(solved. Check description.) Ps4 boot issues: check storage status, logo, black screen

September 2020 update: Yeah I think I can say for sure by now that it was a hard drive issue. Ever since I replaced it there haven't been any issues, so if you're having similar troubles and nothing else is working, try changing the hard drive I guess. And please stop asking me if x will work bc i'm not tech support I'm just some fucker who needed to fix their playstation I cannot help you outside of what I did that I know works, if you have serious questions please go to sony with them

June 2020 update: As far as I can tell, replacing the hard drive worked. It hasn't given me any trouble since then. This is the one I got, I'd assume anything similar would do the trick.

Weirdly enough this is getting traction and comments?? So here's some more info:
Tl;Dr, my PS4 was being fuckey so I replaced the hard drive and it seems fine now

I did eventually get it up and running. I think updating and rebuilding database was what worked, at least that time. I backed up my save data (unfortunately learned that you have to do that for each account separately so i accidentally wiped my mom's and my sibling's data, don't do that).

THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE OVERALL ISSUE. After this initial problem it kept having issues, taking a long time to boot up, not being able to boot without turning it all the way off first, crashing, and like 3 times when I tried to turn it on, i just had to reinstall the system software from a USB with no other option. I finally replaced the hard drive last week, and I havent had any problems since. Without handing it over to Sony and confirming that that was the only issue, I won't know (and I'm still gonna backup my data after every session), but for now I don't have to fight with my ps4 constantly.

[Rvn_Brn]

I’m waiting for 1 hour I rebuilt data base and everything initialized it many times and it’s still black what the hell Xbox is better

[mu]

It is most likely the hard drive, I bought a 1Tb hard drive from Best Buy and replaced it, PS4 runs good as new!! Their are videos on YouTube telling you how too replace the hard drive. I hope you who is reading this gets their PS4 fixed good. Also you will need a usb drive too download the reinstallation system software. MARRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE 🖤🖤

[mussaratabbasdinani]

when i tried the safe mode fix it didnt work
but then when i read your desc i rembered the same thing happened to my my freind so thank you so much for reminding me

[BRGKasumiMain]

Maybe you're facing that issue. I don't think it's a HDD problem, maybe it's a faulty Blu-ray drive or perhaps dirty inside of the console.

[doublejjunior]

I’m having the exact same problem, I’d initialize my ps4 and when restarted it’ll show the logo and just black out, restart, and lead me back to the safe mode screen. I have tried downloading the system software update on the PlayStation website from my usb drive and when I tried to update it, it said it could not find my file and I followed every other video specifically on what to name the folders. So initializing or system software updating won’t work, is buying a hard drive my only solution left?

[TOPKaz.]

I’ve been having the same problem all day

[Jerwin-mjte]

Ok so this worked for me im having the same problem as you. You have to go to safe mode and initialize your ps and i know its not gonna work but go to safe mode again and press update system sofware if that dont work initialise it again and if not update the system sofware again and again. It takes patience

[genesisgomez]

I had this problem and all i did was put it to safe mode and update the Software ! If that doesnt work you will need a new hard drive.

[Montrell_-jhor]

Okay so I had a question so I had the same problem and I put my PS4 in the shop and it still having the same problem still checking for system storage status so do I need to replace my hard drive and I did everything on the PlayStation website he told me to download the update file is still didn't work because when I done it I had was playing on my system for like 10 hours then it came back the next day and still said checking for the system store status

[imdrugdealing]

Bro i cant just format the same hard drive on my pc deleting the corrupted data? Im going through the same thing

[gym]

Hey, I was wondering if the replaced hard drive you bought had any problems to this day? Or is it working perfectly fine?

[cr-]

mine wouldn’t load into cod matches and times me out, then now I only get put in safe mode and it never gets out of the checking system storage screen..

[cvale]

This is dumb af, it will show the ps4 logo and turn into a black screen, then putting me into the 'Cannot Start PS4' after I unplug and replug. I tried to reinstall system update but I can't as in safe mode all options are locked (unaccesible) as only option 7 (reinstall system software update) is available, and I can't do that as I don't have a usb storage device, so when I restart my ps4 it brings me back to the logo showing and then a black screen, then bringing me to the 'cannot start ps4 screen' then repeating the same thing. Please god help.

[SpaceTribe-.-]

Last option 🌈🌈👻👻

Replacing the HDD was the only solution! And it worked for me.

[archer]

Wait so you bought a new hard drive and put it in and it worked

[jojo-hypp]

Keep updating software
It worked for me

[happyk]

You gotta let it cool off on your hard drive and ps4. But be careful it’s gonna run over on your heat soo fast like on mine. I don’t wanna buy a new hard drive sata on my ps4! I have to let it cool off on my PlayStation 4! But I’m switching my pc soon

[gamingx]

But I don’t wanna buy a new hard drive

[thedongrown]

I've always chose XBOX my whole life, finally buy a playstation pro, after a little over year I have had to buy 6 controllers, actually just bought one and now my screen is just black. WOW. nvr again

[mohamedb]

I have bought an external hard drive and formated it to exFat. But it still wont work. Does it need to be in my ps4 and replace my old?