PS3 Dual Boot w/ E3 Flasher Tutorial

If your current firmware is above 3.55 then you can ONLY downgrade via a hardware flasher!
For those out there that purchased our E3 Flasher "Pro Package" (a hardware flasher for the PS3), here are some instrutions to use it for downgrading your PS3 and prepare it for fast dual-boot between two firmwares. Heads up! The following instructions require your E3 Flasher to already be installed. For installation instructions, go here.

Step 1: Update your E3 Flasher & PS3

Needed:
1.

E3 Update File (for Dual Booting) Computer Micro SD Card PS3 w/ Internet Access Turn off your PS3 and set the switches on the E3 Flasher card as follows:

2. Copy the E3 Update File (update.bin) downloaded from above link to your micro SD card. Tip: You can use the included E3 Card Reader if you do not have a card reader on your computer. 3. Place the micro SD card into your E3 Flasher and turn on the PS3. The update starts automatically and is successful after all 8 LEDs light up. 4. Update your PS3 online to the latest firmware version.

Step 2: Backup Your PS3 NOR

1. Turn off your PS3 and set the switches on the E3 Flasher card as follows:

2. With the micro SD card in your E3 Flasher, turn on the PS3. Wait for it to boot to the XMB home screen, then press the START button on the E3 to start the backup process. After about 30 seconds you will see a solid light on the E3 progress bar, progressing on the indicator from 0% to 100% percent. When the backup is finished the lights will flash alternatively. 3. Remove the micro SD card from the E3 Flasher and place the card in your computer. You will see three backups on the microSD card: bkpps30.bin, bkpps31.bin & bkpps32.bin (The E3

makes three backups in the event one is "bad"). Copy all of these to a folder on your computer for safe keeping.

Step 3: Verify Your NOR Backup

Needed:

PS3 NOR Backup from previous step NOR Verify Tools Computer w/ Windows Patience

Heads up! We want to be 100% sure that the backup(s) we made of your PS3 NOR memory is not faulty in any way. Be sure to visit both links below and follow the instructions. If you have any questions, you can visit the PS3 Downgrade chatroom (login with a nickname, the channel is #ps3downgrade). 1. Download the NOR Verify Tools (link above). Extract the ZIP archive and install HxD Hex Editor andFlowRebuilder. 2. These pages have really good information on how to verify one of your NOR dumps with the programs you just installed. Be sure to return back here when you are done!

Jhax78's Nor Check Guide Validating Flash Dumps (PS3 Devs Wiki Page)

Step 4: Downgrade
Needed: E3 Downgrade File PS3 NOR Backup (100% Good & Verified) Micro SD Card Copy the E3 Downgrade File (e3_downgrade.bin) onto the micro SD Card containing the PS3 NOR Backup(bkpps3x.bin) files. Insert micro SD card into E3 Flasher. 2. Turn off your PS3 and set the switches on the E3 Flasher card as follows:
1.

3. Power on your PS3 and wait for it to load the XMB home screen, then press START on the E3 Flasher to start the "One Touch Downgrade" process. After about 2-3 minutes, the first LED light will show on the E3 progress indicator. Go take a break while you wait for it to reach 100% percent After the process is complete (approx 10 minutes) the lights on the E3 progress indicator will flash alternatively. Shut down the PS3. 4. With the PS3 off, set the switches on the E3 Flasher card as follows:

5. Turn on the PS3. You should see the "Connect controller using a USB cable" screen. At this point, Power OFF the PS3 by removing the power cable from the system.

Step 5: Install CFW

Needed:
1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

PS3 CFW Package USB Flash Drive (at least 512mb & FAT32 format) E3 Card Reader (included in E3 Dual Boot Package) Download the PS3 CFW Package and extract the two folders named INSTALL and FINISH to your desktop. Copy the two files inside the INSTALL folder (PS3UPDAT.PUP and LV2DIAG.SELF) to your USB Flash Drive. Place your PS3 into Developer Mode with the E3 Card Reader. Make sure there is no micro SD card in the E3 Card Reader. Place the E3 Card Reader in the far-right USB port (the one closest to the Blu-Ray drive) With the PS3 off, press the POW ER then EJECT button immediately after. If done correctly, the E3 Card Reader will flash BLUE, then the PS3 will power OFF. Remove the E3 Card Reader Place the USB Flash Drive containing the PS3UPDATE.PUP and LV2DIAG.SELF files in the same right-hand USB port you used for the E3 Card Reader. Power on the PS3. The screen will stay black while the Custom Firmware (CFW) automatically installs. After the process is complete (approx. 2-3 minutes), the PS3 will power off. Remove the USB Flash Drive from the PS3; place it back in your computer. Copy the file in the FINISH folder (LV2DIAG.SELF) to the USB Flash Drive, replacing the previous one. Place the USB Flash Drive back into your PS3's right-hand USB port. Power on the console and it should switch off automatically after a few seconds. Power it back on again and you should see the "Connect a controller" screen. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your PS3.

Step 6: Copy CFW to Onboard Flash

1. You should now have your PS3 on running CFW. Set the switches on the E3 Flasher card as follows:

2. Press START on the E3 Flasher Card to copy the CFW to the E3 onboard flash memory. When the process is complete, the lights on the E3 Flasher will blink alternatively. 3. Shut down the PS3 and the eSATA HDD Dock. Pull out the Hard Disk Drive and label it CFW .

Step 7: Install & Create OFW HDD

Needed:
1.

Secondary SATA Hard Drive for OFW Micro SD Card PS3 w/ Internet Access Label the secondary Hard Drive OFW and insert in into the eSATA dock.

2. With the PS3 turned off, set the switches on the E3 Flasher card as follows:

3. Turn on the PS3 and update it to the latest Official Firmware (OFW ). The micro SD Card containing the E3 Downgrade File (e3_downgrade.bin) from Step 4 should still be in the E3 Flasher. If not, make sure it is. 4. Put the E3 Flasher into "One Touch Downgrade Mode" by setting the switches as follows:

5. Press START on the E3 Flasher. After about 2-3 minutes, the first LED light will show on the E3 progress indicator. Go take another break while you wait for it to reach 100% percent After the process is complete (approx 10 minutes) the lights on the E3 progress indicator will flash alternatively. Shut down the PS3.