SDFtool Flasher

[Noob123]

No, you aren't, not by a long stretch. The original versions came with a native UHD Pioneer drive inside. The current versions come with an LG BU40N, which needs flashing with SDFTool Flasher.

That was my assumption. It has already been flashed. I am wondering if those who have already flashed this model has experienced a similar issue or if they were able to read UHD discs with the supplied USB cable without any issues. It would also be helpful to know if anyone has used a duplex USB cable with this drive before.

First thing to do when getting read errors is to clean the disc(s), even if they look pristine. If that still doesn't help, then look at the power. The Verbatims can be a bit power hungry. Don't use PC case ports. Use USB ports (USB-C if possible) direct from the motherboard if you can, otherwise get yourself an AC self-powered hub of at least 30w. This is especially true with laptops as often laptops don't supply enough constant power to the USB ports.

Thanks. I'm leaning towards a power issue because all 10 (obsessively cleaned) UHD discs have had the same issue and it reads regularly blue ray just fine. I am using the USB-C Port on my laptop which has a max power output of 15W so I will look into powered USB hub options.

[Noob123]

According to the sticker on the drive, the Verbatim 43888 (LG BU40N) has a power requirement of 15W (5
V 3A) and my laptops USB C port has a max 15W output.

There does not appear to exist any AC powered USB C hubs with ports that deliver more than 15W output and also data at the same time. Charging blocks do but they don’t transfer data.

I would love to hear from any of the numerous people who has successfully flashed a 43888 LG drive to read UHD discs on this matter.

[whswede]

Just wanted to give cheers to SDFtool and firmware pack made available (the all you need firmware pack). My brand new Asus BW‑16D1HT with 3.11 (asus newest) downgraded to 3.10 and now runs libre and rips the newest uhd-movies I've got. Great!

[MartyMcNuts]

According to the sticker on the drive, the Verbatim 43888 (LG BU40N) has a power requirement of 15W (5
V 3A) and my laptops USB C port has a max 15W output.

There does not appear to exist any AC powered USB C hubs with ports that deliver more than 15W output and also data at the same time. Charging blocks do but they don’t transfer data.

I would love to hear from any of the numerous people who has successfully flashed a 43888 LG drive to read UHD discs on this matter.

I'm sure that the laptop's USB-C port doesn't provide that 15w power constantly either. Probably fluctuates some which causes drive issues.

I've flashed hundreds (if not thousands) of these Verbatim 43888's and tested them with UHD discs while connected to my TEKERA 7-port USB 3.2/USB-C hub that has a 24w power supply. The hub is connected to my PC via a USB-C port directly from the motherboard. Not a single power issue. I would not recommend a hub with any lower than 24w. I test 3 drives at a time using the 3 x 10Gbps ports on my hub. Link below.

TEKERA:
https://www.amazon.com.au/TEKERA-3-2-US ... 542&sr=1-4


Billy also recommends a different hub model over in his thread: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17831 but I'm not sure which model.

[GayMergirl]

I am trying to flash a replacement drive I purchased recently. (external slim Archgon BU40N with encrypted firmware)

https://www.amazon.com/Archgon-Premium- ... 177&sr=8-1

I was able to flash this drive a couple of years ago, but obviously I know hardware or firmware revisions could've happened

I'm trying to write the "LG slim BU40N" firmware from "The all you need firmware pack". The specific issue I'm having is that, when I click "Start" in the SDFtool Flasher 1.3.6 nothing happens. The program recognizes my drive, recognizes the firmware I'm trying to flash, but won't flash or do anything when I click "Start." Any suggestions? Am I missing something that won't let me flash this drive?

MakeMKV info:
Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MOBP55G0506
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Possible (with patched firmware)
BD raw data read: Possible (with patched firmware)
BD raw metadata read: Possible (with patched firmware)
Unrestricted read speed: Possible (with patched firmware)

[MartyMcNuts]

I am trying to flash a replacement drive I purchased recently. (external slim Archgon BU40N with encrypted firmware)

https://www.amazon.com/Archgon-Premium- ... 177&sr=8-1

I was able to flash this drive a couple of years ago, but obviously I know hardware or firmware revisions could've happened

I'm trying to write the "LG slim BU40N" firmware from "The all you need firmware pack". The specific issue I'm having is that, when I click "Start" in the SDFtool Flasher 1.3.6 nothing happens. The program recognizes my drive, recognizes the firmware I'm trying to flash, but won't flash or do anything when I click "Start." Any suggestions? Am I missing something that won't let me flash this drive?

MakeMKV info:
Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MOBP55G0506
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Possible (with patched firmware)
BD raw data read: Possible (with patched firmware)
BD raw metadata read: Possible (with patched firmware)
Unrestricted read speed: Possible (with patched firmware)

Archgon changed the PCB inside the enclosure a few months back and the drive can no longer be flashed (or used for UHD discs) inside the enclosure. It must be removed from that enclosure permanently.

If I was you, I'd return it and get something else. Both the Verbatim 43888 and Verbatim 43889 contain a LG BU40N drive and can easily be flashed.

[flowhours]

Hi there, I have tried to see if anyone has asked about this firmware version before and I couldn't find anything so before I do anything I just want to double check. I have used your tool to dump the current firmware that came with my "Verbatim Ultra HD 4K External Slimline Blu-ray Writer" (43888). The name of the firmware from the dump is called "HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.05" it's not in the list of encrypted firmware's. However, it appears to be a newer version number so I fear it could be encrypted too. There is also some weird firmware date being provided from MakeMKV info below and that bus encryption flag. As flashing these things in particular are not my expertise I thought I would ask here before doing anything.

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: (removed in case sensitive)
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

[Bytez]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to double-check.

I have an ASUS BW-16D1HT with firmware 3.11. The guide says I should first upgrade to firmware WH16NS60 1.02-MK and then I can install another firmware (in my case, 3.10 from ASUS).

Is this intermediate step still necessary, or can I go straight to 3.10?

[icman]

Hi All.

I just purchased a new ASUS BW-16D1X-U. MakeMKV says the following...

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E113
Serial number: DIDL124254WL
Firmware date: 2020-07-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E113/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes


When I run SDFTool, it says that the drive does not have the correct platform (MT1959) and cannot be flashed.

What does all that mean? What is the MT1959 platform? What other platforms are there? How can I flash my drive?

Thank you.

[Woodstock]

The flasher can work with drives based on the MT1959 chip set; your drive uses the Pioneer chipset. They are not compatible.

[Billycar11]

Hi All.

I just purchased a new ASUS BW-16D1X-U. MakeMKV says the following...

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E113
Serial number: DIDL124254WL
Firmware date: 2020-07-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E113/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes


When I run SDFTool, it says that the drive does not have the correct platform (MT1959) and cannot be flashed.

What does all that mean? What is the MT1959 platform? What other platforms are there? How can I flash my drive?

Thank you.

Just email me your makemkv drive info section like that and I have a flasher for you see below for email

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi there, I have tried to see if anyone has asked about this firmware version before and I couldn't find anything so before I do anything I just want to double check. I have used your tool to dump the current firmware that came with my "Verbatim Ultra HD 4K External Slimline Blu-ray Writer" (43888). The name of the firmware from the dump is called "HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.05" it's not in the list of encrypted firmware's. However, it appears to be a newer version number so I fear it could be encrypted too. There is also some weird firmware date being provided from MakeMKV info below and that bus encryption flag. As flashing these things in particular are not my expertise I thought I would ask here before doing anything.

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: (removed in case sensitive)
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

Nothing new. v1.05 has been around for 12 months now. All firmware from 2020 onwards is encrypted. Just flash it to BU40N 1.03-MK. You can then use it or flash it again to BU40N 1.00 if you use other UHD ripping software (besides MakeMKV).

[MartyMcNuts]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to double-check.

I have an ASUS BW-16D1HT with firmware 3.11. The guide says I should first upgrade to firmware WH16NS60 1.02-MK and then I can install another firmware (in my case, 3.10 from ASUS).

Is this intermediate step still necessary, or can I go straight to 3.10?

WH16NS60 1.02-MK is recommended as it reads faster and removes the sleep bug. If you don't write discs much, this is the firmware to use. If you do sometimes write to discs, use BW-16D1HT 3.10-MK. You can write directly to 3.10-MK if this is the firmware you want to use.

[divchase]

Hi! I am thinking to get same drive as you: Buffalo BRUHD-PU3-BK. Can you advise your success rate with the rips. I uderstand it sometimes doesnt work from what Ive read. id appreciate to hear what other people think as well. thx!

[Noob123]

According to the sticker on the drive, the Verbatim 43888 (LG BU40N) has a power requirement of 15W (5
V 3A) and my laptops USB C port has a max 15W output.

There does not appear to exist any AC powered USB C hubs with ports that deliver more than 15W output and also data at the same time. Charging blocks do but they don’t transfer data.

I would love to hear from any of the numerous people who has successfully flashed a 43888 LG drive to read UHD discs on this matter.

I'm sure that the laptop's USB-C port doesn't provide that 15w power constantly either. Probably fluctuates some which causes drive issues.

I've flashed hundreds (if not thousands) of these Verbatim 43888's and tested them with UHD discs while connected to my TEKERA 7-port USB 3.2/USB-C hub that has a 24w power supply. The hub is connected to my PC via a USB-C port directly from the motherboard. Not a single power issue. I would not recommend a hub with any lower than 24w. I test 3 drives at a time using the 3 x 10Gbps ports on my hub. Link below.

TEKERA:
https://www.amazon.com.au/TEKERA-3-2-US ... 542&sr=1-4


Billy also recommends a different hub model over in his thread: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17831 but I'm not sure which model.

Hats off to you sir and everyone who suggested it might be a power issue. I ended up buying the same powered hub you have and indeed my Verbatim 43888 now backs up UHD discs like a charm. Thank you!