Sony unaware of alleged PS3 error

By Robert Purchese Published 10 April, 2008

Is 80010514 the Red Ring equivalent?

Sony has told Eurogamer that it is unaware of any issues regarding the mysterious PS3 error codes supposedly popping up around the world.

The allegedly cursed number is 80010514. It relates to a faulty sector on the hard drive and faulty installation of firmware updates, according to GameRevolver.

There's advice to avoid this by following the correct procedure when installing updates, using a stable Internet connection to download and dust your machine to stop heat issues and other glitches occurring.

Despite the problem being unrelated to the hardware, your system will apparently still need replacing if the error occurs.

So is this a serious problem, or just Internet bunkum? An SCE UK spokesperson told us, "I've spoken to our Customer Services department and they aren't aware of this issue with the PS3." Make of that what you will. And many of you probably will.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (78) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • gizmo #1 4 years ago

    "they aren't aware of this issue"

    Jesus is listening. ;)

  • yupyup #2 4 years ago

    80010514, catchy.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #3 4 years ago

    Maybe it's leet speak. It reads "Booiosig". Ok, maybe that's crap.

  • lambtron #4 4 years ago

    Heh what is it with Sony and these weird error codes? When you used to have problems with DNAS and the like on the PS2 it would always be something like:

    908290849023804982309 has occurred.

    Thanks for the info!

  • Progguitarist #5 4 years ago

    Ps3lol?

    Nah.

  • Garulon #6 4 years ago

    Y'know, things break! :)

  • Beano #7 4 years ago

    "80010514 Of Death" doesn't sound as sexy as "Red Ring Of Death"... Sony fails again!

  • bad09 #8 4 years ago

    Oi PS3 fanboys....

    ....80010514 LOL!!!!!!!!

    Nah, not as catchy as RROD LOL!!!!!!!! :)

  • gizmo #9 4 years ago

    If you dial the number, the devil answers. You have been warned.

  • Gaol #10 4 years ago

    "Is 80010514 the Red Ring equivalent?"

    Roughly translates as 'Here is today's tard comments thread'

  • bioreit #11 4 years ago

    Won't be anything like as bad as the RROD numbers - this news story would have broken within a month on dozens of different sites if it was similar.

    Unfortunate for the very few who have the problem, but it seems like Sony are quite on the ball about getting repairs/replacements sorted (better than MS were with the first RROD!).

    Two questions (well, one question, followed by one musing, really):

    1. That GameRevolver post mentions the firmware updates / software installs being different. How exactly? Do PS3 updates install automagically, or are there extra steps users have to take to download and install?

    2. Just wondering if this error message might have something to do with user-installed hard drives? I know the GameRevolver article implied that their PS3 had the stock 60GB drive in it, but there must surely be some issues with using any make or model of hard drive...?

    Edit 1: Heh. Borked spelling fixed.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/08 @ 13:04

  • andijames #12 4 years ago

    "Is 80010514 the Red Ring equivalent?"

    Roughly translates as 'Here is today's tard comments thread'

    This make me Chuckle :)

    Honestly they should just post up an image of a bandwagon with this story saying "jump on".

    Lets face it in this day and age technology is a lot more sophisticated so there's bound to be the odd problem.

  • neilch #13 4 years ago

    hmm, I've seen that error code since the last firmware update and I have a user-installed hard drive.

  • 2099net #14 4 years ago

    I'm not so sure how big an issue this is - it doesn't really worry me at the moment, logically that is - but I wish Sony would find some way to cut down on the firmware updates!

    If they limited them to say 4 per year, one per quarter, it would lessen the opportunity for such an error. I have no problems with my 360 updates as they are so quick (although I am aware other users have had bricked machines) but the massive PS3 updates, even for "trivial" features, sometimes sets my heart a pounding. Sometimes emotions wins over logic.

  • monkie_king #15 4 years ago

    It is true, though, that MS made a massive miscalculation by giving a fatal hardware error such a visual and iconic symbol. Why did they even make it so the lights could go red?

    Shame that this PS3 fault code isn't 8008135, then the meme might have more chance of spreading.

  • jonsaan #16 4 years ago

    Avoid over heating. LOL. It's funny how every single tech issue since RROD has this has a potential soultion. Absolute Guff. It's become the new 'turn it off and turn it on again'.

  • chronom4n #17 4 years ago

    "dust your machine!" man that is a new one on me. sounds like mr sheen needs to be employed!

  • Gurgeh #18 4 years ago

    "Unfortunate for the very few who have the problem, but it seems like Sony are quite on the ball about getting repairs/replacements sorted "

    O rly?

    "1.5 month ago I sent in my 60GB PS3 to repair (Europe), now that I've called with Sony what's taking them so long all I heard on the phone was: Sorry we don't have any stock of the 60GB left and we don't know when a shipment will arrive to replace your unit. Call back in 2/4 weeks for an update."

    [link url=http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=104701 74&postcount=1
    ]http://ww w.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php...[/link]

  • lennon #19 4 years ago

    @Gurgeh - Yeah thats what worries me with my PS3 is what happens if it fails. I only want it with BC would never have bought one without it. Fingers crossed I never have a problem.

  • Aloominum_man #20 4 years ago

    55378008

  • TriggerHippie #21 4 years ago

    "Is 80010514 the Red Ring equivalent?"

    Yet again EG wheels out a cauldron of shit and starts handing out spoons.

  • Greebo #22 4 years ago

    "55378008"

    Ahh, the only thing I've ever used a pocket calculator for!

  • ElephantMonkey #23 4 years ago

    A hardware fault by the PS3 is given by a Flashing Red Light.

  • Fwing #24 4 years ago

    Unaware my arse

  • Madafunkola #25 4 years ago

    "Flashing Red Light of Doom"?
    No?
    "Blinking Red Lumine of Damnation"?
    better?
    "Pulsing Rouge Hell"?

  • andijames #26 4 years ago

    "Red Ring of Roses, A Hot Flush & It's Overloaded, A Crasha A Crasha 360 Conks Out"

    Should play that tune when you get the RROD

    *Ahem.... sorry.... long day! Runs off to topup medication*

  • bicky316 #27 4 years ago

    Sony are always pretty poor when it comes to software, anyone who's ever had a Sony Minidisc or MP3 player can vouch for that!

  • Kenshin001 #28 4 years ago

    "Is 80010514 the Red Ring equivalent?"

    No.

  • pjbarfoot #29 4 years ago

    s.for the last week i have occasionally been receiving an error code 80010514 when i try and play any blu-ray discs on sunday it finally decied to stop playing them all together. this includes games and movies. After this error code the console will not recognise any blu-ray disc, the console will however still read dvd’s. just what i want on my hdtv standard definition. One big plus for sony has been their customer care. I phoned Sony yesterday (6/4/08) had the phone answered by somone in the uk (big plus in my opinion) after explaining the problem i was informed that on thursday 10/04/08 there would be a replacment console delivered to my home address and could i please have my broken console ready to swap on the doorstep. they also asked me to have a try at reinstalling the system to see if that cured it (it didn’t) and if it did to let them know and they cancel the exchange. despite my console being broke it was an extremely pain free experience. Fingers brossed my ps3 arrives today. not sure if the person above is telling the truth that was told he's been waiting 2.5 months as i specifically asked if mine would be replaced with a 60gb model and i was told definately 60gb on the 10th april fingerscrossed.

  • oreillymj #30 4 years ago

    Actually, I upgraded my 60Gb launch day PS3 to 320Gb this week. Took 15mins for the actual H/W swap after a 1.5hr backup.

    After I'd restored everything (which again took 90mins), the PS3 had all my old content. Actually even before I'd done the restore, it had all my user settings and PSN ID and was able to sign in. So it must store critical system files in flash memory and not on the HD.

    I've had 1 problem were the PS3 did not "see" the HD on startup, probably because it took a bit too long to spin up to speed and announce itself as ready. But a reboot fixed that and I haven't seen the error since.


    BTW- the only gotcha with PS3 HD changes is that the HD must be backed up before removal. The PS3 detects any change in the HD, even removal & replacement of the same HD, and forces you to format the drive. So if you take out the 60Gb drive before backing it up, you'll have effectively lost all data on that drive as you can't put it back in without formatting it.

  • Prodigy_BE #31 4 years ago

    /que a bunch of Xbots complaining that they've been having the 80010514 for some time, and its getting worse.

  • Widge #32 4 years ago

    OH MY LOL
    that shit should be on STAND UP

  • myiagros #33 4 years ago

    @ oreillymj - i have several HDD which i have taken out and put back in without any problems what so ever. I actually have 3 i use regularly, 1 with a huge music collection, 1 with movie data and 1 for Games stuff.

    so i'm not sure why you think you can't put it back in afer removing it. You can't put in into a different machine without formating the disk, but back into the same one is fine.

  • Darren #34 4 years ago

    Funny, I was reading on another forum this morning rumours regarding reports of people getting error messages but it was for the PS3's Blu-ray drive which is supposedly failing en masse not the HDD or firmware updates... :?

    Anyway, I'm sure there's some truth to this as I know my own experiences with my PC that updating firmwares carries a high degree of risk plus HDDs can fail at any time for no apparent reason. Ditto for optical drives too for that matter...
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/08 @ 15:08

  • Darren #35 4 years ago

    P.S. Aren't GameRevolver the same site that posted that reputed-to-be-fake GTAIV review from last week?

  • 3william56 #36 4 years ago

    @oreilymj

    Same here - have pulled the HDD just to have a look, and put back in. No reformat required. Maybe it's because it's the first time it's been in the PS3 it requires a format.

    So if it's a bad sector, is a solution a hard drive swap, followed by a backup?

    "Whole World Except One Disreputable Website unaware of alleged PS3 error"
    /fixed

  • BarcaAzul #37 4 years ago

    I had a similar code at the weekend where it kept crashing the PSN on Sunday night and loggin me out, causing me not to be able to play CoD 4.

    Apart from that, no issues at all. I have however noticed that it does get really hot at the back of the machine if you leave it on stand by for weeks on end.

  • Darren #38 4 years ago

    @oreillymj - I didn't know you could buy 320 GB 2.5" SATA 5,400rpm HDDs so what model is that and where did you buy it? Thanks!

  • Darren #39 4 years ago

    LOL @ DiamondIce's comment!

  • oreillymj #40 4 years ago

    @myiagros, @3william56

    I was asked to format the 320Gb drive after I'd put it into the PS3. I didn't try putting the 60Gb one back in.

    But, I read this week of some muppet who lost the contents of his drive after putting it back into the PS3, maybe after it had recognised the new drive.

  • space_ace #41 4 years ago

    Sorry PlayStation 3

  • Sevens #42 4 years ago

    Haven't heard of that problem before.

  • miiiguel #43 4 years ago

    Another portuguese saying:
    "the fish die by its mouth" (loose translation).

    Funny, that 360 users had to hear in every single thread (mainly when a 10/10 game spawned), "oh but the RRoD!";). Anyway I wont change my speech. So basicaly, this is not a house or even a car is a freking consumer electronics, so what if it has a problem? Just fix it, and get over it.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/08 @ 15:01

  • monkey-ken-wizard #44 4 years ago

    My PS3 has never crashed, however it refuses to connect to the internet.
    But then again I only use it to play movies and music - I sometimes look at its nice shiny box and wonder why I brought it.
    I have a Wii and a 360 for games.

  • mikew1985 #45 4 years ago

    "Booiosig"

    Hahaha! no notcrap, quite funny!

  • ruckus #46 4 years ago

    /que a bunch of Xbots complaining that they've been having the 80010514 for some time, and its getting worse.

    wtf? This is a problem with the PS3. RTFA FFS!

    ...though I wonder if a bunch of Xbox 360 owners will post, pretending their non-existent PS3's have this problem.
    Interesting...

  • miiiguel #47 4 years ago

    Funny, funny in this thread is the lack of xbox users saying that their non-existant PS3 had this problem, on the other hand the usual desperation for the animosity from the PS3-only video-gamers, by almost begging for such behavior.

    Forget it, they're playing games.

  • Ghost_Dog #48 4 years ago

    Hello. I am a PS3 owner and I have the 80010514 error. Confirmed.

  • Darren #49 4 years ago

    Quick, Ghost_Dog, ring Sony so that they're aware that people *are* experiencing it!

  • WinterSnowblind #50 4 years ago

    @Ruckus

    It'll happen, but to be fair a lot of the 360 comlpaints are from people like this as well.

  • belziah #51 4 years ago

    MrMilad

    That was MS's response to me.

  • Beano #52 4 years ago

    Error 80010514 doesn't scare me... but error 4815162342 would!!

  • Nithron #53 4 years ago

    It's true, they probably aren't aware of this issue. Because "they" consists of one balding middle-aged man in a dingy apartment that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo call their "european office."

  • Beano #54 4 years ago

    @irnchriz : Claiming the PS3 has "plenty" of exclusive AAA titles would be a lie, but I have both a PS3 and 360, and over the last 6 months the PS3 have been most used... there's plenty of great games for PS3 (multiplatform) and a handfull exclusive ones. Pretty amazing some people are still saying "no quality games for PS3".

  • Darren #55 4 years ago

    @Beano - The people saying the PS3 has no quality games are Xbox 360 owners so they wouldn't have any interest in playing decent stuff like Devil May Cry 4, Burnout Paradise or Call of Duty 4 on the PS3 anyway. However, when you look at how many games are actually multiformat on both platforms then it simply isn't true to say the PS3 doesn't have any good games at all. The only reason the PS3 doesn't have as many games as the Xbox 360 is simply because it hasn't been out as long, that's all.

  • Beano #56 4 years ago

    I'm on my second 360.. but that only because I wanted HDMI and lower noise (something the new "falcon" models didn't quite deliver on though - bummer). My launch 360 is still working fine... but in the box :)

  • oreillymj #57 4 years ago

    @irnchriz

    Since Amazon.ie doesn't exist and .co.uk won't sell electronics to Ireland due to the cnuts in the E.U. with their WEE directive
    I bought this [link url=http://ww w.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343402
    ]http://ww w.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343...[/link]

    Anyway, what's £96.57 in real money? I can't change my default currency from sterling to Euro's on Amazon's fantastic web-site.

  • miiiguel #58 4 years ago

    irnchriz, wrong target. I did own a PS3 on launch day (as almost every console that comes out) but it's long gone, so don't realy know why you're saying that to me. I currently only use 360 for gaming.

    As I don't "do" brands ans I was really pissed of with PSP (dead pixels, Sony didn't replace - "too few, live with it!". end quotation), and then the underwhelming PS3.

    But, and again, in a nutshell: if a PS3 breaks, its the users that are lame and treat it badly, if it's a 360, MS sux so bad. Anyway this behavior swings from funny to pathetic.
    Edited by 2 at 10/04/08 @ 17:03

  • Denny #59 4 years ago

    So this is the RROD without a catchy title?
    I'm sure we can fix that....How about the "Stupid Number Of Death"?

    eg "I would be playing Drake's Fortune, but the ps3 has got the SNOD"
    Sorted.

  • miiiguel #60 4 years ago

    Yet, there are even funnier stuff arround like PlayStation and Sony are some kinda super-humans that deserve every indulgence. Say, it's almost like it's something bad or a blasphemy for 360 to be released before:
    "oh, ok you have better games, but 360 came out first... loosers, you came out first, Sony only comes out last, they're so good!"
    "oh it so hard and complex to develop to PS3, ya know, they're so intellectual, that's why games sux, but we're complex!"

    Ffs..., why should the consumer care about this? Do someone actualy think about this while playing the game which one payed for ?

  • BarcaAzul #61 4 years ago

    2.5" Sata drive 320gb

    [link url=h ttp://shopping.msn.com/specs/shp/?itemId=926559179
    ]http://sh opping.msn.com/specs/shp/?itemI...[/link]

    Also for the guy with internet issues, try looking on forums for router configs, or manually entering IP and DNS settings.

  • Khanivor #62 4 years ago

    How long did it take before PS2 developed faults with their drives?

  • Tyedyed #63 4 years ago

    "But then again I only use it to play movies and music - I sometimes look at its nice shiny box and wonder why I brought it."

    To play movies and music I presume.

  • DAN.E.B #64 4 years ago

    I hope its not caused by dust build up!
    thats all my PS3 has done for the last three months!

  • drumbaby #65 4 years ago

    "Is 80010514 the Red Ring equivalent?"

    No, because it isn't going to happen to every PS3, like the RROD will to all Xbox 360s eventually.

  • miiiguel #66 4 years ago

    It wont happen to mine, that I am sure.

    "3 dead pixels aren't enough to have your PSP replaced, sir. Sorry..."; yeah... if they knew how much money I spend in ludic software/hardware per year, they would definetly be much more "sorry".
    Edited by 2 at 10/04/08 @ 19:11

  • miiiguel #67 4 years ago

    I was talking about PS3 as I don't have one. Regarding 360..., keep them coming, I have 3.

  • SeesThroughAll #68 4 years ago

    Took long enough, but it is finally here...

    PlayStation 3's own Death Dial.

    /Knocks wood, just in case
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/08 @ 21:00

  • OfficialBlue #69 4 years ago

    Some how i doudt 80010514 will catch on...

  • Les #70 4 years ago

    "However, when you look at how many games are actually multiformat on both platforms then it simply isn't true to say the PS3 doesn't have any good games at all. The only reason the PS3 doesn't have as many games as the Xbox 360 is simply because it hasn't been out as long, that's all."

    Which the fanboys know deep in their heart and I bet they are already working out strategies for arguing why the PS3 is still worse when by the end of this year the number-of-games-advantage has become irrelevant... ;)

  • AphoticCosmos #71 4 years ago

    LAWL

    It was only a matter of time. I'd rather have an RROD than an 80010514

  • smelly #72 4 years ago

    hang on.. that spells out (when held upside down on a calculator)

    HISOIOOB

    Spooky

  • smelly #73 4 years ago

    >I'd rather have an RROD than an 80010514

    .. I've read some dumb posts on this forum.. but..

  • Tyedyed #74 4 years ago

    Les: The battle will move onto ingame custom soundtracks once the PSN has ingame messaging. It will suddenly become a vital feature with they simply cannot comprehend or tolerate being without.

    As MS have apparantly patented using the OS for ingame soundtracks this is a fallback position they can safely occupy!

  • RazorObsession #75 4 years ago

    Arbiter: I agree with you mate, but the consumer hasn't *really* paid the price.

    I have had my four RROD's and they have been fixed for free. which is a price you don't pay. i dont have an HD TV yet, so the appeal of blu ray is non existent at the moment, and so far there are NO games that are system exclusive that would encourage me to pick up a PS3. in this lucid future perhaps maybe, if i have an HDTV, and if MGS and little big planet can live up to the hype and if my cousin can get a nicked one off a back of a lorry for dirt cheap, or fair price, then yes i will get a PS3 and actually use it. but not until then.

    My Uncle, who's inside now for tax evasion, fraud, you name the white collar crime he's done it and been done for it, had a Ferrari. beautiful machine. fanny fucking magnet. fucking thing broke down, every 400 miles. had to be serviced nearly every time he took it out. flogged the bollocks off of it admitedly, but he said it was worth every single stolen penny.

    His Volvo on the other hand, was reliable to the point where it never ever broke down, fuel efficient in the extreme, could carry everyones shopping, ever, could take 20 kids to school and back, and could probably withstand a nuclear blast.

    Needless to say, he let the mustachioed wife have the Volvo, and took the red car whenever possible.

  • zedzee #76 4 years ago

    Perhaps it's the UK Help Line number for this fault?

    Ah, but they forgot the 0 at the start and they're missing another digit. I guess it's not that.

    It could be Ken Kutaragi's internal extension number at Sony! He built it into the PS3 because he was going to 'step down', so just in case Sony screwed up the marketing and strategy, every PS3 would be intelligent enough to 'call home'.

    OK, OK, so that's a long stretch but I'm right about the marketing and strategy though! ;-)


  • RazorObsession #77 4 years ago

    @umberty - get fucked cunt, i headed off in my own direction a long time ago. if i had stuck with em, maybe i'd have a hi def tv for my games by now. and as for TV shows, i dont watch that shit, hence my lurking on a game site. fuckin tool.

  • dewd7 #78 4 years ago

    My buddy is getting 800 105 14 on all of his discs.
    80 GB purchased in U.S.,Summer '07.

    Machine is clean,he is a non-smoker.

    All updates were done online,clicking through. No USB or alternative method was used.

    Machine has Not been online for months,errors just started up.