Fantom Drives PS4 - User Manual

PS4 Upgrade Kit Manual
FOR PLAYSATION 4, PLAYSTATION 4 SLIM AND PLAYSTATION PRO
What’s Included:
• 2.5” Hard Disk Drive
• Fantom Drives G-Force
• Aluminum External Enclosure
• Usb 3.0 Flash Drive
• Screw Driver
• Quick Installation Guide

Summary

PS4 Upgrade Kit Setup

Preparation for PS4 Upgrade

Download system software and prepare USB drive with correct folder structure for PS4.

Backing Up PS4 Games

Back up saved game data from PS4 system storage to USB storage device.

PS4 Hard Drive Upgrade

Instructions for replacing the internal hard drive of a standard PS4 console.

PS4 Slim Hard Drive Upgrade

Specific instructions for upgrading the hard drive of a PS4 Slim model.

PS4 Pro Hard Drive Upgrade

Specific instructions for upgrading the hard drive of a PS4 Pro model.

System Software Installation

Reinstall the PS4 system software using a USB drive after HDD replacement.

Restoring Saved Games to PS4

Copy backed-up saved game data from USB storage back to the PS4 system.

Reusing Old PS4 Hard Drive

Guide on using the old PS4 hard drive in an external enclosure for PC or Mac.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Important Technical Specifications
3. Usage Features
4. Maintenance Features

This document describes the Fantom Drives PS4 Upgrade Kit, a comprehensive solution designed to enhance the storage capacity and performance of PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim, and PlayStation 4 Pro consoles. The kit provides all necessary components and instructions for users to replace their console's internal hard disk drive (HDD) with a new, larger capacity drive, and also offers a method to repurpose the original HDD as an external storage device.

Function Description:

The primary function of the Fantom Drives PS4 Upgrade Kit is to facilitate an internal hard drive upgrade for various PlayStation 4 models. This upgrade allows users to expand their console's storage, enabling them to install more games, applications, and media without constantly managing space. Beyond the internal upgrade, the kit also provides an enclosure to convert the console's original HDD into a portable external storage device, offering additional utility for the old drive. The kit includes a USB flash drive pre-formatted for system software reinstallation, a screwdriver for hardware manipulation, and a quick installation guide to streamline the entire process.

Important Technical Specifications:

The kit includes a 2.5" Hard Disk Drive, which is the core component for the storage upgrade. While the exact capacity is not specified in the provided manual, it is implied to be a larger capacity than the console's original drive, offering significant storage expansion. The included USB 3.0 Flash Drive is crucial for transferring the PS4 system software and backing up saved game data, leveraging the faster transfer speeds of USB 3.0. The Aluminum External Enclosure is designed to house a 2.5" hard drive, indicating compatibility with standard laptop-sized HDDs. The enclosure supports SATA/power connectors for the hard drive and is compatible with both Windows PC (NTFS format) and Mac OS (HFS format) when used as an external drive. The kit is specifically designed for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim, and PlayStation 4 Pro consoles, ensuring hardware compatibility across these models.

Usage Features:

The upgrade process is broken down into several user-friendly steps:

1. Preparation: Users must first download the PS4 system software reinstallation file from the official PlayStation website onto the included USB flash drive. It's critical to download the larger file intended for a "New Installation of the System Software" and to organize it within specific folder structures (PS4/UPDATE/PS4UPDATE.PUP) on the USB drive. This step ensures the console can properly reinstall its operating system after the new drive is installed.

2. Backing-Up Games: Before the physical upgrade, users are instructed to back up their saved game data to the USB flash drive. This process involves navigating through the PS4's system settings (Settings > Applications Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device) to select and copy desired saved games. It's important to note that this only backs up saved game data, not the entire game installations, which would need to be re-downloaded or reinstalled after the upgrade.

3. Hard Drive Upgrade (Model-Specific): The manual provides detailed, model-specific instructions for replacing the hard drive in the PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro.

   • For PS4: This involves powering down the console, disconnecting cables, sliding off the drive bay cover, removing screws holding the HDD carrier, pulling out the carrier, removing the old HDD, installing the new 2.5" HDD into the carrier (ensuring SATA ports are correctly oriented), reattaching screws, sliding the carrier back into the drive bay, and replacing the drive bay cover.
   • For PS4 Slim: The process is similar but involves turning the console to face the rear panel, locating and sliding off the hard drive bay cover on the right, removing a screw to reveal the HDD bay, pulling out the ribbon and sliding out the carrier, replacing the HDD, and reassembling.
   • For PS4 Pro: Users need to power down, turn the console upside down to face the rear panel, locate and apply pressure to remove the hard drive plastic cover on the left (potentially removing a sticker), remove a screw, pull and slide out the carrier, replace the HDD, and reassemble. In all cases, careful handling of screws and ensuring correct orientation of the new HDD (label side up, SATA ports towards the open end of the carrier) are emphasized.

4. System Software Install: After the physical HDD replacement, the console requires a system software reinstallation. Users reconnect the PS4, connect the USB flash drive, and boot the console into SAFE MODE by holding the power button for 8 seconds (releasing after the second beep). In SAFE MODE, they connect a DUALSHOCK 4 controller via USB and select "Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)." The console will then proceed to install the system software from the USB drive, initializing the new HDD and deleting all previous data. After installation, the PS4 restarts, and users follow on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

5. Restoring Saved Games: Once the system software is reinstalled and the console is set up, users can restore their backed-up saved game data from the USB flash drive. This is done by navigating to Setting > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data on USB Storage Device and selecting "Copy to System Storage," then choosing the desired game titles and confirming the overwrite.

Maintenance Features:

The kit also offers a valuable maintenance feature by allowing users to repurpose their old PS4 hard drive.

1. Reusing the Old HDD: The manual provides instructions for installing the old 2.5" hard drive into the included Aluminum External Enclosure. This involves removing the plastic cover of the enclosure, sliding out the hard drive tray, connecting the old HDD to the SATA/power connector in the tray, and then securing the plastic end cover.

2. External Storage Utility: Once installed in the enclosure, the old HDD can be used as an external hard drive for Windows PCs or Mac OS. The manual specifies formatting the drive to NTFS for Windows and HFS for Mac, ensuring compatibility with these operating systems. This feature effectively prevents the old drive from becoming e-waste and provides users with additional portable storage.

The manual also emphasizes the importance of retaining a copy of the purchase receipt for warranty repair service, highlighting a key aspect of product maintenance and support. The document itself is dated 02/11/2017, indicating the version of the manual.

Fantom Drives PS4 Specifications