Can a PS3 boot without controllers?

[swbsam]

I ordered a PS3 with a broken hard drive off of ebay on a whim (red flashing light) I'm 99% sure I just wasted $150, but there's a slight chance just swapping out the hard drive might do the trick.

Before I invest in accessories, can I boot a ps3 and format the new hd without a controller? It only includes the ac adapter, fyi.

Thanks!

 

[msi1337]

usually the red flashing light is caused by overheating. Sometimes it is due to a bad hard drive. try uninstalling the hdd and booting the ps3 without it. I dont know if you can boot it with just a usb keyboard plugged in, but I know when you install a new hard drive in it, it boots up and states that the hard drive needs to be formatted.

try booting it without the hdd, then try reinstalling the hard drive and see if it boots fine.

 

[swbsam]

Thanks - I just spoke to a sony rep and out of warranty service might be the trick and, at $150, my total out of pocket would be $300.. Not a killer deal, but not bad...

 

[pennylane]

You can press the power button to turn the ps3 on without having a controller plugged in. This is for a normal and functioning PS3.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: pennylane
You can press the power button to turn the ps3 on without having a controller plugged in. This is for a normal and functioning PS3.

Yea, but I think he wants to know if it will format the HDD automatically, or if he needs to hit X to confirm it or something.

 

[pennylane]

Originally posted by: sswingle

Originally posted by: pennylane
You can press the power button to turn the ps3 on without having a controller plugged in. This is for a normal and functioning PS3.

Yea, but I think he wants to know if it will format the HDD automatically, or if he needs to hit X to confirm it or something.

Oh, you're right. Still, I suppose it's worth it to state the obvious.

 

[swbsam]

Can I click X on a USB keyboard to continue? I could, of course, wait until I get everything. But I'm just curious to see if I should make a stop at best buy before tinkering with my system/swapping the hd out.

 

[xCxStylex]

No one you can borrow off of? :[

You could also do the doucebag move of buying one from Fry's (or any place local to you that will accept open box returns) and then returning it.

Originally posted by: swbsam
Before I invest in accessories, can I boot a ps3 and format the new hd without a controller?
Thanks!

 

[mmntech]

Originally posted by: sswingle

Originally posted by: pennylane
You can press the power button to turn the ps3 on without having a controller plugged in. This is for a normal and functioning PS3.

Yea, but I think he wants to know if it will format the HDD automatically, or if he needs to hit X to confirm it or something.

I can't recall if it formats it automatically. It doesn't really matter though since formatting is a pretty strait forward job. To format the drive use the arrow keys to navigate to settings in the XMB, select System Settings, Format Utility, then hit enter to bring it up. Select "Format Hard Drive" and follow the on screen instructions. When using a keyboard, ENTER is used for the X button. I think backspace works as the O button but I'm not sure.

 

[nakedfrog]

Do you have a PC USB gamepad? Apparently some of those work.

 

[bolomite]

actually, X is the enter key and O is the escape key when using usb keyboard