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[ManaByte]

Yesterday I was playing Destiny 2 for a while and then went to finish mopping up the Plat in the PS5 GoT, when I put it into rest mode I noticed the system flashing blue and then shutting down. Since launch I've seen this enough to know it crashed. So I immediately tried turning it back on and it went into repairing storage and got stuck at 99%. I've seen this online on Reddit where people had it stuck at 99% for 10 hours and Sony had to send them a RMA coffin for the console.

That's the last thing I want to do, so I powered it down and went into Safe Mode. Every option in Safe Mode was locking up the console.

Decided to unplug my external and see if that changed anything. It did. System would then pass repair, the M.2 would repair fine, and it'd boot normally. If I plugged in the external once it booted, the system would hard lock. Took the external and plugged it into both my PC and Mac, it's dead. Can't be detected as a drive.

This is the same external I used for the entire PS4 gen, and has been fine on the PS5 up until its death yesterday. Ordered a better replacement and it'll be here today.

TL;DR - If your PS5 crashes and gets stuck on repairing storage DO NOT resort to calling Sony right away like Reddit tells you to. You might be able to save sending the console back in a coffin if you have an external drive. Check that first.

 

[killatopak]

Is it an HDD also what brand? I remember certain brands having higher fail rates though I only read that in passing.

 

[MadchesterManc]

Wouldn't surprise me if the PS5 is wearing the ol' platter drive out. The 2TB one I use has the activity light flashing continually even when playing a PS5 game

 

[01011001]

so tldr: external storage support on PS5 is still a buggy mess

I refuse to plug one in for this exact reason. all the issues around launch that people had made me very anxious

currently I have all my externals on my SX which makes it look like it's being gangbanged... 2 USB drives are on the back USB ports and my Emulation drive is in the front port

 

[ManaByte]

Is it an HDD also what brand? I remember certain brands having higher fail rates though I only read that in passing.

This one was an older Seagate. Replaced it with a WD Black (which is what is use on XB and has been perfect).

 

[Mr Moose]

My 4TB Seagate externals (two different models) are always fucking up, plugged into PS4, PS5 or PC, always had issues with them.
I had the blue flash freeze issue on my PS5 with the smaller 4TB Seagate external, first thing I did was unplug it and it cleared up the issue. Never using that shit again unless I really need to play a PS4 game and I am out of storage which isn't likely.
Edit: These are the drives I have, the smaller one for console, chonky boy for PC.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B017KE8OG0/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UNA1OBQ/

 

[ManaByte]

My 4TB Seagate externals (two different models) are always fucking up, plugged into PS4, PS5 or PC, always had issues with them.
I had the blue flash freeze issue on my PS5 with the smaller 4TB Seagate external, first thing I did was unplug it and it cleared up the issue. Never using that shit again unless I really need to play a PS4 game and I am out of storage which isn't likely.
Edit: These are the drives I have, the smaller one for console, chonky boy for PC.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B017KE8OG0/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UNA1OBQ/

Yup that's the 4TB I had and is dead now.

Replaced it with a 5TB WD Black.

 

[Isa]

That's cool you figured it out instead of missing the system for a bit. Especially if it still works. I have my external drives for both systems from last gen, but have never plugged them into the new gen ones. I do have expanded SSD's in the new stuff though, and just make due with installing a selection of titles based on what I will most likely play at the time.

 

[RyanEvans21]

so tldr: external storage support on PS5 is still a buggy mess

I refuse to plug one in for this exact reason. all the issues around launch that people had made me very anxious

currently I have all my externals on my SX which makes it look like it's being gangbanged... 2 USB drives are on the back USB ports and my Emulation drive is in the front port

If Seagate? YES! No Problem Connecting my WD SSD & Hard drive to my PS5.

 

[01011001]

If Seagate? YES! No Problem Connecting my WD SSD & Hard drive to my PS5.

I know my fear might be irrational nowadays, but near launch people had their PS5s bricked after plugging in external drives, or had to reformat the console over and over.
I bet all of that is mostly patched now, but damn I still have that lingering fear

 

[ManaByte]

but near launch people had their PS5s bricked after plugging in external drives

I don't think anyone REALLY had one bricked from an external drive. I had my external hooked up from the instant I got it on launch day. Most of the time people do dumb shit and then try to blame whatever they THINK did it. Just like the people who claimed an ethernet cable would brick the console.

 

[Corndog]

I don't think anyone REALLY had one bricked from an external drive. I had my external hooked up from the instant I got it on launch day. Most of the time people do dumb shit and then try to blame whatever they THINK did it. Just like the people who claimed an ethernet cable would brick the console.

Why should a faulty external drive brik the console in the first place?

 

[ManaByte]

Why should a faulty external drive brik the console in the first place?

Exactly. People do things like get impatient during and update and reboot the console, it fails to start, and then they go on Twitter and cry "[insert excuse here] bricked my console!"

I literally ever had one modern console "bricked" (outside of RROD and YLOD) and it was due to a bad PS3 FW update Sony pushed out right after the release of TLOU. My console wouldn't boot for over a week until they released a revised version of it I could load via USB, and I got a year of PS+ out of it.

 

[Imtjnotu]

I know my fear might be irrational nowadays, but near launch people had their PS5s bricked after plugging in external drives, or had to reformat the console over and over.
I bet all of that is mostly patched now, but damn I still have that lingering fear

every now and then my ps5 starts up to a black screen.

 

[ManaByte]

Setup the WD Black drive and it’s much better than the old Seagate. If you’re looking for an external HDD definitely get the WD Black ones.

 

[njean777]

I have had a WD Black 4TB drive connected since launch and only when the power goes out does it make me repair the drive. Never have had any problems.

 

[lh032]

my PS5 plugged with an external SSD, with internal M2 drive, and never disable rest mode.

No issue so far. Seems like an issue for certain models of PS5.

 

[THE DUCK]

First rule of troubleshooting any pc......(after reboot of course) is remove all unneeded peripherals. Glad this worked out!

 

[Markio128]

I recall (probably a couple of months after launch) when my PS5 just wouldn’t start up and the welling of tears started to appear in my eyes. Fortunately, it was just a case of removing the power cable from the back and plugging it back in

 

[azertydu91]

Exactly. People do things like get impatient during and update and reboot the console, it fails to start, and then they go on Twitter and cry "[insert excuse here] bricked my console!"

I literally ever had one modern console "bricked" (outside of RROD and YLOD) and it was due to a bad PS3 FW update Sony pushed out right after the release of TLOU. My console wouldn't boot for over a week until they released a revised version of it I could load via USB, and I got a year of PS+ out of it.

Yep one of my friend getting impatient tried to reboot while updating his bios ........Not a good idea ....at ....all.

 

[Rayderism]

One tip for less extended USB drive issues it to use an AC powered drive and not a USB powered drive.