Posted Jul 02, 2008 at 02:19PM by Isaac C. Listed in: PlayStation 3 Tags: XMB, Sony, Zero.Wing
Ó

Playstation US - Many PS3 owners complain of Firmware 2.40 freezes - Image 1 


PlayStation 3 gamers, you may want to hold off on updating your systems to Firmware 2.40. There have been numerous reports of consoles freezing straight after, or even during, updating their systems to 2.40. You may have to wait longer for trophies and in-game XMB.

According to the reports, there doesn't seem to be any pattern as to which models of the PlayStation 3 are affected - all systems from 20 GB to 80 GB are affected. It seems that after applying 2.40, their systems just froze.

If you find your system freezing, some gamers have found that removing and reformatting their hard drive will get the system to boot up again - although this would mean that all your data would be lost. Hopefully, Sony will release a better solution.

We'll keep you updated on further developments, and certainly after Sony makes an official statement. Check back for updates.

* Article originally posted Jul 02, 2008 at 10:38AM



*Update* We just got wind from Kotaku that Sony has now pulled out the PS3 FW 2.40 update. The latest system update that you will now find online is FW 2.36. Furthermore, our very own tipster, Zero.Wing, reports of a failed attempt at trying to get the the system update:

Managed to sign in to my PSN account at around 20:30 GMT whilst still running firmware 2.36.


Tried to update using system update from XMB but system reports that I have the highest firmware available installed.


Tried to get the update using a PC from http://eu.playstation.com but am getting a 404 error.


As stated by Kotaku, this may be a temporary  measure to curb any further problems that PS3 users may experience. We'll bring you guys news once Sony's released any official statement regarding this matter and when FW 2.40 goes back online.

Thanks to Zero.Wing, i3obtl, and darkliger666 for the info!

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59 Comments


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   by eaglebaize - 2008-07-02
 » =(

That's too bad that fw2.40 didn't have a completely smooth release for everyone. I myself was able to successfully download and install the update, but I was kinda disappointed when I found out I couldn't use the in-game music-from-HDD feature, apparently because it depends on the game developers' choice on whether or not to allow it, not Sony's. That was probably the feature I was looking forward to the most... oh well. Hopefully, the developers will at least allow the use of that feature in future titles and perhaps even make patches for their previously released games.

   by Justingraziano - 2008-07-02
 » XMB

My system hasn't frozen yet but the in-game XMB is certainly quite slow.


   Re: K3b4b5t4r - 2008-07-03
 » It would be

They haven't put it up to speed yet but it will be faster like the psp to ps3 remote play it is a bit slow but getting faster!
   by bugga12 - 2008-07-02
 » Meh..

I was one of the first to update, or find the update.. whatever, according to QJ.net.. (DO NOTICE THAT I DID NOT SAY THE FIRST..in before Flamewars)

Anyway, It downloaded fine, pretty fast actually.. It installed just as fine and fast. I've been playing pretty well. No freezing up until now. COD4, RR7, Resistance, Guitar Hero and GT5P are all working pretty fine. I even tested some PS1 and PS2 games... Monster Hunter and Crash Bandicoot 2 are working fine. (Without ingame XMB though)

Also, to all the whiners that the Ingame XMB runs slow or laggy. What do you expect? The PS3 isn't running on a huge amount of RAM.. and you're rendering a whole game .. IN REAL TIME, in the background. Do remember that first before you whine about it next time. It is calculating, the graphics, physics, AI... etc etc of the whole game, behind the XMB... I'd be FREAKING Surprised if it didn't slow down.

Anyway, what I'm a bit pissed about, but still care to understand... Is the fact that games really need to catch up with the Firmwares.. however, developing takes time. And finding ways to implement trophies and in-game music... Might take a while. So I'll give them that.

Apart from all the trouble this has been causing, I can vouch that this update is pretty worth it! It has some subtle new stuff like the "Turn off" button... And is remarkably better, considering.

To anyone that has failed the update, I'm sure Sony will handle the situation.. (Even though.. I wouldn't advise them to go out and give some.. re-flash solution as hackers will take advantage of it. Badly. I don't want to see the PS3 ending up as the next PSP.)

To all others, hope you're enjoying the nice piece of firmware you've got your hands off, and don't whine about it too much, the features will come... from the GAME developers, not Sony itself.

PS - To all others who've actually read the whole god darned comment.. Congratulations, XD.


   Re: platon - 2008-07-02
 » thanks for the congratulations! :D

I downloaded and tested the update too, and it worked fine but for Enchanted Arms, where the XMB is not loading when I press the home button (maybe the game is too old? weird).

I'm sad too that right now, only one PSN title have those trophies so I can't get some to level up today (I was off today).

I hope that the bricked PS3s were rumors (xbots are great to start them, we can agree on that).

Finally, I hope that within one week, the update will be online again, and that most companies will have updated their games. Especially Dynasty warriors 6, GTA4 and Assassin's creed.

   Re: RexNox - 2008-07-03
 » I've told these ppl...

this crap before...they don't give a care. All they want is more. Sony released this update much earlier than expected.
   by na2rul - 2008-07-02
 » downloaded in morning

gave it a quick try out but no problems yet. tested msg whilst in-game, then received 1 by a friend who also was ingame.

Will give it another test as soon as i get home


   Re: krepler - 2008-07-02
 » question marks

I downloaded it lastnight but haven't had a chance to check out the features yet.

What I did notice is that the new icons and for some reason the playlist icons have question marks?!? Maybe it's because the old themes don't include the new icons, I don't know, but it doesn't explain why the playlist icon now shows as a ?. I gotta take off my themes and check it out again.
   by 93pauott - 2008-07-02
 » well..

my 60gig werent affected.

   by PSPegasus - 2008-07-02
 » no problems

I updated both of my 60gb US models and I didn't have any trouble. I've got a 320gb drive in one and the original HDD in the other. Neither one has done anything odd as yet. I updated off a USB drive though, but I doubt that had any impact. I'm just hoping that my consoles won't suddenly just freeze at some point.

   by ChaosYeah - 2008-07-02
 » Works fine for me...

except for in metal gear online! I can access my xmb on the menu but not during gameplay! Is anyone else having this problem?

   by Woden501 - 2008-07-02
 » Ha

I installed it at like 12:30am this morning, and have only had a single issue. The system wouldn't connect to the internet, but as soon as I reset my linksys router it was working perfectly fine... I'll just blame it all on my POS linksys router.

   by coolbot - 2008-07-02
 » gta no problem

i had no problem accessing the xmb while playing gtaIV its just a tidbit slushy loading the icons but that a minor bug.

   by Vipre77 - 2008-07-02
 » So, Sony took it down, but...

Does anyone have a mirror where I could still find it? I'd like to give it a shot, despite the risk. I'll just make a backup of my data before I run the update in case I run into any issues.

   by dastinger - 2008-07-02
 » luckily :)

i had no problems...I updated mine before I read this but everything went fine and I even played MGS after it so I think there's no problem at all with my system :D

Oh, btw, PAL System...launch console

   by crtbbc111 - 2008-07-04
 » some answers....

here are some answers for everyone out there...including how to unbrick your ps3, an explanation for the brick, and a good enough reason for the update being removed

http://www.ps3hax.net/announcement/5423-ps3-2-40-black-screen-death-fix.html
http://www.ps3hax.net/firmware-tutorials/5419-unbrick-2-40-update.html
http://www.ps3hax.net/ps3hax-developement-forum-public/5432-real-reason-2-4-being-pulled.html

   by sharkthegreat - 2008-07-03
 » pandoras hdd

im hoping and praying to god that a downgrader is found and the system becomes reflashed for thosed with bricked ps3s and then mayb we could have the pandora hdd lol, but i want hmebrew and a m33 on my ps3, games are becoming too expensive and i can jus play the iso straight from my game folder, that would be so cool guess ill jus sit and wait

   by Rickey123 - 2008-07-03
 » mines not freezing....

But, i keep getting signed out of my psn and then not being able to sign back in until i reboot the system completly. This isnt major, but i wonder if its the 2.40 update thats putting it off

   by DanWild - 2008-07-03
 » SLOW!

The in game XMB is so slow.

   by Sinphaltimus - 2008-07-03
 » No Issues Here

Updated yesterday - went fine. My controller took a little longer than usual to come up but once it did, business as usual. I love the new features. I always hated getting chat invites while in game and being able to do nothing about it without quitting the game.

   by Extreme_Dude23 - 2008-07-03
 » lol

I knew it would get delayed somehow.

   by Josh1billion - 2008-07-03
 » No problems here

Mine didn't freeze and updated just fine. The only problem I've run into was one time when I was playing Metal Gear Online and was messing around with the in-game XMB (trying to read a message), the PS3 got stuck on the XMB and couldn't get back to the game (the game was still playing in the background, though-- just couldn't control it).

   by xxCARLOSxx - 2008-07-07
 » VVVVVVVV

mine froze like twice while i was playing but other than that it works fine

   by scarface_tha_second - 2008-07-03
 » haha

yesterday I was *****ing about this update saying it was released too early and did not deliver what was promised. I got flamed for it. I come online today to find out that Sony pulled it off.

   by Sanzee - 2008-07-07
 » 360 Fan

Hey it's good to see that the PS3 firmware update hasn't affected everybody. I'm a 360 fan but still I can imagine it would be *****ty having that happen to me. Good luck to all those who are having problems. Peace and love.

   by frank_the_bunny - 2008-07-02
 » not for me :)

thankfully hasn't happened to me :)

   by BTR711 - 2008-07-02
 » o problems 0 freezes!

i think its a joke... because i have never had a problem... i have 3 ps3's 60 80 and 40 and 0 problems on all of them so yeah... they only release updates if they work i feel that alot of these claims come from Xbox fanboys. just a thought.

   by na2rul - 2008-07-04
 » There's definitetly faults

Since they pulled it out

I sent and received msg fine whilst in game.

(60gb ps3 swapped for 250GB)

   by Mentality - 2008-07-02
 » >>

Plain sailing for me, updated first thing this morning,, went to work got to playing, run it through its paces and it's fine. Same with the GTA IV thing, never had one issue.


   Re: Epidemik_Sk8boards - 2008-07-02
 » ya, no prob

though when i was downloading it, it knocked me off downloading and had to start it again, then no prob, got to try the in-game xmb and it was cool
   by roca - 2008-07-02
 » been playing mgs4 all day

no problems so far, been lucky i guess

   by NarooN - 2008-07-02
 » no problems for me..

I hope none occur though. I also hope they release a higher firmware, such as 2.41 for those of us already on 2.40.

   by greatgamba - 2008-07-02
 » so wait

i got it and its working fine but uh is my ps3 gonna be freezing or what. now im confused


   Re: bugga12 - 2008-07-02
 » Well..

To both you and Mac2589... If the installation already went fine and you're enjoying the Firmware... Unless Sony demands a rollback, then nothing should be wrong after installing 2.40.

However my guess is that Sony will come up with 2.41 in a few days. So you're better off updating to that as soon as it lands to avoid any risks you might be taking (or if you feel insecure about the whole thing, I know I don't +P)
   by marv101 - 2008-07-02
 » Bro's

This has happened to my bro's PS3. His is a 40GB UK model. The system loads the Sony logo and then goes to the waves, but nothing else. Even the sixaxis refuses to register with the PS3 so you can't do anything.


   Re: jinxtedium - 2008-07-02
 » me too!

THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME! What are we going to do if the ps3 cannot even boot? I cant believe this... Mine is a launch 60gb already out of warranty, and the ps3 isnt even damaged.. just the firmware.

   Re: K3b4b5t4r - 2008-07-03
 » Free Repair

Sony will probably do a free repair or replace like they did with the ps2 systems that had faults but if not they might do a repair disc or something like on boot up which the ps3 looks for on startup
   by Rei64 - 2008-07-02
 »  i downloaded it and played it for a long time

but i didn't experience any problems..but now that i know about this, i am not even going to turn my ps3 on until i hear about some kind of fix.


   Re: Alistar - 2008-07-02
 » Don't worry

So far, the problems only seem to effect PS3s as they restart for the firmware.

If it has restarted and worked correctly, it should be okay. I've turned my PS3 off several times today and I've yet to run into any problem.

   Re: K3b4b5t4r - 2008-07-03
 » Yes

It seems that a few of the consoles might have had a few flash write problems may be due to the last update or just the consoles but if you one of the lucky ones who got this to work it might just be flash problems for the others.


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