UPDATE

I have removed the HDD and formatted the drive in my PC. I have put the HDD back in the PS3 and when I power it on I get a single green light come on and stay on for about 20 seconds and then it switched back off to red and nothing comes up on the screen.

Any ideas?

I have been doing a bit of research on the net and all the talk is about this yellow light of death. My PS3 isn't showing a yellow light or a flashing green light, just a solid green light for about 20 seconds then back to solid red, standby. Nothing shows up on the screen at all.

I have tried the recovery menu, but can't get this up. I have removed the HDD and switched it on but nothing happens.

Anyone else got any ideas?

For starters, to get to your service mode, the PS3 is powered off, and a special USB dongle, known as the "Jig," is connected. The PS3 is then turned on, and then off, once it has detected the Jig.   After this occurs, the PS3 is then turned back on, into "Service" Mode. From here, the PS3 is re-flashed using a Firmware Update on a USB stick, specifically designed to only install from the Service Mode. 

I would try inserting a USB stick with the firmware you want, and see if it will flash and be ready to use.  I see it says specially designed one, and if that is the case, you will have to return it.  The PS3s NAND right now, is basically without firmware.  I have read that people get to 80%, then it goes to a red screen, beeps, and shuts off.

With the system in this mode, it can be re-flashed to any software version as well. The system's keys can also be "rearranged", such as the marrying of the PS3's BD-ROM Drive (or controller) with the mainboard. Needless to say, this can do a lot more than a simple "Recovery Menu", as it can change firmware and more.  This is how they replace a BR-D drive, and remarry it to the console.

Without the proper tools, I doubt you're getting anywhere with it...  They made the mistake of leaving it in that mode.  You can always call, and see what they say.  If they DO happen to get you out, please note the procedure.

Once hackers figure out this "Jig", and special USB stick for programming, the PS3 would be hacked WIDE open; it would act like a Pandora battery.  That would open the door for CFW in the PS3, but, nothing has surfaced in three years...

How do we know this guy is being honest about it being in service mode? rhyshaydn can you post some nice clear pics of your console in service mode, with a piece of paper witth you name and date on it also visable.

And what Powerslave means is write down the procedure they give you to exit the "service mod" and post it here

Yes they either need to figure it out or have a rather disgruntelled employee steal one. Ah can see it now....... Stick your Pandora's Dongle in to the USB slot

ps3_hacker1234 wrote:

The_Wii_Nes_Boy wrote:

How do we know this guy is being honest about it being in service mode? rhyshaydn can you post some nice clear pics of your console in service mode, with a piece of paper witth you name and date on it also visable.

And what Powerslave means is write down the procedure they give you to exit the "service mod" and post it here

Yes they either need to figure it out or have a rather disgruntelled employee steal one. Ah can see it now....... Stick your Pandora's Dongle in to the USB slot

The guy said that after he formatted his HDD the PS3 just turns on and turns off, i doubt he gets the service mode anymore.

My bad, read it and then completely forgot it

let me quote what i said incase u missed it

Mick wrote:

send it back to sony telling them they left it in service mode. they will fix it for free