Resetting PlayStation 3 Drive Mechanism

Remove Rubber Foot

Remove Screw with a TORX Security T10 Bit (or you can use a small flat head screwdriver)

Carefully slide the top plate and lift to remove

Remove the main screws (philips head)

Lift The Top Casing Towards the front of the PS3 carefully

Carefully Remove Power cable from the motherboard

Lift the Disk drive to the right and remove the largest ribbon cable by lifting the black catch and remove the drive from the PS3

Remove Screws 11, 12 and 13 only

Remove screws 14 and 15 and the silver springboard, slightly bend top metal away from disk entry area,and pull back to remove the metal jacket.

Remove white center hub piece (D) and screws 16 - 20 then fold the top section to the left being careful not to damage the cable to the bottom left. The cable is very delicate and easily damaged.

Remove the screw circled in red and lift up the black assembly to reveal the mechanism beneath. Set it aside right-side up and be careful not to shake any parts loose.

Remove two screws in blue and lift the motor up and to right to disengage the cogs but be careful not to stress the attached wires.

Move the disc handling element on the left side up so that its teeth are clear of the black cog.

Reset insertion trap lock mechanism and make sure the white tab on right is lowered (nudge it left to make it drop).

Replace the motor and reverse this guide to reassemble.