This wikiHow teaches you how to format an external USB hard drive to the FAT32 file system using either a Windows or Mac computer, and then how to connect and add the external hard drive to your PlayStation 3. Due to the components that the PS3, games cannot be accessed directly outside of external hard drive.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Format the hard drive in Windows
Step 1. Connect the hard drive to your computer
Do this using the USB cable that came with the external hard drive.
USB ports look like thin, rectangular slots located on the computer's CPU case
Step 2. Open the Start menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen, or by pressing the ⊞ Win key.
Step 3. Type "this computer" in the Start menu
You'll see an icon in the shape of a computer monitor appear at the top of the window.
Step 4. Click This Computer
It will be an icon in the shape of a monitor located at the top of the Start window. Doing so will bring up the This PC application.
Step 5. Right click on the hard drive icon
You will usually see this in the center of the page.
If you're using a laptop with a touchpad, use two fingers to tap on the touchpad instead of right-clicking
Step 6. Click Properties
It will be at the bottom of the drop-down menu that will appear when you right-click.
Step 7. Look at the value "File system"
This option will be near the top of the tab general on the Properties tab. If the "File System" value does not show anything other than "FAT32", you will need to reformat the drive.
If the "File System" value reads "FAT32", skip ahead to see how to connect the hard drive
Step 8. Close the Properties window
Click on the X in the upper right corner of the window to do so.
Step 9. Right-click on the external hard drive again, then click Format
It will be near the center of the drop-down menu.
Formatting the hard drive will erase any files stored on it
Step 10. Click on the "File system" box
It will be exactly below the "File System" heading. Doing so will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 11. Click on FAT32
This is the file format that you will need to use the hard drive with your PS3.
Step 12. Click Start, then click To accept.
Doing so will start the formatting process.
The length of this process will vary depending on how long your computer is in use and the size of the drive
Step 13. Click OK when prompted
You will have to do it in the pop-up window that will inform you that your hard drive has been formatted.
Step 14. Double click on the external hard drive
It should still be listed in the This Computer window.
Step 15. Create four folders on the hard drive
To do so, right-click on the hard drive window, select New, and click New folder, or click Beginning at the top of the window and click New folder. The folders will appear named exactly as follows:
- MUSIC
- PHOTO
- PLAY
- VIDEO
Step 16. Close the This PC application and remove the hard drive
At that point you are ready to connect your external hard drive to the PS3.
If you want to add music, photos or videos to the hard drive before connecting it to your PlayStation 3, put them in the appropriate folders (for example, the music will go in the MUSIC folder)
Part 2 of 3: Format the hard drive on a Mac
Step 1. Connect the hard drive to your computer
Do this using the USB cable that came with the external hard drive.
- USB ports look like thin, rectangular slots located on the computer's CPU case.
- Some Mac computers don't have USB ports, although you can buy an adapter.
Step 2. Open Finder
It will be a blue application, in the shape of a face located in the Dock of the Mac.
Step 3. Use two fingers to click on the name of the hard drive
It will be on the left side of the Finder window. Doing so will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Get Info
This option will be in the center of the drop-down menu.
Step 5. Look at the "Format" value
You will see the heading "Format" in the general group of information. If "FAT32" does not appear in the format parameter, you will need to format the hard drive to accommodate PS3 compatibility before continuing.
If the option "FAT32" appears here next to "Format" on the hard drive then you can proceed to connect the hard drive to your PS3
Step 6. Open Spotlight
Click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the Mac screen to do so.
Step 7. Write Disk Utility in Spotlight
Doing so will bring up a list of programs that match the search and are stored on the Mac.
Step 8. Click Disk Utility
It will be the first choice in the Spotlight search results.
Step 9. Click on the name of your hard drive
It will be in the left hand sidebar.
Step 10. Click the Delete tab
This option will be at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Step 11. Click the "Format" box
It will be in the center of the page.
Step 12. Click on FAT32
This option will be in the drop-down menu. Doing so will set FAT32 as your hard drive's format preference, which is compatible with the structure of the PS3.
You may also need to add a name to the hard drive in the field below it
Step 13. Click Delete
It will be at the bottom of the page. Doing so will erase and reformat the hard drive. When the process is complete, you can exit Disk Utility.
Obviously this will erase your hard drive. If you have any sensitive information on your hard drive, first copy it to your computer
Step 14. Open Finder, then select your hard drive
The hard disk window will appear, which is now empty.
Step 15. Create four folders on the hard drive
To do so, right click on File on the upper left side of the page, then click New folder, or press two fingers on the touchpad and click New folder. The folders will appear named exactly as follows:
- MUSIC
- PHOTO
- PLAY
- VIDEO
Step 16. Remove the hard drive
From that moment on, you will be ready to connect your hard drive to the PS3.
Part 3 of 3: Add the hard drive to the PS3
Step 1. Connect the hard drive to the PlayStation 3
To do this, connect the USB cable from the hard drive to the PS3's USB port. The PS3's USB ports are located on the front of the console.
Step 2. Turn on the PS3 and a connected controller
The easiest way to do this is by pressing the button $ in the controller.
You can also press the power button on the PS3 and the controller individually
Step 3. Scroll left to select Settings
It will be near the far left of the menu on the PlayStation 3.
Step 4. Scroll down to select System Settings and press X.
It's near the bottom of the Settings menu.
Step 5. Scroll down to select Backup Utility and press X.
This option will be near the center of the System Settings menu.
Step 6. Select Backup and press X.
It will be the first option on this page.
Step 7. Select Yes when prompted, then press X.
This will take you to the hard drive selection page.
Step 8. Select your hard drive name, then press X
Unless you have multiple USB drives connected, the hard drive should appear as the only option. Doing so will create a backup of your PS3 data to your hard drive.