Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

[SamuriHL]

I'm currently running mk 1.01 on my ns60 with no issues. That thing is like a tank... it reads everything I throw at it.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Billycar11]

I just tried one of each of these sata-usb adapters and neither worked for flashing, which was strange because it was (visually) the one Marty said he had, but the part number IS different.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VR52ZZ0
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CK205ZG

Shall I send them back stating they don't support optical drives?

i dont even really see a model number for them to add them, otherwise i would

[monorail engineer]

I have a WH14NS40 with 1.03 on it. It's currently in a Vantec case hooked into my Mac via VM (Win 10 32-bit). When I run the Firmware Flash Tool and select the bin file it goes to the progress bar and says it could take up to two minutes. Then it just sits..... I have to end the the task to exit out. The drive still works fine so I don't think it has done anything bad to the drive. Any thoughts on how to get the tool to start working for me? Thanks!!

[Billycar11]

I have a WH14NS40 with 1.03 on it. It's currently in a Vantec case hooked into my Mac via VM (Win 10 32-bit). When I run the Firmware Flash Tool and select the bin file it goes to the progress bar and says it could take up to two minutes. Then it just sits..... I have to end the the task to exit out. The drive still works fine so I don't think it has done anything bad to the drive. Any thoughts on how to get the tool to start working for me? Thanks!!

2 possible problems

1. Make sure your VM fully is passing through the drive
2. What vantec is it the flashing friendly one?

[ddeconin@gmail.com]

Hi, I used an external ICY BOX IB-550StU3S enclosure (https://www.raidsonic.de/en/standards/s ... jectID=456)
with my ASUS BW-16D1HT and was able to flash the firmware.
Since this enclosure can be found relatively easy in the EU, perhaps you can add it to your list.
D.

[jonghotti]

Why is my name no longer on the list of sellers?

I've sold more drives to more satisfied customers than the rest of the sellers combined.

[Billycar11]

Hi, I used an external ICY BOX IB-550StU3S enclosure (https://www.raidsonic.de/en/standards/s ... jectID=456)
with my ASUS BW-16D1HT and was able to flash the firmware.
Since this enclosure can be found relatively easy in the EU, perhaps you can add it to your list.
D.

ok thanks adding it

[rcw314159]

I just wanted to say that I just purchased a drive from alexcoluzzi32@gmail.com, he is easy to work with and the drive works flawlessly.

[KENSAI]

I just got my drive from Alex and he was a great guy to deal with. The drives is AMAZING - it's ripping at 6x speeds, which I haven't seen before. Extremely pleased with the new drive and Alex is completely trustworthy.

[kiam001]

My CH12NS40 can After Patch read 4k Blu-rays

[THXTEX]

I've purchased a second drive via Asmcom on eBay after my Buffalo drive was playing up with Captain Marvel.

Needed to test on a second drive with other bits of software other than MakeMKV (I have a lot!). Ironically, MakeMKV skipped past the problem sectors and made a mostly functional file, but it still had issues (glitching at the beginning but otherwise watchable).

However, I digress.

Don't know what happened this morning but the discs were no problem after this morning. Even the Buffalo drive is working as it should, but I've found the one from Asmcom to be my go-to drive. Nothing has phased it.

Will probably end up putting the Buffalo drive up for sale!

Anyway, there's the link to the drive I bought.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LG-BU40N-v1- ... 2749.l2649

They even got a copy of Captain Marvel to test on my behalf! Can't get better CS than that, eh?

THXTEX

[maintainin]

Hi all,

First time poster here but I’ve been using makemkv for years. I just wanted to let everyone know that I picked a LG WH16NS60 today at my local Microcenter store. The drive was manufactured April 2019 and came with v1.02 firmware. I tried flashing to the NS60 MK 1.01 firmware with the LG flasher and got the “write dram ng 05/26/03” error. Figured I’m doing something wrong and did some searching and figured out I couldn’t just go from 1.02 to 1.01. I then used the ASUS flasher and successfully flashed to ASUS MK 3.10 and then was able to successfully flash again to the NS60 MK 1.01 firmware. Successfully ripped a UHD copy of Interstellar. Read rate varied from 28.0 M/s down to 17.0 M/s at times. Took 51 minutes to rip the 70gb file. Is that considered good?

I also wanted to let everyone know that I picked up this USB 3.0 to Sata/IDE adapter(CB-ISA225-U3) at microcenter as well and it’s working with the drive:

https://www.amazon.com/Vantec-SATA-IDE- ... B01E7EPKUO

I was looking for one that specifically said it also works with optical drives besides hard drives and came with an AC adapter and this was the only one that really fit the bill at the store. So I took a shot and lucked out. Here’s a link to the pdf instructions on Vantecs website showing everything that comes with it and how it all connects:

http://www.vantecusa.com/CKEdit/images/ ... g_copy.pdf

Connected it all up and my PC recognized it immediately as a BD drive when I plugged it into the USB port. Just wanted to stop in and post my experience and findings. Hope it helps some folks like these forums have helped me so much over the years!

[rui-no-onna]

Thank you very much for this guide, the tools and patched firmwares. I didn't think we'd ever be able to rip 4K/UHD. I've been using and had a MakeMKV license since 2016 but only registered for the forums now.

I have an incoming LG WH14NS40 and Asus BW-16D1HT. Which firmware should I flash for the ff:
1. ripping protected/raw ISO with ImgBurn for later decryption/processing (MakeMKV or AnyDVD HD+Handbrake)
2. wide compatibility (at least both MakeMKV and AnyDVD HD support)

Should I use DE firmware on one (maybe WH16NS60 1.00 on the LG) and MK firmware on the other (maybe BW-16D1HT 3.10 MK on the Asus)?

Again, thanks!

[SamuriHL]

Whatever you decide, please check the NS40's SVC code before you put it in the machine and make SURE it's an NS50 drive before flashing it. There's a DE and MK firmware for the NS50 should it end up being compatible. The MK 3.10 ASUS firmware is what I run on my BW-16D1HT and it works great in both MakeMKV and AnyDVD. I keep my NS60 drive on 1.00 dedicated for MakeMKV. And it gets a lot of use. LOL

[rui-no-onna]

Whatever you decide, please check the NS40's SVC code before you put it in the machine and make SURE it's an NS50 drive before flashing it. There's a DE and MK firmware for the NS50 should it end up being compatible. The MK 3.10 ASUS firmware is what I run on my BW-16D1HT and it works great in both MakeMKV and AnyDVD. I keep my NS60 drive on 1.00 dedicated for MakeMKV. And it gets a lot of use. LOL

These are new shipped and sold by Amazon.com (not 3rd party) so I'm guessing if a problem is gonna crop up, it would be because of too new firmware.

I actually have a couple of WHS14NS40 installed already (for regular Blu-rays) but those were purchased in 2014 so fairly certain those are SVC NS40. Waiting if I'm successful with flashing (via UNITEK Y-1099 USB adapter). If not, I'll likely buy the NS60 from Alex.