UHD drives

[st4evr]

is it safe to buy a UHD friendly listed drive new like here

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00DRHOL44

or did the makers update them so you cant get new Friendly drives anymore?

after all the opening post was written in 2017.

No. You are late to the game to be able to simply get one from Amazon ready to go. Drive manufacturers/vendors caught on months ago.

Reading some of the posts right above yours should have alluded to this fact. Jumping to the last page to post and not doing any reading will not help you and just get you into trouble.

Start by reading this:

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=18873

As it contains very helpful information in the first few posts including a “how-to” video created by a member of this forum.

The forum search function also works:

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/search.ph ... =BW-16D1HT

So inform yourself as much as possible to make an educated decision.

[jonghotti]

No. You are late to the game to be able to simply get one from Amazon ready to go. Drive manufacturers/vendors caught on months ago.

Like 18 or so, on the day after that initial "key drop" in December 2017 right?

[pegasus21]

I've just received this drive but I'm not sure if it can be flashed to 1.00 or 1.03 for UHD support

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: hp HLDS
Product: BDRE BU40N
Revision: BW41
Serial number: 642CNxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2116-08-16 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 31

The sticker label states that it's a UHD Blu-Ray / DVD Writer that was manufactured in Oct 2016.

Also, to flash a drive, I'll need a real SATA connection not via a USB adapter?

[MartyMcNuts]

I've just received this drive but I'm not sure if it can be flashed to 1.00 or 1.03 for UHD support

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: hp HLDS
Product: BDRE BU40N
Revision: BW41
Serial number: 642CNxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2116-08-16 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 31

The sticker label states that it's a UHD Blu-Ray / DVD Writer that was manufactured in Oct 2016.

Also, to flash a drive, I'll need a real SATA connection not via a USB adapter?

I take it, you have already tried a UHD disc with that firmware?

I'm pretty sure I have read somewhere that firmware BW50 works. Maybe that was for a BU50N drive. I can't remember.

Anyway, you can use a SATA / USB adapter (you will also need a SATA / slimline ATA adapter) to flash the drive, but you might be better off using SATA and the old Dosflash method to extract that firmware first.

What I would do:

1. Use SATA connection and old Dosflash method to extract firmware BW41 from your drive.
2. Reboot.
3. Use the modified or patched windows flasher to flash the drive using a SATA / USB adapter to 1.00 and see if it works.

Then, if the drive doesn't work with 1.00, then you can use the old Dosflash method to restore your BW41 firmware.

[pegasus21]

I take it, you have already tried a UHD disc with that firmware?

I'm pretty sure I have read somewhere that firmware BW50 works. Maybe that was for a BU50N drive. I can't remember.

Anyway, you can use a SATA / USB adapter (you will also need a SATA / slimline ATA adapter) to flash the drive, but you might be better off using SATA and the old Dosflash method to extract that firmware first.

What I would do:

1. Use SATA connection and old Dosflash method to extract firmware BW41 from your drive.
2. Reboot.
3. Use the modified or patched windows flasher to flash the drive using a SATA / USB adapter to 1.00 and see if it works.

Then, if the drive doesn't work with 1.00, then you can use the old Dosflash method to restore your BW41 firmware.

I haven't got any UHD discs to test yet but I'll give what you suggested a go first. Thanks for the suggestion.

[MartyMcNuts]

I take it, you have already tried a UHD disc with that firmware?

I'm pretty sure I have read somewhere that firmware BW50 works. Maybe that was for a BU50N drive. I can't remember.

Anyway, you can use a SATA / USB adapter (you will also need a SATA / slimline ATA adapter) to flash the drive, but you might be better off using SATA and the old Dosflash method to extract that firmware first.

What I would do:

1. Use SATA connection and old Dosflash method to extract firmware BW41 from your drive.
2. Reboot.
3. Use the modified or patched windows flasher to flash the drive using a SATA / USB adapter to 1.00 and see if it works.

Then, if the drive doesn't work with 1.00, then you can use the old Dosflash method to restore your BW41 firmware.

I haven't got any UHD discs to test yet but I'll give what you suggested a go first. Thanks for the suggestion.

No worries. Yeah, I'd try a UHD disc first, just in case BW41 is actually compatible. You won't know until you try!

[jonghotti]

Use the DE_LG_BU40N_100.bin that's packaged with the updated flashers these guys have been so awesome to share with us. MakeMKV now prints a log message that implies it's looking for a libre drive when it encounters a drive with the old school firmware on it.So it's DE or MK firmware foe me!

[pegasus21]

Use the DE_LG_BU40N_100.bin that's packaged with the updated flashers these guys have been so awesome to share with us. MakeMKV now prints a log message that implies it's looking for a libre drive when it encounters a drive with the old school firmware on it.So it's DE or MK firmware foe me!

Thank you for confirming that it should work. Now I just need to get a set up that can flash the firmware since the usb adapter doesn't seem to be recognized by the flasher. Probably check if one of my laptops can get it flashed.

[maxblack]

Use the DE_LG_BU40N_100.bin that's packaged with the updated flashers these guys have been so awesome to share with us. MakeMKV now prints a log message that implies it's looking for a libre drive when it encounters a drive with the old school firmware on it.So it's DE or MK firmware foe me!

Which fw do you use to flash the BU40N that you sell? And this ASUS flash tool I presume?

Thanks.

[mostlife]

I want to order QXL uhd friendly drive.
I live in Europe.
Can someone help me with that?
I can send money using paypal,
but private message has been disabled.

I have seen on Ebay, that some folks sell uhd friendly drives. If you do,
be sure to checkout firmware version and ratings...

[st4evr]

I want to order QXL uhd friendly drive.
I live in Europe.
Can someone help me with that?
I can send money using paypal,
but private message has been disabled.

I have seen on Ebay, that some folks sell uhd friendly drives. If you do,
be sure to checkout firmware version and ratings...

There's an entire subforum dedicated to this:

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=20

Gotta do your part and read. Several sellers list detailed contact information in their respective posts.

[jonghotti]

Use the DE_LG_BU40N_100.bin that's packaged with the updated flashers these guys have been so awesome to share with us. MakeMKV now prints a log message that implies it's looking for a libre drive when it encounters a drive with the old school firmware on it.So it's DE or MK firmware foe me!

Which fw do you use to flash the BU40N that you sell? And this ASUS flash tool I presume?

Thanks.

I was using the original 1.00 but have switched to the 1.00 DE. As the BU40N is an LG drive I'd stick to the LG flasher.

[MartyMcNuts]

Use the DE_LG_BU40N_100.bin that's packaged with the updated flashers these guys have been so awesome to share with us. MakeMKV now prints a log message that implies it's looking for a libre drive when it encounters a drive with the old school firmware on it.So it's DE or MK firmware foe me!

Which fw do you use to flash the BU40N that you sell? And this ASUS flash tool I presume?

Thanks.

I was using the original 1.00 but have switched to the 1.00 DE. As the BU40N is an LG drive I'd stick to the LG flasher.

Alex, you do know that either flasher can flash both LG and ASUS drives (plus other branded clones), don't you?

[jonghotti]

Alex, you do know that either flasher can flash both LG and ASUS drives (plus other branded clones), don't you?

I do yes, but I still like to "brand match" whenever possible.
Sure wish we had a flasher for the BP50NB40....

[Falloutboy]

I have an LG Drive which reports the following under MakeMKV.

Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE-BH14NS40
Revision: 1.00
Serial Number <Redacted
Firmware date: 2112-06-16 18:23
Bus Encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 64.

Now I have seen my model mentioned and just wanted to make sure I understood things correctly - the revision is the Firmware revision? and if this is the case from what I have seen I should not need to do anything in order to read a UHD disk on this - is that correct or have I gotten something confused despite all my reading?