found a Playstation 3 (model CECHH04) by the dumpster. cleaned it up and inspected - it’s missing the BD and the HD and its cage; I jammed a normal 2.5" HDD in there and stuck some cardboard around. the light turned green, the HD spins up, the fans are spinning and the TV shows it’s alive - no OS though.
I’ve downloaded Sony’s official firmware and also some evilnat CFW jailbreak; tried both but the prompt on the TV is to attach a controller to the USB and press the PS button, which I haven’t got. can I do something without it? tried a noname PC gamepad and keyboard but no go…
I got ahold of another CECHH04 that doesn’t work and transferred the BD over annnd… it worked! the flash completed and the latest OFW 4.91 is installed. now I’m off to install the CFW with a noBD patch. yay me!