Just finished installing E3 Flasher, got error on startup *Cannot Start...*
 

I hope this is the correct board, it's hard to deside what board to ask this since it's in between.

I decided to downgrade my PS3, you can read the topic I made here about it if you want (log read, sorry):
http://www.ps3hax.net/showthread.php?p=391816

Short read here:
PS3 Model: CECHK01
OFW: v4.11
MB: DIA-002

To make it simple, I just took my PS3 apart for the first time and put/attached the E3 NOR Flasher to the PS3 Motherboard chip.

I then setup the HDD in the SATA Station and turned the HDD on, then the PS3.

After about 20 seconds or so, I only get this error message:
"Cannot Start.
The correct hard disk was not found"

I did a search on google/youtube and tried the 'Hold the start/reset button till hear 2 beeps' like it shows in this video:
Correct hard disk not found? Not anymore - YouTube

When the PS3 turns on again, it still says same error.
*I tried it twice, but never got to the step where it says, "Connect the controller using a USB cable, and then press the PS button"*

I don't know what it could be, what should I check/do?

After searching the fourms, only the user 'BadApple' has this problem that I can tell, BUT there past where I am. I also don't get the 10001100 error at all like he appears to do.

What do I need to do/redo/check?
From what I can tell, this isn't a common problem...well, for E3 Downgraders anyway.

Thanks for the help...I'm at a loss on what to do.

Make sure the sata cable is plugged in all the way on both ends, and make sure the esata station is turned on. If all of this is done, then make sure the flasher is actually seated on the ps3 sata dock, and the clip is secured on the flasher motherboard good.
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You can make the flasher go in the hard drive bay without it actually connecting to the ps3 sata dock. That may be your problem if you checks everything else. Sometimes it helps to get the flasher installed with the power supply takin out, so you can visually see the hard drive bay all the way, then reinstall the power supply.

THANK YOU!
I unplugged the SATA cable from both ends and pushed a bit on the 'TF Cover board' and reconnected everything.
I saw the 'data' LED on the station blink a few times, it didn't before and now got to the main menu as if I have the HDD in the PS3

I'm going to follow these tutorial/guides now:
http://www.ps3hax.net/showthread.php?t=33989
and
http://www.ps3hax.net/showthread.php?t=39379

Then post in 2nd one to verify/validate E3 Nor DUMP before I go any farther.

Welcome man. Glad you got it working. Don't hesitate to ask if you are unsure of anything. Don't assume if you are unsure and don't skip steps. Good luck.

Spoke too soon...

Twice I have had to unplug and replug the sata cable from the 'TF Cover board' and SATA station, before the HDD data LED lights up upon startup of the PS3.
*picky SATA cable or the E3 flasher board?*


AND after I did this step, basically the first step:
"...3. Set the switches on your e3 1 and 2 down and the rest up. Turn on the ps3. All 8 blue led lights light up and means your flasher has taken the update...."

The only thing that happens is that the PS3 starts up normally, goes to the main menu...is it suppose to do this?
The TF board doesn't have any lights on at all.
The switches are all set like it says, first 2 down, the rest up.

The MicroSD card is formatted in Fat32 with only the update.bin file on the root of the SD card.

Any idea?

Well, start the ps3. When the ps3 gets to the main menu, hit the reset button on the flasher. It is the red button underneath the sata cable on the flasher. The lights should start flashing. If they do, then that is a good sign. You would then want to hit the start button on the flasher, which is on the left side, top red button, but make sure the switches are in the right position for updating the e3 flasher

Ok, one problem, non of the lights on the flasher light up at all.
I even turned off the PS3 and pushed/wiggled it a bit, and still no change.

How/what do I do now?

Hmm.... You sure you have the clip on good? The flasher gets power from the motherboard nor chip. If the clip is on the flasher good, then it has to be the clip on the nor itself not getting good enough contact. I have helped a lot of people and can't remember everyone so forgive me if you already answered this. Did we check to see if it was a clone?

So the flasher gets power from the cover (soft-board?) I put on the chip/motherboard?
I thought it got power from the SATA power port since I plug the flasher-board into the same port the HDD uses, makes more sense to me.
*the SATA HDD has two connection on it, one data on power, right next to each other.*
The soft-board fit snugly on, didn't wiggle/pop off at all, I did use some clear tape to make sure it didn't move at all anyway.
We checked, and it is a legit and not a clone flasher.


Should I take my PS3 apart again and this time use some Styrofoam (don't have any 'Hard Foam') to press the E3 flash cover thing onto the chip?
Would that help at all?

Or if Styrofoam is not recommended, I can go and buy a "PSP LCD screen protection pad" (hard foam) and use that to press the soft-board onto the chip better.
But that will have to wait till tomorrow, when the store that normally sells that stuff is open.

I'd like to get this done, causing many headaches already, but if needed to do it safely/properly I will wait and get that hard foam tomorrow.

I understand why you would think that, but it gets it's power from 3.3 v leg of the nor. Trust me. Because if you take the clip off of the flasher, you can keep it plugged in the ps3 and still use the ps3 hdd in the sata station, but the flasher will get no power whatsoever. It will act as a bridge from the ps3 to the sata station. You definitely will need something on the clip to give it constant pressure. It is up to you what you use. Some people use styrofoam, or coins, or hard foam. Personally, I believe it is the outcome that matters. I have used all the methods I just stated including others that I didn't, and they all work. But you do have to be careful because there is a fine line between good pressure and too much pressure. Too much pressure and you will damage the south bridge of the nor chip and cause the ps3 useless. Too little and the clip won't give you good bios dumps or other problems. Believe me when I say, you are not the only one who cussed this thing multiple times and had to take the ps3 apart a million times to get it right. But if you are patient and persistent you will get it.
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The fun has only begun. Wait till you try to get a bios dump. The prize at the end of the road makes it all worth it.