Editing Talk:Harddrive

== Todo ==

Need help getting data for the different SKU models and the default harddrive they are equiped with.

There is still some conflicting data to be sorted out, e.g.:

=== maximum size internal drive ===
<pre>The maximum size of the internal harddrive that the PS3 supports is 1TB (TeraBytes) 

note: this seems untrue as there are several people posting pictures of their external to internal drive mod with a size of 2TB</pre>

===== Using Normal Mode and Recovery - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle) =====
* Using Recovery it is possible to finish the format of the harddrive until 100%. The system however fails to reboot automaticly after that and halts. When enforced to reboot, it errors out with "Wrong Harddrive".
* When trying all the other Recovery Menu options it errors out with "Harddrive Error 0x8002F281".
* When trying to boot to XMB it also errors out with "Harddrive Error 0x8002F281".
* When replacing the drive for the previous tested 1TB harddrive, it boots without errors to XMB and reports : 827GB free/931GB total
;Conclusion: <span style="color:red!important;">&gt;1TB didn't work.</span>

===== Using Factory Service Mode - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle) FSM =====
* Second try, using Service Mode
* first replacing drive for original 120GB 2.5" and using Factory Service Mode to downgrade to lowest firmware the system can handle (2K slim -> FW 2.70)
** Result is fine. Log showed no errors : [http://pastie.org/4562646 UPDATER_LOG.TXT]
* Replaced for 1.5TB 3.5" drive and do exactly the same 2.70 again
** Result is fine. Log showed no errors : [http://pastie.org/4562658 UPDATER_LOG.TXT]
* Boot to XMB with Service Mode still activated
** No problems to get into XMB, but checking System Settings > System Information shows size detection issues:
 System Software  Version 2.70
 IP Address       xxx.xxx.x.xxx
 MAX Address      xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
 Free Space       30 G
* Exit Factory Service Mode
** Blank screen freeze when trying to boot to XMB in normal mode
* Power off and try again gives "system software was not installed correct" error
* inserted USB with 2.70 on normal location and START+SELECT button to let it reinstall
** Preparing Update counts to 100% and then halts (does not reboot), just like in first trial.
* Manual poweroff and reboot just results in blank screen with no harddrive activity
;Conclusion: <span style="color:red!important;">&gt;1TB didn't work in normal or recovery mode only with FSM enabled.</span>
===== Going back to the 1TB and crosschecking ===== 
* Replacing drive back to the working 1TB (has 3.55 on it) gives prompt to reinstall 2.70, doing so errors out with "Harddrive Error 0x8002F281".
* Entering Factory Service Mode with 1TB and let it reinstall via lv2diag results fine without errors: [http://pastie.org/4562828 UPDATER_LOG.TXT]
* Boot to XMB with Service Mode still activated
** No problems to get into XMB, but checking System Settings > System Information shows size detection issues (the '30 G' seems to be FSM related):
 System Software  Version 2.70
 IP Address       xxx.xxx.x.xxx
 MAX Address      xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
 Free Space       30 G
* Exit Factory Service Mode
* No problems to get into XMB, and checking System Settings > System Information shows no size detection issues:
 System Software  Version 2.70
 IP Address       xxx.xxx.x.xxx
 MAX Address      xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
 Free Space       827GB / 931GB
;Conclusion: <span style="color:green;">&lt;=1TB works fine in all modi.</span>

=== maximum size external drive ===
Maximum size is 2TB.

PS3 can only read drives using MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table. 
MBR maximum drive size is 2TB (with up to 4 partitions).

PS3 cannot read drives using GPT (GUID Partition Table). 
GPT has maximum drive size around 256TB, although in practice it may get tricky beyond 15 TB.

 
<pre>External HDD : You can format it to any size up to 8TB

note: this seems untrue, because when &gt;2TB drives have hit the market, no screenshots of >2TB external storage are known</pre>

* sources used: source: http://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html#PS3_Harddrive and euss temp blog
* todo: flush out errors, merging in a readable format


Footnote: maximum supported drive space correlates to support of 512sector (either native, or emulated), see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Format

----

== Tests increasing the max HDD capacity supported by the firmware ==
Successful 2Tb installation confirmed personally. (warning: "restore filesystem" a.k.a. "filesystem check" was not tested. Without this function the hdd will cummulate filesystem errors up to a point where the PS3 will welcome you with a warning message telling "the hdd needs to be formatted" and you will lose all the contents of it)
*HDD was Toshiba MQ01ABB200 and PS3 was CECHK04
*Flashing to 4.46 OFW and reducing 2Tb hard drive to 3633537126 sectors via "hiding" rest via HPA on PC (formatted first to FAT format on MAC a whole device and GPT instead MBR) with HDAT2 so PS3 sees its as 1732.6GB Hard Drive and did succeed formatting.
*After 4.46 you can upgrade to latest 4.82 Firmware back and continue using it. 4.82 firmware says after HPA sector hiding that it is "unsupported" but 4.46 doesn't and can format it. 

Pictures of some of this of my personal confession and proof:
[https://twitter.com/XantheFIN/status/1022873742538682368]
Original info i used to confirm:
[http://www.psx-place.com/threads/ps3-1-75-tb-internal-hdd-upgrade-formatting-utility.11989/#post-100471]

Note from another tester :
While the above seems to work, using 4.46 to allow 1.75tb leads to errors after saving a few games : the console stalls, then takes forever to recover (if it recovers). I tried reducing to 1.5Tb, and none of the errors show up.
What's misleading is that 1.5Tb is in fact recognized by 4.82+, even with HPA.
I think the safe way to get the max capacity is to use HPA, but stick to something between 1.5Tb and 1.75Tb and make sure it's recognized by 4.82+. It means downgrading to 4.46 is not necessary (and mostly misleading).

== AES-256-CBC versus AES-256-XTS ==
There is conflicting mention of sources for the algo/mode used for GameOS encryption.

Fact:
*Sony/IBM loves AES
*256bit based
*sectorsize 512 bytes (4096 bits)
*blockcipher
*recurring patterns are seen
Reference:
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cipher-block_chaining CBC - Cipher-block_chaining mode]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_encryption_theory#XTS XTS - XEX-based Tweaked CodeBook mode]

== PS3 HDD reader for windows by 3141card ==
May 2018, added PS3 FAT NOR support: http://www.psx-place.com/threads/restoring-my-corrupted-hdd.17932/page-2#post-125398

 Fat(NAND), 1. layer(ata)    -> aes-cbc-192, ata_key1 IV = 0
            2. layer(vflash) no vflash
         
 Fat(NOR),  1. layer(ata)    -> aes-cbc-192, ata_key1 IV = 0
            2. layer(vflash) -> aes-xts-128, encdec_key1 and encdec_key2, tweak = physical sector number on hdd
         
 Slim(NOR), 1. layer(ata)    -> aes-xts-128, ata_key1 and ata_key2
            2. layer(vflash) -> aes-xts-128, encdec_key1 and encdec_key2, tweak = physical sector number on hdd

==Experimental Tables==

===HDD partitions===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:x-small;"
|+PS3 Hard Disk Drive, partitions and storage regions
! colspan=6 | Storage Region !! colspan=3 | Access Control List !! colspan=4 | File System !! colspan=5 | Size !! colspan=2 | Usage
|-
! rowspan=3 colspan=5 | OtherOS !! rowspan=3 | GameOS !! colspan=2 | [[Secure Profile Loader | Secure Profile]] !! rowspan=3 | Unk !! colspan=3 | Encryption !! rowspan=3 | Type !! colspan=4 | Official !! rowspan=3 | Unnofficial<BR /><BR /><BR /><BR /> !! rowspan=3 | Official<BR /><BR /><BR /><BR /> !! rowspan=3 | Unnofficial<BR /><BR /><BR /><BR />
|-
! rowspan=2 | Name !! rowspan=2 | [[Authority ID|auth_id]] || colspan=2 | FAT !! SLIM !! colspan=2 | Decimal || colspan=2 | Hexadecimal
|-
! NAND !! NOR !! NOR !! Bytes !! Sectors !! Bytes !! Sectors
|-
! rowspan=21 | ps3d<BR />(3)
|- {{cellcolors|#9999ff}}
| rowspan=20 | ps3da<BR />(3.0) || colspan=4 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.096 bytes">4 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x1000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x8 || Same || colspan=2 | [[Resizing_VFLASH_Storage_Device#Example_Of_An_Unmodified_HDD_Partition_Table | HDD Partition Table]] (Physical HDD Device)
|-
| rowspan=12 {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflash<BR />(3.1) || colspan=2 {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ? || SCE_CELLOS_PME<BR />PS3_LPAR || 1070000001000001<BR />1070000002000001 || 0B<BR />03 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || Raw access || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="268.435.456 bytes">256 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 524.288 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x10000000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x80000 || Any || colspan=2 | First region of HDD, contains VFLASH. (only NOR)
|- {{cellcolors|#9999ff}}
| rowspan=11 | ps3vflasha<BR />(3.1(1.0)) || colspan=2 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.096 bytes">4 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x1000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x8 || Same || colspan=2 | [[Dev_Tools#flash_dumper | VFLASH Partition Table]] (Virtual FLASH Device, only NOR)
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashb<BR />(3.1(1.1)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ? || SCE_CELLOS_PME || 1070000001000001 || 03 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || Raw access ? || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="15.462.400 bytes">14,75 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 30.200 || style="text-align:right;" | 0xEBF000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x75F8 || Same || colspan=2 | "mirror" of real NOR second region: "ps3nflashb" ?
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=2 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="262.144 bytes">256 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 512 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x40000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x200 || Same || colspan=2 | ?
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashc<BR />(3.1(1.2)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH1<BR />dev_flash || PS3_LPAR<BR />SCE_CELLOS_PME<BR />PS2_*LPAR || 1070000002000001<BR />1070000001000001<BR />1020000003000001 || 03<BR />03<BR />01 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || FAT16 || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="209.453.056 bytes">199,75 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 409.088 || style="text-align:right;" | 0xC7C0000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x63E00 || Same || colspan=2 | Firmware files
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashd<BR />(3.1(1.3)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2<BR />dev_flash2 || PS3_LPAR<BR />SCE_CELLOS_PME || 1070000002000001<BR />1070000001000001 || 03<BR />03 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || FAT16 || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="16.777.216 bytes">16 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 32.768 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x1000000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x8000 || Same || colspan=2 | XRegistry (Console/User settings)
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashe<BR />(3.1(1.4)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH3<BR />dev_flash3 || PS3_LPAR<BR />SCE_CELLOS_PME || 1070000002000001<BR />1070000001000001 || 03<BR />03 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || FAT12 || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="524.288 bytes">512 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 1.024 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x80000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x400 || Same || colspan=2 | CRL/DRL (Bluray revocation lists)
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashf<BR />(3.1(1.5)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH4<BR />dev_flash4 ? || PS3_LPAR<BR />SCE_CELLOS_PME<BR />LINUX_LPAR ||1070000002000001<BR />1070000001000001<BR />1080000004000001 || 03<BR />03<BR />03 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || Raw access || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.194.304 bytes">4 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8.192 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x400000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x2000 || Any || cell_ext_os_area +<BR />OtherOS bootloader<BR /><small>(compressed: otheros.bld)</small> || cell_ext_os_area +<BR />OtherOS++ bootloader<BR /><small>(uncompressed: dtbImage.ps3.bin)</small>
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=2 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.456.448 bytes">4,25 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8.704 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x440000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x2200 || Same || colspan=2 | ?
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashg<BR />(3.1(1.6)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ? || SCE_CELLOS_PME || 1070000001000001 || 03 || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || Raw access ? || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="262.144 bytes">256 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 512 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x40000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x200 || Same || colspan=2 | ?
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=2 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || rowspan=2 style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="17.039.360 bytes">16,25 MB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" rowspan=2 | 33.280 || style="text-align:right;" rowspan=2 | 0x1040000 || style="text-align:right;" rowspan=2 | 0x8200 || No ? || colspan=2 | Padding 
|-
| {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3vflashh<BR />(3.1(1.7)) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ? || No || No || No || ↑:No<BR />↓:No || ↑:AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || ↑:AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2)<BR />↓:AES-XTS-128 (encdec_key1, encdec_key2) || <small>All supported<BR />by linux</small> || Any || Not used || <small>Linux/FreeBSD for NOR PS3's<BR />Based on graf drivers (deprecated)</small>
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=4 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="8.192 bytes">8 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 16 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x2000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x10 || Same ? || colspan=2 | Padding ?
|-
| colspan=3 {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3db<BR />(3.2) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD0<BR />dev_hdd0 || SCE_CELLOS_PME<BR />PS3_LPAR<BR />PS2_*LPAR || 1070000001000001<BR />1070000002000001<BR />1020000003000001 || 03<BR />03<BR />03 || colspan=2 | AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0) || AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2) || UFS2 || colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Any || colspan=2 | GameOS
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=4 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.096 bytes">4 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x1000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x8 || Same ? || colspan=2 | Padding
|-
| colspan=3 {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3dc<BR />(3.3) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD1<BR />dev_hdd1 || SCE_CELLOS_PME<BR />PS3_LPAR || 1070000001000001<BR />1070000002000001 || 03<BR />03 || colspan=2 | AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0) || AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2) || FAT16 || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="2.147.479.552 bytes">2 GB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 4.194.296 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x7FFFF000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x3FFFF8 || Same || colspan=2 | GameOS Cache
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=4 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.096 bytes">4 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x1000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x8 || Same ? || colspan=2 | Padding
|-
| colspan=3 {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} ps3dd<BR />(3.4) || {{cellcolors|#ddddff}} CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD2<BR />dev_hdd2 ? || PS3_LPAR<BR />SCE_CELLOS_PME<BR />LINUX_LPAR || 1070000002000001<BR />1070000001000001<BR />1080000004000001 || 03<BR />03<BR />03 || colspan=2 | AES-CBC-192 (ata_key1, IV=0) || AES-XTS-128 (ata_key1, ata_key2) || <small>All supported<BR />by linux</small> || colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | 10GB <small>(0x13FFFF8 sectors)</small><BR />All available - 10GB <small>(All - 0x13FFFF8 sectors)</small> || Any || OtherOS<BR /><small>(disabled in firmware 3.21)</small> || <small>Linux/FreeBSD for NAND/NOR PS3's<BR />Based on glevand drivers</small>
|- {{cellcolors|lightgrey}}
| colspan=4 | || colspan=3 | || colspan=4 | || style="text-align:right;" | <abbr title="4.096 bytes">4 KB</abbr> || style="text-align:right;" | 8 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x1000 || style="text-align:right;" | 0x8 || Same ? || colspan=2 | Padding
|-
|}

===HDD partitions table info ===
*This table (pretends to) show all the posible partition layouts in all PS3 models, even when there are 2 big differences that changes partition positions (and consequently region names in Otheros/linux)
**Flash type
***NAND flash 256mb - All firmware is stored in real NAND flash
***NOR flash 16mb - A small part of the firmware is stored in real NOR flash, and most of the firmware is stored in the first "virtual flash" (ps3vflash) partition in HDD (his position makes the other partitions to be displaced)
**OtherOS bootloader installation (usually petitboot or kboot)
***OtherOS bootloader official - petitboot is installed in region (1.5), his size is smaller than the region so no need to resize
***OtherOS++ bootloader unofficial - petitboot is installed in region (1.5), his size is bigger than the region so the region is resized conveniently (usually up to 8MB = 16384 sectors)
**OtherOS installation
***OtherOS official for NAND models - Linux/FreeBSD installed at region (3.4), last region of the HDD
***OtherOS++ unofficial for NOR models - Linux/FreeBSD installed at region (1.7), last region of vflash is created and resized conveniently (firmware installers doesnt creates this region)
***OtherOS/OtherOS++ unofficial for NOR/NAND models - Linux/FreeBSD installed at region (3.4), last region of the HDD

*Devices contains a single physical partition
*Physical partitions contains one or more logicall partitions

*Padding Notes:
**7th region of vflash (ps3vflashg) ends at sector 0x77E00. vflash is 0x80000 sectors size, so the "not used area" after ps3vflashg has a size of: 0x80000 - 0x77E00 = 0x8200 sectors = 17039360 bytes (16,25 MB)
**The official padding between HDD regions defined in "HDD Partition Table" seems to be 0x8 sectors size (see [http://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/Hypervisor_Reverse_Engineering#HDD_device graf notes] and the example below) but the padding can be different when using unnofficial rebuild methods ([http://gitorious.ps3dev.net/ps3otheros/scripts/blobs/master/create_hdd_region.sh create_hdd_region.sh] adds a padding of 0x8 sectors before and another 0x8 sectors after the new region, concatenating new regions with this script generates double padding). Or when modifying the "HDD Partition Table" manually is posible to remove all padding then let the system generate the new region by himself
**VFLASH displacement
***NAND: ps3db region starts at sector 0x18 (displaced 0x8 sectors by "HDD partition table" + 0x10 by ?)
***NOR: ps3db region starts at sector 0x80018 (displaced 0x8 sectors by "HDD partition table" + 0x80000 by VFLASH + 0x10 by ?)

*Sector backup/restore tips
**There are some specific sectors that contains criticall data or are prone to be lost, sectors can be regenerated by having the related keys, or can be overwritted from another hdd formatted in the same PS3 (all hdds formatted by the same PS3 shares the same encryption with the same keys)
**Some users lost the "HDD partition table" when connecting the HDD to a windows PC, because windows will try to "initialize" the HDD, and this initialization implyes to write an MBR of size 1 sector (so if the user accepts the initialization the first sector of the HDD will be lost). This can be solved by connecting another hdd to PS3 and allow PS3 to format it (this regenerates the HDD partition table), then is posible to connect the HDD to PC and "backup" the first sector with a hexeditor (like HxD)... this sector can be used to repair the other HDD. This process doesnt needs any key, is just a copy-paste of sectors from 2 HDD's
**When the "boot otheros" flag is used under GameOS, but the petitboot partition is damaged, or petitboot is not present, corrupted, etc... (or when failing at updating petitboot) the console enters is a loop/brick where the bootchain tryes to boot from petitboot, but the system is not able to find it. To fix this problem is needed to "regenerate" the contents of the petitboot region in PC as explained here: [[Mounting_HDD_on_PC#Making_Changes_to_cell_ext_os_area_VFLASH_Region | how to fix a corrupted petitboot region in PC]]. This process needs the keys
**Alternativelly, is posible to make backups of this criticall sectors in PC just in case some day are needed. Having the backuped sectors the fix consists simply in a copy-paste of them, no keys needed

*Encryption Notes: ?????
**Encryption is made "by sector" (data is accessed in chunks of 512 bytes and encrypted/decrypted individually), applyed "at write time" (only used sectors are encrypted), and "by device" (real and virtual devices). In the practise this means for PS3 NAND models all the HDD sectors are under 1 single encryption layer, but for PS3 NOR models (with a "virtual flash device" embedded inside "real hdd device") there is a "top" encryption layer over the whole HDD, and a "bottom" encryption layer over VFLASH (or in other words... in NOR models the sectors inside VFLASH are encrypted 2 times)
**HDD encryption layer (top), based in the '''ata-data-key''':
***FAT-NAND (no vflash): AES-CBC-192 (ata-data-key and zeroed IV)
***FAT-NOR (with vflash): AES-CBC-192 (ata-data-key and zeroed IV) ?
***SLIM-NOR (with vflash): XTS-AES-128 (ata-data-key and ata-tweak-key)
**VFLASH encryption layer (bottom), based in the '''encdec-key''':
***FAT-NOR (with vflash): AES-CBC-128 (encdec-key and zeroed IV)
***SLIM-NOR (with vflash): XTS-AES-128 (encdec-data-key and encdec-tweak-key)

----
*HDD Partition Table example from a PS3 DECHA00A (NAND flash) with official OtherOS installed under firmware 2.80 ---> http://www.mediafire.com/download/ou90bz0h0mw8tco/HDD_ptab_DECHA00A_OtherOS
----
Partition formatting in a service mode firmware installation for NOR flash. Google it: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpastebin.com%2F+%22vflash+is+enabled...%22
 manufacturing updating start
 PackageName = /dev_usb000/PS3UPDAT.PUP
 settle polling interval success
 vflash is enabled...
 creating system regions...
 create storage region: (region id = 1)
 create storage region: (region id = 2)
 format partition: (region_id = 2, CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD0, CELL_FS_UFS)
 create storage region: (region id = 3)
 format partition: (region_id = 3, CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD1, CELL_FS_FAT)
 creating system regions done.
 boot from nor flash...
 creating nor flash regions...
 create storage region: (region id = 2)
 create storage region: (region id = 3)
 creating flash regions...
 create storage region: (region id = 1)
 create storage region: (region id = 2)
 format partition: (region_id = 2, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH1, CELL_FS_FAT)
 create storage region: (region id = 3)
 format partition: (region_id = 3, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2, CELL_FS_FAT)
 create storage region: (region id = 4)
 format partition: (region_id = 4, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH3, CELL_FS_FAT)
 create storage region: (region id = 5)
 create storage region: (region id = 6)

Partition formatting in a service mode firmware installation for NAND flash. Google it: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpastebin.com%2F+%22vflash+is+disabled...%22
 manufacturing updating start
 PackageName = /dev_usb000/PS3UPDAT.PUP
 settle polling interval success
 vflash is disabled...
 boot from nand flash...
 creating flash regions...
 create storage region: (region id = 2)
 format partition: (region_id = 2, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH1, CELL_FS_FAT)
 create storage region: (region id = 3)
 format partition: (region_id = 3, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2, CELL_FS_FAT)
 create storage region: (region id = 4)
 format partition: (region_id = 4, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH3, CELL_FS_FAT)
 create storage region: (region id = 5)
 create storage region: (region id = 6)

Other flash/hdd regions. Google it: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpastebin.com%2F+%22CELL_FS_UTILITY%3AHDD2%22 and [[Files_on_the_PS3#Mountpoints|Mountpoints]]

Experimental attempt to recover deleted files from gameos partition: http://playstationhax.it/forums/topic/826-recovering-deleted-save-games-eid-dumper-troubles-mounting-the-encrypted-ufs2-filesystem/

===Speed tests running in PS3 natively===

{| class="wikitable"
|+Speed Tests (PS3)
! rowspan=3 | Brand !! rowspan=3 | Series !! rowspan=3 | Model !! colspan=3 | Linux !! GameOs
|-
! colspan=3 | [[http://www.serverschool.com/server-configuration/hard-disk-testing-with-hdparm/ hdparm -Tt]] !! N/A
|-
! Cache read<BR /><sup>(MB/s)</sup> !! Disk read<BR /><sup>(MB/s)</sup> !! <abbr title="If there is no link available for the speed test, please include your notes in this format">Link</abbr>
|-
! colspan=6 | 
|-
! rowspan=3 | Fujitsu
! MHW
| [[MHW2040BH]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! rowspan=2 | MHZ
| [[MHZ2080BH]] || ||
! N/A
|-
| [[MHZ2160BH]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! colspan=6 | 
|-
! rowspan=4 | Hitachi
! Travelstar 5K160
| [[HTS541640J9SA00]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! Travelstar 5K250
| [[HTS542580K9SA00]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! Travelstar 5K500
| [[HTS545012B9SA00]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! Travelstar Z5K500
| [[HTS545050A7E380]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! colspan=6 | 
|-
! rowspan=5 | Seagate
! Momentus 5400.2
| [[ST96812AS]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! Momentus 5400.3
| [[ST980811AS]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! rowspan=2 | LD25 SATA
| [[ST920217AS]] || ||
! N/A
|-
| [[ST9402115AS]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! LD25 5400.2
| [[ST940210AS]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! colspan=6 | 
|-
! rowspan=8 | Toshiba
! rowspan=2 | MKxx52GSX
| [[MK8052GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
| [[MK1652GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! rowspan=2 | MKxx55GSX
| [[MK1255GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
| [[MK2555GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! rowspan=2 | MKxx65GSX
| [[MK1665GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
| [[MK3265GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! rowspan=2 | MKxx76GSX
| [[MK1676GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
| [[MK3276GSX]] || ||
! N/A
|-
! colspan=6 | 
|-
|}

==== HDD vs SSD ====
{{#ev:youtube|Jrcde4hyRY0}}
{{#ev:youtube|RbuKRH0aHRM}}

=== Phat NAND HDD Entropy Table (After zerofill,no vflash) ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Start Offset !! End Offset !! Size !! Description
|-
| 0x0000 || 0x1000 || 0x1000 || Header
|-
| 0x4000 || 0x16000 || 0x12000 || unknown
|-
| 0x18000 || 0x28000 || 0x10000 || unknown
|}

[https://mega.co.nz/#!BoVmQCJb!LvNxSFATXcPlkDnT5HCDTyTQ7qAvnN2y_mFCFcXISfU file]

=== Slim NOR HDD Data Table (After zerofill,vflash) ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Start Offset !! End Offset !! Size !! Description
|-
| 0x0 || 0x2000 || 0x2000 || Header
|-
| 0x4400 || 0x8118240 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x8119000 || 0x8149960 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x814B000 || 0x8152CB0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x8153000 || 0x81530C0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x8155000 || 0x8159B10 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x815B000 || 0x815E3D0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x815F000 || 0x8166190 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x8167000 || 0x817B750 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x817D000 || 0x817D5C0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x817F000 || 0x818A500 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x818B000 || 0x818CDC0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x818D000 || 0x81C9F10 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81CB000 || 0x81D1FD0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81D3000 || 0x81D9E20 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81DB000 || 0x81DB1B0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81DD000 || 0x81DD0A0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81DF000 || 0x81DF090 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81E1000 || 0x81E1080 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81E3000 || 0x81E3090 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81E5000 || 0x81E50A0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81E7000 || 0x81E70A0 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81E9000 || 0x81E9090 || please fill || unk
|-
| 0x81EB000 || 0x81F4CD0 || please fill || unk
|}


* There is actual readable data near the end of the disk, so this has been renamed to Data Table instead of Entropy Table
* The table is incomplete, please help filling it.
* [https://mega.co.nz/#F!cxkVzTLb!As4f0jDCkexqdhCWcIJBLA the dump and key]

= GameOS fsck = 

code uses memory container ( there is also fsck without ) - does fsck on hdd0:

 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_3C, -0x3C
 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_38, -0x38
 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_34, -0x34
 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_30, -0x30
 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_20, -0x20
 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_18, -0x18
 LOAD:0000000000030270 .set arg_10,  0x10
 LOAD:0000000000030270
 LOAD:0000000000030270                 lis       r9, aFsck_cfs@h # "fsck_cfs"
 LOAD:0000000000030274                 mflr      r0
 LOAD:0000000000030278                 lis       r11, aY@h     # "-y"
 LOAD:000000000003027C                 lis       r10, aHdd0@h  # "hdd0"
 LOAD:0000000000030280                 stdu      r1, -0xB0(r1)
 LOAD:0000000000030284                 addi      r9, r9, aFsck_cfs@l # "fsck_cfs"
 LOAD:0000000000030288                 addi      r11, r11, aY@l # "-y"
 LOAD:000000000003028C                 addi      r10, r10, aHdd0@l # "hdd0"
 LOAD:0000000000030290                 std       r28, 0xB0+var_20(r1)
 LOAD:0000000000030294                 li        r3, 1 = "App" 
 LOAD:0000000000030298                 li        r28, 0
 LOAD:000000000003029C                 stw       r11, 0xB0+var_38(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302A0                 std       r0, 0xB0+arg_10(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302A4                 stw       r9, 0xB0+var_3C(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302A8                 stw       r10, 0xB0+var_34(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302AC                 std       r29, 0xB0+var_18(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302B0                 stw       r28, 0xB0+var_30(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302B4                 bl        _vsh_E7C34044_getMemoryContainerId
 LOAD:00000000000302B8                 clrldi    r4, r3, 32
 LOAD:00000000000302BC                 addi      r6, r1, 0xB0+var_40
 LOAD:00000000000302C0                 li        r5, 0x200
 LOAD:00000000000302C4                 lis       r3, 0x200
 LOAD:00000000000302C8                 stw       r28, 0xB0+var_40(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302CC                 bl        sys_memory_allocate_from_container
 LOAD:00000000000302D0                 lis       r7, stru_1429E8@h
 LOAD:00000000000302D4                 lwz       r5, 0xB0+var_40(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302D8                 addi      r4, r1, 0xB0+var_3C
 LOAD:00000000000302DC                 addi      r7, r7, stru_1429E8@l
 LOAD:00000000000302E0                 lis       r6, 0x200
 LOAD:00000000000302E4                 li        r8, 0
 LOAD:00000000000302E8                 li        r3, 3
 LOAD:00000000000302EC                 bl        _fs_utility_init_1F3CD9F1
 LOAD:00000000000302F0                 li        r11, 0x15D    # sys_memory_free
 LOAD:00000000000302F4                 mr        r29, r3
 LOAD:00000000000302F8                 lwz       r3, 0xB0+var_40(r1)
 LOAD:00000000000302FC                 sc
 LOAD:0000000000030300                 clrldi    r3, r29, 32
 LOAD:0000000000030304                 bl        _sysPrxForUser_sys_ppu_thread_exit
 LOAD:0000000000030308                 lis       r9, dword_146D74@h
 LOAD:000000000003030C                 ld        r0, 0xB0+arg_10(r1)
 LOAD:0000000000030310                 ld        r29, 0xB0+var_18(r1)
 LOAD:0000000000030314                 mtlr      r0
 LOAD:0000000000030318                 stw       r28, dword_146D74@l(r9)
 LOAD:000000000003031C                 ld        r28, 0xB0+var_20(r1)
 LOAD:0000000000030320                 addi      r1, r1, 0xB0
 LOAD:0000000000030324                 blr
 LOAD:0000000000030324 # End of function fsck_cfs_main

=DECR (reference tool) and GECR (arcade)=
Uses 3.5" (size) hdd's
*DECR-1000 - 2x Seagate Barracuda ST3400820A6 (7200.10 400Gbytes 5V@0.72A 12V@0.52A)

=Firmware Patches=
==emer_init==
Patch to increase acceptable HDD capacity for error "''The installed hard disk is not supported. You must install a hard disk that is compatible with this system''." Without patch recovery will throw this error when hdd capacity is above 1,649,267,441,664 bytes. With patch error will be shown for hdd above 2,130,303,778,816 bytes. 1,75TB limited drives should be accepted again. Untested on real hardware, use with caution (hw flasher required)! Sorry for short hex pattern, but it should be ok for manual patch (4.75 in this case). 
*Search for:
 38 00 01 80
Replace to:
 38 00 01 F0
For full 2TB replace to (There are likely other factors which will fail):
 38 00 02 01