PS4 HDD Replacement Question

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Alvin Flummux
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PostPS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Alvin Flummux » Sun Dec 18, 2016 1:59 am

Does anybody know if a new hard-drive to be used to replace a stock PS4 HDD needs to be formatted at Fat32 or Ex-Fat, say via a SATA-USB connection to a PC, before it can be installed?

I have all the necessary gear now to upgrade my PS4's hard drive, but the question of whether I have to do something to the new one is holding me back.

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Peter Crisp
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Peter Crisp » Sun Dec 18, 2016 6:57 am

I didn't format the disk I used I just plonked it straight in with the ps4 firmware (or whatever the software you need to put onto a usb stick is called) on a usb and that was it. The PS4 formats the disk anyway and just does all that stuff itself.
You can't really go wrong as you can always just sling the old disk back in and go from where you left off as it's just taken out and nothing happens to it so I could just go back in time to my old 500gb hdd for my old ps4 if I really wanted to as it's just sitting in a box but perfectly fine and usable again if I need it.

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KjGarly
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by KjGarly » Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:34 am

As Pete says just pop it in, make sure you have the correct Firmware on your pendrive to install!

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/system-updates/ps4/

Scroll down to 'updating from compute' then look for the 'click here' for initialisating the system due to HDD change.

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KingK
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by KingK » Sun Dec 18, 2016 9:58 am

Yeah no need to format the hdd. The important bit is to make sure you have the full install file ( c.900mb) and not the upgrade file (<300mb) as I found out earlier this week when installing a new 2Tb hdd in my PS4Pro. Took me ages to figure out what I'd done! :fp:

Edit: make sure you've synced your trophies and saves to the cloud before you remove the old hdd too. I think that even if you put the old one back in, it gets reformatted (wiped) automatically so you can't just reinstall it. I might be wrong on that bit

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Alvin Flummux
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Alvin Flummux » Sun Dec 18, 2016 3:52 pm

KingK wrote:Yeah no need to format the hdd. The important bit is to make sure you have the full install file ( c.900mb) and not the upgrade file (<300mb) as I found out earlier this week when installing a new 2Tb hdd in my PS4Pro. Took me ages to figure out what I'd done! :fp:


Yep, I've made sure that the one I downloaded is around 800-850MB in size.

KingK wrote:Edit: make sure you've synced your trophies and saves to the cloud before you remove the old hdd too. I think that even if you put the old one back in, it gets reformatted (wiped) automatically so you can't just reinstall it. I might be wrong on that bit


I've backed up all my data (saves, apps, captures etc) to an external HDD, but I will be syncing to the cloud also.

Edit: The installation was surprisingly painless, but getting to the fresh install screen was a nightmare as the USB cords that fit the DS4 are awful, always falling out, gotta be held a certain way to detect anything's there etc. Somehow I muddled my way to getting my account on it and now I'm restoring my data from my external HDD, which will take another 3 hours or so.

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Peter Crisp
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Peter Crisp » Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:44 pm

It's one of those jobs that more difficult to explain than to do and I'd say anyone with a shortage of space should consider replacing the drive as it's about as simple as they can make it and 2tb drives aren't expensive any more.

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Death's Head
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PostRe: RE: Re: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Death's Head » Sun Dec 18, 2016 6:26 pm

Alvin Flummux wrote:
KingK wrote:Yeah no need to format the hdd. The important bit is to make sure you have the full install file ( c.900mb) and not the upgrade file (&lt;300mb) as I found out earlier this week when installing a new 2Tb hdd in my PS4Pro. Took me ages to figure out what I'd done! :fp:


Yep, I've made sure that the one I downloaded is around 800-850MB in size.

KingK wrote:Edit: make sure you've synced your trophies and saves to the cloud before you remove the old hdd too. I think that even if you put the old one back in, it gets reformatted (wiped) automatically so you can't just reinstall it. I might be wrong on that bit


I've backed up all my data (saves, apps, captures etc) to an external HDD, but I will be syncing to the cloud also.

Edit: The installation was surprisingly painless, but getting to the fresh install screen was a nightmare as the USB cords that fit the DS4 are awful, always falling out, gotta be held a certain way to detect anything's there etc. Somehow I muddled my way to getting my account on it and now I'm restoring my data from my external HDD, which will take another 3 hours or so.

Don't understand your edit, have not such problem with my connections.

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Alvin Flummux
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PostRe: RE: Re: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Alvin Flummux » Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:09 pm

Death's Head wrote:Don't understand your edit, have not such problem with my connections.


None of the micro-USB controller cords for my DS4 pads work for very long. The connector on the DS4 end always ends up being bent to the point of needing to be bent back hard, and oftentimes the it'll simply fall out of the pad. I've tried several different makes over the past couple of years and they're all shitty. I think it's just a very poor design - it needs an Ethernet-style snap-in locking function.

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Death's Head
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Death's Head » Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:18 pm

I've used several with no problems. I wonder if your DS4 ports are damaged.

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Alvin Flummux
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Alvin Flummux » Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:36 pm

Death's Head wrote:I've used several with no problems. I wonder if your DS4 ports are damaged.


In two different controllers?

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KjGarly
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by KjGarly » Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:19 pm

Then your too heavy handed for it to happen to 2 pads. Nothing has happened like that with the 2 pads I had from my OG PS4 and the pad I've now got with my Pro and it gets charged anytime it's not in use.

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jawafour
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by jawafour » Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:35 pm

I tend to agree that the controller USB connections points are a bit fiddly... in this case I'd suggest taking a look at the official DualShock charging station. It's a little device that charges up two controllers and it has its own plug. I've used mine since the launch of the PS4 and it has been very reliable.

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Alvin Flummux
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Alvin Flummux » Sun Dec 18, 2016 9:13 pm

I have a charging station that hooks up to one of the PS4's USB ports, which seems to work alright.

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KingK
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by KingK » Sun Dec 18, 2016 11:04 pm

jawafour wrote:I tend to agree that the controller USB connections points are a bit fiddly... in this case I'd suggest taking a look at the official DualShock charging station. It's a little device that charges up two controllers and it has its own plug. I've used mine since the launch of the PS4 and it has been very reliable.

Totally agree. Love mine and have 2 pads permanently docked when not in use. Had it since launch day

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Death's Head
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Death's Head » Mon Dec 19, 2016 7:50 am

I've had 2 controllers on permanent rotation since launch and both are still tight connections. If connectors on cables are getting bent, have to agree with the heavy handed remark.

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Pancake
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Pancake » Wed Jan 04, 2017 7:32 am

Surprised to hear there is any concerns over the micro USB ports on the DS4 pads. Haven't had mine for very long but all cables I've tried snap into the pads very nicely, no different to a phone. There is zero chance of anything getting bent or damaged, although I accept that it's possible the connection might become loose over time.

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HailToTheKingBaby!
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by HailToTheKingBaby! » Wed Jan 04, 2017 5:11 pm

Just on this topic, can anyone recommend a good but cheap 2TB or 3TB hard drive for a PS4 Pro? My 1TB is about full and so thinking it's time to upgrade but my fiancée lost her job just before xmas so need to do it on as tight a budget as possible so any recommendations would be awesome.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by Victor Mildew » Wed Jan 04, 2017 6:44 pm

HailToTheKingBaby! wrote:Just on this topic, can anyone recommend a good but cheap 2TB or 3TB hard drive for a PS4 Pro? My 1TB is about full and so thinking it's time to upgrade but my fiancée lost her job just before xmas so need to do it on as tight a budget as possible so any recommendations would be awesome.


I was going to recommend this bit is gone up £20 since I bought it :?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... =UTF8&th=1

If you can find that for around 50 something then it's a great thing. I took the hdd out and put the 1tb back in.

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KjGarly
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by KjGarly » Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:24 pm

Advent7 wrote:
HailToTheKingBaby! wrote:Just on this topic, can anyone recommend a good but cheap 2TB or 3TB hard drive for a PS4 Pro? My 1TB is about full and so thinking it's time to upgrade but my fiancée lost her job just before xmas so need to do it on as tight a budget as possible so any recommendations would be awesome.


I was going to recommend this bit is gone up £20 since I bought it :?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... =UTF8&th=1

If you can find that for around 50 something then it's a great thing. I took the hdd out and put the 1tb back in.


Same one is £62.99 at Argoose. You can even get an Argos card and not have to worry about the full cost and just spread it out over 2 - 3 months.

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HailToTheKingBaby!
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PostRe: PS4 HDD Replacement Question
by HailToTheKingBaby! » Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:16 pm

KjGarly wrote:
Advent7 wrote:
HailToTheKingBaby! wrote:Just on this topic, can anyone recommend a good but cheap 2TB or 3TB hard drive for a PS4 Pro? My 1TB is about full and so thinking it's time to upgrade but my fiancée lost her job just before xmas so need to do it on as tight a budget as possible so any recommendations would be awesome.


I was going to recommend this bit is gone up £20 since I bought it :?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... =UTF8&th=1

If you can find that for around 50 something then it's a great thing. I took the hdd out and put the 1tb back in.


Same one is £62.99 at Argoose. You can even get an Argos card and not have to worry about the full cost and just spread it out over 2 - 3 months.


My missus has an Argos card so literally did this earlier - got the hard drive ready to go, just backed up her saves (mine should be in online storage hopefully) so just grabbing the firmware ready then time to start opening up the ps4 pro - scary times :shifty: Hopefully I won't destroy it lol. Thanks for the recommendations guys!


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