Hey guys, I have been looking for an answer/solution to my issue all over the internet for weeks now and I haven't found anything. I even went to a local EB Games and tried to get help but the guy there wasn't totally sure what the issue was so I don't know how accurate his assessment of my system is. So basically, here's the issue:
One day I turned my PS4 on and it opened in Safe Mode rather than booting up normally. I tried to restart it a few times, nothing happened. So I went ahead and did the 7th step and re-initialized my PS4. Ever since then, my PS4 has been constantly freezing/stuttering during all games. It reminds me a lot of when I used to play my old gaming systems and there was a scratch on the disk. The game runs fine but every so often it just skips. This makes it extremely difficult to play games, both online and offline since this happens regardless. It even impacts my party chats, in that when speaking to friends they cut off at random times, in line with when the system freezes.
I have managed to get it to stay running, as it still works but just has the freezing issue. However it has happened multiple times when I go to turn on the PS4 and it crashes and opens up again in Safe Mode.
When looking online the only solutions I get are to go back in to Safe Mode and rebuild the database (which I've done) and go through any of the other steps to repair the system, but none work. The guy at EB Games told me it could be an issue with the Motherboard.
I have no idea what to think and at this point I'm all out of answers. I am close to going out and buying a new PS4, but I just want to be sure this is a system issue and not an issue with my connection. Has someone ever experienced anything like this? Does someone have a different potential solution that may help me? Should I just go out and buy a new PS4? Any help on this matter would be HUGELY appreciated, I've exhausted all my options.
If anyone is wondering, I have the original PS4, the Destiny Limited Edition (white one).
Yep, this happened to me, exactly as you describe. My PS4 was brand new, and was a launch model, and it happened right out of the box because of a faulty hard drive.
When you turn your PS4 on, do you hear particularly loud clicking as the HDD spins up?
Given that HDDs are replaceable in PS4s, then one option could be to follow that route (people voluntarily do this all the time, upgrading speed and capacity) but you'd have to copy all of your data over beforehand, because the HDD is the "brain" of the machine. Since you have a Limited Edition white console, you might wanna consider this, to keep that sweet shell.
Otherwise, you need to get a new console, because it won't get anything but worse.
Sorry I don't have better news for you!
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger Hey man I really appreciate the response! I don't believe there are clicks when I turn it on, but I'll have to check it out tonight when I get home. Also, if this happens to be the issue, do I still need to save everything if I've initialized it and my PS4 is essentially wiped clean?
That being said, it appears as though things have gotten worse. I tried turning my PS4 on yesterday and it went back in to Safe Mode. I initialized it again, only to find that it never restarted. After more online searches, it appears as though I have the "Blue Light of Death", since my PS4 turns on but the light remains blue and no signal ever reaches the TV. On one hand I'm not happy that this is the case because, well obviously, it doesn't work. But on the other hand this kind of confirms to me that it was the system that was faulty and if I buy a new PS4 I shouldn't have any issues with it (here's hoping!).
There are some tips online to try getting it to work again, but I guess based on this, it doesn't appear to be a HDD issue. Although I will definitely look in to it and make sure it's not loose or anything like that.
Now my question becomes, are there any fixes for this or at this point should I just scrap the system and get another one? A lot of "fixes" online seem to be very basic and I've tried some and they don't work. Hopefully you can maybe give me an answer (or if anyone else might know), that would be great.
@Otrebor13 Ah, right. First up, if you've been initialising your PS4 then I'm guessing you don't have much on there (screenshots, save game data, etc.) anyway. That's the kinda thing I suggested you try and save, because there's nothing worse than being halfway through a game when your console dies and you've gotta start all over again! If you haven't backed up your saves, do so before initialisation. If you're a member of PS Plus, you can copy them to the cloud; otherwise, just use a USB stick.
If you really do have "Blue Light of Death" then that's harsh. Given the age of the console, that's perhaps more likely than a factory defect, which you'd have noticed by now. By all means, check the HDD is seated properly and listen for clicks, but as soon as you open up the outer casing you'll void any warranty with Sony (again, since it's an older console, this is likely void anyway).
Hate to say it, but it sounds like you're in the market for a new PS4. I lost all trust in my first PS4, the one with the busted HDD, so just took it back and got another console. You might be able to get it working properly, but it'll only be temporary and you'll always be nervous about it failing again.
That's just me, though. If you're comfortable trying some of the fixes you've found, then the very best of luck to you! I hope you can get something sorted soon.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger I'll definitely take a look at the HDD issue and if it's sitting properly. However like I mentioned, it looks all but certain the system is done and a new one is needed. I'm not too worried about purchasing another one as this one has done it's time (Well over 4-5 years I believe). I will definitely look for a couple of fixes online which don't require much effort or money. If I really can't get it working, then it looks like I'll be searching for another PS4.
Another question: If I do decide to get another PS4, do you think I should shell out the additional cash for a PS4 Pro or should I just go for a Slim? I know the PS5 is supposedly coming out in approximately a year, so just not sure if it's worth the extra cash for a Pro. Would love to get your take on this. Also, what are your thoughts on buying a used system?
Lastly, do you think this is something that is an issue with the system or could it have been caused by some issues at my house (connection to the TV, location of the PS4, etc.)? I brought it to a friend's house to see if it stuttered and there didn't seem to be any issues. Then when I plugged it back in at my house it worked smoothly for a good 20 minutes then the freezing/stuttering started back up again. So I'm wondering if buying a new system will just lead to the same issue or if it will be ok. I would hate to shell out more money for a new system only to find out there's a problem with the setup at my house. Not sure this is something you can help me with, but any insight on this would be great!
@Otrebor13 The fact that your console kept booting into Safe Mode tells me that it isn't an issue with your television; that's something to do with the PS4. Television issues usually fit into the ballpark of "no picture" or "no sound" and would be problematic with other devices, like your cable or other consoles, so if your PS4 is crashing and freezing, then there's your problem. When technology becomes old, its glitches can be a bit unpredictable, so I reckon you just got (un)lucky when it worked fine at your friend's house for a bit.
Hmm. As for what to do about a replacement, I can't really answer that for you. Are you planning on getting a PS5 at launch? If so, I'd suggest getting a Slim. PS5 will likely play all PS4 games anyway, and at a much higher spec than the PS4 Pro, so it'll feel like a huge upgrade and give you more performance bang for your buck. If you're looking to settle down for a good couple of years, however, then the PS4 Pro does have a few advantages that make it a nice choice for a long-term system. Is your television 4K, for example? Because if it is, you'll see more of a benefit to a PS4 Pro. Long story short, it really does depend on your circumstances, how you game and what you play.
I've never purchased a used console before, and all my friends and family who have ended up regretting it, so I'm pretty "anti-used" when it comes to technology. That being said, if this is a temporary stop-gap measure until you buy a PS5 in twelve months, then it doesn't have to last that long, does it? Again, that's another thing only you'll know. I just hope some of this rambling helps point you towards a decision!
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
Yeah I brought it to my girlfriend's house yesterday and the PS4 is just stuck in a loop of Safe Mode and restarting, so it's definitely an issue with the system itself.
As for your questions, I'm still undecided about buying a PS5 at launch. I feel like buying new systems when they come out is generally not the greatest of ideas. That being said, I still haven't ruled it out. My TV isn't 4K, so that's not something that could sway my decision in getting a PS4 Pro. I don't mind getting a slim, but if I'll have it another 2 years I'm wondering if I should just shell out the extra cash and get a Pro. I hate that I think about these things so much and always get myself conflicted lol
I hate that I think about these things so much and always get myself conflicted lol
Oh, you're not alone in that, don't worry.
I rarely buy new technology at launch as well; took me just under a year to get my first PS4, simply because I wanted to wait until there were enough games, as well as making sure that there weren't any major glitches or issues (and then I went and got one with a busted HDD... go figure).
Without a 4K screen, I reckon a Slim would do you, even for another couple years. The PS4 Pro does slightly speed up some load times and texture refresh rates, but you'd have to watch a side-by-side comparison on YouTube to regularly notice. Other than deciding what HDD size you need (500Gb or 1Tb) there's very little else to figure out. You'll save yourself a bit of cash for that eventual PS5, too.
That's just my take on it, though! Whatever you get, I'm sure it'll be the right choice for you.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger Yeah I think with all things considered, I'm probably better off with a slim. I have an external hard drive with 2TB of storage specifically for my PS4, so I don't need too much storage on the system itself (unfortunately it's also wiped clean due to the initializing). However I don't play many games where I need saved data. I normally just play Apex Legends, so my account is saved on my PSN so I'm good there.
I'll definitely look for a PS4 Slim on the market as it's probably best. Thanks for everything man, I appreciate it!
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Topic: PS4 Freezing/Stutters & Opens in Safe Mode
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