LG Optical Drive Firmware "Reset" method

[gregoliver]

I bought a LG WH16NS40 a while back and thanks to these firmware flashing guide here was able to have it read UHD discs (now it shows as a WH16NS60).

I had some issues with the drive yesterday and it kept causing the USB bus to reset it and no matter what computer I hooked it to (it is in a Vantec USB enclosure), it happened every time. It is only 4 months old, so I called LG to have it replaced. The 1st thing they had me do was power it on and hold the eject button for 5-10 seconds (until the tray opened). According to the support rep, this erases all firmware stored information and "resets" the drive firmware back to pristine condition (it does not alter the firmware version, etc).

This instantly fixed my drive - just figured I would share since it is a popular hobbyist drive and a quick fix for some issues I suppose.

-Greg

[Billycar11]

My question is did you at any point power off the vantec case? By unplugging or switch.
Or were you bringing the PCs to the drive?

[gregoliver]

Of course - multiple times as I moved it from machine to machine.

[gregoliver]

So, I have finally determined what causes the drive to stop functioning (completely) when trying to backup discs.

1. It must be a UHD disc the drive is trying to read.
2. The disc must have blemishes (be dirty) or obviously scratched

After the drive tries to copy from it and fails, the drive will no longer read any discs until the reset method from LG is performed. I am unsure if the firmware I loaded that changed the model is the issue, but there was no firmware for the WH16NS40 model, so I cannot verify. Reminder: I bought the NS40 and flashed the NS60 firmware to it.

At least now I know how to operate it properly

-Greg

[dcoke22]

I've never had a LG drive need that kind of reset. When one of my LG based drives flakes out, a full power off then power on is enough to cold boot and reset the drive so it works again.

It is always good to have one more thing to try when troubleshooting, however. Thanks for the tip.

[Tom899]

I bought a LG WH16NS40 a while back and thanks to these firmware flashing guide here was able to have it read UHD discs (now it shows as a WH16NS60).

I had some issues with the drive yesterday and it kept causing the USB bus to reset it and no matter what computer I hooked it to (it is in a Vantec USB enclosure), it happened every time. It is only 4 months old, so I called LG to have it replaced. The 1st thing they had me do was power it on and hold the eject button for 5-10 seconds (until the tray opened). According to the support rep, this erases all firmware stored information and "resets" the drive firmware back to pristine condition (it does not alter the firmware version, etc).

This instantly fixed my drive - just figured I would share since it is a popular hobbyist drive and a quick fix for some issues I suppose.

-Greg

Hi Greg, I have this same drive, and has been flashed to WH16NS60. It's about two months old. It has stopped reading my discs a few days ago. I also have it in a Vantec enclosure. I tried holding the eject button in for a long time. The drawer does not open until I release the button. Is this the method?
Tom

[gregoliver]

You need to power it off and back on. When you power it on, wait about 2 seconds and hold the eject button. The tray should open halfway and close again.

[Tom899]

You need to power it off and back on. When you power it on, wait about 2 seconds and hold the eject button. The tray should open halfway and close again.

Thanks Greg, for some reason it's not working for me, maybe my case, or something else...

[gregoliver]

It is tricky. I just did mine again. When it starts up, the blue LED blinks 5 times about a half second apart. If I hold the ejectbbutton starting when the LED blinks the second time, then 5 seconds later release it, the tray will open halfway and close back.

[gregoliver]

Also, I always unplug the USB from the back of the Vantec. Have not tried with it all hooked up still.