Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2024

[KTL03]

Thanks for providing the information in either updating or crossflashing with the appropriate tools and firmwares. I was able to upgrade one WH16NS40-NS50 to the 1.05MK firmware and another to the NS60 1.03MK firmware. It's nice to see there's still some unofficial support for optical drives.

[Qwonset The Hutt]

I just got a pair of LG WH16NS40 drives that were manufactured in June, 2020. They came with 1.05 firmware.

sdftool_flasher appears to succeed flashing DE_LG_WH16NS40_1.02_NS50.bin, but the firmware version displayed by MakeMKV is still 1.05. I tried the MK firmware. Same thing.

What options are there for this 1.05 factory firmware that taunts me?

[ubuntuuser]

I am unsure, if I have to update this drive:

Code: Select all

OS-Gerätename: /dev/sr0
Produzent: HL-DT-ST
Produkt: BD-RE BH16NS40
Revision: 1.03
Serienummer: xxxx
Firmware-Datum: 2115-05-26 17:14
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 17
Highest AACS version: 70

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

If this drive needs an update, please give me a link how to do it? The drive is used with Linux, but I will connect it for flashing to a very old Windows 10 20.10H2 PC, Bios has no mouse configuration, so I assume UEFI is not suppored, AHCI is not enabled but IDE.

[d00zah]

I am unsure, if I have to update this drive:

OS-Gerätename: /dev/sr0
Produzent: HL-DT-ST
Produkt: BD-RE BH16NS40
Revision: 1.03
Serienummer: xxxx
Firmware-Datum: 2115-05-26 17:14
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 17
Highest AACS version: 70

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

If this drive needs an update, please give me a link how to do it? The drive is used with Linux, but I will connect it for flashing to a very old Windows 10 20.10H2 PC, Bios has no mouse configuration, so I assume UEFI is not suppored, AHCI is not enabled but IDE.

It's too old to ever do UHD, but it's already LibreDrive enabled & as capable as it will ever be.

[ubuntuuser]

It's too old to ever do UHD

It can read UHD / BD for sure, but my question is, if it can do BD-4k. In the 1st posting HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BH16NS40-NS50 is mentioned.
Please note, the date is fantasy it does not say 2015, but 2115

New Encrypted firmware
List of Know Encrypted firmware (so far, any firmware with date in 2020 is encrypted)

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...
HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BH16NS40-NS50-1.05-N000600-212005061331.bin

[st4evr]

It's too old to ever do UHD

Ok, it appears you are confused. As it was advised above, no, it will not read/decrypt UHD content. UHD is just another acronym for 4k media content. Google is your friend if you wish to verify that.

Flashing that drive will result in a bricked drive. If you still wish to do it, go ahead, but you’ve been warned twice now.

The incompatibility of the MT1939 platform with UHD content decryption has been discussed hundreds upon hundreds of times already. Including the warning clearly listed in the first post of this guide. The search function will return hundreds of those conversations as well. And why there are two platforms with the exact same drive model distributed by drive manufacturers/distributors over many years.

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/search.ph ... rds=MT1939

[d00zah]

There were 2 HW versions. This drive is a' HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BH16NS40-NS40 drive, manufactured before Oct 2015. Check the physical label on the drive if you must, but "Drive platform: MT1939" says it all. NOT "BD-4k" (UHD) capable.

All spelled out in the 1st post of this thread.

[ubuntuuser]

Ok, it appears you are confused.

Sorry, yes you are right. For some reasons I thought UHD = BD, which is not, while BD can have HD and UHD resolutions and what I wanted is UHD / 4k.

So I have to look for another drive and keep this drive as it is.

[MartyMcNuts]

I just got a pair of LG WH16NS40 drives that were manufactured in June, 2020. They came with 1.05 firmware.

sdftool_flasher appears to succeed flashing DE_LG_WH16NS40_1.02_NS50.bin, but the firmware version displayed by MakeMKV is still 1.05. I tried the MK firmware. Same thing.

What options are there for this 1.05 factory firmware that taunts me?

Because you are doing it wrong! 1.05 is an encrypted firmware, so you should:

Step 1: Use the SDFtool Flasher to flash WH16NS40 1.05 from the MK folder checking the "enc" box.
Step 2: Now flash whatever firmware you want to use ("enc" box unchecked.)

[liquidfish]

Big thank you to Billy!

[Sodapop74]

For all the Europeans: this USB to SATA adapter from amazon.de has been working for me with no issues on both Windows and Mac with an ASUS BW-16D1HT that has a UHD compatible custom firmware in it. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/product/B00N4JLNXM/

[ubuntuuser]

It's too old to ever do UHD

So I have a newer drive now.

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Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: /dev/sr0
Produzent: ASUS
Produkt: BW-16D1HT
Revision: 3.10
Firmware-Datum: 2119-01-04 10:14
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 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: 3.10
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)

It is in a linux box at the moment. I will put it in a Windows 10 20H2 system with IDE installed (no AHCI) and no UEFI, connected to the master of SATA 1, system ist on SATA 0 master.

Is it normal, that I always get dates from the future like 2 1 19?

Can you please post a few lines what I have to do and what I have to download?

Am I right, that I have to flash 2 times, 1st 3.10MK and then downgrade to which version?

[d00zah]

It is in a linux box at the moment. I will put it in a Windows 10 20H2 system with IDE installed (no AHCI) and no UEFI, connected to the master of SATA 1, system ist on SATA 0 master.

All that is old news. If Windows detects the drive, you are good to go.

Is it normal, that I always get dates from the future like 2 1 19?

Yep.

Can you please post a few lines what I have to do and what I have to download?

Link to MK FW pack in 1st post of this thread. Flash w/ SDFtool Flasher (instructions included).

Am I right, that I have to flash 2 times, 1st 3.10MK and then downgrade to which version?

Just 3.10MK should do.

[ubuntuuser]

All that is old news. If Windows detects the drive, you are good to go.

Thanks, I asked because I use the latest Win 10 from October 2020. Any known problems with the latest Win 10?

Link to MK FW pack in 1st post of this thread. Flash w/ SDFtool Flasher (instructions included).

I remember, that SDFtool Flasher does cross flashing to LG? And at another place I read crossflashing is not recommended.
Is the needed firmware included already or do I have to download from another place, if so where?

Just 3.10MK should do.

Thanks!

[ubuntuuser]

> If Windows detects the drive, you are good to go

Hmm, at least for me, who is not so experienced with Windows, it can be confusing. The drive was recognized by the device manager (hopefully translated correctly into English), but was not shown in the file manager. After a few restarts it took a while with the restart and then the drive was shown in the file manager. I think you have to patient and let the pc alone for a while before you do a restart.