Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

[MartyMcNuts]

Dear experts,
I have bought a new BU40N drive and wasn't able to flash it with the command line or de SDFtool Flasher 1.3.5
The command line throughs an error:
.\makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d G: rawflash enc -i c:\temp\makemkv\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin
No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin
Internal error 0x8d000000

The SFDtool flasher simply does nothing:
It doesn't dump the current firmware and refuses to flash the 1.03 firmware. It recognizes drive still.

Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.04
Serial number: MOENC6I3954
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 11:42
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.04
DVD all regions: Possible (with patched firmware)
BD raw data read: Possible (with patched firmware)
BD raw metadata read: Possible (with patched firmware)
Unrestricted read speed: Possible (with patched firmware)

What is my fault here?

Thanks for any feedback and hints!

How is the drive connected to your PC?

[kiranmehta]

Most likely the chipset of that enclosure doesn't support flashing. You will need to attach it to SATA or buy this USB-> SATA adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/BENFEI-Drive-Ada ... r=8-3&th=1

Just got new USB 3.0 adapter and was able to flash my asus bw-16d1ht properly and everything worked out fine.

Thank you to all in the forum who guided me @CooperVid, @MartyMcNuts and @Billycar11.

Additionally can anyone confirm if newegg.com has the Pioneer BDR-XD08UMB-S with 1.01 firmware in the US? My friend is coming next month to india so figured to bank on this (or LG BP60NB10) as well as a backup external drive

[bruzzel]

How is the drive connected to your PC?

It is in an external housing connected with a USB 3 cable

[Coopervid]

How is the drive connected to your PC?

It is in an external housing connected with a USB 3 cable

Attach it directly to SATA. Not all enclosures support flashing. If you only have a laptop then buy the adapter I recommended further up.

[sm0r3s]

To the GODs of MakeMKV, to my understanding, I'm pretty sure I cannot flash my LG WH16NS40 SVC Code:NS40 manufactured Feb 2015, using the OWC Mercury Pro. Am I correct from reading everything before doing so?

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS40
Revision: 1.02
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2114-05-07 10:26
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 78

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[Woodstock]

The question is really, why would you need to flash it?

UHD didn't start shipping until almost two years after this drive was built, so it doesn't add anything to your capabilities.

[G.P.L.]

Hello everybody,

The Abyss UHD disc toasted my ASUS BW-16D1HT drive that I've had working for over 3 years. My system recognizes the drive (internally and externally), but no type of disc can be read. I'm thinking that something happened with the optics inside the drive.

So, I bought another ASUS BW-16D1HT internal drive. It comes with firmware 3.11.

-----------------------------------------------
Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1HT
Revision: 3.11
Serial number: KL9N7ED3329
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:59
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 81

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
-----------------------------------------------

I tried to downgrade the firmware to DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin and then 3.01 with ASUS_ODD_FW_Changer_(Modified).exe, but each time I got the error:

Updating Failure #5.

Then I tried using SDFtool Flasher.exe (as well as the older version) with the same .bin file for 3.02, but it gave me the error:

Command produced error code #0xff056103

I'm using Windows 7 64-bit, and the drive is connected internally. The .exe files were Run As Administrator.

I'd be very grateful for any advice that is available.

Thanks.

Gary

[dcoke22]

The very first post in this thread is maintained and has a section titled "Recommended Firmware to flash for MakeMKV:"

And in there is says: Asus BW-16D1HT on any Firmware directly to > Asus BW-16D1HT 3.10MK

I think the 3.11 firmware is encrypted, so you've got to go to 3.10MK first. You can go to 3.02 or whatever after going to 3.10MK. The SDFtool is the recommended tool to use.

BTW, if buying a new drive today, buying a Pioneer drive with an older, supported firmware from a seller in your region is the way to go.

[G.P.L.]

Thanks for the reply.

I did see that post, but I couldn't find the 3.10 .bin file.

Any idea where it is?

It didn't come with the .zip file that contained the SDFtool Flasher.exe and 3.02 .bin files.

[dcoke22]

Thanks for the reply.

I did see that post, but I couldn't find the 3.10 .bin file.

Any idea where it is?

It didn't come with the .zip file that contained the SDFtool Flasher.exe and 3.02 .bin files.

It is in the first post. There's a section titled "Unlocked Flashers, Downgrade Enabled Firmware and MK Firmware:"

The first link in there is called "The all you need firmware pack".

[Exc3l]

Hello All!

I see in the beginning of the post it mentions that the Pioneer drives do not work unless they come with an older version of hardware.

Later on in the post though it says they are now supported by MakeMKV.

Am I now able to just purchase one off of Amazon or is it still recommended to purchase a preflashed item from a seller?

[G.P.L.]

Thanks for the reply.

I did see that post, but I couldn't find the 3.10 .bin file.

Any idea where it is?

It didn't come with the .zip file that contained the SDFtool Flasher.exe and 3.02 .bin files.

It is in the first post. There's a section titled "Unlocked Flashers, Downgrade Enabled Firmware and MK Firmware:"

The first link in there is called "The all you need firmware pack".

Excellent!

Thank you very much! It worked perfectly.

In fact, I went and bought a second drive as a backup, and downgraded it as well.

I'm now in the process of ripping True Lies to test it out. So far, so good!

[Billycar11]

Hello All!

I see in the beginning of the post it mentions that the Pioneer drives do not work unless they come with an older version of hardware.

Later on in the post though it says they are now supported by MakeMKV.

Am I now able to just purchase one off of Amazon or is it still recommended to purchase a preflashed item from a seller?

Pioneers with new fw do not work you would need to buy one from a seller that has them with old firmware

[jayper]

It looks like the Vantec NST-510S3-BK 9.5mm slim sata case has been discontinued. Is there another good recommended case for the LG BU40N?

[asmcom]

It looks like the Vantec NST-510S3-BK 9.5mm slim sata case has been discontinued. Is there another good recommended case for the LG BU40N?

It has not been discontinued in Europe.

Asmcom