Backup Utility to External Drive Problem

Kagewolf · ‎09-25-2009

Here is the issue: I bought a Toshiba 1 Terabyte External Hard Drive. Using the most recent version of EaseUS Partition Master, I partitioned roughly half of of it in FAT32, connected it to my PS3 Slim, and attempted to use the Backup Utility to... well, back it up. After a significant wait time (during which the screen actually said "Please Wait..."), the utility seemed to work, with a progress bar and percentage appearing. Immediately after that, though, I get the error message "The USB device cannot be accessed". The odd thing, though, is that I am actually able to transfer files to the external drive. My PS3 fully recognizes the external drive partition (at just under 500 gigabytes), and I successfully copied save game files, videos, music, and pictures to the external drive without any problems whatsoever; I was even able to retrieve them later and copy them back to my PS3. I still cannot use the Backup Utility, however. I have verified that my PS3 has been updated to the latest firmware version (4.31), and have tried these other troubleshooting measures:

Verified the connection at both sides of the USB cable are firmly plugged in.

Verified that the external hard drive's activity light is active while being used.

Powered up the PS3 without the external hard drive and then plugged it in.

Powered up the PS3 with the external hard drive already plugged in.

Tried the Backup Utility with the Media Server Connection disabled.

Tried the Backup Utility with both the Media Server and Internet Connections disabled.

I still get that same error message after all of these attempts, though.

My primary purpose for using the Backup Utility is so that my data is all completely backed up when I swap in a new internal hard drive. I would appreciate any advice in solving this odd issue; furthermore, I have a question about the process: if, for some reason, the Backup Utility will not work at all, am I okay transferring save game data (or even just using online storage space) and a few other things, and simply copy them back after I've installed the new hard drive?

Thanks for the support anyone can offer.

ne1atall · ‎03-01-2010

Maybe you're attempting to back up more than the partition can handle? Why not completely format it FAT32?

Kagewolf · ‎09-25-2009

I had originally formatted the whole thing as FAT32; when I got this error, though, one of the things I had tried was partitioning it, in case the error was due to the hard drive being too large. Of course, if I end up getting it to work, and too much space is not an issue at all, I may mess around and return it to full size. In any case, though, the fact that it is partitioned doesn't seem to be the problem, since I had the error unpartitioned as well.

Incidentally, the PS3 currently has the ~250 gigabyte hard drive that it originally came with; theoretically, it should all fit just fine, with room to spare.

ne1atall · ‎03-01-2010

Does the External have its own power supply?

Kagewolf · ‎09-25-2009

No, it's powered solely by the USB cable.

ne1atall · ‎03-01-2010

Kagewolf wrote:
No, it's powered solely by the USB cable.

Believe it or not that's probably the problem.

Kagewolf · ‎09-25-2009

Despite the fact that I can still directly move files to and from the external drive otherwise? I would think that if power were the issue, it wouldn't be usable or even recognized by the PS3. If that is the case, though, how about the second part (copying files piecemeal, rather than using that utility?

ne1atall · ‎03-01-2010

Kagewolf wrote:
Despite the fact that I can still directly move files to and from the external drive otherwise? I would think that if power were the issue, it wouldn't be usable or even recognized by the PS3. If that is the case, though, how about the second part (copying files piecemeal, rather than using that utility?

Yes. It's most likely the problem. Yes I think your best bet is to move what you can individually. The only bad part is you won't be able to move copy prohibited saves. Are you a Plus member? If so use the cloud. If not you may want a 3 month membership for $17.99 to do so. You may also like the service and decide to keep it.

Kagewolf · ‎09-25-2009

Fortunately I am a Plus Member; saves shouldn't be too much of an issue. What about DLC and my profile? Are they tied to the hard drive / backup data? What specific files do I need to copy in order to keep my profile on that PS3?

ne1atall · ‎03-01-2010

Kagewolf wrote:
Fortunately I am a Plus Member; saves shouldn't be too much of an issue. What about DLC and my profile? Are they tied to the hard drive / backup data? What specific files do I need to copy in order to keep my profile on that PS3?

Sync your trophies and back up your saves. Transfer any music and photos. Unfortunately any purchased movies will be lost. You'll have to redownload PSN games and DLC. You just sign in with your existing profile when the hard drive change is done.