Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025

[f.zst]

Hi guys,
Is one of these new Asus external drives UHD friendly? Can you use these to rip UHDs?

Asus BW-16D1H-U Pro
Asus BW-16D1X-U
Asus SBW-06D2X-U

[SlippyFist]

[edit] you can delete this post [/edit]

[SlippyFist]

second line.

is it possible to use the SDFtool flasher instead of the command line?

the SDF thread has this in it:

Code: Select all

For the moment, to flash the BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follw the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box.
4. Click START

what is the difference between the WP40NB50 and the BP40NB50? I can't for the life of me find what is different between them. It seems like they use the same firmware upgrade path regardless of which one you get, but i want to make sure i'm not conflating 2 separate things.

There are no differences between the BP50NB40 and WP50NB40.

Yes you can use SDFTool Flasher if you are using 64 bit Windows 10 or 11. I recommend using the BU40N 1.00 firmware as it is compatible with all good ripping software. Just follow the instructions exactly and watch the gif a few times if needed.

I had a question about the "include boot loader" checkbox since it states on mouseover that it helps with the BP40NB50 drives flash, but the instructions didn't specify to check it nor was it checked in the gif, so i left it unchecked and went ahead with flashing it to BU40N 1.00.

It appears to be working as intended! I'm currently ripping my UHD Blu-ray of Ghost in the Shell, with its sequel and Akira next. Very excited!

Thanks for all the hard work you've put into this guide and the hundreds of pages of follow-ups!

Cheers!

[opamp]

Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:29
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

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


So I went through using the guiflasher to flash a WP50NB40. I figured was successful since the libredrive information status is enabled. All that being said I can not get this drive to read any UHD discs. I have tried multiple different ones with no luck. It will read bluray and dvd just fine. Any suggestions on what I can do to troubleshoot as I feel like I followed the steps in that gif exactly.

[SlippyFist]

Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:29
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

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


So I went through using the guiflasher to flash a WP50NB40. I figured was successful since the libredrive information status is enabled. All that being said I can not get this drive to read any UHD discs. I have tried multiple different ones with no luck. It will read bluray and dvd just fine. Any suggestions on what I can do to troubleshoot as I feel like I followed the steps in that gif exactly.

I'm not the expert answer guy, but i have that exact same drive and literally just went through this- i flashed mine earlier today with the SDFtool. right away i see that your Revision and Firmware version still say 1.03 (which i also had) which i don't think will read UHDs.

is the GUI flasher different than the SDFtool? i followed the exact steps in the thread for the SDFtool (including the animated gif) and mine works perfectly (still ripping Ghost in the Shell 2 as we speak lol)

[blind-s33r]

Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:29
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

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


So I went through using the guiflasher to flash a WP50NB40. I figured was successful since the libredrive information status is enabled. All that being said I can not get this drive to read any UHD discs. I have tried multiple different ones with no luck. It will read bluray and dvd just fine. Any suggestions on what I can do to troubleshoot as I feel like I followed the steps in that gif exactly.

I'm not the expert answer guy, but i have that exact same drive and literally just went through this- i flashed mine earlier today with the SDFtool. right away i see that your Revision and Firmware version still say 1.03 (which i also had) which i don't think will read UHDs.

is the GUI flasher different than the SDFtool? i followed the exact steps in the thread for the SDFtool (including the animated gif) and mine works perfectly (still ripping Ghost in the Shell 2 as we speak lol)

The WP50NB40 is as far as I know basically the BP50NB40, which means you need to cross flash it to either BP60NB10 Firmware or BU40N firmware to enable uhd ripping... I personally crossflashed my bp50nb40s to bu40n firmware 1.00 myself but I'd wait for someone else to confirm.

[SlippyFist]

Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:29
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

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


So I went through using the guiflasher to flash a WP50NB40. I figured was successful since the libredrive information status is enabled. All that being said I can not get this drive to read any UHD discs. I have tried multiple different ones with no luck. It will read bluray and dvd just fine. Any suggestions on what I can do to troubleshoot as I feel like I followed the steps in that gif exactly.

I'm not the expert answer guy, but i have that exact same drive and literally just went through this- i flashed mine earlier today with the SDFtool. right away i see that your Revision and Firmware version still say 1.03 (which i also had) which i don't think will read UHDs.

is the GUI flasher different than the SDFtool? i followed the exact steps in the thread for the SDFtool (including the animated gif) and mine works perfectly (still ripping Ghost in the Shell 2 as we speak lol)

The WP50NB40 is as far as I know basically the BP50NB40, which means you need to cross flash it to either BP60NB10 Firmware or BU40N firmware to enable uhd ripping... I personally crossflashed my bp50nb40s to bu40n firmware 1.00 myself but I'd wait for someone else to confirm.

yep i flashed mine to BU40N 1.00 myself earlier today; it's been working great! Just ripped my collector's edition redline blu-ray with it lol (not a UHD but i got it in the mail today lol; i did rip a few UHDs earlier though)

[MartyMcNuts]

is it possible to use the SDFtool flasher instead of the command line?

the SDF thread has this in it:

Code: Select all

For the moment, to flash the BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follw the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box.
4. Click START

what is the difference between the WP40NB50 and the BP40NB50? I can't for the life of me find what is different between them. It seems like they use the same firmware upgrade path regardless of which one you get, but i want to make sure i'm not conflating 2 separate things.

There are no differences between the BP50NB40 and WP50NB40.

Yes you can use SDFTool Flasher if you are using 64 bit Windows 10 or 11. I recommend using the BU40N 1.00 firmware as it is compatible with all good ripping software. Just follow the instructions exactly and watch the gif a few times if needed.

I had a question about the "include boot loader" checkbox since it states on mouseover that it helps with the BP40NB50 drives flash, but the instructions didn't specify to check it nor was it checked in the gif, so i left it unchecked and went ahead with flashing it to BU40N 1.00.

It appears to be working as intended! I'm currently ripping my UHD Blu-ray of Ghost in the Shell, with its sequel and Akira next. Very excited!

Thanks for all the hard work you've put into this guide and the hundreds of pages of follow-ups!

Cheers!

No, the boot loader is not needed when following the SDFtool Flasher thread instructions and gif.

[MartyMcNuts]

Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:29
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

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


So I went through using the guiflasher to flash a WP50NB40. I figured was successful since the libredrive information status is enabled. All that being said I can not get this drive to read any UHD discs. I have tried multiple different ones with no luck. It will read bluray and dvd just fine. Any suggestions on what I can do to troubleshoot as I feel like I followed the steps in that gif exactly.

No, you have only successfully completed the first flash (step 1 below). You now need to complete the cross-flash by using the recovery option. I recommend using the BU40N 1.00 firmware as it is compatible with all good ripping software. Continue from step 2. Just follow the instructions exactly and watch the gif a few times if needed. If you stil aren't sure, read the title of each file selection window.

1. Flash the drive to BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up window, select the WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed and is currently on the drive.
3. Select the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop down selection box.
4. Click START

[jeffb101]

New here as well as many others and usually pretty tech savvy but even after reading the ultimate guide, I am lost as if my drive is capable of being flashed to work with UHD discs. Looks like I would maybe need a Windows computer to do this (on a Mac, btw) and I do not have access to one.

Here is my drives info from MakeMKV info. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk2
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E111
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2017-12-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E111/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[MartyMcNuts]

New here as well as many others and usually pretty tech savvy but even after reading the ultimate guide, I am lost as if my drive is capable of being flashed to work with UHD discs. Looks like I would maybe need a Windows computer to do this (on a Mac, btw) and I do not have access to one.

Here is my drives info from MakeMKV info. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk2
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E111
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2017-12-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E111/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Yep, Pioneer drives can only be flahed on windows or a really good VM such as VMware. Most VM's don't work. Contact Billycar11 about the flasher for it.

[nicholfd]

New here as well as many others and usually pretty tech savvy but even after reading the ultimate guide, I am lost as if my drive is capable of being flashed to work with UHD discs. Looks like I would maybe need a Windows computer to do this (on a Mac, btw) and I do not have access to one.

Yep, Pioneer drives can only be flahed on windows or a really good VM such as VMware. Most VM's don't work. Contact Billycar11 about the flasher for it.

I have successfully flashed Pioneer drives with tools from both billycar11 & coopervid, using a Windows 11 Pro VM running on an Apple silicon Mac (M# series CPU/processor) with all three "major" virtualization platforms - UTM, vmWare Fusion Pro & Parallels. The Windows 11 Pro VMs are running Windows 11 Pro 24H2, ARM64.

UTM is free for download from the developer, or $9.99 from Apple's macOS App Store for $9.99 (to support the developer). vmWare Fusion Pro is free to use for personal use, but requires a Broadcom account registration to download. Paralles (all versions) is only a paid product. Windows 11 Pro can be installed without a license key, but will eventually be restricted & prompt for licensing. Licensing is not required for flashing a Pioneer drive.

Windows 11 Pro can be downloaded directly from Microsoft. Some of the virtualization apps/platforms will even download it automatically for you.

There are other ways of running a Windows VM on macOS, via command line, etc. I have not tried those.

All of the above assumes the Pioneer drive is attached to the Mac via USB (A/C/Whatever).

[Billycar11]

New here as well as many others and usually pretty tech savvy but even after reading the ultimate guide, I am lost as if my drive is capable of being flashed to work with UHD discs. Looks like I would maybe need a Windows computer to do this (on a Mac, btw) and I do not have access to one.

Here is my drives info from MakeMKV info. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk2
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E111
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2017-12-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E111/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

If you have access to Windows email me that drive info section

[jeffb101]

Thank you all. Turns out I do have access to a Windows computer. I emailed Billy.

[99gagamel]

Hallo, ich bin neu und irgendwie habe ich ein Problem mit meinem BH16NS55 Laufwerk. Er liest alles auch UHDs. Aber seid einiger zeit ist mir verstärkt durch stärkeres UHD sichern aufgefallen, das er bei manchen UHDs ganz schlimme search Geräusche macht, dann geht das in unglaubliche Geschwindigkeiten hoch und Make KV zeigt Fehler beim sichern an und gibt aus. Backup mit Fehlern. Wenn ich aber die gleiche scheibe mit AnyRed Fox einlese und über Clone BD rippe, keine serach Geräusche keine Fehler alles fein. Hatte jemand das Problem? Denn Any schafft nicht alles und wird auch nicht mehr aktualisiert sodass ich nur mit Make KV rippen kann. Jedoch bekomme ich bei manchen diese Probleme und mein Laufwerk hört sich richtig richtig schlimm an. Habe Angst das das ding kaputt geht. Kann mir jemand helfen

Hello, I'm new and I'm having a problem with my BH16NS55 drive. It reads everything, even UHDs. But recently, due to more intensive UHD backups, I've noticed that it makes really bad search noises with some UHDs. Then it ramps up to incredible speeds, and Make KV displays errors during backup and outputs "Backup with errors." However, when I read the same disc with AnyRed Fox and rip it via Clone BD, there are no search noises, no errors, everything is fine. Has anyone else had this problem? AnyRed Fox can't handle everything and isn't updated anymore, so I can only rip with Make KV. However, I'm getting these problems with some drives, and my drive sounds really, really bad. I'm afraid it's going to break. Can someone help me?

Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: E:
Produzent: HL-DT-ST
Produkt: BD-RE BH16NS55
Revision: 1.04
Serienummer: KLCO2L85231
Firmware-Datum: 2119-01-04 13:42
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 17
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.04
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Keine Disk eingelegt