Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025

[bluesky]

Thank you so much! It works perfectly! I appreciate you!

Hey! I just ordered this drive from amazon as they seem to be shipping with firmware from 2020. Is there anything I need to do to get this working or is it an "out-the-box" job?

I did have to flash the drive for 4k to work. I am unable to send you a PM with the instructions and apparently should not post them here. Perhaps someone that can send you a PM will do so. Good luck!

[Billycar11]

Thank you so much! It works perfectly! I appreciate you!

Hey! I just ordered this drive from amazon as they seem to be shipping with firmware from 2020. Is there anything I need to do to get this working or is it an "out-the-box" job?

it will need to be flashed see post 1 for how to do it

[sausagesRlyfe]

Thank you so much! It works perfectly! I appreciate you!

Hey! I just ordered this drive from amazon as they seem to be shipping with firmware from 2020. Is there anything I need to do to get this working or is it an "out-the-box" job?

it will need to be flashed see post 1 for how to do it

Aaaah cheers Billy, I'll take a look when it arrives. I've been a long time lurker here so it's nice to finally get involved in the 4K game

[3DCBD]

Unfortunately, my command prompt game is garbage. I tried to follow the instructions but keep failing. I saw somewhere there is a remote option for someone who knows what theyre doing to get my disc drive 4k ripable. Please respond with a way to utilize that option.

[Hzahtvah]

Hi everyone. Hope all is going well.

I'm attempting to flash an Archgon MD-8107-U3 and have encountered a circumstance I haven't seen replicated elsewhere. I'm on Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS, with makemkv currently under /usr/bin. Here's the drive output:

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr0
Current profile: DVD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: ...
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
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)

I've followed the mac/linux instructions in the OP. I've got the sdf and the correct firmware in their own separate folder. Where I'm falling down is that when I run the command to flash the encrypted firmware, I see no activity in Terminal at all. The cursor drops down two lines and hangs there. I was unsure whether any unseen processing was going and so let things lie for ten minutes or so - no change. Thinking that Ubuntu might see the drive as inactive I've also tried inserting a disc and allowing it to be read before running the command again, same result.

Anyone have any idea where I'm going wrong here? Thanks in advance!

Editing to add:
Just to hopefully save myself and everyone here some time, I should note that I’m not flashing to be able to rip anything UHD; I’m just trying to work around the dozens of region setting errors makemkv throws out while backing up a disc, and it’s my understanding that flashing the firmware bypasses region checks. If that isn’t the case and someone could confirm, hopefully offering an alternative solution easier than flashing, I’d be all set.

[Wink_FingerGun]

Hello, I'm new to backing up, and was hoping someone could tell me if this is still a good drive for UHD, or if it is a crap shoot. I'm not confident I understood what the board was telling me.

[medusa2025]

Hello everyone,
I’m new here and have already gone through many posts in the forum,
but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a solution to my problem.
I flashed my Tech Pulse 120 drive with the BD-RE BU40N from firmware version 1.01 to 1.03.
Previously, I couldn’t play either 4K Blu-rays or regular Blu-rays.
After flashing, I can now at least watch regular Blu-rays.
However, playing 4K Blu-rays still doesn’t work. PowerDVD or VLC continue to require the SGX Runtime.
I was hoping that with firmware 1.03, I’d be able to play all Blu-rays, including 4Ks.
Did I make a mistake during the flashing process?
Thanks in advance for your help -)
Regards


Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: O:
Produzent: HL-DT-ST
Produkt: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.03
Serienummer: ...
Firmware-Datum: 2118-10-24 19:34
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 17
Highest AACS version: 61

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[Billycar11]

Hello everyone,
I’m new here and have already gone through many posts in the forum,
but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a solution to my problem.
I flashed my Tech Pulse 120 drive with the BD-RE BU40N from firmware version 1.01 to 1.03.
Previously, I couldn’t play either 4K Blu-rays or regular Blu-rays.
After flashing, I can now at least watch regular Blu-rays.
However, playing 4K Blu-rays still doesn’t work. PowerDVD or VLC continue to require the SGX Runtime.
I was hoping that with firmware 1.03, I’d be able to play all Blu-rays, including 4Ks.
Did I make a mistake during the flashing process?
Thanks in advance for your help -)
Regards

You don't use powerdvd
Use VLC with makemkv integration

[Xerinok]

So just to be sure..
I successfully flashed my WH16NS40 (with SVC NS50) from 1.05 to WH16NS60_1.02_MK firmware included in Marty's "All you need Firmware pack". Am I done? or should I now go to WH16NS40-NS50_1.02 to match my model?

[TambourineMan]

I have an LG HT-DT-ST BD-RE WH16NS40 purchased on Black Friday in 2017.

The SDFTool shows: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH16NS40_1.05_212005061440_***********

It has firmware version 1.05 which I think means it's encrypted.

The initial post in "Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025" says recommended firmware to flash is "WH16NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK"

But later in the post it says if the firmware is more recent than 1.04 then it is encrypted and under "Newer OEM Firmwares and encrypted:" it says I will have to sidegrade to . . . . or (LG WH16NS60 1.02MK for compatible LG 5.25) or . . . .

I am unclear why I should flash a drive model ending in "40" to one ending in "60." Why is there no old encrypted firmware for the "40" model?

I have the "All You Need Firmware Pack (MartyMcNuts)"and it has a file called DE_LG_WH16NS40-NS50_1.02.bin but I do not see how to use the "enc" option. I tried flashing that but it give error code 0xff056103.

It has a file entitled "DE_LG_WH16NS60_1.02_MK.bin" does using that somehow implement the "enc" option?

Please help.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hello, I'm new to backing up, and was hoping someone could tell me if this is still a good drive for UHD, or if it is a crap shoot. I'm not confident I understood what the board was telling me.

That has never been and will never be a recommended drive as it is a DVD drive, not a blu-ray drive. To be UHD capable, it must be a blu-ray drive that is capable of flashing or already flashed. The list is in the first post of this very thread. The Pioneer models are superior to the LG/ASUS drives but new Pioneer drives (except the BDR-212DBK & BDR-212V) cannot be flashed nor downgraded to enable libredrive and UHD compatibility. If you want a Pioneer drive, your best beet is to get one from a seller on this forum.

[sidewinder33]

You can flash it by yourself.

Look five posts above yours.

The flasher with the firmware datas you can load here ... viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896/

Thanks for the info. I must have missed seeing that. Flashing was successful

[R!pn8URn385]

I cannot get the sdf file to open or anything, been trying different software to get it done. Any assistance to get this done would be greatly appreciated. I use a Mac mini with os monterey. I got everything else to download but the sdftool Thanks in advance.

[zittrig]

You can flash it by yourself.

Look five posts above yours.

The flasher with the firmware datas you can load here ... viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896/

Thanks for the info. I must have missed seeing that. Flashing was successful

You're welcome. Have fun with your drive.

[charly700]

Code: Select all

Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: D:
Produzent: HL-DT-ST
Produkt: BD-RE BE16NU50
Revision: 1.00
Serienummer: 
Firmware-Datum: 2116-03-17 13:36
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 17
Highest AACS version: 76

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Keine Disk eingelegt

Hello, is there a better firmware for my recorder (UHD friendly, sleep bug)? If so, which one should I flash? Thank you.