Other than unplugging the PS3 from the rest of the equipment and throwing it in the pool, does anybody have any other suggestions on how to get the thing up and running?

I was updating the system via the internet, left the room for several minutes and whenever I came back the PS3 was turned off, now whenever I turn it on it's locked up on the update screen. I've turned it off and on a couple of times and unplugged it a couple of times but it still keeps locking up on the download page.

I've never really liked the effen thing anyway.

Disregard ... evidently whenever a problem like this arises with the PS3 the lockup issue needs to be addressed using the USB port and the controllers hardwired, I was using the optional remote.

Chalk one up for the little missus once again, if it truly weren't for her the swimming pool would be filled with all sorts of gadgets from around the house.

And here I was just about to solve this problem for you LOL.

I really do not like that shiny ugly thing, these damn Sony MegaChangers are crap also ... several discs they simply will not play and a lot of discs that plays perfectly well on any other player will skip, jump and freeze on the Sony.

I'm beginning to *really* dislike Sony.

Buy some new ones and quit complaining

I like the idea of the magachangers because they are a great place to store the CDs but they sure are finicky about what they play, too much so.

Maybe I'm just getting old and cantankerous?

Maybe???

Which mega changer? I have 3 x 995DVP (400 SACDs + DVD) and I am still impressed by the resilience of the mechanics. But if the other types are not as good, it's important to know as one day (quite future), a Blu-ray changer will come my way.

I bet the PS3 shows crazy amounts of dust with that shiny black surface even after cleaning it within 24 hrs. Thats one thing that bugs me about my Panasonic player.

Eric I've got the first generation CX355's. They are really sensitive to any flaws or scratchs, I've inspected discs after they skipped and couldn't find any imperfections, would put the disc in either the Oppo, Denon or car CD player and they would play fine but yet won't play in the MegaChangers until I cleaned them very good.

Thanks for the precision!

Doc, I absolutely hate the dust magnet finish and the overall look of the PS3 ... reminds me of something that should be in the kids room and not in an A/V equipment rack. But that's just me.

I wasn't a fan of the gloss finish, either. I prefer the matte black of the PS3 Slim. I haven't had anything to complain about regarding the performance of the PS3, though.

Yeah, I love my PS3 but hate the shiny black look.

Id much rather have the PS3 slim

Aw, the gloss black is my favorite. Matches my TV's surround, the face of my DVD player, and receiver, along with the base of my equipment stand.

Weekly dustings with Swiffer clothes keep everything shiny.

Oh, usually after a PS3 update, you have to power it on with the switch on the unit, not a wireless device.

Chris the issue wasn't trying to reboot after a system update, it kept locking up on the setup page for the update and it did turn off and back on using the on/off switch of the PS3 but would go right back to the setup page and lock up again, to get it unlocked from that particular page I had to use one of the hardwired controllers to cancel the setup ... I was initially trying to do that with the optional remote. For some reason (wireless router perhaps?) my PS3 would not accept the 3.21 system update so I just canceled the update altogether.

Did they get enough complaints to put back the "Other OS" option I heard they took away? I haven't run an update in a while and don't run Linux on it anyway, but that could be pretty annoying if it was something you wanted to be able to do.

The Other OS is gone in 3.21. I don't know if the pending law suits, the refunds in the UK, or the complaints will make Sony put it back at this point.

I kinda wish I had not upgraded to 3.21, but instead bought a Slim. I did use Linux on it from time to time. Keeping my old model for Linux and PS2 games would have been a good idea, and supplement it with a newer, quieter, cooler unit would be idea. Oh well.

Updates have been finicky lately for the PS3 and I'm reading about all sorts of horror stories in another tech news blog I sometimes frequent.

Luckily, my extreme procrastination for things not urgent still has my PS3 broken (BR laser dead) so I have not bothered to do any updates. I'll let them do that when I finally send it in for repairs.

I do miss watching BRs though. It's been broke since December.

Edit for a last minute thought:
So if you do decide to throw it in the pool, please send me your Blue Laser assembly first.

Maybe I'll just stay away from firmware updates for now. I'm mostly using it for just movies anyway.

3.21 adds nothing for movie compatibility (or game either). Although some firmware updates in the past (and sure will in the future too) will improve playback of some BDs. The only reason to update to 3.21 now, is if you use the Playstation Network, without the update you won't be able to connect.

And with the latest release, you will lose the ability to boot it into Linux, if your model had that feature and if you even care.