Dealing With PS3 Blu-Ray Problems

Your PlayStation 3 is much more than a gaming console. It is also a high definition Blu-Ray movie player. Because it includes the Blu-Ray features PS3 Blu-Ray problems can be expected-problems associated with the Blu-Ray function-problems that are not typical of other gaming systems- problems that can affect both hardware and software.

Display Problems

One common PS3 Blu-Ray problem that arises when trying to play a Blu-Ray disc is an image display that is of considerably lower resolution than what is normally experienced on your television set, and may include a flickering image are contrasts that are too sharp. This problem can be resolved by opening the PlayStation 3's BD/DVD menu. This menu is located at the far left side of the media bar. It controls how your movies are displayed. Find the "BD/DVD Video Output Format (HDMI)' option, and set it to "Automatic." This will enable the PS3 to detect whether you are playing a movie or a game, and will automatically make adjustments based upon which media is being played. It is also prudent to go to the Display menu and ensure that the "Video Output Settings" are set to those compatible with your television set. Once you've determined which settings give you the best result, keep those settings as your main output source.

Disc Reading Errors

If your PS3 systems plays all of your games and properly displays their high resolution content, but cannot read any Blu-Ray discs that you attempt to play, it's probably going to be necessary to take your console to a qualified service center for repairs. This PS3 Blu-Ray problem is usually a symptom of a damaged Blu-Ray lens or a damaged disc drive.

Load Times Too Long

Not all PS3 owners are aware that their console may access the Internet to download content for the movie that you are about to play. The only way that you'll become aware of the Internet accessing is the extended length of time spent in loading the movie, as indicated by the long loading screen display time. If you should be confronted with a long loading time, don't fret. Check the Blu Ray disc storage case to see if the movie has online content. If this is the case, after the initial loading time, the movie will start up immediately for viewing in the future.

Updating PS3 Firmware

Another reason for many PS3 Blu-Ray problems experienced when playing Blu-Ray movies is that they do not routinely upgrade their system's firmware. During one of the PlayStation 3 system's periodic upgrades, version 1.5, a software bug made it impossible for some PS3 systems to play Blu-Ray movies. The bug was fixed in later releases, and patches were offered to fix the existing systems. Unfortunately, those gamers who are not on a constant Internet connection would not automatically get the upgrades and would not see the problem fixed. PlayStation 3 went to version 3.0 during September of 2009. If you have not yet upgraded to the latest version, you should upgrade through your console or go the official PlayStation website to download the new firmware.

The Dirty Lens

After a long period of frequent use, another PS3 Blu-Ray problem can be expected to occur on your PlayStation 3 lens that reads the Blu-Ray discs. It will undoubtedly become dirty. When the accumulated dirt reaches a critical state, discs may skip or not be read by the console. If you experience this with your system while playing either movies or games, it would be wise to have your PS3 console cleaned. Cleaning sounds simple and straightforward, but don't fool yourself. Improper handling during the cleaning process can damage the PS3. Check with PlayStation 3 support before trying to resolve your PS3 Blu-Ray problems by cleaning the console yourself.