Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

[parisdoro]

Hi, I have a "verbatim eu" Pioneer BDR-UD03 firmware 1.14 with BDXL icon on it. I try to read a UHD disc and it doesn't work. Is it possible to flash to make it recognize UHD discs and rip them?thanks

[Enrique8712]

Hello, I've read this guide a couple of times but still feel a little confused because of how it is worded. Could someone help me? I just want to know which one I can buy right now and flash it and have it working? If anyone can help me with this, I would really appreciate the help! I don't want to buy the wrong one and have to keep returning them.

[d00zah]

Hello, I've read this guide a couple of times but still feel a little confused because of how it is worded. Could someone help me? I just want to know which one I can buy right now and flash it and have it working? If anyone can help me with this, I would really appreciate the help! I don't want to buy the wrong one and have to keep returning them.

Start here:

Drives for sale, Flashing Services, where to buy...

Choose a buyer in your region & contact them via email (usually in the 1st post of the thread) about what you are looking for, current stock, etc..

[lifesgucci]

ack i found an lg WH14NS40 for $40 in a local store and didn't check the date. it's jan 2015. how borked am i? is it's possible to uhd flash or should i just leave it alone?

[d00zah]

ack i found an lg WH14NS40 for $40 in a local store and didn't check the date. it's jan 2015. how borked am i? is it's possible to uhd flash or should i just leave it alone?

Too old... just leave it alone. >Oct 2015 is the target.

[infectedrain]

Model Name : PIONEER BD-RW BDR-UD03D
Firmware Rev : 1.00
Extra Info : 14/05/14 PIONEER

Hi Is there a chance to convert it to UHD friendly drive?

[Billycar11]

Model Name : PIONEER BD-RW BDR-UD03D
Firmware Rev : 1.00
Extra Info : 14/05/14 PIONEER

Hi Is there a chance to convert it to UHD friendly drive?

yeah email me i have an automated flasher for that

[infectedrain]

Thank you, I'm writing an email now

[Azathanai]

I'm a bit confused by this guide. Does the section "drives that Currently work are:" mean that the drives in this list are capable of ripping 4k straight from the box?

[MartyMcNuts]

I'm a bit confused by this guide. Does the section "drives that Currently work are:" mean that the drives in this list are capable of ripping 4k straight from the box?

No. The Pioneer models work if they are on older firmware (pre Dec 2022). Essentially all of them now require flashing (no publicly available flasher for Pioneer drives) as they have newer firmware.

[Azathanai]

I'm a bit confused by this guide. Does the section "drives that Currently work are:" mean that the drives in this list are capable of ripping 4k straight from the box?

No. The Pioneer models work if they are on older firmware (pre Dec 2022). Essentially all of them now require flashing (no publicly available flasher for Pioneer drives) as they have newer firmware.

Can every drive be flashed by the guide given under " How To Flash Videos and commands:"? If not, which ones can?

[MartyMcNuts]

I'm a bit confused by this guide. Does the section "drives that Currently work are:" mean that the drives in this list are capable of ripping 4k straight from the box?

No. The Pioneer models work if they are on older firmware (pre Dec 2022). Essentially all of them now require flashing (no publicly available flasher for Pioneer drives) as they have newer firmware.

Can every drive be flashed by the guide given under " How To Flash Videos and commands:"? If not, which ones can?

LG/ASUS drives can using the flashing methods mentioned in the guide.

[Tom899]

I purchased a Pioneer BDR-213/2213 SATA 5.25 SATA with BDR-S13UBK Firmware from Billycar11 in March of this year. I also purchased an LG Electronics WH16NS40 drive from Amazon and flashed it myself. I had an ASUS drive prior for a few years that finally crapped out.
Anyway, I've been using both the LG and Pioneer drives to rip discs, both in Vantec cases, mostly 4K, some Blu-Ray and a few DVD. The LG is a little faster and noisier than the Pioneer.
BUT, I tell you what, The Pioneer is the Top Dog! There have been a number of instances where the LG has practically stalled out and I had to abort, it slowed down to a crawl and said 7 hours left (you know what I mean). I go right to the Pioneer and faithfully get a good rip with no problems!
If you are looking for one drive to get, get a Pioneer from Billycar11 and be done with it. I'm highly satisfied with the Pioneer and Billycar11 customer service.
Tom

[Prophacesi]

I had flashed my BP50NB40 to BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with the SDFtool Flasher, but still couldn't read UHD discs. I found your guide and realized I needed to flash from where I was up to BP60NB10 1.02MK. I did that in the flasher also, everything works now!

Thank you!

[taipei72]

Hello,
First time here... Been going through this post.. Lot of valuable info...
I just purchased a Archgon.. Is it possible to flash to get it to work... I am little new at this.. Here us the info on my drive

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk4
Current profile: CD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO2N95D5557
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 77

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)

Disc Information
Label: 010802_1617
Timestamp: 2001-08-03 16:38:12
Data capacity: 0.63 Gb


BTW, I did do the extract HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934 and on Mac terminal, I ran all the way till step 7 and it said it is 100% complete, but when I open the drive it ti shows above with 1.02

Am I missing something post the flash???
What did I do wrong..
Thank you in advance...