Sure so when you asked if you could format the answer is yes you can.
All you need to do is simply go to the settings and choose format (if you go for the quick format I believe the CFW will remain and it will only remove the profiles and data where as if you choose a full system restore then you will need a copy of the CFW that you were using or a higher one to install once the format is completed)
To do this you simply need a USB with roughly 500mb of space and have it self up like so.
X:/PS3/UPDATE/PS3UPDAT.PUP
Remember that the X:/ corresponds to your USB drive and PS3UPDAT.PUP is the CFW and not any official firmware.
You are on Rebug 4.80.1 so that means that you are on the highest Rebug CFW and one that does not need to be spoofed to go online so you can pretty much go straight ahead and sign in so long as you have a CID (console ID) that works or the one that is on the console is not banned.
As of the moment there is no need for you to spoof until a new OFW comes out so until then you are good.
Ok so I assume that you are not going to be using a external drive for storing your games so FTP is going to be the only other way (besides burning copies of games) to store them on the PS3 so to FTP a few things.
First of all you need a FTP client and the latest MultiMan although I think that you will not need it.
- Plug your Ethernet cable into the BOX or router in the port RJ45 (regardless of your model).
- Install Multiman (link above) if you don’t have it installed or update from your PS3 in Multiman => Update.
- Go to SETTINGS and then NETWORK SETTINGS.
- Then in Internet connection, activate the internet connection.
- Go to the Games in XMB, and then launch Multiman.
- Go to SETTINGS.
- Press the triangle button.
- A menu will appear on your right, click on Advanced Settings.
- Look at the bottom, and take note of your IP address : “PS3 IP”
- Return in Multiman, then Settings and then FTP service.
- Select at the bottom “Avtivate (No Timeout)”.
- Go to your PC and open Filezilla. Enter the IP address of your PS3 in Filezilla top left, in “host” then click on “Quick Connect” on the right. You can access now the hard drive of your PS3.
If that does not work, check in
Filezilla / Edit / Settings / Connection / FTP / Transfer Mode, and check the box “Activate”.
In Filezilla, you can see :
- On the left : your PC (Local site).
- On the right : your ps3 (Remote Site).
- You want to go into the dev_hdd0 folder by double clicking on it and right clicking in the foldr and creating a folder called "GAMES" without the quotations.
- Drag / drop from the left to the right folder on your Backup, eg BLESXXXXX or BLUSXXXXX DRAG ——> INSERT (this will work not only for games but also for any kind of file).
- The transfer is being done, wait …
- You can disconnect your PS3 now
Should you find the text a little to annoying here is a YouTube video showing you how to do it.