PS4 Restore Loop: Wat do?

[breakmanexe]

After some research, it would seem that my situation is very much not unique. PS4 freezing up recently and refusing to boot as normal, database cannot be repaired in safe mode, requires full reinitialization (and bonus scrubbing of hard drive) and OS reinstallation via USB. This has been happening over the last couple of weeks. I do not have a dust problem. Pretty much the only thing I have been using my PS4 for these days is Netflix, YouTube and Hulu. It is 3 years old.

Anyone know more about this? I am considering that this may be a HDD problem. Maybe the stock drive is failing? If so, is it feasible to fix my problem by simply replacing the HDD? Honestly I have no idea. Looking for knowledge from anyone here that may have run into the same issue.

[sheep2001]

Whether it’s the HDD or not, I would swap it out and do the restore on a fresh drive, rather than going to the pains of reformatting the stock drive.

However, saying that, I can’t really see any reason a failing HDD would corrupt the firmware.

[EVILSANTA777]

After some research, it would seem that my situation is very much not unique. PS4 freezing up recently and refusing to boot as normal, database cannot be repaired in safe mode, requires full reinitialization (and bonus scrubbing of hard drive) and OS reinstallation via USB. This has been happening over the last couple of weeks. I do not have a dust problem. Pretty much the only thing I have been using my PS4 for these days is Netflix, YouTube and Hulu. It is 3 years old.

Anyone know more about this? I am considering that this may be a HDD problem. Maybe the stock drive is failing? If so, is it feasible to fix my problem by simply replacing the HDD? Honestly I have no idea. Looking for knowledge from anyone here that may have run into the same issue.

I honestly haven't heard of that problem, but I can tell you that swapping the HDD is a super easy fix and could potentially fix your issue. 1-2 Terabyte drives are pretty cheap and there's tons of guides online on how to do it, I swapped mine on release and it took me all of 20 minutes to pop the new one in. Definitely worth a shot to see if it fixes it.

[breakmanexe]

I figure worst-case scenario the 2TB I can pick up locally after work can be re-installed later if it turns out I need to send my PS4 in. Anyone have to send in a console for refurb before? Any nightmare stories to share?

[wiggy]

Happened to my PS3. Eventually I couldn’t even get to boot in safe mode and now it’s sittijg in pieces. Good luck.

[EVILSANTA777]

I figure worst-case scenario the 2TB I can pick up locally after work can be re-installed later if it turns out I need to send my PS4 in. Anyone have to send in a console for refurb before? Any nightmare stories to share?

No nightmares story from me, but I will say that it took absolutely forever to get my Xbox 360 back years ago. About 4 weeks from me shipping it to receiving it back (and they ended up just sending me a new unit, good old red ring of death).