NEW OPTION: 'UHD Friendly' Firmware Downgrade / Cross-Flash Using Official (Modified) ASUS Flasher for ASUS & LG Drives

[SamuriHL]

I run ns60 firmware on all my drives including the Asus. It's been the most stable firmware for me.

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[jerryfudd81]

I run ns60 firmware on all my drives including the Asus. It's been the most stable firmware for me.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

thanks, I'll take a read on that.

[MaximRecoil]

I recently bought a new LG WH14NS40, SVC code: NS50, manufactured May 29, 2020. It's connected to a SATA port on my motherboard and I'm running Windows 10 version 1909:

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.04
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2119-01-04 13:51
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 66

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.04
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)

I've downloaded the "(Modified) ASUS ODD FW Changer (24.08.2019) + UHD Friendly Firmwares + Latest MK Pack (20.07.2020)" file from the opening post in this thread, and from looking at the files in it, it looks like my options are:

DE_LG_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin

Or:

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH14NS40-NS50-1.05-NM00900-212005061444.bin

Or:

First HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH14NS40-NS50-1.05-NM00900-212005061444.bin, then DE_LG_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin

Is that correct? If so, is there a consensus on which is the best way to go?

Also, are there any downsides to changing the firmware compared to leaving it as-is? UHD functionality isn't particularly important to me (though I do like the idea of LibreDrive functionality), though it would be nice to have if there are no downsides. I don't see myself buying any UHD Blu-rays unless I encounter an instance where a good transfer of a movie I want only exists on UHD, in which case I'd buy it, rip it, and re-encode it to 1080p (and de-HDR it during the re-encoding process).

[Billycar11]

Is that correct? If so, is there a consensus on which is the best way to go?

WH16NS60 1.02MK
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19634

[MaximRecoil]

WH16NS60 1.02MK
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19634

Is that the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin" file from the "old" folder? And that's better than the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010.bin" file in the "HL-DT-ST" folder?

By the way, I already flashed my drive with the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH14NS40-NS50-1.05-NM00900-212005061444.bin" file:

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.05
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 14:44
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 66

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.05
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

And it's working fine. Can it be flashed again with the WH16NS60 firmware?

[stegenga]

Well..... I (think I) followed the instructions. Used the video and paused it at each step as I flashed the firmware. Now, no matter what disc I through at it, it says "No disc inserted". It will control the drive. So I flashed back to the original LG firmware. Same result. Searched here to find solution but didn't see anything specific to my dilema.

Do I now have a brick? Let me know if you need more details. Jerry.

LG WH14NS40
flashed - DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin 2/5/2019 6:11 PM

-after flash-

MakeMKV.png (43.38 KiB) Viewed 27165 times

DVD_HW.png (15.06 KiB) Viewed 27165 times

[MartyMcNuts]

Well..... I (think I) followed the instructions. Used the video and paused it at each step as I flashed the firmware. Now, no matter what disc I through at it, it says "No disc inserted". It will control the drive. So I flashed back to the original LG firmware. Same result. Searched here to find solution but didn't see anything specific to my dilema.

Do I now have a brick? Let me know if you need more details. Jerry.

LG WH14NS40
flashed - DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin 2/5/2019 6:11 PM

-after flash-
MakeMKV.pngDVD_HW.png

How old is the drive?
What SVC code does the sticker on the top of the drive say?

[stegenga]

Thank you for your quick response. I purchased it on July 23, 2014. The case is rackmounted so I will need a gap to get into the enclosure and check the label. Will get that info to you when I do. Thank you again, Jerry.

[Billycar11]

Thank you for your quick response. I purchased it on July 23, 2014. The case is rackmounted so I will need a gap to get into the enclosure and check the label. Will get that info to you when I do. Thank you again, Jerry.

that already answers the question dont waste your time your drive was to old needed to be 2015+you didnt follow the guide requirements here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19634

[stegenga]

OK.Got it.

"IMPORTANT Before you flash:
1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2015"

The devil is in the details. Guess I am down to ordering a pre-flashed drive.

Thank you. Jerry.

[subzero]

hi. i got new LG drive thats 1.05FW. when i crossflash 3.10 i get an error failure #5. ive tried different methods and nothing seems to downgrade. any ideas lmk thanks advance!

[BIGTOM221]

Hello I am new here so don’t bit my head off for asking stupid questions I am learning. I am thinking of buying a ASUS BW-16D1HT I have read a few processes of downgrading the firmware and have a slight grasp but before I downgrade the firmware the ASUS_ODD_FW_Changer_(Modified).exe has already pre-selected version 3.02 someone mentioned the Asus BW-16D1HT 3.10 Firmware which is the better firmware to use I know to a lot of you this will be elementary but I do not want to brick an £85 dvd drive but rather I wish to make it UHD friendly for ripping. Also, what links can you give to make sure this process goes smoothly.

Also I wish to flash or downgrade a LG-BH16NS40 I do not have any of these drives but rather would order them from e bay or amazon is this a easy process or is it an expensive bricking method now I am prepared to read how to do this so if anyone can give me links to read before I proceed and links for the firmware and tools to process the firmware downgrades.

[BIGTOM221]

Ok I am looking to buy a LG BH16NS55 & a ASUS BW-16D1HT I take it the LG drive needs to be SVC Code: NS50 and also I will buy the ASUS BW-16D1HT Drive Platform MT1959 I can use the windows booted pc based tool to downgrade the firmware or must I use a bootable windows flash drive and boot from the flash drive to perform the firmware downgrade is there anything else missing can anyone elaborate on the procedure. Where does one buy the drives I mean if you lot can buy these drives to flash do I understand you buy lot of drives and return them because you will not be able to flash because of certain criteria meaning version numbers can anyone give a link where to buy the bare drive or is it just post luck if you get sent the correct internal pc drive.

[MartyMcNuts]

hi. i got new LG drive thats 1.05FW. when i crossflash 3.10 i get an error failure #5. ive tried different methods and nothing seems to downgrade. any ideas lmk thanks advance!

Please download the SDFtool Flasher, check the "enc" box and flash the drive with 1.05 MK from the MK firmware pack. Once this has been done, you can flash whatever firmware you want, just make sure you uncheck "enc".

[pepe_69]

Hi All,
Very stupid question: when run, after selecting the firmware, the ASUS_ODD_FW_Changer tool let user select drive, and drives are displayed with what seems to be the current firmware of the drive, correct?
In my case 1.01 for an ASUS BW-16D1HT bought in classifieds, supposingly from 2016. I have hard time to verify current firmware beside going via windows systems info\components and get something meaningless to me "SCSI\CDROM&VEN_ASUS&PROD_BW-16D1HT\4&4DDA929&0&020000"

Thanks in advance for your help