www.makemkv.com

Just the one disk, or all disks? You don't say, and some disks can have issues.

That depends on what software you have available. MakeMKV doesn't write disks, so it isn't going to help. What different disk writers want varies.

You are trying to flash with an incompatible firmware. Your drive is an NS40, but they didn't get the new chip until the xx50 series and later.

Pioneer drives are considered very good, but... the manufacturer has blocked new drives from ripping 4K disks. If it was built on or after 12/22/2022, it won't work, with certain minor exceptions.

If you're looking to rip 4K disks, then you'll need one of the drives that supports that. There are topics about those, starting with Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2024 . As for drives to store stuff on, a lot will depend on how much you wish to store, and whether or not you want to red...

"Best external drives" for what? Reading disks, or storing data? They're different things.

And storing data depends on how your plex server is set up. Some of us have plex available as an add-on to other hardware; others set up a plex server and add drives to them.

That long ago, you'll be looking for a makemkv.com email address. So, best to send to support@makemkv.com to have Mike respond directly.

The 30 day trial can be reset. There are people here that are several years into their "30 day trial", and complain every time the license key expires for a few days every couple of months. Your version of Windows does not matter; I use Win7. Subtitles depends on your playback environment....

Definitely saving subtitle tracks... usually two per file, since I do both "everything" and "just the untranslated stuff". In fact, I'm doing two series right now, where I have to swap the subtitle tracks ("primary" one is "everything", rather than the untrans...

support@makemkv.com is the primary contact, but ... if you registered within the last couple of years ... you MAY be looking for an email from the wrong place; Recent emails come from the registration company, with Mike getting a copy of it.

And in case anyone wants to have an "old version", you can install more than one copy of MakeMKV. I currently have a half-dozen or so versions installed, from 1.14 on up. Just give the install a different destination directory (and name) when you install.

Useless upload removed. Did you submit the file to svq@makemkv.com as required?

Really want to stay well. Doctors want me to spend (government) money with them. That almost stopped 11 days ago.

Thanks to whatever, I've managed to work my way through the pending messages and spam, so we're caught up for now. Still waiting for my response from Mike.

Game disks use a different format from movie disks.

Strange... Seems to work as your ask about.