Let’s play tech support!

I am either too stupid to search correctly or the answer to my question is not to be found on the internet. Likely the former. Lucky you, you get to help answer my question and put and end to my fumbling ineptitude (in this particular instance–it will never cease entirely).

I bought my PS3 some time ago used from someone on Craigslist, because I am both cheap and poor and don’t believe in paying full price for much of anything. I’ve been streaming Netflix on my PS3 as it is a quieter machine than my 360 and also my PS3 does not have that awful buzzing problem my 360 still has and also sometimes I fall asleep while watching movies and the less I run my 360 unnecessarily the less I run the risk of the red ring of death. This has been just fine and dandy up until yesterday, when it was announced that the netflix streaming disc would no longer be needed, and instead a streaming program must be installed. Here is where the problem starts.

In order to install the program, I must log in on the playstation network. The last guy’s email address was still there, so clearly this is something that has been done before on this console. I set up a new playstation network account on my computer, but when I attempted to login, the console informed me that I could not “log in with someone else’s account”. What? This is my account! So…how do I get my email address/actual account associated with my PS3 so I can access the playstation network? Their FAQ has thus far proved useless–apparently no one else on earth has bought their system used.

44 Comments Let’s play tech support!

  1. xaotica October 19, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    totally not useful at answering your question, but i saw this and thought of you:
    http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/crg/2010990561.html

    they say specifically that they’re looking for performers but mention wanting help with makeup too… perhaps they’d be interested in an intern? sounds like they’re relatively high profile and it sounds fun! (tho i think you’d make a cute performer too 😀

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 6:50 pm

      Thanks for the heads-up, I will definitely inquire! 🙂

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 6:50 pm

      Thanks for the heads-up, I will definitely inquire! 🙂

  2. xaotica October 19, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    totally not useful at answering your question, but i saw this and thought of you:
    http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/crg/2010990561.html

    they say specifically that they’re looking for performers but mention wanting help with makeup too… perhaps they’d be interested in an intern? sounds like they’re relatively high profile and it sounds fun! (tho i think you’d make a cute performer too 😀

  3. xaotica October 19, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    oh, you know who you might ask if no one here knows – http://www.vark.com. i love hitting aardvark for tech supporty stuff…

  4. xaotica October 19, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    oh, you know who you might ask if no one here knows – http://www.vark.com. i love hitting aardvark for tech supporty stuff…

  5. yimmy149 October 19, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    My PS3 is unplugged in a closet, but the first thing I would try is finding a “sign out” option in the user interface. Might also look for a reset-to-factory-defaults thing if you don’t have save-game data you care about.

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 7:13 pm

      Sadly, there is a lot of save-game data I care about but I will sacrifice it if I have no other choice.

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 7:13 pm

      Sadly, there is a lot of save-game data I care about but I will sacrifice it if I have no other choice.

  6. yimmy149 October 19, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    My PS3 is unplugged in a closet, but the first thing I would try is finding a “sign out” option in the user interface. Might also look for a reset-to-factory-defaults thing if you don’t have save-game data you care about.

  7. dslartoo October 19, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    You’ll need to sign out with the existing account and then link YOUR account with the PS3.

    These pages should help (I’m still not clear exactly which ID you’re having trouble with, but I suspect the first solution is the one you need).

    http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=255
    http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=349
    http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=1931

    Once you are signed in using your own account/ID, you can edit the default ID used when the PS3 is turned on (again, it’ll be under Playstation Network/Account Management). Once you get yours set as the default, you can delete the old one. Unfortunately, I believe you’ll lose your savegame data and trophies (they’re linked with the ID that’s in use when they are created).

    If you are still stuck after this, email me (philcarter AT gmail DOT com) with your phone # and I’ll try walking you through some stuff that hopefully will help.

    cheers,
    Phil

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:02 pm

      I will give these a shot, thanks! 🙂

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:02 pm

      I will give these a shot, thanks! 🙂

  8. dslartoo October 19, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    You’ll need to sign out with the existing account and then link YOUR account with the PS3.

    These pages should help (I’m still not clear exactly which ID you’re having trouble with, but I suspect the first solution is the one you need).

    http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=255
    http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=349
    http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=1931

    Once you are signed in using your own account/ID, you can edit the default ID used when the PS3 is turned on (again, it’ll be under Playstation Network/Account Management). Once you get yours set as the default, you can delete the old one. Unfortunately, I believe you’ll lose your savegame data and trophies (they’re linked with the ID that’s in use when they are created).

    If you are still stuck after this, email me (philcarter AT gmail DOT com) with your phone # and I’ll try walking you through some stuff that hopefully will help.

    cheers,
    Phil

  9. pretzelcoatl October 19, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    I dunno anything about this stuff, but I’m going to finally be starting Batman: Arkham Asylum soon!

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:02 pm

      You are going to enjoy it, I am sure!

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:02 pm

      You are going to enjoy it, I am sure!

  10. pretzelcoatl October 19, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    I dunno anything about this stuff, but I’m going to finally be starting Batman: Arkham Asylum soon!

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:03 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:03 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

  11. burtonlabs October 19, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I got that email too but I knew I’d be too stupid to figure it out so I’ll just stick with the disc until it fails me and I HAVE to grow a brain about it 😛

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:00 pm

      The disc will work for thirty more days, but since I chose to update the system software, it won’t even let me select the disc option anymore. >:(

      1. burtonlabs October 20, 2010 at 4:53 am

        Oh fuck me! I didnt read that part. Thanks for the heads up!

      2. burtonlabs October 20, 2010 at 4:53 am

        Oh fuck me! I didnt read that part. Thanks for the heads up!

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:00 pm

      The disc will work for thirty more days, but since I chose to update the system software, it won’t even let me select the disc option anymore. >:(

  12. burtonlabs October 19, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I got that email too but I knew I’d be too stupid to figure it out so I’ll just stick with the disc until it fails me and I HAVE to grow a brain about it 😛

  13. apestyle October 19, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    When I was testing games on the PS3 I remember somewhere in the menu, the ability to erase an old profile and start a new one.

    1. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:03 pm

      I really hope it doesn’t get rid of my gamesave data as well. :\

      1. apestyle October 19, 2010 at 8:13 pm

        Hm. That would suck. Can’t the PS3 utilize memory USB sticks as storage devices? Wonder if you could save your gamedata there.

        1. argonel October 19, 2010 at 9:18 pm

          I have noticed that most games tie the savegame to the ID that created it. In many cases you can still reload the savegame, but it will specifically disable trophies and achievements. If all you care about is finishing the damn game copy your savegames to a memory stick and hack away. If you look around you should even be able to download other peoples saved games to experience parts of a game that you don’t have the patience to get to.

          1. admin October 19, 2010 at 9:39 pm

            I’m ok with losing trophies, I just want to be able to finish the damn games. Hopefully just copying them over will work! 🙂

          2. admin October 19, 2010 at 9:39 pm

            I’m ok with losing trophies, I just want to be able to finish the damn games. Hopefully just copying them over will work! 🙂

        2. argonel October 19, 2010 at 9:18 pm

          I have noticed that most games tie the savegame to the ID that created it. In many cases you can still reload the savegame, but it will specifically disable trophies and achievements. If all you care about is finishing the damn game copy your savegames to a memory stick and hack away. If you look around you should even be able to download other peoples saved games to experience parts of a game that you don’t have the patience to get to.

      2. apestyle October 19, 2010 at 8:13 pm

        Hm. That would suck. Can’t the PS3 utilize memory USB sticks as storage devices? Wonder if you could save your gamedata there.

      3. xeross609 October 19, 2010 at 8:44 pm

        If you erase a profile all save game data goes out with that profile. There is the option to copy/paste save game data, but some games have a 2nd file saved that you cannot move. I remember Street Fighter 4 being one of those games. I’d go the route of making a new user and trying to assign the play-station ID with that login. Then just go back and use that login for when you need to sign in to PSN.

        1. admin October 19, 2010 at 9:41 pm

          I guess I’ll see if the games I have can be saved to a memory stick. They certainly don’t make this easy. :*(

        2. admin October 19, 2010 at 9:41 pm

          I guess I’ll see if the games I have can be saved to a memory stick. They certainly don’t make this easy. :*(

      4. xeross609 October 19, 2010 at 8:44 pm

        If you erase a profile all save game data goes out with that profile. There is the option to copy/paste save game data, but some games have a 2nd file saved that you cannot move. I remember Street Fighter 4 being one of those games. I’d go the route of making a new user and trying to assign the play-station ID with that login. Then just go back and use that login for when you need to sign in to PSN.

    2. admin October 19, 2010 at 8:03 pm

      I really hope it doesn’t get rid of my gamesave data as well. :\

  14. apestyle October 19, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    When I was testing games on the PS3 I remember somewhere in the menu, the ability to erase an old profile and start a new one.

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