As we've already reported, SCEA has removed firmware 2.40, released early this morning, from its update servers. Users attempting to use the System Update feature from the PS3 XMB from firmware prior to 2.40 are now being told that their software is up to date.
This action follows a large number of reports on the official PlayStation message boards of the update adversely affecting users' systems. The most widely noted problem is systems simply failing to reach the XMB upon booting, instead getting stuck on a screen with only the familiar "wave" background displayed.
Some posters have reported that removing the PS3 hard disk, formatting it via a PC, then re-inserting it allows the PS3 to boot properly ... with the obvious drawback of losing everything – profiles, saves, DLC, etc. – that was on the drive.
Joystiq contacted SCEA for comment on the situation as was told by PR director Patrick Seybold that they are aware of the message thread and that they are "looking into it right now and will work with those customers directly to address any issues they may be experiencing." This comment came before the update was removed from Sony's servers. We're seeking further comment and will update as we receive it.
Update: SCEA has issued a formal statement via the official PlayStation blog confirming that firmware 2.40 has "temporarily" been taken offline until it can "isolate the problem" and "identify a solution."
Reader Comments (163)
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:11PM (Unverified) said
Almost two years Hyams
Although I don't have any problems with my PS3 and its a 20GB. (Yes people 20GB, I'm too cheap) :p
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Although I don't have any problems with my PS3 and its a 20GB. (Yes people 20GB, I'm too cheap) :p
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:34PM rsmith4321 said
It's going to be hard to ever complain about Xbox update problems again.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:56PM (Unverified) said
Yup this just made every Sony fanboy shut up for at least a few days....hopefully.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 6:23PM (Unverified) said
Wishful thinking deaftly, wishful thinking. Noshino must be rolling up in his grave...oh wait, you know what I mean. :P
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 6:36PM (Unverified) said
@deaftly: We fully expect to see you trolling the ps3fanboy forums again shortly. We miss you.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 6:25PM borland502 said
"Yup this just made every Sony fanboy shut up for at least a few days....hopefully"
Nyet comrade, we'll just pull a page from the 360 RRoD playbook:
Look [insert name here], you must have mistreated your console. Did you make sure that before you applied the patch you put it in a dust-free, sub-zero protective chamber? Did you say prayers to the corporate Gods?
No?!? Then it's your own fault. Sony responded to the few problems there were and we should kiss their ass that they were so kind.
Did that just sum up the RRoD defensive comments?
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Nyet comrade, we'll just pull a page from the 360 RRoD playbook:
Look [insert name here], you must have mistreated your console. Did you make sure that before you applied the patch you put it in a dust-free, sub-zero protective chamber? Did you say prayers to the corporate Gods?
No?!? Then it's your own fault. Sony responded to the few problems there were and we should kiss their ass that they were so kind.
Did that just sum up the RRoD defensive comments?
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 7:09PM jhowlett said
borland you forgot, " I've had mine (since launch / a long time) and not a single problem!", "they're coming out with smaller chips so everything will be just fine " and various all cap insults and denials. pics or it didn't happen, me and 4 of my friends and one or none of us ever had a problem. they can laugh at those in denial who can't play their mgs4
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 7:30PM (Unverified) said
Uhhh...I have had mine since launch and it runs perfect. Dammit I hate it when fanboy defenses actually apply to me >:(
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 7:42PM borland502 said
"Dammit I hate it when fanboy defenses actually apply to me >:("
Lie, or take an arbitrary side and defend it to death. That is the path of the fanboy too.
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Lie, or take an arbitrary side and defend it to death. That is the path of the fanboy too.
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 9:29PM (Unverified) said
Well if this makes people who have issues with Xbox360 say "That makes me feel better." then I've got to say something directly to Sony...
Thanks for lowering the bar.
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Thanks for lowering the bar.
Posted: Jul 3rd 2008 12:16AM (Unverified) said
LOL at the sony fanboys...
Enjoy 3rd place this generation!
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Enjoy 3rd place this generation!
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 6:11PM (Unverified) said
There is always a tiny percentage of people that have problems with this kinda stuff. It's the same with every firmware update. You'll be fine.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 6:47PM The Commenter Formerly Known as said
Updated mine yesterday and it froze once when trying to update SSHD but I haven't seen any problems since.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 8:47PM (Unverified) said
Updated my 60GB early this morning, about 3 hours after the update went live. No issues with the system at all.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:47PM Nova Hands said
Boy am I glad I didn't download this last night.
I got home from work and fired up my PS3 to update it, and it said it was up to date. I thought it was strange until I saw this post here.
I just bought my PS3 2 weeks ago, so this would have sucked royally had it crashed my system. I'm glad I waited!
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I got home from work and fired up my PS3 to update it, and it said it was up to date. I thought it was strange until I saw this post here.
I just bought my PS3 2 weeks ago, so this would have sucked royally had it crashed my system. I'm glad I waited!
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:14PM AwesomeTown said
Same here, in fact I was trying to update it two minutes ago and I was royally confused.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 9:46PM JoshMilewski said
I'm glad today's my birthday, and didn't get around to updating yet because of it.
Good luck to everyone affected by the problem, though. =/
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Good luck to everyone affected by the problem, though. =/
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:49PM (Unverified) said
can someone tell me what the quote from "Seybold" says in the last paragraph? Its coming up as fractions and symbols for me in both Firefox and Safari.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:52PM LaughingTarget said
"looking into it right now and will work with those customers directly to address any issues they may be experiencing"
Change your encoding, I'm on Firefox and see it fine.
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Change your encoding, I'm on Firefox and see it fine.
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:04PM (Unverified) said
how do i do that?
ever since i updated to the new firefox ive been getting this issue. wikipedia is a mess for me.
where can i change the encoding?
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ever since i updated to the new firefox ive been getting this issue. wikipedia is a mess for me.
where can i change the encoding?
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:09PM LaughingTarget said
View --> Character Encoding --> Unicode (UTF-8)
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:48PM LaughingTarget said
See those clear PR waters? Yep, just the eye of the hurricane.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:49PM (Unverified) said
My thoughts and prayers go out to the PS3 owners who should have their much deserved upgrade right now as it was promised.
Man, sometimes technology sucks.
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Man, sometimes technology sucks.
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:49PM (Unverified) said
I downloaded it all this morning, and while it was working okay when I went home for lunch, I'm going to keep an eye on things for now. Just curious, if someone who's already updated goes to system update, will it roll back the system?
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:18PM (Unverified) said
Actually, I just thought about it and if I do have the problem, I can just get a new PS3 from Best Buy since I bought that silly replacement plan. I'd like to keep my saves intact, but if it goes out anyway and there's no easy fix and quick...
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Posted: Jul 3rd 2008 1:45PM (Unverified) said
*shrugs* No big. Like I realized after my original post, I have an out if I need it.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:50PM simbadogg said
fuck i would be soooooo pissed if i lost all my GTA4 info. i'm starting to get to the point where i'm not all that into the story anymore (some stupid things have happened IMO) and i just want to see how its finally going to end. and i'm only 45% in with 40 hours into it.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:55PM simbadogg said
actually...i did the update this morning @ 3am PST, and i was able to go around and view the current trophies icon from xmb, and change a few settings on the control panel, check mail box etc...so hopefully mine is fine (launch 60 gb), if it turns out that i reboot later tonite only to have it freeze up i'll be pissed. Either way, i'm gonna copy my saves to a memory card the minute i turn it on.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 5:59PM borland502 said
If you have an external hard drive there is a better option. I've used the backup/restore capability before and it restored everything to downloads in progress. I think it will selectively "edit" restore data if it's a different machine, but the restore ability worked 100% for me.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:51PM (Unverified) said
I have a 60g and I updated my ps3 at around 10 pm pst on Tuesday. I didn't have any problem as matter a fact the update was pretty quick. After it was complete I didn't have a wave on my screen, but it did take a while to reboot the system.
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Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 4:51PM SirDigby337 said
Fine here on my EU 60gb upgraded to 200gb although pain did go through a cycle of constantly installing the same update over and over
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