[MClolwut]

hello,

well it has been some weeks since I started to look around for a Console (just got a PC) and I actually want to have the PS3. Well, I think I got luck - my stepfather is owner of one and is just using it to watch movies so I asked him if he can sell it to me. 150 bugs for a PS3 isn't that bad and atleast I know where it's from and that it is working. He also told me that it got a "special Firmware" so it is possible to save Games on Internal/External Harddrive. I'm a complete PS3 noob so I asked him if I still can play Online with it, because this is really important for me. He said it is not possible and since I found this page here (and watched around for hours) I think this is true. But my question is now, is there any way to "change it back"? I actually don't need the feature to save games on the Harddrive but need to play Online, and the price is affordable... so would be happy to hear if it is possible or not.
Thx already now

[Tcraw77813]

He is correct in that you can not play online while using custom firmware ("special firmware"). And yes there is a way to "change it back" and it's quite simple. Just go the the system update option and run it. This will download and then installed the newest official firmware, which is necessary to play online.

[Lurkhard]

If you update the console it will be playable online.

But if you don't you can literally get an game currently for free.

[MClolwut]

Originally Posted by Tcraw77813 Yes there is a way and it's quite simple. Simply go the the system update option and run it. This will download and then installed the newest official firmware, which is necessary to play online.

The newest will be something like 4.xx, but since I found this page I really feel like trying some things like Themes and running Linux, actually everything what is not preventing me from playing online. For most of the stuff I'll need 3.55 and downgrading isn't possible without to buy this special Stick for about ~60 bugs eh? Aslong I got it right, there are a lot of hacks and not all preventing me from playing online, just the Jailbreak. Did I get that right?
So actually there is no way to hold the current version (looks like he is using 3.55 or 3.41 to me) without to upgrade and then downgrade?

Edit:

Originally Posted by Lurkhard If you update the console it will be playable online. But if you don't you can literally get an game currently for free.

I know but this really doesn't help me. I got some more PS3 gamers in my family and I'd enjoy it to play with them (they're clan gamers).

[pereb27]

Originally Posted by Tcraw77813 He is correct in that you can not play online while using custom firmware ("special firmware"). And yes there is a way to "change it back" and it's quite simple. Just go the the system update option and run it. This will download and then installed the newest official firmware, which is necessary to play online.

Better format the hard disk before doing that though.

Originally Posted by MClolwut The newest will be something like 4.xx, but since I found this page I really feel like trying some things like Themes and running Linux, actually everything what is not preventing me from playing online. For most of the stuff I'll need 3.55 and downgrading isn't possible without to buy this special Stick for about ~60 bugs eh? Aslong I got it right, there are a lot of hacks and not all preventing me from playing online, just the Jailbreak. Did I get that right? So actually there is no way to hold the current version (looks like he is using 3.55 or 3.41 to me) without to upgrade and then downgrade? Edit: I know but this really doesn't help me. I got some more PS3 gamers in my family and I'd enjoy it to play with them (they're clan gamers).

You cannot run Linux without CFW, they removed that option in firmware 3.21 sadly.
There are hardware ways to downgrade and dual-boot though (you need 2 HDDs for dual-boot). Depending on the PS3 model, look up E3 flasher or Progskeet.
And no there is currently no hack that lets you play online, unless you have a dual-boot setup, but obviously you can only play online on "OFW mode" or official mode.

[MClolwut]

Originally Posted by pereb27 Better format the hard disk before doing that though. You cannot run Linux without CFW, they removed that option in firmware 3.21 sadly. There are hardware ways to downgrade and dual-boot though (you need 2 HDDs for dual-boot). Depending on the PS3 model, look up E3 flasher or Progskeet. And no there is currently no hack that lets you play online, unless you have a dual-boot setup, but obviously you can only play online on "OFW mode" or official mode.

So to get it right, I actually do not lose anything if I update the firmware because I can't use hacks anyways if I want to play online. BUT I could use the Dualboot System (heard about it). So I have a hacked firmware and an original one. So I can decide if I want a game for free without to play online or buy a game and play online? I don't know what OFW and CFW means, thou..