Game locks up when messaging (sometimes)

[muvybuf]

About 10% to 20% of the time when creating messages, GT5P or the PS3 (don't know which) just locks up. It's stuck on the message screen, usually when I try to open the SUBJECT field. The only time I create messages on the PS3 is when I'm running GT5P and congratulating people for beating me.

The only button that works is the PS button and the only options available are Stop the Game, Stop the System and Reassign controllers. Reassigning controllers does no good. If stop game or system is selected the screen goes black and the PS3 power button must be held down for 5 seconds to kill the system.

I've unsuccessfully searched for simalar problems so I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same issues and might suggest a solution, offer help or condolences.

Thanks

 

[Mad94d]

I get this problem too. It's very annoying. Sorry can't help you though.

 

[Jack]

I get this too but only when the game is loading something.

For example, if Ive just had a good race with someone and Im going to PM them, wait until the game is back to the menu screen and not loading it.

 

[TiZzla]

This has happened to me about twice.

The game doesent freeze, but it gets stuck between the game and the PS menu.

The only way to avoid this is only enter the PS menu when the game is not loading anything.

 

[Exorcet]

I've only had it happen while messaging before or during the start of a race.

 

[muvybuf]

I get this too but only when the game is loading something.

For example, if Ive just had a good race with someone and Im going to PM them, wait until the game is back to the menu screen and not loading it.

I thought that was also the case. I waited until it was ready to enter another race, but it happens when things are loading or if it's just sitting there. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does I lose everything. Very annoying if I've been trying (unsuccessfully so far) to tune and test a car without first saving it.

At least I'm not the only one. Maybe this will bring it to the attention of someone that can fix it.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[rofajole]

This happened to me a lot, but I found a way to get over it. While you playing GT and you want to send a message to somebody, when you press Create Message or whatever it is, just wait a couple of seconds before pressing on the subject section. I noticed that the PS3 has to load that person's little avatar next to their name when you message them, and that only takes 1-2 seconds.

 

[HUGHS1E]

This started to happen to me more frequently, it stuttered while typing and froze a few times

just keep an eye on it because this is how mine started before it died a week ago, As 60GB models are starting to reach 15months old a few are starting to die like mine and sony want 140pounds plus vat for a repair, so I advise you to extend the warrenty if freeze's are becoming more common etc,

for anybody interested mine just died during a game of COD;WAW it turned itself off during an online match, and now will not stay turned on for more than 2mins without shutting down or freezing

 

[Nicko]

This has only happened to me once or twice, but I have no idea how to prevent it.

 

[muvybuf]

This happened to me a lot, but I found a way to get over it. While you playing GT and you want to send a message to somebody, when you press Create Message or whatever it is, just wait a couple of seconds before pressing on the subject section. I noticed that the PS3 has to load that person's little avatar next to their name when you message them, and that only takes 1-2 seconds.

I will make sure the icon loads before trying to enter the subject field. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try this 20 to 30 times and if it doesn't lock up, I'll report back.

 

[vipersan]

happened here too ... several times. after a sucessfull race tried to PM and it froze. First time it really pi**ed me off, because it happened at the end of an extremely long session over a whole day and I lost about 1.5mio Cr ...

 

[GT4DRIVER1]

happens 2 me all the time 2. I just had to restart twice to msg a mate b4 a race!!

 

[ASH32]

I have never had this and I have even sent messages during the race and on the count down screen at the end of the race. Maybe it's because I always fill the subject line last and by the way you can send messages without a subject on the PSN, unlike on here. If the subject is what's causing the problem just leave it blank. It is probably however to do with you not letting your friends list load fully, it can take a while, especially those avatars. This could be a real problem if you have a lot of friends.

 

[markyboy92]

Happened to me probably over 100 times, i think its maybe if the ps3 gets over heated or if you've used your ps3 alot like i do[many hours a day], ive also tryed deleting messages and anything else i dont need and it does seems to help[using less memory].

That could be right^^ i have 95.

 

[Coxis]

This is actually a very widespread problem... If you browse the PS forums (The NA ones at least) there frequently are a lot of topics complaining about this. And yes, whenever this happens to me is because I pressed the PS button when GT5P is loading.

 

[clacksman]

And I put 'damn XMB freezes' in my comment box last night for awhile (I missed what would have been a fun race due to an XMB freeze), and a recently added friend suggested a cooling fan as a remedy. Apparently his problems related to XMB freezes reduced significantly since he bought/installed some product from Nyko.

 

[ASH32]

I find it hard to believe it is a cooling problem, unless of course the PS3 is dying from overheating, which it shouldn't but it is possible. Many people claim the yellow light crash is an overheating problem, but how do you explain mine, it did the yellow light as soon as I turned it on one morning, yet it was fine the night before. It seems to me that with any hardware these days, all problems are apparantly because of overheating, yet products are built with far more and better fans these days than what they used to have. Sure many do far more work, but come on accessing the XMB is hardly taxing. My view on this as I said earlier, let your friends list load before you start playing and let the avatars load before you send a message, I don't believe it's a PS3 problem, to me it's a PSN problem, it confuses itself if you try to have it doing too much at once. eg Everytime you go into the XMB it loads your friends list, if you try to send a message at the same time as it is loading ( don't forget about the avatar pics ) the network signals probably get jumbled, causing it to lock up.

 

[muvybuf]

As previously suggested, when messaging I've been waiting for the icons to load before selecting a user name. It hasn't locked up for the last 10 times or so.

The BAD news is that last week all Blu-ray media (games and movies) are no longer recognized by the PS3. I will be sending it back for repair as soon as I receive the box from Sony.

The good news is... They seem to have a great process for getting things repaired. Hope the process wasn't developed through lots of practice!

I haven't raced for serveral days now and I've got to say that I'm going crazy! I really miss racing.

================================

While the PS3 was at the doctor, There was an update. Now when you select someone from the friends list or list of people I've met, they are "checked" and (I guess, but haven't tried it yet) you can send to multiple people at once. Then you select OK and it goes to the message edit screen. Since the update I haven't locked up once! So I guess, so far, problem solved!

On a side note: The repair process that Sony has in place is great! Hope I don't have to use it again, and I'm not claiming that the PS3 is reliable or not, but I have to say the process from start to finish is quick, reasonably priced and kept me informed all the way.