Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[MartyMcNuts]

So the trick was to only flash DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin and everything worked, no more no less, it's a bit hard to understand sometimes in this forum, what you should actually do, and the guide can be a bit misleading i think. And what about the HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin that is included with the flasher? is this a newer iteration of the 1.03MK firmware or just a original 1.04 firmware?

Files in the MK firmware pack are all MK firmware. An MK firmware is just an original firmware of the same version number that has been patched in some way, so when there is a more updated original firmware, there's a chance that mike could patch it and update the pack.

(Note really sure what DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin is.)

... If your drive has one of these firmwares, and there is no MK version of the same firmware/drive model or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to ... or (BU40N 1.03MK LG Slim drives ONLY) ...

But I have to admit that I'm also not sure whether there's something "special" about HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin, or if it's just that "The all you need firmware pack" and the guide didn't get updated when mike updated the MK firmware pack...

P.S. The thing is being more updated does not necessarily means the firmware is better, especially when it comes to UHD capability / ripping compatibility / ... (what people here mainly concern). Also maybe whoever maintains the guide / all you need pack follows the "not broken don't fix it" policy (while mike just tried his best in MK-ising the relevant original firmware when new versions showed up).

BU40N 1.03-MK is the better version and is what is recommended. Newer does not equal better!

[asmcom]

Thank you, Marty! Quick question - the only bin file I'm seeing in the firmware pack is the HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin file - it doesn't really say 1.03 MK. Is this the correct one? If so, I will try again, but I did try this in the SDFtool and I'm still getting that my drive is a BP50NB50, even after applying the BP60NB10 file.

Appreciate the response!

Yes, that is the MK firmware. First flash this. Make sure that it is then showing this in Makemkv info. The start the recovery process as shown in the gif.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896&hilit=SDFTool

So I definitely didn't scroll down far enough to download your specific All You Need Firmware Pack... I just had the one that was posted in the main topic of this thread. I downloaded yours, followed your instructions/GIF and everything worked like a charm!

To claim one more moment of your expertise - I downloaded the BP60NB10 1.00 MK firmware to my drive, but there is a 1.02 MK bin available. Is it better to upgrade to the 1.02 or leave as 1.00? My other disc drive (same model, but SVC is the NB50) is 1.02, so wasn't sure if it was recommended I flash to latest version.

Appreciate your time!

We have extensively tested the BP55EB40 with both 1.02MK and 1.00MK firmware versions.

Firmware 1.00MK is clearly the best option if you are using the drive solely with MakeMKV. If you require broader compatibility (e.g. DVDFab support), then the BU40N with 1.00DE firmware is the better choice.

In our testing, 1.02MK frequently failed on discs where 1.00MK succeeded first time.

We would agree with martymcnuts, newer is not always better.

UHD Friendly Drive Team
Asmcom

[babayaga]

So the trick was to only flash DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin and everything worked, no more no less, it's a bit hard to understand sometimes in this forum, what you should actually do, and the guide can be a bit misleading i think. And what about the HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin that is included with the flasher? is this a newer iteration of the 1.03MK firmware or just a original 1.04 firmware?

Files in the MK firmware pack are all MK firmware. An MK firmware is just an original firmware of the same version number that has been patched in some way, so when there is a more updated original firmware, there's a chance that mike could patch it and update the pack.

(Note really sure what DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin is.)

... If your drive has one of these firmwares, and there is no MK version of the same firmware/drive model or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to ... or (BU40N 1.03MK LG Slim drives ONLY) ...

But I have to admit that I'm also not sure whether there's something "special" about HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin, or if it's just that "The all you need firmware pack" and the guide didn't catch up with it when the MK firmware pack got updated...

P.S. The thing is being more updated does not necessarily means the firmware is better, especially when it comes to UHD capability / ripping compatibility / ... (what people here mainly concern). Also maybe whoever maintains the guide / all you need pack follows the "not broken don't fix it" policy (while mike just tried his best in MK-ising the relevant original firmware when new versions showed up).

No, this is the reason so many people ask the same question here, because there are tons of different firmware packs, flashers, and what not, now im reading that pioneer players (built within the years of working firmware that is), doesn't need firmware updates (well, they can update), but they do read UHD discs out of the box, and a firmware is not really needed? or am im completely in the woods

[tomty89]

Well after all these are just "community efforts" from different people, and they might all have a different thought about e.g. what's neat.

I think the all you need firmware pack(s) was actually trying to simplify things for people, but I guess sometimes when you do that things could end up getting a bit confusing.

I don't think there are really that many flasher, unless you count those that are for e.g. recovery purpose. For the "liberation" of the LG/ASUS drives there is just really one, command-line sdftool / makemkvcon f (which are really the same thing).

(I think the GUI sdftool flasher is a wrapper / clone of the CLI one that comes with MakeMKV, and works in only Windows, but I could be wrong.)

P.S. Do not "update" your Pioneer drive with official updater from Pioneer, especially not an updater that were released after November 2022. I don't think there is any case that you would need / want to do that. "Upgrading" as in crossflashing with a firmware of a later-generation drive is another story. You might have a better idea once you receive the flasher frome someone as it comes with a manual. I also explained it for a bit in the other thread where you asked.

[ralauscon]

Are you able to flash pioneer bdr-xd05?

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.10
Serial number: SADL091165UC
Firmware date: 2017-06-22
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8232
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.10/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[Billycar11]

Are you able to flash pioneer bdr-xd05?

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.10
Serial number: SADL091165UC
Firmware date: 2017-06-22
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8232
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.10/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

sure email me that info and all others email me no need to post your info here just reach out to me directly
see below for email