How to Fix PS4 Cannot Access System Storage [Full Guide]

Oops! PS4 cannot access system storage!

If you encounter error code CE-34335-8, accompanied by a message indicating that your PS4 cannot access system storage, this indicates a potential issue with your PS4's internal hard drive. According to reports, some users encountered the CE-34335-8 error when removing the hard drive while playing games on PS4, causing the system to fail to detect the hard drive.

If you find that you are unable to boot up your PS4 and access system storage due to the CE-34335-8 error code, this article is intended to provide help and guidance in resolving the issue.

Causes for PS4 cannot access system storage

The CE-34335-8 error code indicates that your PS4 cannot detect the hard drive and requires a thorough check to determine the exact cause.

Key considerations for inspection include:

☞ Verify that the hard drive is connected.

☞ Check whether the hard drive connection is loose.

☞ Research the integrity of the PS4 hardware processor.

☞ Evaluate the hard drive for bad sectors.

☞ Check the condition of the hard drive power connector.

By carefully examining these potential issues, you can pinpoint and resolve the root cause of the CE-34335-8 error on your PS4.

How to fix cannot access system storage PS4?

Now, let’s learn more about the steps you can take to effectively resolve this issue.

Fix 1. Reinsert the hard drive

Start with simple troubleshooting steps, as issues like PS4 Pro not being able to access system storage can sometimes be caused by technical factors like dust accumulation and improper hard drive installation.

To resolve this issue, disconnect all connections from your PS4, remove the hard drive cover, and carefully remove the hard drive. Use a dry cloth to thoroughly clean the hard drive and its ports before reinserting it firmly. Start the device and observe if this process resolves the issue.

Fix 2. Troubleshoot PS4 in Safe Mode

Encountering an error code accompanied by a "Cannot access system storage PS4" message indicates a potential issue with the internal hard drive on your PS4 system. To resolve this issue or consider upgrading your PS4 hard drive, follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect your PS4 controller to your console using a USB cable.

Step 2. Press and hold the power button on your PS4 console until you hear the second beep.

Step 3. Use your controller to select "7. Initialize PS4 (Reinstall system software)".

Fix 3. Run CHKDSK command

Use CHKDSK as an important tool when troubleshooting drive issues such as PS4 experiencing issues accessing system storage (error code CE-33570-8). Follow the steps below to outline this method, which includes removing the PS4 hard drive and connecting it to your computer:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt by searching for Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and select "Run as administrator".

Step 2. Enter the following command chkdsk *: /r /f, where * represents the drive letter.

Step 3. Allow CHKDSK to scan and resolve any issues with the hard drive.

Step 4. Plug the PS4 hard drive back into the PS4.

Fix 4. Replace the internal hard drive

Following the recommendation, initiate the troubleshooting process by briefly pressing the power button to turn off the PS4 device and then attempt to turn it back on to check for persistent errors. While some individuals may report unsuccessful attempts in Safe Mode, acknowledging the possibility that an issue lies with the PS4 hard drive is essential.

In such a case, you can replace old PS4 hard drive with a new and large one to get better performance and more storage space. Since you have massive amounts of data stored on original PS4 drive, we highly recommend you clone all data from one drive to another with disk cloning software like AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.

This tool is a powerful and safe hard drive cloning program. Its clean interface and simple guidance can help you replace the hard drive without losing data. Here is the stepwise guide:

Part 1: Preparations before cloning

Before proceeding with the fix for the cannot access system storage PS4 issue, ensure you have the following:

Part 2: Remove the old PS4 hard drive

Once you've selected the drive you want to upgrade, the next step is to replace your existing PS4 drive. The process may vary depending on your PS4 model. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to remove an internal hard drive:

Step 1. Power off your PS4: Navigate to Power > Power Options > Power Off PS4 to ensure a complete shutdown. Disconnect all PS4 cables.

Step 2. Accessing the hard drive: Different PS4 models have different lid positions:

◆ Original PS4: Lay your PS4 flat and move the smooth panel on top of the device to the left.

◆ PS4 Slim: Turn the unit, apply pressure to the left side of the port, and remove.

◆ PS4 Pro: Turn the system upside down on a flat surface, locate the notch on the side, and use the small tab near the Ethernet port to pop out the panel.

Step 3. Removing the hard drive: With the cover removed, the hard drive is not fully visible. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew and release the frame holding the drive in place.

Part 3: Clone your PS4 drive to a new one

Step 1. Connect the old PS4 hard drive and the larger HDD or SSD with your computer, make sure these two can be recognized by Windows. And download the AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard on your PC.

Step 2. Run the software, go to "Clone" and "Clone Disk".

Step 3. Select a method to copy, "Clone Disk Quickly" or "Sector-by-Sector Clone", then press "Next".

Step 4. Choose the original PS4 drive as the source disk to copy, hit "Next".

Step 5. Select the larger HDD or SSD as the destination disk to store all the data from PS4 hard drive, click "Next".

Step 6. Edit the partition size on the larger HDD or SSD drive, then click "Next" to go on.

Step 7. Click "Apply" and "Proceed" to change PS4 hard drive to larger hard drive(SSD/HDD) by cloning.

Part 3: Install the new drive on PS4

Once the cloning process is complete, proceed to install the new hard drive into the PS4 console, replacing the old hard drive. Follow these steps to reverse the hard drive removal process essentially:

Step 1. Insert the new hard drive into the hard drive cage.

Step 2. Securing the drive: Secure the drive securely to the sides using four screws, then place the tray back on the PS4.

Step 3. Lock the tray box: Make sure the tray box is properly secured and replace the plastic drive cover.

Once the drive has been successfully plugged back into the PlayStation 4, reconnect the power cable. Power on the console and resume normal use.

How to recover your lost data from PS4 hard drive(Extra tip)

Many users may handle their drives incorrectly, repeatedly installing, connecting or removing them without proper consideration. Additionally, using a single hard drive across multiple devices can result in potential data loss.

If files from PS4 hard drive are accidentally deleted, the question arises: Can data be recovered from PS4 hard drive?

For this situation, the best solution is to use reliable data recovery software, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

Let’s see how to recover lost data from PS4 hard drive using AOMEI software:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. In the Main Tab, please click "Recover"> "Recover Data".

Step 2. The Recover Windows Data tool will pop up. Please select the partition location to start data recovery and click "Start Scan".

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bin, and other missing files will be displayed. Please select data you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Please select a folder path on your PC to save the recovered data.

Step 5. The recovery progress will start and data will be saved to the path you select once the recovery process is successful.

Conclusion

Explore this comprehensive guide to fix PS4 cannot access system storage. With the help of AOMEI Partition Assistant, you can replace your PS4 hard drive without reinstalling games or downloading software. Besides, it’s a good helper to get your lost data back in case you suffer data loss due to improper operation Hope you can solve this issue on this page.