I've been experiencing multiple problems such a freezing and a blank screen when opening my PS3. I've found out that my hard drive has corrupted and with the data I care about backed up it should be a easy to fix the problem, but a scary awakening lied ahead. My PS3 freezes during the full recovery stage, I can bypass the recovery mode menu and quick format it. Doing that doesn't fix anything but everytime  it's on the full recovery it freezes (which that process taking 3 1/2 hours).

What should I do?

Would buying a new hard drive fix the problem?

well when my old computer would do that i just bought a new hard drive and it worked but i cant be sure with a ps3

I checked around and it looks like it could be my HDMI causing me problems.

Did you try entering safe mode and rebuilding the data base?

Yup, freezing still happens after entering the XMB, this is after quick formatting it. Full format is also a no go.

So it looks like I may have to pick up a new HDD.

Did this started after a firmware update? I had the same problems and it was caused by a broken update (which was caused by my router).

Maybe I vividly remember that this did happen after updating my PS3.

Try downloading the latest firmware directly from the official Playstation page using the internet from your work or a friend. I just couldn't believe it worked after I did that, downloaded it from my work into my pen-drive and installed when I got home... the problem was gone.

I will definately try that, thanks!

I would say get a new HDD.