PS3 Forum - Playstation 3 Forums

PS3_King · #1 03-16-2007, 08:15 PM

I read somewhere that it is possible to load an OS on the PS3 is that true???

Charlie · #2 03-16-2007, 08:18 PM

You can install one under the system menu.

Matt · #3 03-16-2007, 09:37 PM

why do you want an operating system?

Hondan · #4 03-17-2007, 03:56 AM

Yes, it is true, you can load many flavors of Linux. My personal favorite is Fedora and Ubuntu. In order to install it, there are a few steps you must perform, I have listed the steps below, you may want to get a USB keyboard and mouse before you proceed:

1. you have to first get the iso image of the operating system itself, burn it on to a DVD. ISO images of the OS can be downloaded from many bit torrent sites or the manufacture of the OS, once you have downloaded the ISO image, you can burn it onto a DVD at no more than 4x speed, keep in mind, PS3 do not support CD installations, it will have to be a DVD. In addition to the OS ISO image, you must also download the "otheros.self" OS installation utility from Sony, and you will also need the bootloader of the OS of your choice, which can also be found along with or within the Linux ISO image.

2. After you have gathered all of your files, you must then format your PS3 hard drive and allocate a partition to the Linux OS, so basically you need to create 2 partitions on your PS3, you can do that by using the PS3 disk format utility in the settings menu under the XMB. Be sure to back up your data before you format the disk, or all of your data will be lost, you can backup your PS3 data by going into the system backup utility. After you have formatted the disk into 2 partitions, update your PS3 via system update and restore the backup files back on the PS3

3. After that, you need to get an clean USB memory key, make a root folder called "PS3" and within that folder, make a sub-folder called "otheros".

4. Now, you must transfer the otheros.self file from Sony and the bootloader for your OS into the otheros subfolder you have created on the USB memory key, and insert the memory key into the PS3.

5. You must then go to the "install other OS" option from the system settings under XMB, then proceed through all necessary steps and this will install the kboot image on the PS3. Once finished, go back to System settings under XMB, and choose "other OS"

6. Insert the Linux DVD, and reboot your PS3, once the PS3 boots, it will enter the Linux installation mode, and depends on which flavor of Linux you have chosen, the download process maybe different. Please refer to your Linux installation instructions to complete this step. After the installation, you should have your Linux running on your PS3.

Please do not attempt this if you don't know what you are doing, or at least back up your files before attempting, since you may have to hard reset your PS3 if things get out of hand...

P.S. Once you have Linux running on PS3, you can also emulate Microsoft Windows or possibly Mac OS with opensource emulation software on top of Linux, but they will run really slow, so you should probably stick with Linux and XWindows.

Hondan · #5 03-17-2007, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

why do you want an operating system?

So you can turn your PS3 into a computer!

PS3_King · #6 03-18-2007, 01:11 PM

Now I can toss my PC and only use my PS3!!!!!

Pugamall · #7 04-01-2007, 03:19 PM

Sorry being a newbie to linux ect,what sort of platform is it and what tools does it use,ie is it like windows,with it's own browser and tools such as paint and movie player ?,and can you buy say Mac compatable pc games that will run ect ?

SlickRick51586 · #8 04-11-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pugamall

Sorry being a newbie to linux ect,what sort of platform is it and what tools does it use,ie is it like windows,with it's own browser and tools such as paint and movie player ?,and can you buy say Mac compatable pc games that will run ect ?

Most Linux Distros (distributions) come with their own version of office or "open office" which is under the GNU license. It has support for most Microsoft office formats and includes many similar programs.

Running Linux on your PS3 is pretty fun, I like it mainly because it turns your gaming console into a computer, and it allows me to use my ps3 as a Linux/UNIX box instead of partitioning the drive on my main computer or buying another computer to be my Linux box.

Right now you can do the basics with it but there are a couple good and bad things about it.

It works very well as an internet browsing pc, as well as a basic document handling computer and media center device. I actually use the shell to program in C++.

The bad stuff is that there isn’t much driver support for it. Many of the Distros have yet to take full advantage of the graphics device and have limited support for Bluetooth and USB devices.

With better support for USB/Bluetooth I think the PS3 could become an awesome media center PC.

As a side note the resolution and text visibility on non-HD TVs/monitor does suck in my opinion.

(also i havent updated my distro or looked for new drivers for some time, some distros will have better hardware support than others)

The main Distros are Fedora (based off of redhat), Unbuntu, and Yellow Bird Linux.

Yellow Bird suposedly has the best hardware support but I haven't really checked so its hearsay.

Pav · #9 04-14-2007, 01:35 PM

Surely once you've installed linux and downloaded a bit torrent client, you can then download and install Vista. Please reply because I am dying to see if i can scrap my lame ass PC and use the PS3 for EVERYTHING. Is this possible? Thanks in advance!

Dr. Mitsos · #10 04-14-2007, 06:34 PM

vista have big memory needs

Pav · #11 04-14-2007, 06:53 PM

So what does this mean for my plans to use the PS3 as a computer?

Dr. Mitsos · #12 04-14-2007, 06:57 PM

Maybe vista won't be capable to good on LINUX via emulation but... who knows

Pav · #13 04-14-2007, 07:00 PM

Well, if I get Linux, will it have all the same functionalities as Vista and will I be able to play PC games?

Dr. Mitsos · #14 04-14-2007, 07:19 PM

I thing so but i am not so sure.
For now you can only play 2D because LINUX doesn't support NVIDIA's chip on ps3
That meens that you can play games such as EMULATORS

Pav · #15 04-14-2007, 07:29 PM

Is there a possibility that they may soon support the PS3's graphics card?

Dr. Mitsos · #16 04-14-2007, 07:31 PM

YES!!! they are working on these kind of problems

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