DIY: Playstation 3 HDD Upgrading, Save Game Backups

A meticulous and frustrating task may drive one nuts when doing it without a guide. Let's avoid that step by reading some guides.

If you're looking to upgrade your PS3 internal hard drive, you'll need to prep. You need first backup your save data because after a clean wipe, you're never seeing them again. You can do this by plugging in a USB stick (2GB should be more than sufficient) and copying over the save files directly onto the drive. This process usually tosses it onto the main folder so you'll need to plug it back into your PC and move the files manually to the following folder (X:\PS3\SAVEDATA).

As for the actual hard drive removal process, you can read the guide at GamersReports.

After installing your new HDD, you may plug it back in, go into your save data folder on the PS3, press triangle, and copy back over the old save files.