The PlayStation 3 80010514 Error Debacle (That Wasn't)
Various sites have started squawking about a new error thrown by fussy PS3's, an error somewhat obliquely referred to as 80010514. It turns out the error's been around for awhile, and that when it happens, it manifests with some pretty broad causal latitude. Customers posting last year on the Official PlayStation Community (currently closed, but you can read the cached pages) report that the error occurs when inserting game or Blu-ray discs, but not DVDs.
The complete syntax of the error message:
An error occurred during the start operation. 80010514
One customer on the cached page reported that "Ratchet & Clank froze (several times) and now when I try to load a game it gives me this error." Another on a different forum suggests the problem occurs when running a firmware update on a system from a non-matching region. Still another user on Sony's official PlayStation message boards speculates wildly that it's "the blue-ray diode... it burns out in that model of the system." Don't you love how anonymity turns everyone into an armchair electrical engineer?
After confirming with Sony support that the error is in essence a catch-all for a system reset and noting that a factory default reset doesn't solve the problem, GameRevolver speculates (without confirmation) that it's "one of two things":
- A faulty sector on the internal hard drive.
- A bad firmware install.
Their recommendations to avoid the error are a little too general to take much stock in. Dust your PS3, make sure you have a stable internet connection, update your firmware properly, etc. Common sense, in other words, though it's not going to help any of you already getting the error -- the other allegation is that once the error occurs, you'll need a replacement PS3 from Sony. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Speaking anecdotally -- anecdotally, mind you! -- I've never seen the error (or any other) after over a year of frequent use. I've had three Xbox 360s go to pot (and had all three replaced, thank you very much for the first class customer service Microsoft) but I'm still on PS3 numero uno, and just in case it matters, I run both systems side-by-side inside a large wooden cabinet without proper ventilation, and yes, they both get quite warm and fan-blade-whiny in the summer after extended play time.
If you do get the error, the best thing you can do is probably ignore most of the above, stay away from the junk speculation on most of the boards (unless you're into wrapping systems in towels and doing rain dances and lighting votive candles to resurrect the mechanically dead), and give Sony a call. Unlike Microsoft's Xbox 360 "red ring of death" error, which several retailers were claiming was causing failures in the 30 to 33 percentile range, the 80010514 reset issue appears to be rare and occurring within the acceptable failure range for any piece of electronic equipment. If that changes, I'll be right back on top of it here.
Also, it's worth noting that the PS3 can (and does) throw a slew of error messages, some of which you'll find referenced in this thread. 80010514 probably occurs more often because, as noted, it's a "catch-all" general reset.
Whatever the case, it would behoove Sony to get out in front of the "issue" in one form or another, before the rain dancers and candle burners start threatening ye obligatory class action lawsuits.
Re-Play
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Hi, I'm a kind of Playstation Guru in Portugal and I have some "news" for you!
I had the 80010514 problem (Bluray drive dead 85% of the cases).
Like me, some more dozens of PS3 howners had that problem (In Portugal alone), now the funny part... We HAVE TO WAIT 7 to 10 WEEKS for a repaired PS3! PR from Playstation Portugal refuses to give me an anser about why this happens here in Portugal and in UK they take less than a week for a repair!
Sony is using a company (Stockuno) to take care of repairs, well, they SUCK!
If you want all the story send a reply to this comment asking for it, believe me, it's hot!
I purchased a launch 60 gig right before last Christmas. I have this problem, But I want the full PS2 compatibility I PAID for. It still plays PS2 games and BD movies...Just not BD games. As a result, I watch HD DVD's on my launch 360, still works perfectly and gets used alot I may add. I play games on the 360, and watch BluRay movies on my PS3.
If I send it to Sony, they have no 60 gig stock, and can not tell me what version I will receive as a replacement.
Can anyone else see the irony in this?
I had the same thing happen. I was playing Skate, and all the sudden it just froze, so i rebooted my system. The game disc didn't show up, so i tried a DVD... then a CD.. PS2 Game, Ps1 game... NOTHING would show up. Luckily it was under warranty, and with a little help from my friend at Good ol' wallyworld, I exchanged my 60 gig for an 80 with Motorstorm. Upgrade FTW.
@ billytech
No, that's a nonsense, they trade 60Gb models with 60 Gb models, or whatever model you send, they send you back the same model.
So don't say that, it's not true and will only create rumors that aren't true. I sent a 60Gb model and I received a 60Gb model!! They told me by phone that they had many 60Gb on stock for replacements.
@ the one
I'm not in Portugal, I own the system, I have the problem. I made the phone calls.Don't tell me whats true here and I won't tell you whats going on in Portugal. You're trying to sound like an authority on something that is not happening to you. Maybe at the time you had a problem they HAD the same model in stock. They have not manufactured this model here for some time,and at this moment, they CAN NOT PROMISE what they will have to replace mine.
Ad for me, I'm going to hold onto mine until I can be assured I'll get the same model in return.
I'm an 360 fan through and through, but the only reason that i would buy a PS3 is for the Blue-Ray. Unless Microsoft comes out with a Blue-Ray adapter or something