Struggling to read UHD on BU40N

[saiarcot895]

With a BU40N with LibreDrive firmware, getting it to successfully start reading a UHD (as in identify the movie and the size of the movie) seems to be 10% or less. The discs don't have any visible scratches, and I've tried multiple times to clean the disc with a microfiber cloth. This is with a sample size of 8 discs, where only 2 discs were successfully read (after multiple attempts).

Is this normal? Or does this indicate a problem with the drive?

[Fritti]

I also bought a BU40N a couple of weeks ago, flashed it to LibreDrive mode, and even with regular blurays it did not perform at all. I managed to rip 2 out of 10 discs, whereas my ancient iHOS104 managed to rip all of them without a hitch.

I gave up on the unit and now bought a WH16NS60 for UHD ripping purposes. Flashing was again easy. Have not tried UHD discs with it yet but so far it manages the same regular blurays as my iHOS104.

Not sure if this is indicative of a BU40N problem or just bad luck, but in any case it seems that you also need a dose of luck when buying an UHD drive.

[Billycar11]

With a BU40N with LibreDrive firmware, getting it to successfully start reading a UHD (as in identify the movie and the size of the movie) seems to be 10% or less. The discs don't have any visible scratches, and I've tried multiple times to clean the disc with a microfiber cloth. This is with a sample size of 8 discs, where only 2 discs were successfully read (after multiple attempts).

Is this normal? Or does this indicate a problem with the drive?

What errors are you getting timeout on logical unit?

[saiarcot895]

What errors are you getting timeout on logical unit?

There aren't any errors from the OS/MakeMKV (besides that no disc is found), because the drive itself doesn't read the 4K disc, and just tells the OS that there's no disc inserted.

I ended up getting a replacement from the seller, and that's working perfectly (with Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray discs)!

[thinredline]

I have the same drive (flashed on firmware version 1.03mk)
I 'm trying now The Others Criterion UHD, and it doesn't load at all, as the poster's above. I had watched it though once, one month ago.
Other UHDs (and 2 other Criterions) I have tried load successfully.
What do I do now?
I have purchased the drive 3 years ago.

[dcoke22]

So right now, you have 1 UHD that your drive doesn't recognize? Does your computer see it but MakeMKV doesn't? Or neither sees the disc?

And if you put a different disc in the drive, it works?

If that's the case, it would suggest gently cleaning the problematic disc.

[thinredline]

So right now, you have 1 UHD that your drive doesn't recognize? Does your computer see it but MakeMKV doesn't? Or neither sees the disc?

And if you put a different disc in the drive, it works?

If that's the case, it would suggest gently cleaning the problematic disc.

My pc doesn't see it at all. It doesn't load.
Yeah, other UHDs work just fine.
I cleaned it with a microfiber cloth.
I even washed it with soap and water.
Nothing...

I wonder how it played the first time and now it doesn't.

edit: I don't have another drive to test the disc, but I have a laptop.
Do you think I should connect my drive to the laptop in case it sees it?
Or if the drive doesn't load the specific disc, it won't load it even there?

edit2: Ok, I tried my laptop too. Nothing again..

[dcoke22]

Since other discs work, but this one doesn't, that implies that your drive is fine.

In my experience, some drives just don't like some discs. I have four different optical drives on my desk and if a disc doesn't work in one of my drives, it almost always works in another. Not always of course, but often.

If you don't have another optical drive you can try, replacing the disc is your best option.

[thinredline]

I was told by Criterion to:
Double check to make sure your firmware is up-to-date

Can I do that? update the firmware I mean. This drive came pre-flashed, and I don't know how to do these things.
maybe install the 1.05 firmware from here?
https://www.lg.com/us/support/product/lg-BU40N.AVAA10B
But I'm afraid in case ALL my UHDs stop loading..

Clear your player's cache
Check on and disable any parental controls, and toggle any 30p, 24p or progressive scan mode options.
Factory reset your device. Please note, any previous settings you had saved on your device will need to be restored manually after this reset.

I also don't know how to do these things...

[dcoke22]

If you put the firmware from LG on the drive, it will no longer be able to rip UHDs. At that point, you'd have to flash it again with LibreDrive enabled firmware. I don't think changing the firmware will help you.

The second bit about clearing the cache, etc. doesn't really apply to what you're doing.

Since you've had the drive for a few years, it is possible the drive's optics are a little dirty. You could try gently cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol and lint-free cloths. See Billycar11's post: https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=162931#p162931

[thinredline]

Since you've had the drive for a few years, it is possible the drive's optics are a little dirty. You could try gently cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol and lint-free cloths. See Billycar11's post: https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=162931#p162931

Thanks for your reply, and trying to help.
I don't know. Which are the lasers to clean?


Also, wouldn't I have a problem with other UHDs if the lasers were dirty?

EDIT:
OK, I think I found out what is the laser, and I cleaned it with alcohol and a cotton swab like I saw in a youtube video.
Weird thing is: Now the disc loads and plays just fine!
What's up with that?
I don't understand why other UHDs loaded and played fine before and this didn't, until I cleaned the laser..
Once again, thank you for your help!

[dcoke22]

It seems The Others (2001) is a triple-layer BD-100 disc. Those are the hardest to read. Maybe your other discs are only double-layer BD-66 discs. Maybe the manufacturing quality of this troublesome disc isn't as high as your other discs. Maybe any number of things.

I usually sum it up to people by saying in my experience, some drives just don't like some discs. I have four different drives and if a disc doesn't work in the first drive I try, it usually works in one of my other drives. Not always, but usually.

I'm glad you got it to work.