Correct HD not found error

[seriouslysilly]

I just purchased a broken PS3 at a cheap price.
Thought I could easily fix it and use as a backup system.

Anyway, the seal seems intact so the owner wasn't messing around with mobo,etc.
The front corner has a dent on the corner so it was probably dropped at a minimal distance.  the case overall looks in excellent condition (surface scratches).

Anyway, when I boot up, it says that it cannot start.  the correct HD not found"
I searched for solutions and performed the suggested fixes.
I removed the HD and reinstalled and did the manual reset.  Still same error.

Thought it might be a bad HD so I plugged it in my other PS3.  Hd booted fine and even formatted it. 
Took my working HD into new PS3, error pops up.  Put the old (now reformatted HD) into this ps3 and still getting the same error.

If it's not the HD, what else could it be?  the mobo?
I would like to hear any other suggestions before I open this baby up.

Thanks!

[Tri-edge]

bad firmware update?  that's the only thing I can think of unless one of the hard drive connector's pins got disconnected when he dropped it

[seriouslysilly]

thanks for the suggestions.  if it's  a bad update, how do I go about reflashing if I can't get to the menu or hardware reset.  d I have t send it in to sony?

[gamerdude767]

best thing to do is send it to sony (if its still under warrenty) and get them to sort it out. :P

[dedafmonteur]

if you have no warranty just open it up dude, it wont harm it.

[seriouslysilly]

Yes, I was planning on opening it up since I wasn't going to pay $150 to have it fixed.  I'd rather do it myself.

Upon closer inspection, it seems that the pins to accept the HD is bent.  The plastic that holds the pins were broken off so the metal pins were just sticking straight out.  I took the thinnest screwdriver I had and straightened the pins as much as I could.  I carefully plugged the HD back in... We're in business!!!!!
The xmb loaded and I was able to reformat the HD.

Thanks everyone for your help!


PS. After formatting, I decided to try a game.  No luck.  It wouldn't load.  It however has an old firmware <2.6 so I'm hoping it's one of those bad firmwares that prevented it from reading games.  We shall see  (keeps fingers crossed).
Even if it is a bad drive, I'm just glad the system is loading up

[Tri-edge]

try putting solder back on the pins so they have a better connection.  It's not as hard as you think 

[gamerdude767]

gratz on getting it working.. hopefully its just a bad firmware and not the drive itself!!

[seriouslysilly]

turns out that I do need a new laser.
Ordered another one from ebay.  can't wait for it to arrive

[seriouslysilly]

Update:

after ordering a new deck/laser combo, the problem seems to be from something else.
the new deck/laser is confirmed to be functional as I have tested on another ps3 and works perfectly.

On the non-working PS3, it will accept the disc and can hear it spinning.  However it won't read and don't see the loading icon on the upper corner of the screen. 
Also, the demos won't load even after the bluray drive is connected.
It will freeze and remain a blank screen.  I have to manually turn it off from the switch in the back.

Could it be the BD7956FS? 
I remember reading somewhere about a month ago that it might be the graphics chip.  Can't seem to find that post anymore (let alone the forum).  If that is the case, is the mobo unsalvageable?

Thanks!

[Tri-edge]

it might be that the when it dropped it not only did the pins break on the sata connector for the hard drive but some of the pins broke on the gpu too.  Try checking that.  Unless you have hot air station I don't think your fixing that one.

[seriouslysilly]

i hope that's not the case

judging from the dent on the corner of the console, it doesn't seem that it had dropped from a good distance.  the case isn't cracked and given the heaviness of the ps3 something would have chipped off.  but then again, it's all speculation.

looking back on the HD pins, they weren't broken, just misaligned.  it could have been when the owner hastilly tried to upgrade the HD.  I'm also beginning to think they might have done that on purpose so they could claim it was a "hd error" to cover up that it couldn't read discs/demos