for my ps4 can I just remove original HDD and put the new one in and then proceed to use the originalto restore without any ba
- Thread starter pcfresh
- Start date
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Boogieman_WD
Judicious
- Jul 31, 2014
- 6,050
- 2
- 35,960
Hey there, pcfresh.
Before I start you should know what a File System is used for. Basically, the File System is how the data is structured and organized on a partition or a disk and what the OS (operating system, e.g. Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, etc.) uses to keep track of files. Different operating systems support different File Systems (in some cases there are exceptions). You can check out this link if you want to know more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_system
As far as I know PS3 used Ext4 File System for the internal drives and it's quite possible that the same is used for the PS4 internal drives. On the other hand, for the externally connected storage devices (USB flash drive, external HDDs, etc), in order to be recognized by the console, they need to be formatted with either FAT32 or exFAT (I recommend exFAT as it doesn't have the file and partition size limitation of FAT32). All of that means that you can't disconnect your internal drive and use it as a backup to restore your info on your newly installed HDD, because it won't be formatted with the proper File System in order for it to be recognized via an external connection by the PS4. However, the data should still be intact and you should be able to use it with the console internally if you decide to swap drives again.
So if you want to backup everything (apps, games, saved data, etc.) you should have an externally connected drive, formatted with exFAT. Here's a detailed tutorial on how to replace your drive, which also includes a link with info on how to backup your current HDD's data: https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/Upgrade-PS4-HDD/
Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
Before I start you should know what a File System is used for. Basically, the File System is how the data is structured and organized on a partition or a disk and what the OS (operating system, e.g. Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, etc.) uses to keep track of files. Different operating systems support different File Systems (in some cases there are exceptions). You can check out this link if you want to know more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_system
As far as I know PS3 used Ext4 File System for the internal drives and it's quite possible that the same is used for the PS4 internal drives. On the other hand, for the externally connected storage devices (USB flash drive, external HDDs, etc), in order to be recognized by the console, they need to be formatted with either FAT32 or exFAT (I recommend exFAT as it doesn't have the file and partition size limitation of FAT32). All of that means that you can't disconnect your internal drive and use it as a backup to restore your info on your newly installed HDD, because it won't be formatted with the proper File System in order for it to be recognized via an external connection by the PS4. However, the data should still be intact and you should be able to use it with the console internally if you decide to swap drives again.
So if you want to backup everything (apps, games, saved data, etc.) you should have an externally connected drive, formatted with exFAT. Here's a detailed tutorial on how to replace your drive, which also includes a link with info on how to backup your current HDD's data: https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/Upgrade-PS4-HDD/
Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
ucrbuffalo
Reputable
- Aug 12, 2015
- 8
- 0
- 4,510
I've never done it with a PS4, but on the PS3 you MUST backup to an external hard drive formated as either FAT32 or exFAT. Then you can replace the internal hard drive and use the backup to restore your games, saves, and other data. Boogieman hit the nail on the head on all that.
If you decide to put that hard drive back into a PS4, it MUST be the exact same system it came out of. If you put it into another PS4, it will tell you you have to format the drive in order to use it.
If you decide to put that hard drive back into a PS4, it MUST be the exact same system it came out of. If you put it into another PS4, it will tell you you have to format the drive in order to use it.
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