Sony inserted a safe mode into PS3s, allowing determined gamers to take a crack at fixing their broken consoles before making phone calls of shame to the customer service department to schedule repairs.

Sony offers a step-by-step rundown on how to access and use the little-known mode, beginning with a red-letter disclaimer:

We do not recommend using the options in Safe Mode unless you are experiencing issues with the PlayStation 3. Some of these options could result in loss of data.

Sony recommends backing up your data before beginning. Once in safe mode, you can restore default settings and the file system, rebuild the database or restore the entire system.

What video game console problems have you managed to fix yourself?

What is Safe Mode and how do I enable it on my PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system? [PlayStation]

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