Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[Lilspartan]

Hi, I've flashed my BP50NB40 to enable LibreDrive for UHD ripping but I'm getting a Code 1 failure when trying to open any 4K disc.

Drive info shows LibreDrive as enabled:

Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:17
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 72
LibreDrive Status: Enabled
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Drive platform: MT1959
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

But MakeMKV debug log shows:

DEBUG: Code 3 at tNjYHe^Zv]scO1k:ka77Z}$W:29395310
SDF v0a5: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_K0EG3OA1600
DEBUG: Code 1 at #+V1>t#n4>odtqcWW#e[D:121265062
Failed to open disc

This happens with multiple 4K UHD discs. Regular Blu-ray and DVD discs are detected and read fine. I'm running MakeMKV v1.18.3 on Windows 11 as Administrator.

Did I use the wrong firmware file, or is there something else I need to do to get LibreDrive actually working? Any help appreciated.

[tomty89]

I suspect it's because when the author claims UHD support, they didn't consider bus encryption. (On the github repo, they list UHD support as "Native Support (without patched firmware)", which sounds to me that they didn't exactly "work on" anything regarding UHD support.) Maybe for drives with bus encryption built in, flashing some older firmware doesn't make it go away.

Not sure if they can make the modified firmware to persistently / permanently disable bus encryption, but IIRC, I read that even for drives flashed with MK firmware, it is disabled by MakeMKV in a volatile fashion.

Maybe MakeMKV or the sdf.bin needs to be modified so that it would attempt to disable bus encryption as well when it bumps into this firmware (assuming that wouldn't break anything flashed with the original firmware OmniDrive is based on). Maybe that would require changes in the OmniDrive firmware as well. Either way, I think you should file an issue on the github repo instead.

EDIT: Btw it might be somewhat useful to confirm whether the 1.00 DE firmware works fine for the drive/disc. If it does, then perhaps the OmniDrive modification has some "side effect"...(I heard that drives can only be flashed for limited times though. So you might or might not want to test further -- if that is true.)

EDIT2: Do you see the "using LibreDrive mode (...)" line in the log after you started ripping / opening the disc? Or did that no longer show up with OmniDrive? (And did you even see it when you are with the MK firmware?)

FYI, "Original (unpatched)" doesn't mean that MakeMKV is telling you it has trouble enabling LibreDrive. Here unpatched means the firmware you use is not an MK firmware (MK firmware is a patched stocked firmware. See for viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113 details. Not all stock firmware needs to be patched for LibreDrive to work. For example, all Pioneer firmware are "original (unpatched).)

However, at the same time "Status: Enabled" doesn't mean that MakeMKV has already attempted /successfully enabled it. It merely means that with the current MakeMKV / sdf.bin the firmware you are using is supposed to support LibreDrive. IIRC LibreDrive does not "kick in" until you open a disc.

[Sayaka]

Linux user here.

I have little interest in OmniDrive, given that the only game discs I'm interested in currently are PS3 discs (and OmniDrive isn't required for those), but I was curious about this, so I decided to give it a shot.

I downloaded OmniDrive from here : https://archive.org/download/OmniDrive_v1.0.2

And flashed it to one of my BP55EB40s with v1.17.6 makemkvcon.

I tried opening the regular Tangled Blu-ray with MakeMKV v1.17.6. Worked fine.

Then I tried some disc playback with VLC (after mounting the disc). Also worked fine.

Then I tried inserting the 4K Blu-ray disc of Tangled. MakeMKV was able to open it. I then tried mounting the disc and doing playback with VLC. VLC doesn't handle 4K Blu-rays with HDR very well, but technically it worked. Then I tried the same thing with Kodi. Worked like a charm.

So I'm not sure the problem is with bus encryption. Could it be that your version of macOS is somehow having trouble with OmniDrive...?

EDIT : I've also read that the BU40N 1.00 firmware has trouble with some 4K discs, so maybe that could also be why OmniDrive doesn't want to read that one 4K disc, since it's based on the BU40N 1.00 firmware ?

[Makar]

Is it possible to flash this drive to read 4K discs?

Drive Information
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD08
Revision: 1.02

Firmware date: 2022-12-27
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS9330
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-BDS8
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02

[Billycar11]

Is it possible to flash this drive to read 4K discs?

Drive Information
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD08
Revision: 1.02

Firmware date: 2022-12-27
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS9330
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-BDS8
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02

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

[Makar]

Email sent.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi, I've flashed my BP50NB40 to enable LibreDrive for UHD ripping but I'm getting a Code 1 failure when trying to open any 4K disc.

Drive info shows LibreDrive as enabled:

Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:17
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 72
LibreDrive Status: Enabled
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Drive platform: MT1959
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

But MakeMKV debug log shows:

DEBUG: Code 3 at tNjYHe^Zv]scO1k:ka77Z}$W:29395310
SDF v0a5: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_K0EG3OA1600
DEBUG: Code 1 at #+V1>t#n4>odtqcWW#e[D:121265062
Failed to open disc

This happens with multiple 4K UHD discs. Regular Blu-ray and DVD discs are detected and read fine. I'm running MakeMKV v1.18.3 on Windows 11 as Administrator.

Did I use the wrong firmware file, or is there something else I need to do to get LibreDrive actually working? Any help appreciated.

Libredrive does not equal UHD compatibility. BP50NB40 firmware is not UHD compatible. It must be cross-flashed to either BU40N or BP60NB10 firmware to enable UHD readability. Read the first post of the SDFTool flasher thread.

[OneDay]

Linux user here.

I have little interest in OmniDrive, given that the only game discs I'm interested in currently are PS3 discs (and OmniDrive isn't required for those), but I was curious about this, so I decided to give it a shot.

I downloaded OmniDrive from here : https://archive.org/download/OmniDrive_v1.0.2

And flashed it to one of my BP55EB40s with v1.17.6 makemkvcon.

I tried opening the regular Tangled Blu-ray with MakeMKV v1.17.6. Worked fine.

Then I tried some disc playback with VLC (after mounting the disc). Also worked fine.

Then I tried inserting the 4K Blu-ray disc of Tangled. MakeMKV was able to open it. I then tried mounting the disc and doing playback with VLC. VLC doesn't handle 4K Blu-rays with HDR very well, but technically it worked. Then I tried the same thing with Kodi. Worked like a charm.

So I'm not sure the problem is with bus encryption. Could it be that your version of macOS is somehow having trouble with OmniDrive...?

EDIT : I've also read that the BU40N 1.00 firmware has trouble with some 4K discs, so maybe that could also be why OmniDrive doesn't want to read that one 4K disc, since it's based on the BU40N 1.00 firmware ?

Give this a try. I use this for VLC to play Blu Ray - UHD with no issues. I also do not have VLC linked to Makemkv

https://vlc-bluray.whoknowsmy.name/

[Sayaka]

Give this a try. I use this for VLC to play Blu Ray - UHD with no issues.

Thank you.

However, my problem isn't that I can't play UHD Blu-rays with VLC. My problem is that VLC doesn't seem to handle HDR10 or Dolby Atmos/TrueHD very well on those 4K Blu-rays that have them - the colors and brightness look wrong and some of the audio feels... off. I know one can almost fix the HDR10 issue by fiddling around with the VLC settings, but I have yet to find a way to fix the VLC Dolby Atmos issue, and furthermore there's just no incentive for me to start modifying VLC settings if Kodi gets it right on the first try.

Getting *everything* to work just fine on my Linux distro (ISO playback, disc playback, 4K playback, Kodi Blu-ray disc playback from a Pioneer drive, fixing audio/video sync issues, etc.) was a major pain and I may start a thread in the Linux subforum eventually to share the tricks I've learned, and to see if people have any other tips.

I also do not have VLC linked to Makemkv.

I prefer linking MakeMKV, personally. In my opinion it just makes things easier.

[trendsitter73]

Hi

I've been following the instructions to flash my drive using my Mac (I don't have access to a PC) However, when I type './makemkvcon f -l' into Terminal, I get the following:

Found 1 drives(s)
00:
HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.05_212404231347_MO9P9QJ5043

The flashing guide says I should see "/IOBDServices/XXXXXXXX" after the 00: and before the drive description. Without it, I can't successfully run the flashing command.

FYI, this is what MakeMkv says:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: MO9P9QJ5043
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance!

[dcoke22]

Hi

I've been following the instructions to flash my drive using my Mac (I don't have access to a PC) However, when I type './makemkvcon f -l' into Terminal, I get the following:

Found 1 drives(s)
00:
HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.05_212404231347_MO9P9QJ5043

The flashing guide says I should see "/IOBDServices/XXXXXXXX" after the 00: and before the drive description. Without it, I can't successfully run the flashing command.

FYI, this is what MakeMkv says:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: MO9P9QJ5043
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance!

What version of MakeMKV and MacOS are you using? I don't think I've encountered your situation before.

[TheGalb]

So I went and did the one thing you said not to at the very start.

I have a HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH16NS40 and a windows 10 PC. I thought it was newer than it was, but I suspect now it was beyond the age range that was indicated as being safe to update. And of course, now its not playing any disks.

Is there any hope of resorting the drive's firmware? I managed to find a few different firmware updates I've tried to switch to, but I'm getting the error "CheckSum is Mismatched. Drive will go to BOOT mode please retry again."

I'm cranky and not thinking straight at this point. If anyone has advice or a link to advice I didn't see, I would greatly appreciate the help. I suspect even if I get it running again, if I want newer bluray's to run on my PC I'll need a newer drive regardless. But it would be nice to restore this one if possible. Also apologies if this is the wrong place to ask.

[drknight71]

Grüß euch!

Hi everyone!

Hi Bombi,

Did you see the USB list in this post?

USB enclosures/sata adapters that work with optical drives and flashing:

OWC Mercury Pro 5.25 case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRCCV44?th=1
Pioneer 5.25 drives stick out a bit without modification but is still the recommended case overall @Coopervid for Tab modification Pic https://mega.nz/file/mV5mCDhT#T794dO696 ... l_wcIH352A

Silverstone TS14 slimsata 9.5mm to USB-Marty pioneers only
ICY BOX IB-550StU3S 5.25 case-ddeconin
Alxum AX-SC021NEW USB to sata cable-Marty
BENFEI SATA to USB 3.0 Cable, USB 3.0 to SATA III with 12V/2A-Coopervid https://www.amazon.com/Benfei-Adapter-C ... T17B8?th=1
Sata to Slim Sata Adapter https://www.amazon.com/ChenYang-slimlin ... 18-7067709
5.25 bay to 9.5mm adapter useful for using BU40N with OWC case https://www.newegg.com/icy-dock-mb343sp ... -_-Product

------------------------------------- Deutsch -------------------------------------------------------------------

Hallo Bombi,

Es ist moeglich das deine USB anschluss, kein flash untersteutzung bietet sehe auch:

USB enclosures/sata adapters that work with optical drives and flashing:

OWC Mercury Pro 5.25 case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRCCV44?th=1
Pioneer 5.25 drives stick out a bit without modification but is still the recommended case overall @Coopervid for Tab modification Pic https://mega.nz/file/mV5mCDhT#T794dO696 ... l_wcIH352A

Silverstone TS14 slimsata 9.5mm to USB-Marty pioneers only
ICY BOX IB-550StU3S 5.25 case-ddeconin
Alxum AX-SC021NEW USB to sata cable-Marty
BENFEI SATA to USB 3.0 Cable, USB 3.0 to SATA III with 12V/2A-Coopervid https://www.amazon.com/Benfei-Adapter-C ... T17B8?th=1
Sata to Slim Sata Adapter https://www.amazon.com/ChenYang-slimlin ... 18-7067709
5.25 bay to 9.5mm adapter useful for using BU40N with OWC case https://www.newegg.com/icy-dock-mb343sp ... -_-Product

Hi guys,

Just bought an OWC Mercury Pro and according to this it needs modification to work? Also is it compatible with a Pioneer 211M 1.54 firmware? Thanks

[katana!]

Hello, I am new here and a complete beginner when it comes to flashing drives.

I recently purchased the following drive:
Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
UHD Blu-ray Drive / DVD Writer
MODEL: BU40N
ROM VER: 1.05
MANUFACTURED: March 2026 (2026 03 09)

I installed the drive into a Delock 42603 enclosure. It is fully recognized (not as a generic drive) on my MacBook Pro 2019 and on an ASRock DeskMini A300.

Unfortunately, flashing with OmniDrive does not seem to be possible anymore, as MakeMKV does not show LibreDrive information or the driver platform (MT1959). These lines are completely missing.

Here is the log:
OS device name: D
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: xxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 19
No disc inserted

Additionally, SDFtool Flasher shows the following: MT1959 Platform: (red) X

I have not attempted any flashing yet, as it seems the driver platform is not detected. Could this be caused by the external Delock enclosure and the USB connection? Is there a way to still flash the drive?

[nicholfd]

Hi guys,

Just bought an OWC Mercury Pro and according to this it needs modification to work? Also is it compatible with a Pioneer 211M 1.54 firmware? Thanks

The OWC chassis doesn't care about the drive Mfg or firmware.

The "modification" is mechanical. When you put the longer (Pioneer) drive in the chassis, you'll see that the drive can't be inserted far enough for the chassis/drive screw holes to line up properly. You merely need to bend the OWC chassis sheetmetal mounting tabs slightly toward the front of the chassis to get the screw holes to line up.

Thanks,
Frank