Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi guys, I'm completely new here but I need some advice. I played with the idea of getting a drive to rip my blu rays for quite some time now but frankly I just feared venturing into yet another AV-related rabbit hole but since more and more drive manufacturers seem to fold, I figured I get one as long as I still can.
What drives can I still get to rip UHD BRs?

See the first post of this thread. Pioneers are now extremely difficult to get as they ceased manufacturing back in March/April.

[Billycar11]

See the first post of this thread. Pioneers are now extremely difficult to get as they ceased manufacturing back in March/April.

i believe they actually stopped back in October of 2024 thats the last ones i ever saw in the usa consumer market on s13ubk/s13ux
then tin foil hat time they started making drives thats say "feb 2023" with old fw for the Chinese market and now they are selling us those for $700 per drive

[the_sunflower]

I had made this post into its own thread, but apparently new accounts go into moderator approval, and the one mod that is still active was last online 2 days ago...so...ima try posting it here and see if anyone sees it.

Sanity check request for BP50NB40

Recently bought a BP50NB40. It's NB52 and was built in May of 2025. I am on linux (arch). I use the linux version of makemkv 1.18.1. I'd really prefer not to have to create a windows VM if I can avoid it.

From browsing guides and threads, it looks like what I need to do to get UHD ripping working is:

1. Download sdf.bin from https://makemkv.com/sdf.bin
2. Download Marty's all-flash pack from https://www.mediafire.com/file/bpl3pz2b ... 9.zip/file
3. Download the Hybrid firmware pack: download/file.php?id=2143
4. makemkvcon f -l #{See question 1}
5. makemkvcon f -d '/dev/sr0' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash enc -i /tmp/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin
6. makemkvcon f -d '/dev/sr0' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash full -i /tmp/DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin #{See Question 2}
7. Done?

Question 1:
makemkvcon f -l displays:

Code: Select all

Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:1, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212107081603_<serial_number_of_drive>

So my later commands would go to /dev/sr0, right? Because I have no idea what dev_21 is. I assume that slot is specific to something for Mac.

Question 2:
Everything I can find on these forums indicates that the right way to flash this drive is a 2-flash process. But the UHD Sept 2025 guide (viewtopic.php?t=19634) makes it look like a 4-step process of:

1. Original Firmware, starting state
2. Load DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin with encryption mode
3. Load DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin again, but this time with 'full' mode instead of 'enc' mode
4. Load DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin
5. Load DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.02-MK.bin

When I read

BP50NB40 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK then to > BP60NB10 1.02MK or 1.00MK
NB52 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with enc > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with bootloader/full flash > BP60NB10 1.00_HBD from Marty download/file.php?id=2143
if using command line add "full" after rawflash

BP60NB10 on any Firmware directly to > BP60NB10 1.02MK

I get the 4-flash process above. Which goes against literally everything I've read, so I assumed I was wrong. Am I?

Thanks for the guides/firmwares/etc. Some of the movies I wanted to buy are only sold in UHD. And they didn't have blu-rays inside. So...literally the only way I can use my purchase is to figure this out.

[MartyMcNuts]

I had made this post into its own thread, but apparently new accounts go into moderator approval, and the one mod that is still active was last online 2 days ago...so...ima try posting it here and see if anyone sees it.

Sanity check request for BP50NB40

Recently bought a BP50NB40. It's NB52 and was built in May of 2025. I am on linux (arch). I use the linux version of makemkv 1.18.1. I'd really prefer not to have to create a windows VM if I can avoid it.

From browsing guides and threads, it looks like what I need to do to get UHD ripping working is:

1. Download sdf.bin from https://makemkv.com/sdf.bin
2. Download Marty's all-flash pack from https://www.mediafire.com/file/bpl3pz2b ... 9.zip/file
3. Download the Hybrid firmware pack: download/file.php?id=2143
4. makemkvcon f -l #{See question 1}
5. makemkvcon f -d '/dev/sr0' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash enc -i /tmp/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin
6. makemkvcon f -d '/dev/sr0' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash full -i /tmp/DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin #{See Question 2}
7. Done?

Question 1:
makemkvcon f -l displays:

Code: Select all

Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:1, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212107081603_<serial_number_of_drive>

So my later commands would go to /dev/sr0, right? Because I have no idea what dev_21 is. I assume that slot is specific to something for Mac.

Question 2:
Everything I can find on these forums indicates that the right way to flash this drive is a 2-flash process. But the UHD Sept 2025 guide (viewtopic.php?t=19634) makes it look like a 4-step process of:

1. Original Firmware, starting state
2. Load DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin with encryption mode
3. Load DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin again, but this time with 'full' mode instead of 'enc' mode
4. Load DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin
5. Load DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.02-MK.bin

When I read

BP50NB40 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK then to > BP60NB10 1.02MK or 1.00MK
NB52 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with enc > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with bootloader/full flash > BP60NB10 1.00_HBD from Marty download/file.php?id=2143
if using command line add "full" after rawflash

BP60NB10 on any Firmware directly to > BP60NB10 1.02MK

I get the 4-flash process above. Which goes against literally everything I've read, so I assumed I was wrong. Am I?

Thanks for the guides/firmwares/etc. Some of the movies I wanted to buy are only sold in UHD. And they didn't have blu-rays inside. So...literally the only way I can use my purchase is to figure this out.

Yes, you are incorrect. All you need to follow is:

NB52 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with enc > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with bootloader/full flash > BP60NB10 1.00_HBD from Marty download/file.php?id=2143
if using command line add "full" after rawflash

This part: BP60NB10 on any Firmware directly to > BP60NB10 1.02MK is if you have a BP60NB10 drive to begin with.

[sherrypicket216]

latest version of makemkv broken with sdftool command `makemkvcon f`, it just freeze forever
This is a known issue:
viewtopic.php?t=38847
viewtopic.php?t=35901

The latest version with `makemkvcon f` working for me is `1.17.7`
If that information is already present in the first page of this thread, it would safe me a looooooooooooooot of time.
I recommend changing the first page guidance to add this information in the
How To Flash Videos and commands:
section.

[Billycar11]

latest version of makemkv broken with sdftool command `makemkvcon f`, it just freeze forever
This is a known issue:
viewtopic.php?t=38847
viewtopic.php?t=35901

The latest version with `makemkvcon f` working for me is `1.17.7`
If that information is already present in the first page of this thread, it would safe me a looooooooooooooot of time.
I recommend changing the first page guidance to add this information in the
How To Flash Videos and commands:
section.

ok added

[MartyMcNuts]

latest version of makemkv broken with sdftool command `makemkvcon f`, it just freeze forever
This is a known issue:
viewtopic.php?t=38847
viewtopic.php?t=35901

The latest version with `makemkvcon f` working for me is `1.17.7`
If that information is already present in the first page of this thread, it would safe me a looooooooooooooot of time.
I recommend changing the first page guidance to add this information in the
How To Flash Videos and commands:
section.

You don't have to use 'makemkvcon f', you can replace it with 'sdftool'.

[scots]

I did a search, but nothing came back for this issue - so I apologize if this has already been addressed previously.

I have a Mac Mini M2 Pro running MacOS Sequoia 15.6.1 with the LG BP60NB10 drive. Haven't had any issues with DVD or regular Blu-ray discs, but UHD Blu-ray discs aren't working. Did a search and came across this in the forum stating the drive needs to be flashed for UHD discs to work.

My LG drive has Svc code NB12, manufactured in November 2023. I attempted to flash following the instructions, but I received an error that said "There is a disc in the drive, please remove it and try again." I removed the disc and tried again. With no disc in the drive I receive an error that says "Drive "/dev/rdisk6" not found."

So basically - I put any disc in and it tells me to remove the disc, I remove the disc and it can't find the drive.

It's been a hot minute since I've flashed anything like this, so I may be a little rusty. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[dcoke22]

I did a search, but nothing came back for this issue - so I apologize if this has already been addressed previously.

I have a Mac Mini M2 Pro running MacOS Sequoia 15.6.1 with the LG BP60NB10 drive. Haven't had any issues with DVD or regular Blu-ray discs, but UHD Blu-ray discs aren't working. Did a search and came across this in the forum stating the drive needs to be flashed for UHD discs to work.

My LG drive has Svc code NB12, manufactured in November 2023. I attempted to flash following the instructions, but I received an error that said "There is a disc in the drive, please remove it and try again." I removed the disc and tried again. With no disc in the drive I receive an error that says "Drive "/dev/rdisk6" not found."

So basically - I put any disc in and it tells me to remove the disc, I remove the disc and it can't find the drive.

It's been a hot minute since I've flashed anything like this, so I may be a little rusty. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Can you copy and paste the command you're using to flash on your Mac? On a Mac I'd be surprised if the drive identifier from step 6 returned /dev/rdisk6. I would expect it to be /IODBServices/###.

[scots]

I did a search, but nothing came back for this issue - so I apologize if this has already been addressed previously.

I have a Mac Mini M2 Pro running MacOS Sequoia 15.6.1 with the LG BP60NB10 drive. Haven't had any issues with DVD or regular Blu-ray discs, but UHD Blu-ray discs aren't working. Did a search and came across this in the forum stating the drive needs to be flashed for UHD discs to work.

My LG drive has Svc code NB12, manufactured in November 2023. I attempted to flash following the instructions, but I received an error that said "There is a disc in the drive, please remove it and try again." I removed the disc and tried again. With no disc in the drive I receive an error that says "Drive "/dev/rdisk6" not found."

So basically - I put any disc in and it tells me to remove the disc, I remove the disc and it can't find the drive.

It's been a hot minute since I've flashed anything like this, so I may be a little rusty. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Can you copy and paste the command you're using to flash on your Mac? On a Mac I'd be surprised if the drive identifier from step 6 returned /dev/rdisk6. I would expect it to be /IODBServices/###.

I figured out what the issue was! The LG drive was plugged in to a USB hub, which I had forgotten because it had been connected for over a year and a half. The USB hub was preventing the correct identifier from showing. Everything started working properly as soon as I connected the drive directly to my Mac Mini, and I was then able to flash it. After I flashed it I moved it back over to the USB hub and UHD discs are working now.

Thanks for your input!

[Billycar11]

another update to the guide everyone the archgon has been removed as i seen quite a few reports the new cases do not allow flashing.

[0catty]

Hi!

I just want to report that I successfully flashed a Pioneer BDR-212 in the ICY BOX IB-525-U3 USB enclosure powered by the 12V 3A power supply that came with it. Flashing on Windows is super simple and @Billycar11 is helpful, too.

Perhaps the model number of this case could be mentioned in the original post. BTW, the enclosure is deep enough for Pioneer drives so no modification to the case is required. Besides, it seems to be widely available in Europe.

In Linux, the case shows up as:

Code: Select all

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 152d:0578 JMicron Technology Corp. / JMicron USA Technology Corp. JMS578 SATA 6Gb/s

[mrslother]

Thank you to everyone involved with this flashing effort. This is an amazing thread!

One request: Please provide a filehash of the zip files so that we can trust them upon download. Ideally the .exe would also be digitally signed but at the very least having a SHA256 of the zip files will help. Downloading anything from the Internet should give everyone pause unless there is a signature (embedded, sidecar, signed manifest, or at least a filehash).

[Azhi1040937]

“Is the ASUS BW-16D1H-U PRO internally always using the BW-16D1HT, so its firmware is the same as the BW-16D1HT?”

[hiro0077]

Title: Toy Story 2 UHD – JP retail
Label: TOY_STORY_2
Timestamp: 2019-03-20 12:23:30
Protection: AACS2.0/C v68
Drive: LG BU40N (LibreDrive enabled, FW 1.04 patched)

Dump (.tgz): attached here

MKB_RO.inf (zipped, ~131 MB): https://drive.google.com/file/d/142noVG ... sp=sharing

(If dump <1 MB, MKB_RO.inf is included inside the archive, otherwise please use the provided external link.)