Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[nicholfd]

Hello all. Thought I'd post in this thread rather than opening a new one, but if it's preferred I post a standalone thread, I'd be happy to.

I am attempting to flash a Buffalo BRXL-16U3 on a Mac.

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Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BH16NS58
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-08 09:33
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

I paid attention to the first post of this guide and downgraded my MakeMKV and downgraded my MakeMKV to 1.17.7 (I bought a license to satisfy the prompt that said I needed to. Afterwards the initial launch would say that the program failed, though it still started up alright).

I moved the

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sdf.bin

file and the version of the firmware that my searches of the forum indicated I should use

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HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

to the /tmp directory and fired up the CLI to get the drive ID

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$ cd /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS
$ ./makemkvcon f -l

After that I ran the full command:

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./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/B16D63D6' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i '/tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin'

Which completed with a "Done successfully"

Then I reinstalled the latest version of MakeMKV (because of the fatal error bug) and unplugged the drive and plugged it back in. But the firmware remains the original version.'

Happy to try again or take a new tack. Can I just use 1.18.3?

No need to downgrade or use an old version of MakeMKV on macOS. It's great that you bought a license of MakeMKV - need to support those who support our hobby. I'm not aware of any requirement to buy a license to use the tool, as long as you have a current/non-expired "beta" key.

That drive has encrypted firmware. You need to use the encryption option ("enc" I believe - check the instructions).

Thanks,
Frank

[Lilspartan]

Hi, I'm trying to flash my BU40N but getting "No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin" on both Windows and Linux with the latest sdf.bin from makemkv.com.
Drive info:

Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BU40N
Firmware version: FR07
Firmware date: 2118-01-22 15:36
Platform: MT1959
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 72
Serial: 808HS043042

What I've tried:

Latest sdf.bin from makemkv.com
sdf_000000a5.bin extracted from appdata.tar
Both Windows (makemkvcon64.exe) and NixOS Linux (makemkvcon)
Firmware file: HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-FR07-JM02202-211801221536.bin from the 2020 firmware pack

Is the FR07 variant supported? Is there an updated SDF.bin or alternative method I can try?

[nicholfd]

Hi, I'm trying to flash my BU40N but getting "No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin" on both Windows and Linux with the latest sdf.bin from makemkv.com.
Drive info:

Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BU40N
Firmware version: FR07
Firmware date: 2118-01-22 15:36
Platform: MT1959
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 72
Serial: 808HS043042

What I've tried:

Latest sdf.bin from makemkv.com
sdf_000000a5.bin extracted from appdata.tar
Both Windows (makemkvcon64.exe) and NixOS Linux (makemkvcon)
Firmware file: HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-FR07-JM02202-211801221536.bin from the 2020 firmware pack

Is the FR07 variant supported? Is there an updated SDF.bin or alternative method I can try?

If using Windows, why not use the SDFtool at the start of this thread? Install latest/current MakeMKV in the standard location, make sure it has internet access & launch it once, connect the drive & launch the tool. Select the drive, select the firmware & click Start. No need to mess with "SDF.bin" - it just uses what the MakeMKV app downloaded, and for the BU40N, I suspect that hasn't changed in a long time.

[adradr]

No need to downgrade or use an old version of MakeMKV on macOS.

Ah, I see now, the downgrade is only necessary for linux. I misread that as Mac/linux:

Mac/linux commands to flash. the latest working version is 1.17.7 of makemkv for flashing do not use an newer version for flashing until further notice on linux

That drive has encrypted firmware. You need to use the encryption option ("enc" I believe - check the instructions).

Good to know, I hadn't seen it in the list so wasn't sure about that.

It might be cool if the

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makemkvcon info

command could include information about whether a drive has encrypted firmware or not.

I'm certainly grateful for the quick response from Billycar11 and you, Frank, but I wonder if it might be a good thing to help newbies fall into the pit of success.

Is the utility open source by chance?

At any rate, everything looks good to me after using the correct command So thanks all!

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./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/B16D63D6' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash enc -i '/tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin'

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[nicholfd]

It might be cool if the

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makemkvcon info

command could include information about whether a drive has encrypted firmware or not.

I'm certainly grateful for the quick response from Billycar11 and you, Frank, but I wonder if it might be a good thing to help newbies fall into the pit of success.

Is the utility open source by chance?

At any rate, everything looks good to me after using the correct command So thanks all!

makemkvcon is the command line part of MakeMKV - not open source.

[Fragpuss]

Hi. It's my first time flashing a drive and i have a few questions

i have a HL-DT BD-RE BU40N 1.05 UHD drive in an Icybox enclosure, the drive platform says MT1959, SDFTool Flasher for my drive has encrypted firmware ticked aswell as MT1959 Platform.

Am i still able to flash it to allow reading of discs in makemkv?

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi. It's my first time flashing a drive and i have a few questions

i have a HL-DT BD-RE BU40N 1.05 UHD drive in an Icybox enclosure, the drive platform says MT1959, SDFTool Flasher for my drive has encrypted firmware ticked aswell as MT1959 Platform.

Am i still able to flash it to allow reading of discs in makemkv?

Yes. Flash it to BU40N 1.03-MK for UHD compatibility and to remoe the firmware encryption. You can now use it as is with MakeMKV and Xreveal but if you use Linux or other UHD ripping software, you should then flash it to BU40N 1.00.

[babayaga]

Hi! I need to ask, i see so many use sata->usb converters for flashing, are there issues flashing drives connecting the drive directly to the computer by sata?

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi! I need to ask, i see so many use sata->usb converters for flashing, are there issues flashing drives connecting the drive directly to the computer by sata?

No.

[the_alquemist]

Hi! I wanna join the UHD ripping club, can someone recommend me a drive (hopefully from amazon) available today and makeMKV setup for my linux system? Im considering containers too. I see lots of options but not so sure where to start

[babayaga]

Hi! I wanna join the UHD ripping club, can someone recommend me a drive (hopefully from amazon) available today and makeMKV setup for my linux system? Im considering containers too. I see lots of options but not so sure where to start

There are several factors, what's your budget, where in the world are you located? There are several people on this board selling drives, it has it's own thread, and all the drive they are selling are UHD compatible, the difference is if you have any particular feature except UHD that you need. The general rule is that pioneer drives are the most sought after for being stable and good in their performance, and then you have other drives like LG which is often used internally in other brands like Asus and verbatim (they also have pioneer internals sometimes), but to make this short, you should use some time and read around the forum to get an idea of what you want, people have different opinions on this, and this is not the correct thread asking about joining the club, it's about the process and help of flashing firmware for a drive someone already have.

[nicholfd]

Hi! I wanna join the UHD ripping club, can someone recommend me a drive (hopefully from amazon) available today and makeMKV setup for my linux system? Im considering containers too. I see lots of options but not so sure where to start

Hello!

I have several models available for purchase, on-hand, pre-flashed & in the US. All work equally well with macOS, Linux & Windows.

See links to my "For sale" threads in my signature. Or send me an e-mail if you have questions or need more details - drives@nicholasfamilycentral.com.

Thanks,
Frank

[CaptainHowdy]

Hi!

I was reading through this forum this afternoon and decided to pull out my old Pioneer BDR-212V.

I'm thinking that this might be able to be modified to handle 4K.

Here's the information that appeared on my MakeMKV screen.

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212V
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: ADDL009948WL
Firmware date: 2020-08-07
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 43

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00/ID06
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

So, I have two questions....

1). Can this drive be modified? and,
2). How do I go about it?

Many thanks for any assistance.
Captain

[Billycar11]

Hi!

I was reading through this forum this afternoon and decided to pull out my old Pioneer BDR-212V.

I'm thinking that this might be able to be modified to handle 4K.

Here's the information that appeared on my MakeMKV screen.

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212V
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: ADDL009948WL
Firmware date: 2020-08-07
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 43

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00/ID06
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

So, I have two questions....

1). Can this drive be modified? and,
2). How do I go about it?

Many thanks for any assistance.
Captain

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

[SnakeQueenMedusa]

Hi guys! I'd like to be able to rip my 4k DVD's to my laptop, but I've read all this and the SDFtool Flasher forum post and still can't make heads or tails of it :'(

I have a Verbatim Ultra HD 4K External Slimline Blu-ray Writer and this is the information given on MakeMKV

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: MO3P7IB0419
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

Is it possible for this to be flashed? I literally just bought it (arrived today) and I had no idea I'd have to do any of this. I can return it and get something else if I have to. Hopefully someone gets back to me before the return period runs out!

Thanks in advance <3