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Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement

Archived Guide
This guide is retained solely for historical purposes. Use the updated version of the guide to perform your repair.

Introduction

This guide explains how to take apart the Sony PlayStation 3 optical drive. These steps are useful for repairing or replacing the optical drive.

What you need

  1. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement, Top Cover: step 1, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement, Top Cover: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the rubber screw cover near the hard drive cover with a spudger.

    Edit

  2. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screw holding the top cover in place with a Torx T10 screwdriver.

    Edit

  3. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Slide the top cover down about half an inch.

    • Lift the cover off of the PS3.

    Edit

  4. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the seven screws in the top cover with a Phillips #2 screwdriver.

    • One of the screws is shorter than the others. The short screw is marked in yellow.

    Edit

  5. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • You can now lift off the top cover.

    Edit

  6. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement, Optical Drive: step 6, image 1 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement, Optical Drive: step 6, image 2 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement, Optical Drive: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the optical drive enclosure and disconnect the grey wires.

    • Do not lift it too far up before disconnecting the wires.

    Edit

  8. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Tilt the front of the optical drive enslosure upwards.

    • Lift the black ribbon cable latch on the back side with your finger or a spudger.

    • Disconnect the ribbon cable.

    Edit

  9. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the optical drive enclosure from the PS3.

    Edit

  10. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Flip over the optical drive enclosure. There are four ribbon cables connected to the circuit board. Using a spudger or your finger, lift each ribbon cable latch and disconnect each ribbon cable.

    • Remove the three screws on the board with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

    • Remove the two silver screws on the bottom of the case. These screws are different from the ones on the board and should be kept separate.

    • Note: The longer of these two screws holds down a metal tab that comes loose as seen in the third picture.

    Edit

  11. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Using your thumbs, carefully bend out the sides of the metal enclosure.

    • Lift the plastic enclosure out of the metal enclosure.

    Edit

  12. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Flip over the enclosure so that the circuit board is on the bottom and the optical sensor is on top.

    • Remove the screw on the optical sensor using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

    • Remove the tape on the red and black wires that connect to the optical sensor. With the wires still attached, take the sensor off the ensclosure.

    • The wires on the optical sensor are very weak. They will break easily if excessive force is applied to them.

    • Remove the four black screws on the edges of the enclosure using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

    • After taking out the screws, you don't have to open the enclosure just yet.

    Edit

  13. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 2

    • Flip over the enclosure again.

    • Remove the rest of the screws in the corners of the circuit board.

    Edit

  14. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 3 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the circuit board off the enclosure.

    • The metal EM shield on the circuit board is loose, so make sure to keep it together with the circuit board.

    • Remove the metal plate.

    Edit

  15. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Flip over the enclosure. Remove the black, plastic cover so that the drive and its enclosure match the first picture.

    • Proceed carefully. There are loose parts inside the optical drive. We recommend that you tape these parts.

    Edit

  16. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • Using a spudger, lift the brown latch and disconnect the small ribbon cable.

    • Remove the four fat screws in the corners of the optical drive.

    • Using a spudger, lift the black latch and disconnect the larger ribbon cable.

    Edit

  17. Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 Playstation 3 Optical Drive Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Carefully lift the optical drive out of the enclosure.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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One Comment

When reassembling it there is a key part that needs to be exactly inline. see this video for help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzHPRGHFj...

Paddy - Reply

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