My friends 60gb CECHAO1 got the YLOD again.  He told me he tried to fix it himself but I think he made it worser.  I couldn't fix it either.  I tried flux and turning the heat gun up higher but still the YLOD happens.  He probably burned the CPU and GPU completely.  I told him to buy a slim or take it to Sony but he don't want to and he have alot of saved pics, videos, game data, etc. on his HD.  So I told him the next best thing to do is buy a broken 60gb PS3 from ebay with the same motherboard and replace the old. 

Is it ok to put in another motherboard?  Will his HD have to be reformated for another motherboard? 

If someone else have already done this let me know how it turned out. 

He should use one of those small companies to get his PS3 fixed. They are cheaper than Sony and they dont format the HD. Type in the magic words on google and there will be plenty of them in results.

@ Ldn.se )

they can't work magic .. that PS3 is probably gone for good

@ OP )

a new mainboard is the same as a new PS3, so yes, it would reformat his HDD

You're right Lafiel.

My old 60gig Ps3 will reach 3yrs in a few months. I hope that when it breaks I'll be able to transfer all data to the Slim. I wouldnt try to fix it by myself tho. Too risky. 

i wish you good luck for your ps3:):)

anyway to the poster i agree a new motherboard is just like having a different ps3, it's about time sony made some software which enables you to backup your HDD without requiring a PS3, as this would help out a lot of people, unfortunately right now you need a working ps3...