Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[Billycar11]

Guys, I bought a LG WH16NS40, I have to flash some firmware? Which one? Is there a final guide to do it?
The 1st page is not so clear
drive-specs.png

How is this not clear?
WH14NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK
Just get an automated flasher from me or Marty then

I am missing something, why should I need to flash my drive? I ripped a bluray disc this afternoon without flashing anything. The firmware change is useful for ripping 4k bluray?

Pls this is the UHD guide

[daave]

How is this not clear?
WH14NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK
Just get an automated flasher from me or Marty then

I am missing something, why should I need to flash my drive? I ripped a bluray disc this afternoon without flashing anything. The firmware change is useful for ripping 4k bluray?

Pls this is the UHD guide

Ahh yes, I'm sorry, my fault.

[InfinityX]

The SDF update time for new firmwares varies. In this particular case, all 8 Pioneer firmwares released yesterday are already integrated in latest SDF.bin and are supported. Sometimes it takes much longer, though...

thank you, this gives me hope about the new units BDR-S13U-X that are coming with the release version 1.04

https://pioneer.jp/device_e/product-e/i ... 01r_e.html

Is it possible to speed up the rip speed BDR-S13U-X ? Rip speed 6x or 8x something i can do to speed up RIP speed?

[Traveler2032]

Hi all, bought a BW-16D1HT and flashed it with "ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601-211901041014.bin" successfully.

flashed_success.jpg (43.21 KiB) Viewed 17448 times

However, I cannot read UHD disks. I put them in, it shows the Blu-Ray icon, but when I click into the disk to read it I get the error "The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted" for every disk:

Code: Select all

MakeMKV v1.17.3 win(x64-release) started
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Coco_C4E3.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Coco_C4E3.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v66_Mary_Poppins_Returns_F89D.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Spider-Man-_Into_the_Spider-Verse_F9ED.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc

I am sure I am doing something dumb. Help!

[d00zah]

I am sure I am doing something dumb. Help!

Step 1: read thru 1st post of UHD FAQ

Step 2: if still having problems, try 1st post of Fixing Volume Key is Unknown

[asmcom]

Hi all, bought a BW-16D1HT and flashed it with "ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601-211901041014.bin" successfully.

flashed_success.jpg

However, I cannot read UHD disks. I put them in, it shows the Blu-Ray icon, but when I click into the disk to read it I get the error "The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted" for every disk:

Code: Select all

MakeMKV v1.17.3 win(x64-release) started
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Coco_C4E3.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Coco_C4E3.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v66_Mary_Poppins_Returns_F89D.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=0FA242DD4D0B)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\David/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Spider-Man-_Into_the_Spider-Verse_F9ED.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc

I am sure I am doing something dumb. Help!

Make sure that "Allow internet access" is checked in MakeMKV Settings.

Asmcom

[Billycar11]

some updated info added about the pioneers today only fw from before December 2022 will work currently
when more news comes out on the pioneers and if they end up needing to be flashed the guide for them will likely be broken up this will be the LG/Asus/HLG Guide and that will be the pioneer guide.

[SamuriHL]

And once your drive, whatever it is, is working with libredrive, leave the damn thing alone. Flashing "new" firmware is almost never better in any way.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

[Traveler2032]

Asmcom

This was ultimately the issue. Thanks for the assistance.

[aaddjjll]

What firmware file should I use to flash my LG drive?

DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH16NS40_1.02_NS50 (DE Firmware Pack) (Created February 5, 2019)
HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin (All You Need Firmware Pack) (Created August 31, 2019)
HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS40-NS50-1.05-NM00900-212005061440.bin (MK Firmware Pack) (Created July 18, 2020)

------------

I have an LG Model WH16NS40 Drive, with a date of 2022/10/12, ROM Version of 1.05, and SVC Code of NS50. So, if I follow:

STOP READ BEFORE FLASHING IMPORTANT Before you flash:
1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2016 on label or late 2015 if you want to risk it.

Yep, drive was built after 2016.

2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv

Yep, MakeMKV says "Drive platform: MT1959"

3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label for NB drives NB50+

That... is not a real sentence. Does that mean the NS40 bit of WH16NS40 or the NS50 bit? I think it means the SVC NS50 bit, which should mean I'm Ok.

Recommended UHD Drives to get:
LG WH16NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour if flashed properly other wise 6x rips speed and slower then BU40N

Yep, should be good.


Option 1:

Recommended Firmware to flash for MakeMKV: WH16NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

Under the "Unlocked Flashers, Downgrade Enabled Firmware and MK Firmware", there is a download for "mk-firmware-pack-20200720". Download, unzip, mk-firmware-pack-20200720 > MK > HL-DT-ST > WH16NS40-NS50 > HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS40-NS50-1.05-NM00900-212005061440.bin

Option 2:

Newer OEM Firmwares and encrypted:

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS40-NS50-1.05-N000900-212005061440.bin
If I understand it, these are the firmwares that come with the drives? So I should ignore this? Moving on.

Option 3:

Unlocked Flashers, Downgrade Enabled Firmware and MK Firmware:
New! The all you need firmware pack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRnbXi ... sp=sharing

Download, unzip, The all you need firmware pack > LG 5.25 desktop > HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

Option 4:

LG flasher + DE firmware viewtopic.php?f=16&t=18873#p70284
By: Blackened2687 & Billycar11

Download, unzip, Downgrade Enabled Firmware V > DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH16NS40_1.02_NS50

[asmcom]

And once your drive, whatever it is, is working with libredrive, leave the damn thing alone. Flashing "new" firmware is almost never better in any way.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

Well said, this is a very true statement. We flash the drive and test on the best possible firmware and that is the firmware the we drive should stay on.
Asmcom

[z55575]

Hi there. Well my journey continues.

I have stumbled on a local ad for a Pioneer BDR-AD07BK (BK = Black colour).
Seller wants $80. It is in good visual condition. Since it's in person, I can test it to ensure it actually works and isn't a dud.

Just wondering if this would work with MakeMKV for UHD discs? The drive does not state UHD support, however it DOES support BDXL 3-layer (100GB) and 4-layer (128GB) discs, as well as Pureread/PureDrive v3 (whatever the name is). And I think Libredrive could be flashed based on the firmware list having AD07 listed.

This AD07 model seems to just be a non USB-C remodel of the BDR-XD07, additionally based on this blog I found comparing the two: https://beiznotes.org/difference-betwee ... -and-ad07/
AD07 is also missing the intelligent eco mode, which is not an issue for me.

Thank you.

[asmcom]

Hi there. Well my journey continues.

I have stumbled on a local ad for a Pioneer BDR-AD07BK (BK = Black colour).
Seller wants $80. It is in good visual condition. Since it's in person, I can test it to ensure it actually works and isn't a dud.

Just wondering if this would work with MakeMKV for UHD discs? The drive does not state UHD support, however it DOES support BDXL 3-layer (100GB) and 4-layer (128GB) discs, as well as Pureread/PureDrive v3 (whatever the name is). And I think Libredrive could be flashed based on the firmware list having AD07 listed.

This AD07 model seems to just be a non USB-C remodel of the BDR-XD07, additionally based on this blog I found comparing the two: https://beiznotes.org/difference-betwee ... -and-ad07/
AD07 is also missing the intelligent eco mode, which is not an issue for me.

Thank you.

Sent PM, be careful buying drives on Ali Express and Amazon.

Asmcom

[z55575]

Hi there. Well my journey continues.

I have stumbled on a local ad for a Pioneer BDR-AD07BK (BK = Black colour).
Seller wants $80. It is in good visual condition. Since it's in person, I can test it to ensure it actually works and isn't a dud.

Just wondering if this would work with MakeMKV for UHD discs? The drive does not state UHD support, however it DOES support BDXL 3-layer (100GB) and 4-layer (128GB) discs, as well as Pureread/PureDrive v3 (whatever the name is). And I think Libredrive could be flashed based on the firmware list having AD07 listed.

This AD07 model seems to just be a non USB-C remodel of the BDR-XD07, additionally based on this blog I found comparing the two: https://beiznotes.org/difference-betwee ... -and-ad07/
AD07 is also missing the intelligent eco mode, which is not an issue for me.

Thank you.

Sent PM, be careful buying drives on Ali Express and Amazon.

Asmcom

Hi sorry for lack of clarity, it's being sold by a local chain of used computer/hardware stores. They provide a warranty and in-person testing, this would be an in person purchase, not online form Aliexpress or Amazon or similar. I already went through that with Mercari, never again.

I may also reach out to Pioneer to request a check on the serial number as I took photographs of it.

Mainly just wondering, if based on the specs of the AD07, if it's able to read UHD discs for MakeMKV, or if a drive explicitly needs to be labelled as "UHD Compatible" to read the discs at all.

I would of course test in the shop, but would rather avoid going back if needed.
Thank you!

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi there. Well my journey continues.

I have stumbled on a local ad for a Pioneer BDR-AD07BK (BK = Black colour).
Seller wants $80. It is in good visual condition. Since it's in person, I can test it to ensure it actually works and isn't a dud.

Just wondering if this would work with MakeMKV for UHD discs? The drive does not state UHD support, however it DOES support BDXL 3-layer (100GB) and 4-layer (128GB) discs, as well as Pureread/PureDrive v3 (whatever the name is). And I think Libredrive could be flashed based on the firmware list having AD07 listed.

This AD07 model seems to just be a non USB-C remodel of the BDR-XD07, additionally based on this blog I found comparing the two: https://beiznotes.org/difference-betwee ... -and-ad07/
AD07 is also missing the intelligent eco mode, which is not an issue for me.

Thank you.

Sent PM, be careful buying drives on Ali Express and Amazon.

Asmcom

Hi sorry for lack of clarity, it's being sold by a local chain of used computer/hardware stores. They provide a warranty and in-person testing, this would be an in person purchase, not online form Aliexpress or Amazon or similar. I already went through that with Mercari, never again.

I may also reach out to Pioneer to request a check on the serial number as I took photographs of it.

Mainly just wondering, if based on the specs of the AD07, if it's able to read UHD discs for MakeMKV, or if a drive explicitly needs to be labelled as "UHD Compatible" to read the discs at all.

I would of course test in the shop, but would rather avoid going back if needed.
Thank you!

No, it reads blu-ray but not UHD.