(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); I was posting in another thread and mentioned to someone an important tip that I did not see mentioned in any of the tip and repair posts on here. We should also consider prevention and proper care as very important so I am going to share some important points.

1st) You should vacuum the vents of your PS3 instead of using a can of air. (The vacuum, of course, should be kept a distance away.)

I have taken numerous PS3s apart and there is a huge difference between ones that I vacuumed the vents and others where cans of air were used. One in particularly bad shape that actually overheated and YLODed had fan attachments blowing air into the vents. The vents are for the heat to exit from and cans of air or fans often blow all of that accumulation and heat right back inside. Accumulation can build up so thick that it can even impair fan operation and efficiency.

2nd) A PS3 needs to "breathe".

Putting a PS3 in a bad spot, tight space, or blocking the vents is a sure way to get overheating. We must consider if airflow is reaching your PS3 properly. I have seen too many people put a PS3 into a tight cabinet or place the PS3 on top of other electronics that get hot. This can easily compound overheat problems.

3rd) Clean discs before placing them inside your PS3.

I have 5 kids and I actually stopped to look one day at the game discs my kids were feeding into their game console. They were very dirty and sure enough the laser had begun to fail. Proper cleaning of the discs and the drive allowed me to bring it back from the dead. The difference can be huge if you clean your discs properly every time and perhaps even consider using a cleaning disc. Just keep in mind that normal cleaning discs should NEVER be used for the PS3! They have brushes on them and were not meant for the Blu-Ray.

4th) Smoking around any electronics can be a bad idea but we should think about those lenses and lasers inside our PS3 in particular. (Thanks Xystus for this tip)

5th) Laying your PS3 flat instead of standing it tall is supposed to be a better idea for laser life and prevention of disc scratches. This is something to consider if you have a choice particularly since it is easier to knock over when standing up. (I know that my PS2 laser wouldn't read after awhile unless the system was laid flat but I don't know if it even relates to the PS3.) Either way, remember to stand it up on the proper side that does not block the vents!

6th) Backup of game save data is always a good idea. I decided to add this as there is a great many misconceptions about save game backup.

To backup save data:
A) Logon to the account with the data FIRST (yes if you have more than one account on your PS3 it does matter where you copy the save from!)
B) Insert a device to copy to (This can be a removable thumb drive or other device such as a PSP)
C) Go to Game Saves on the XMB. Find Saved Data Utility (PS3). DO NOT BOTHER WITH GAME DATA UTILITY. - This is not your game save data but rather game update information that you can not copy.
D) Hit Square and then Triangle on the particular save file and select Copy. This gives you the option to Copy to the external drive (drive should show in list).
Note: You can check "Information" where you can see the save date and time.
E) Now take the external device to the new PS3 (attach or insert it) and go to the Game Saves area once again. It is important to be logged on to the exact same PSN ID account. You will find the external device under the Saved Data Utility. Copy the save and when next you play the game it should be exactly the same.

Important to know:
- A few types of game saves reportedly do not work when you switch PS3s or can't be copied at all.
- The saves will not work if you are not on the same account as before.
- You should update the game data (i.e. add-ons, updates, map packs) the same as the other location as this could effect your saves functionality.
- There is a full system backup utility to copy ALL of your files (movies, music, saves, etc.) but this is accessed under System and you better have a large enough drive!
- Purchases from the Playstation Store are not necessarily lost as you can download most up to 5 total times (PSN games, map packs, etc.)
- Any trophies earned will always be on your account (if you performed sync while online).


I hope this helps some of you get longer use out of your PS3 and if anyone has anything else to mention then please add it.

I hope it helps! Enjoy