SU-101312-8 PS5 Error Code: a crazy way to fix it (it works!)
PS5 Error Code SU-101312-8 (“Can’t detect the Blu-ray Disc drive”) is unfortunately common for PS5 Disc Edition owners, and can happen for multiple root causes, from an update issue, to actual physical damage on the console. Although there are many “guides” out there trying to help you fixing this issue, to my knowledge the solution proposed by hardware repairman TheCod3r is pretty novel.
What is PS5 Error Code SU-101312-8?
PS5 Error Code SU-101312-8 is described on PlayStation’s official site as follows:
Can’t detect the Blu-ray Disc drive.
This error is displayed when the PlayStation®5 console can’t recognize a Blu-ray Disc drive.
Error SU-101312-8 will prevent you from updating and using the console, as seen in the video below:
Why does this happen?
On PS5s with a Blu-Ray disc drive, The PS5 Motherboard is “married” to its disc drive through encryption. The motherboard will only function with that specific disc drive, and will not accept another one. It will also refuse to boot if the disc drive is missing or damaged. As part of this, the console performs multiple checks (hardware and software) to make sure that the disc drive hasn’t been altered in any way.
Although your typical Windows computer could boot fine even if you unplug your blu-ray drive from it, this is not the case for a PS5, which will consider it has been tampered with, and will refuse to boot if it can’t find its disc drive.
It is possible that the PS5 won’t find its Blu-ray drive for multiple reasons: software, or hardware. Software could be for example a corrupted database, or a firmware update that didn’t go well, etc… Hardware issues range from damaged ribbon cables (e.g. if the PS5 was opened for an unrelated fix), to an attempt to modify or replace the disc drive, or just a plainly broken disc drive.
It can be frustrating that your PS5 doesn’t work at all if only its Blu-Ray drive is broken. After all, you should still be able to use it as a digital edition! But that’s the way Sony’s security model has been working since the PS3 era.
How to fix PS5 Error Code SU-101312-8? (the “Conventional” ways)
Knowing the root causes above, what can you do if you see error code SU-101312-8 on your PS5?
The first thing you should try is follow Sony’s official help page, in particular if you know you haven’t physically damaged the console. Software fixes are by far the simplest and least expensive ones:
- Turn off and unplug your console.
- Turn off your router, wait at least 5 minutes, and then restart the router.
- Plug your console back in and restart it.
- Go to the control center and select Notifications. Highlight the update file, press the OPTIONS button, and select Delete.
- Go to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Updates and Settings.
Restart the update. If the update fails, please visit the guides below for troubleshooting steps. - Try resetting* your PS5 console.
Go to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.
*When you reset your console, all data saved on your console storage is erased. This cannot be undone. If possible, back up your data before resetting your console.
Hardware fix (mitigation) for SU-101312-8 by TheCod3r
Hardware repairman TheCod3r has been working with console repairs for year, and he knows his craft. In a recent video, he shows how he’s received a broken PS5 (missing/damaged Blu-Ray drive) that refuses to boot because of error SU-101312-8. His fix: “trick” the console into believing it’s a digital edition rather than a Blu-Ray edition. With this patch on the console’s flash, the console behaves like a Digital Edition console, doesn’t look for a blu ray drive, and accepts to boot.
It’s of course an extreme solution, but if your drive is physically damaged and no other solution works, this will get you a working PS5. The bad news: soldering skills are required, as you’ll need to remove the console’s Flash in order to overwrite it.
As a “bonus”, TheCod3r explains which additional parts you can remove from the MoBo in order to fit it in a Digital Edition case.
TheCod3rs video below has all the details, but in essence, here are the steps:
- unsolder the console’s serial flash chip
- solder the chip back onto a programming board
- Overwrite the flash with that of a Digital Edition console (how you acquire that is up to you…one way is to get it from a digital edition console that you own)
- Unsolder the chip from the programming board, and back onto the console
- Done!
An alternate way, which doesn’t involve the flashing, is to replace the Flash chip with that of a PS5 Digital Edition. If you have one lying around. (e.g. from a broken Digital PS5)
For all the details, check TheCod3r’s video below.
Yeah don’t do that. Just change the disc/digital flags. Putting the NVS from another console isn’t recommended.
Can your app do that?
Yes
Ignore BwE , he’s literally out to get all he can from people. His “software” will be behind a paywall as he’s clearly stated. The guy is just trying to make money from people’s misfortunes. My method works, and has worked perfectly fine throughout updates on my own son’s console! His post on GCRL says it all! Use the FREE option where you’re not being scammed out of your money…
Yeah okay I’m making money selling repair products for console repairers. I spend years developing and researching. But okay whatever makes you happy mate. You’d think my opinion was important given this is my job and it’s what I research but hey doesn’t matter.
So give some reasoning to counter their claims. Simple as that.
i pirate your software so i can fix mine console for free jajaja
Surprised $ony wont fix this …
wait a second, doesn’t this mean you get a console with non-working disc drive? rather dumb solution if you ask me!
This is correct. It’s a last resort solution when the disc drive is permanently damaged/corrupted. The alternative is to buy a new motherboard, which currently costs $300+
If you have a better solution, please do share with the class!
Thanks Wololo for covering this. I can confirm this works perfectly on my son’s PS5 and has done through the latest 7.01 update too. I’ve been working on a way to do this to remarry a new drive too, but unfortunately it doesn’t work as expected. It may be possible to get the BluRay function working to play a movie, but it looks like without any actual hacking you can’t play disc games without the original drive. I’ll be posting more update videos as I find more 🙂
Good luck with 0 software knowledge
Calm it down a bit, I don’t see any posts the TheCod3r having a go at you or your work.
Pretty sure we are all on the same team here..
0 software knowledge & free is better than knowledge & $$$ for me
BwE got into defensive mode xD
Calm down, are you angry because that will affect your profit margin? lol.
No one wants to pay for something, that isn’t even good to begin with, instead of using free methods that everyone can improve.
You just want to make money and hate when others create better alternatives
is it not possible to rewrite the chip with a soic clip instead of desoldering it?
That is so stupid that the PS5 won’t work if it can’t find the disc drive. The disc drive isn’t essential for the PS5 to run.
I remember in the Wii era where the Wii won’t boot if the WiFi chip is faulty. I can understand not working if the Bluetooth chip is faulty as you can’t use the Wii as you have to way to operate it.
why did i buy this piece of *** in the first place ?
*visible confusion*