[Guide How to Fix]: HDD Problem "Correct hard disk not found" [GUIDE IS INSIDE!]
 

What model number is your PS3?
160 Gig Fat (Uncharted 1 Bundle)
What firmware is your PS3 on?
4.11 (Newest one)
Is it a hardware problem?
Yes
Is it a software problem?
No
If it is a software problem, have you made sure that you have downloaded the latest version of this software?
-
Are you running CFW?
No
What CFW are you running?
-
Is your console bricked?
I don't think so
If so, do you know why it's bricked?
-
Have you ever downgraded your console with hardware flashers? (Teensy, ProgSkeet, E3 Flasher, etc...)
No

Have you tried searching the forum for someone experiencing the same problem before posting?
Yes

Describe your problem:

Ok so i recently was playing skyrim for the PS3 and then it froze for quite a while, so i had to restart. But when it came back on again it said "Cannot Start. Correct hard disk not found". So i searched and searched for answers. I did find threads regarding this issue, but their issue was related to hacks (something about e3flasher/flashing and something else). I don't hack so i don't know any of those things.Anyways i tried doing these:

1.) Tried to "reseat" the HDD
2.) Blew the dust off
3.) Tried system restore (it would not allow me to access the menu though, it always comes back to the "Cannot Start. Correct hard disk not found" prompt)

The HDD in question is a Fujitsu 160GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s.

Have not done, but will try ASAP (from what i read online):

1.)Jumper shunt
2.) Vacuuming the HDD hole thingy

And lastly, if all else fails

3.)Buying a SATA 2.5 enclosing for reformatting via PC

I'm trying to salvage the game saves from the HDD, but can't since the PS3 would not boot properly. I also know you can't use the enclosing-usb method to access the files via PC since it would not be able to read it.

If anyone knows any new method in accessing the HDD by any means, i need your utmost help.

Thank you very much!


======================================================================================================

Introduction

So i have recently encountered a HDD problem. My game froze and nothing would respond so i had to use the switch off button at the back of my FAT PS3. An error popped up saying "Cannot Start. Correct hard disk not found", and it would continously loop to that prompt. I tried going to the System Restore but was not able to go there initially. I have read a lot (when i say a lot i mean A LOT) of threads/websites/blogs regarding HDD problems. They mostly say the same thing "Your HDD is toast/Kaput/damaged" and that you have to "reformat/Send in for Repair" that would eventually lead to the extinction of the DATA inside your HDD. But now i am here to tell you that THERE IS A SOLUTION and a way to retrieve back YOUR SAVE DATA THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR!!! It worked for me, and i am positive it will work for you.

Materials needed:

1. A SATA 2.5" HDD Enclosure
2. USB cable for the enclosure
   (Which should be included in the enclosure, but if its not, then you need one)
3. A PC/MAC (NOTE: I used a laptop running Windows 7)
4. A USB Drive with the Latest Update inside (NOTE: I was not running any CFW , i used the latest firmware (OFW 4.11))
5. A Copy of "HDD Regenerator 2011" software (FULL VERSION)
6. The PS3 (working) that you used to initially format your HDD

Guide on how to Fix "Cannot Start. Correct hard disk not found" error, other HDD Problems, and the PS3 Restore Loop (3 in 1 Guide :cool:):

Before beginning this process please assess which route you are going to take:

ROUTE #1 : "I do not care about my data (game saves etc.) and i am ok if it gets deleted" then go for the Restore PS3 System (NOTE: This will format your HDD and erase everything)

ROUTE #2 : "I don't think that my HDD is that faulty, maybe a HDD restoration would fix it and salvage all of my game saves" (NOTE: HDD restoration is not the same as the "Restore PS3 System route"!)

ROUTE #3 : "I want to save my data (all that hard work and stuff)" (NOTE: This route is probably why you are reading this guide!)

ALL ROUTES START HERE:

PS3 PART:

1.) Access the PS3 Recovery Menu

• Turn off Playstation®3.
• Hold The power button down; The system will turn on and turn off once again.
• Once the System has been shutdown, re-press you finger until you hear 2 consecutive beeps
• When you hear the 2 beeps take finger off power button.
• You will be promted to plug in your controller via usb and then hit the PS button
• The Recovery menu will pop up.

NOTE: Most people think that they CAN'T ACCESS the Recovery Menu on their PS3 and that the error would just go back repeatedly. Make sure to have a controller connected to your PS3, after hearing the 2nd beep press the PS Button repeatedly. It should stop blinking and 1 light should only appear on your controller. Look at the screen, and voila! you're in the Recovery Menu.

2.) In the Recovery menu, Choose Option #3 Restore File System. It will ask you to insert your USB (with the firmware update inside it).
For ROUTE #2 and ROUTE #3 only: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CHOOSE OPTION #5 RESTORE PS3 SYSTEM

For ROUTE #1: Instead of Option #3 choose Option #5 Restore PS3 System. The PS3 will reformat your HDD erasing EVERYTHING. Your HDD will be like new then just follow the prompt (just like when you first started using the PS3).
-THIS ENDS ROUTE #1-

For ROUTE #2 and ROUTE #3 read further:

3.) Follow the steps and you'll end up with "the hard disk's file system is corrupted and will be restored" prompt, Press "OK"

ROUTE #2: If this fixes your hardrive problems then you are done!. Just follow the prompts to get back the XMB. Make sure to BACK EVERYTHING UP!
- THIS ENDS ROUTE #2-

ROUTE #3: Now if this part repeats or loops (meaning it goes back to the error prompt and asks you to redo the prompt again), access the Recovery Menu again.

4.) In the Recovery menu, this time, choose Option #2 Restore Default Settings. (NOTE: This WILL DELETE your Inbox Messages and Playlists, nothing big so don't worry). Again the "the hard disk's file system is corrupted and will be restored" prompt will reappear again. You can press "OK" again ( i did this about 10+ times, you don't have to do it a lot of times, once or twice will do)
(NOTE: When you try to access Option #4 "Rebuild Database" in the Recovery Menu sometimes it will say "The hard disk cannot be accessed". This happened to me so i moved on and properly turned off my PS3 system and removed the power cable.)

PC/MAC PART:

Before starting this part i recommend switching "SATA OPERATIONS" from AHCI to ATA in your BIOS SETUP Menu

5.) When your PS3 system is finally turned off and the power cable is removed, Carefully take out your HDD from your PS3(NOTE: I have a 160 GB FAT model, The Slim model might have a different HDD location). If you do not know how to then please use google (not trying to be mean) or ask someone who knows how to, but a simple google search would do. (NOTE: Taking out your HDD will not Void any warranty)

6.) Carefully remove the HDD from the caddy tray (the metal casing used to insert the HDD inside the PS3). Insert the HDD into the HDD Enclosure. Screw the sides so that the HDD would not move around the enclosure.

7.) Insert the USB, that is connected to the HDD enclosure , to your PC/MAC.

6.) Run the full version of HDD Regenerator. (NOTE: I used Windows 7 and it allowed me to do the repairing without booting a CD/USB) When you get to this screen:
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/615/65638149.jpg
You can either choose Option #1 to pre-scan the HDD revealing the Bad sectors, then choosing Option #2 to repair it OR skip Option #1 altogether and Scan and Repair it using only Option #2 (NOTE: I pre-scanned it then chose Option #2, but if you want to save time choose only #2).

8.) You will get this screen:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3575/14220324.jpg
OR
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6408/restored.jpg
The top image is when the software finds a bad sector, the next one is if it repaired it. (NOTE: I initially was not able to repair my HDD BECAUSE i did not do any of the "PS3 Part" stated about, you must follow it before this software can repair your HDD.)
This was my result:
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/7512/restored2.jpg

9.) If it is repaired, then you repaired your HDD!!! but the guide is not over yet so read carefully

10.) When the software is done scanning and repairing make sure to quit/exit the program first then Safely remove the USB (There should be a "Safely Remove Devices" button on the Windows 7 toolbar)

11.) Carefully take out your HDD from the enclosure, then carefully insert it again to the PS3 slot. Screw it, then put the side cover back on the PS3 (FAT model only i think)

12.) Power on your PS3, then it should say the "the hard disk's file system is corrupted and will be restored" prompt (you might feel discourage at this point because of the restore loop BUT DONT!).

13.)With the controller connected to the PS3 via the USB, Press "OK". Let it restore, BUT BEFORE IT FINISHES, remove the USB cable that is connecting the controller to the PS3 and keep pressing the PS Button (All of the Red lights should blink, THEN it will change to only 1 single red light)

14.) Voila! Its back up and running!!! (i saw the PS3 Dream Believe logo)

15.) It is going to prompt you for the Date/Time/Internet Connection etc. (NOTE: I forgot if it asked me for the USB DRIVE update since i was jumping for joy all over my house, but if it did then just follow the prompt)

16.) Your accounts will have an asterisks(*) beside them and you'll have to sign in (Existing User)

17.) LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, BACK EVERYTHING UP!!!
-THIS ENDS ROUTE #3-

Other Stuff that i Tried before Succeeding:

Scanned HDD with HD TUNE:
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/4470/78837274.jpg

Tried to used SpinRite but would not let me
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1207/imag0386xi.jpg
Sorry for the bad quality pic

POST-Repair Concerns/Questions:
Q: I tried to back up my save files using a USB but the XMB would not allow me to copy it to the USB drive, only to a Playstation Plus Folder
A: This is because the developers of the game chose to copyright/protect the saves, meaning you would not be able to copy it from your ps3 to a usb. You could only transfer that to the "Playstation Plus Folder" or online Cloud drive (Whichever one you want to call it) if you are a Playstation Plus member. Your save files would be save to Sony's servers

Q: Ok so lets say i become a member of Playstation Plus, what will happen to the game saves a copied to the online cloud drive if my subscription EXPIRES?
A: I have search for this answer also. According to here (not an official source, but you can google this question for more info), you would not be able to access your save data on sony's cloud servers UNLESS you re-subscribe to Playstation Plus. The Save data will be available for only "six months" and if you do not re-subscribe within that time period then all of your saves that is on Sony's serves will be deleted.

Q: Help! where are the copy-righted save files that i copied to the online storage? I am trying to copy it to a new PS3/HDD but i could not find them
A: From what i have researched, it will take 24 hours before the saves that you copied to Sony's online servers to appear. Make sure that you are using the same account that you used to copy the saves to the online server.

-will add more as they come-

Maybe a forensic tool, connecting the HDD to pc but to get the saves. If the HDD is corrupted not much to do there and if you try to save the files...and the files were messed up it's a dead end.

In that scenario I will buying a SATA enclosing to do a low level format to the HDD, but are shure it's the hdd and not some other component failing?

What forensic tool? You mean a SATA enclosure? So a quick reformat rather than a full one? The error "Cannot start. Correct hard disk not found" is, i believe, a HDD error, unless you know something i don't, then i would gladly accept any assistance.

And by the way, I've encounter posts that says to "Mirror the HDD" to get the saves, or doing a "Sector by Sector" thingy to bypass the ps3 encryption. You see, i am not experienced with any of these so i do not k know how to do these things.

Thank you very much

I have experienced this problem before and fixed it by getting and installing a new hdd.

I think it's caused when the internal ps3 settings (dev_flash 2) get messed up. Here is a snippet of my internal ps3 settings http://s12.postimage.org/uyjhkymil/hddserialpng.png

As you can see the ps3 has my hdd serial stored. My old hard drive did work after I installed the new one though??? so my theory is probably only 50% correct lol.

Anything is better than nothing, thank you for trying to help me. I'll try this one. I'll buy a new HDD and an enclosing (just in case). I'll post my findings here when i get the items.

I am thinking of buying this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER) I am really not big on storage size so this one is ok with me, unless you have a better one to recommend.

Once again, thanks!

forensic tools are used to recover data loss on a bad drive. (with low chance of getting something).

But this is not the case, just try what glowball posted and buy a new HDD and an enclosing.
It's better to be prepared just in case.
That WD i can certify that's is better than any samsung going around there.

Which forensic tool should i use? It's probably a software. Is it swissknife? and the like? or are you talking about a different one?

thanks

Software. It's just an option that i thought..if the HDD is really damaged you can recover or *try* to recover certain sectors connecting the HDD to PC.

I don't have one in particular in mind. I often use in the worst case scenario : VirtualLab Data Recovery.

I will try that once i get my enclosing tomorrow. I'll google how to recover those bad sectors (im new to this kind of thing). Hopefully i don't mess this process up. Thanks hellsing and glowball! I'll give you an update once i get my enclosing

By the way here are more things that i noticed from my PS3.

1.) PS3 would not respond to the controller when trying to power the system on, i have to do it manually via the on switch in front. There is, however, no red/yellow blinking, its just a normal start up.
2.) When starting it up, i would get the said error "Cannot Start. Correct hard disk not found", but with a black background (no swirls). I searched youtube and this guy had the same problem but his start up background has swirls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Gp5FoFKEltg). I don't know if its anything but i want to give you guys as much info as possible.
3.) Also, in the video posted above, the guy wants me to go through system restore to fix it, but i cant as i have mentioned before hand.

Anyways thank you guys for helping. I'll keep you posted when i get my stuff tomorrow.

Keep us posted, i will research a little more about this and come back to you with something more *solid*.
I noticed that on the video, the idea is going into system restore..but if you can't it's time to search alternative solutions.

Welcome