well, but will confirm as soon as I have time.

Comprehensive list of known media server applications


Mac OSX
● Allegro Media Server
● Elgato Eyeconnect
● Rhapsody
● TwonkyMedia
Windows
● Allegro Media Server
● Cyberlink Digital Home Enabler Kit
● FuppesഊBlu-Ray Media Links
● Musimatch Jukebox
● Nero MediaHome
● On2Share
● Rhapsody
● SimpleCenter
● TVersity (free)
● TwonkyVision
● Windows Media Connect (free)
Linux
● Fuppes
● Geexbox
● GMediaServer
● MediaTomb
● MythTV
● TwonkyVision
● uShare
Unknown
● Cideo Internet Radio Server
● CyberMediaGate

Download PS3 Repair Guide

Blu-Ray Media Links

What is Blu-ray?
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD) is the name of a next-generation optical disc format. The
format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as
well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of
traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc.

How much data can you fit on a Blu-ray disc?
A single-layer disc can hold 25GB. A dual-layer disc can hold 50GB.To ensure that the Blu-ray Disc
format is easily extendable (future-proof) it also includes support for multi-layer discs, which should
allow the storage capacity to be increased to 100GB-200GB (25GB per layer) in the future simply by
adding more layers to the discs.

How much video can you fit on a Blu-ray disc?
Over 9 hours of high-definition (HD) video on a 50GB disc. About 23 hours of standard-definition
(SD) video on a 50GB disc.

How fast can you read/write data on a Blu-ray disc?
According to the Blu-ray Disc specification, 1x speed is defined as 36Mbps. However, as BD-ROM
movies will require a 54Mbps data transfer rate the minimum speed we're expecting to see is 2x
(72Mbps). Blu-ray also has the potential for much higher speeds, as a result of the larger numerical
aperture (NA) adopted by Blu-ray Disc. The large NA value effectively means that Blu-ray will require
less recording power and lower disc rotation speed than DVD and HD-DVD to achieve the same data
transfer rate. While the media itself limited the recording speed in the past, the only limiting factor for
Blu-ray is the capacity of the hardware. If we assume a maximum disc rotation speed of 10,000 RPM,
then 12x at the outer diameter should be possible (about 400Mbps). This is why the Blu-ray Disc
Association (BDA) already has plans to raise the speed to 8x (288Mbps) or more in the future.

What video codecs will Blu-ray support?
MPEG-2 - enhanced for HD, also used for playback of DVDs and HDTV recordings.MPEG-4 AVC -
part of the MPEG-4 standard also known as H.264 (High Profile and Main Profile). SMPTE VC-1 -
standard based on Microsoft's Windows Media Video (WMV) technology. Please note that this simply
means that all Blu-ray players and recorders will have to support playback of these video codecs, it willഊBlu-Ray Media Links
still be up to the movie studios to decide which video codec(s) they use for their releases.
Need Blu-Ray disks? Well here are some of the best deals on
the net.
Sony
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $12.75
1PK BD-RE 2x - 25GB : $15.25
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $12.50
1PK BD-RE 2x - 25GB : $15.50
1PK BD-R DL (dual-layer) 1x - 50GB : $29.50
TDK Electronics Corp.
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $11.47
1PK BD-RE 1-2x - 25GB : $15.45
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $13.65
1PK BD-RE 1-2x - 25GB : $17.92
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $17.89
1PK BD-RE 2x - 25GB : $22.75
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $17.05
1PK BD-RE 2x - 25GB : $21.89
Memorex
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $16.99
1PK BD-RE 2x - 25GB : $22.52ഊBlu-Ray Media Links
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $20.52
1PK BD-RE 2x - 25GB : $28.73
Verbatim
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $16.99
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $13.02
Philips
1PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $19.99
2PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $34.99 ($17.50 each)
5PK BD-R 2x - 25GB : $84.99 ($16.99 each)

Download PS3 Repair Guide

PS3 Controller Light Mod

First you will need to disassemble the PS3 controller. You can find that here.
Now that you have disassembled the PS3 controller we can begin.
Start out by getting some 0603 surface mount leds available at llamma's shop here (or from
somewhere else, if you'd prefer) and some basic soldering skills would be helpful.
Start off with soldering the led to the LED5 spot on the board with the positive on the left and the
negative on the right

Sony must have some ideas for putting a led there but never did. The spot still has a positive but no
negative so we have to add a negative to the led, the led in this tutorial is always on because I haven't
found a negative source that turns one when power goes through it.
Ok continuing on the next step is to add the negative so I connected the hole the led connects to to hole
5 on the board

now plug the battery back in and test to see if it works. if everything works then great if not check your
soldering points to make sure everything is connected and make sure the led is on in the right direction.

Now if you want to change the red led's you have to replace the old ones with your own use the led 1-4
near the top of the board for that. I didn't do that because I think red look fine.

once your done do all the steps in reverse order to get it back together. the first time i put it back
together I thought I ruined it because it wouldn't do anything then I found out I put the reset switch on
backwards and it was causing it to always be pressed down so be careful with that.

Download PS3 Repair Guide

How to install Fedora Core 6 Linux for PS3

Get the PS3 Linux Add-on CD.
Get the Fedora Core 6 DVD from official mirrors.
Follow these instructions but use the FC6 DVD where the instructions reference FC5 DVD.
And use the Add-on CD from the site specified above
Notes:
- Install the minimum FC6 (about 5 minutes)
- Leave the FC6 DVD on the drive during all this tutorial

Network and ssh server
######################
mount the /mnt/dcrom with the FC6 DVD in the driver after the installation is finished, and install
dhclient and ssh server. This way you can login from another computer and copy paste the rest of the
tutorial, on the command line.
# mount /mnt/cdrom
# cd /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS
# rpm -Uvh dhclient*
# cd /
# dhclient
# yum install openssh-server

Important
#########
Kernel used is the kernel in the PS3 Linux Add-on CD. So be careful and do not replace the kernel with
the FC6 kernel.

Display resolution:
###################ഊHow to install Fedora Core 6 Linux for PS3
ps3videomode - use this cmd line tool to adjust your video mode.
and then change /etc/kboot.conf with the video mode you want to persist:
edit line:
linux='/boot/vmlinux-2.6.16 initrd=/boot/initrd.img video=ps3fb:mode:3'

Install graphical mode and KDE Desktop environment
#########################
This will take some time but should do it, say yes to all questions:
# yum groupinstall "KDE (K Desktop Environment)"
# yum install pirut k3b mikmod
# yum groupinstall "Server Configuration Tools"
# yum groupinstall "Sound and Video"
# yum groupinstall "GNOME Desktop Environment"
# yum groupinstall "Legacy Software Support"
# yum groupinstall "Development Libraries"
# yum groupinstall "Development Tools"
# yum groupinstall "Windows File Server"
# yum groupinstall "System Tools"
# yum groupinstall "X Window System"
# yum install switchdesk lslk logwatch dump lftp bind-utils sendmail nss_ldap device-mapper-multipath
ypbind yp-tools
# yum install parted.ppc64 rdist.ppc man-pages.noarch talk.ppc pam_ccreds.ppc nc.ppc traceroute.ppc
unix2dos.ppc setarch.ppc pam_passwdqc.ppc words.noarch cpuspeed.ppc netdump.ppc crontabs.
noarch fbset.ppc acl.ppc dosfstools.ppc usbutils.ppc redhat-lsb.ppc rsync.ppc mgetty.ppc time.ppc man.
ppc pam_passwdqc.ppc64 pam_smb.ppc wget.ppc
# yum install diskdumputils.ppc ftp.ppc pinfo.ppc ksh.ppc jwhois.ppc psacct.ppc ipsec-tools.ppc
dhcpv6_client.ppc lsof.ppc readahead.ppc pcmciautils.ppc sudo.ppc yum-updatesd.noarch pam_smb.
ppc64 cyrus-sasl-plain.ppc sysreport.noarch pam_pkcs11.ppc64 rdate.ppc finger.ppc anacron.ppc nano.
ppc pam_ccreds.ppc64 parted.ppc attr.ppc tcsh.ppc specspo.noarch stunnel.ppc mlocate.ppc tcpdump.
ppc dos2unix.ppc rsh.ppc irda-utils.ppc numactl.ppc tree.ppc
# yum install pam_pkcs11.ppc tmpwatch.ppc gnupg.ppc vconfig.ppc iptstate.ppc pax.ppc mtr.ppc
nss_db.ppc rp-pppoe.ppc krb5-workstation.ppc pam_krb5.ppc64 mdadm.ppc quota.ppc pam_krb5.ppc
symlinks.ppc smartmontools.ppc tcp_wrappers.ppc64 mtools.ppc setuptool.ppc telnet.ppc rng-utils.ppc
irqbalance.ppc
# yum groupinstall "Office/Productivity"

Add your user to the system
######################### ##ഊHow to install Fedora Core 6 Linux for PS3
replace loginname with your username
# adduser loginname -g users
# echo 'loginname ALL=(ALL) ALL' >> /etc/sudoers
# passwd loginname

Graphical Mode on startup:
######################### #
change the device section of /etc/X11/xorg.conf file to:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "fbdev"
Option "ShadowFB" "false"
# Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection
change /etc/inittab file to mode 5
edit line:
id:5:initdefault:

Testing Graphic Mode
####################
Reboot the PS3 and validate that you can login with your user ID.

Persist Network settings
########################
Login as a normal user. Go to System->Administration->Network
Add a new device and setup the network to dhcp.
Select activate. (this will persist your network settings)

Languages
#########
Go to the Add/Remove Software to add support for more languagesഊHow to install Fedora Core 6 Linux for PS3

Getting all the extras missing in FC base
######################### ################
as root on the command line type
# rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/*
# rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
# rpm --import http://rpm.livna.org/RPM-LIVNA-GPG-KEY

Download PS3 Repair Guide

PS3 3 Beep & Blinking Red Light Fix

The Red light is due to the HDD (hard drive).
There is one of 2 problems:
1. The connection is loose or
2. The HDD is just bad.

This was an issue that has been discussed over in the Playstation forums and it seems that re-seating
(removing & reinstalling) the HDD has solved the problem for many but some people have just
received bad hard drives period.
If you reinstall the HDD & it still beeps 3 times & gives you the red light, then you will have to replace
your HDD.
If I remember correctly, PS3s use Hitachi Laptop Drives. IMO, Hitachi is not well known for good
drives. I replaced mine with a 160GB Western Digital drive I got for free a few months ago. I haven't
had any problems since.
Hitachi makes a good drive, but the ones that fail seem to fail really bad. Western Digital seems to
make the best drives and they offer a very good warranty service as well.

Download PS3 Repair Guide

Monday, December 5, 2011

Identify and Fix RSOD on PS3

Along with the rampant piracy on the PS3, emerging new diseases in whose name RSOD or PS3 Red Screen of Death. Baseball is actually very recently anyway, the PS2 is also already know the RSOD but RSOD on the PS2 only relates to the media read error, aka the media that is used instead of the PS2 media. RSOD not the same on the PS3 YLOD or Yellow Light of Death related to physical damage to the PS3, RSOD frimware associated with failure, bad boot, the hex is chaotic, one FW update, the overlap between the CFW and OFW and so forth. The problem here was not only attacking RSOD pirated users only, the user is still haunted by ori-RSOD, especially for those who do the FW update via BD, instead of downloading directly from the PSN. Scary is not it?




armed with a myriad of cases and a high curiosity, we finally decided to find out about RSOD in international forums, and this is one technique that we got from these forums on how to repair RSOD. A technique that successfully fix 80% of cases RSOD and most importantly, a free man!

To improve RSOD you must have / borrow a PS3 healthy for comparison, and can perform the installation PROGSKEET. Tutorial to install PROGSKEET to the PS3 you can search on the internet. When to install PROGSKEET course you've encountered any obstacles or difficulties to feel it helps you submit your PS3 to the experts or to shops that can fix RSOD.


 

After getting the dump of the NAND / NOR RSOD PS3 experience, please dump the NAND / NOR of the free PS3 RSOD. The second open dump earlier results by using hexeditor. Find a string VTRM and compare between the RSOD with non RSOD. Here, if the PS3 is pure experience RSOD not a bug or glitch, you'll find some unusual string when compared with the PS3 that are still healthy. Different strings depending on the location of the damage so there is no concrete examples that we can include here. But if you're a little curious about the comparison, we have two screenshots showing the difference between the RSOD string with a no. Correct any incorrect string manually. Usually the string is broken more than one.

 

 
In the first example appeared the letter R on the right while in the string jump to number 52.
 

 

In the second example the Euro symbol appears on the right column while the string section jumps to number 80.

The thing to remember here is, there are two locations VTRM we have to check one by one each string. If both are identical VTRM (between the RSOD with normal) please reflash back to the PS3. Voila, your PS3 will be back playing your favorite games without any problems at all.

PS3 No picture

  • If the original due to the use HDMI video out and want to use the AV cable, press and hold the Reset button until it beeps 2X PS3. 
  • If the image is black or loading slowly then do Hard Reset, and to bring up the MENU HARDRESET PS3 do the following:
       Turn on the PS3 press and hold the Reset button to re-position the red indicator light (audible beeps 3X), then press and hold the reset button until you hear a double beep (no 4x beep) and then enter the cable usb stick PS3.

Download PS3 Repair Guide

DVD game (tape) is not readable / detectable

* Before we dismantle it helps us first consider the symptoms, if we continue to be heard round the input cassette tapes normal, then the problem is in software / program (DVD room is not detected), and to overcome them we simply restore the PS3 system.

* If the round is not normal then unloading the cassette open this section of the DVD roomnya PS3 and see if it dies optical lazer light (dim) then there is damage to the optic, if the light is still good lazernya then clean optics in the loop and at the bottom.


Download PS3 Repair Guide

Monday, November 28, 2011

Cassette can not enter or exit

  • If the cassette can not enter the open room DVD Check switch open / close and konectornya cable, usually just cleaned (sprayed using cleanar 90) or re-soldered.
  • If the tape does not make it out to open the DVD set the mechanical room in a close position (no tape) and then attach it again.