Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Forum for discussions about UHD-capable dives
liamtoh1
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon May 10, 2021 6:25 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Post by liamtoh1 »

Ralph P. wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:32 pm
I recommend downloading the Pioneer BD-Drive Utility from their website as it allows customization of the drive's performance.
Did you explore this utility? I did not find any comprehensive documentation regarding various options. I see the explanation at high level but wary of causing long term harm to the drive, by say going to "High Performance Mode". In my case, the "Setting 1" tab is disabled.
Billycar11
Posts: 3766
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Post by Billycar11 »

swkeith wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:26 pm
Is there any benefit to the LG WP50NB40 vs BP50NB40 vs BP60NB10? I need to pick one up and wondering if one is better than another after flashing or if they are all essentially the same and just go with the cheapest one. Thanks.
all the same except the bp60 that can do official playback but otherwise the same
get whatever is cheapest wp50 on amazon is usually $90
best buy some times have the BP50 for $80
Buy a UHD drive from the guide and how to video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drives Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $25 Email me for one Billycar5924@gmail.com
SamuriHL
Posts: 2223
Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2010 5:32 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Post by SamuriHL »

SamuriHL wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 4:04 am
Billycar11 wrote:
SamuriHL wrote:
Mon Feb 06, 2023 1:49 am

Oh goddamnit. For some reason I was thinking they did the encryption crap with 1.03. Thanks, guys.
i mean they did after 1.03 so your right its just that archgon is using the Taiwan version of the drive and the version numbers are different 1.02 tw is basically 1.04 us
Oh no kidding?? I didn't know that. Jesus they really threw me on this one. I'll deal with his drive Wednesday and get it back to 1.00 like mine. He'll be using his on a new Samsung book3 ultra with an i9 and 4070. Going to be a sweet little setup.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk
Shockingly (LOLOLOL), it worked this time. :D Thanks for the help.
Ralph P.
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:57 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Post by Ralph P. »

liamtoh1 wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:40 pm
Ralph P. wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:32 pm
I recommend downloading the Pioneer BD-Drive Utility from their website as it allows customization of the drive's performance.
Did you explore this utility? I did not find any comprehensive documentation regarding various options. I see the explanation at high level but wary of causing long term harm to the drive, by say going to "High Performance Mode". In my case, the "Setting 1" tab is disabled.
Greetings,

I have explored it. It's model specific and would more than likely not harm the drive with any of its various settings options.
liamtoh1
Posts: 38
Joined: Mon May 10, 2021 6:25 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Post by liamtoh1 »

Ralph P. wrote:
Thu Feb 09, 2023 2:56 pm
liamtoh1 wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:40 pm
Ralph P. wrote:
Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:32 pm
I recommend downloading the Pioneer BD-Drive Utility from their website as it allows customization of the drive's performance.
Did you explore this utility? I did not find any comprehensive documentation regarding various options. I see the explanation at high level but wary of causing long term harm to the drive, by say going to "High Performance Mode". In my case, the "Setting 1" tab is disabled.
I have explored it. It's model specific and would more than likely not harm the drive with any of its various settings options.
Thanks. I will try to explore it when I get a chance.
ThereIs_No_Spoon
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:35 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by ThereIs_No_Spoon »

MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:01 am
Oberon wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:27 am
Thedeanorama wrote:
Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:06 pm
I'm pulling out what's left of my hair.

I have an LG WP50NB40 NB52 that I'm spinning my tires on. I'm using the SDFtool Flasher v1.3.4 to flash the drive. I've tried flashing HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin from the "All that you need firmware pack" to get to stage one of these steps (mainly because I ran into a roadblock sourcing "BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK") :
NB52 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with enc > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with bootloader/full flash > BP60NB10 1.00_HBD from Marty

The only reason I figure I'm failing is that no matter what I do, and how many times I'm "successful" per SDFtool, BP60NB10 1.00_HBD never takes hold (see link below). For the life of me don't know where I'm going wrong. I'm not new to flashing devices but this is completely evading me.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tbZiPzKSvKpxTErXA
I'm having the exact same issue with my NB52 using the same procedure. Cannot get it to BP60NB10.
There is no need for the HBD firmware anymore. To flash the WP50NB40/BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follw the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to either WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select either the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box. Whichever one you want to use.
4. Click START

The process takes about 30-40 seconds to complete.

Just about to flash my new drive...
  • LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
  1. BP60NB10 1.00-MK
  2. BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
MartyMcNuts
Posts: 2460
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:45 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by MartyMcNuts »

ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:35 pm
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:01 am
Oberon wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:27 am


I'm having the exact same issue with my NB52 using the same procedure. Cannot get it to BP60NB10.
There is no need for the HBD firmware anymore. To flash the WP50NB40/BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follw the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to either WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select either the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box. Whichever one you want to use.
4. Click START

The process takes about 30-40 seconds to complete.

Just about to flash my new drive...
  • LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
  1. BP60NB10 1.00-MK
  2. BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
The BP60NB10 firmware only works with MAkeMKV & AnyDVD. The BU40N 1.00 firmware works with all ripping software.
Cheers :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For UHD enabled drives (AU/NZ/SG) & DIY Single Drive Flasher (WW): https://www.uhdenableddrives.com
Coopervid
Posts: 1145
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

Post by Coopervid »

BU40N only works with AnyDVD if Makemkv is installed.
ThereIs_No_Spoon
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:35 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by ThereIs_No_Spoon »

MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 10:36 pm
ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:35 pm
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:01 am


There is no need for the HBD firmware anymore. To flash the WP50NB40/BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follw the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to either WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select either the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box. Whichever one you want to use.
4. Click START

The process takes about 30-40 seconds to complete.

Just about to flash my new drive...
  • LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
  1. BP60NB10 1.00-MK
  2. BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
The BP60NB10 firmware only works with MAkeMKV & AnyDVD. The BU40N 1.00 firmware works with all ripping software.

I followed the steps above and I'm ripping a UHD right now at 6.0X -- thank you!

For any other newbies that read this, I found the flasher and firmware I needed towards the end of the first post in this thread...
  • the latest version of the SDFtool Flasher is obviously listed
  • MK-firmware-pack has WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK and BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK for Step #1 and Step #2
  • DE-firmware-pack has BU40N 1.00, and MK-firmware-pack has BP60NB10 1.00-MK (in the "old" folder) used in Step #3
Thanks again to the MakeMKV-Powers-That-Be for all the hard work!
ThereIs_No_Spoon
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:35 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by ThereIs_No_Spoon »

MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 10:36 pm
ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:35 pm
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:01 am


There is no need for the HBD firmware anymore. To flash the WP50NB40/BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follw the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to either WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK.

Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK or BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select either the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box. Whichever one you want to use.
4. Click START

The process takes about 30-40 seconds to complete.

Just about to flash my new drive...
  • LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
  1. BP60NB10 1.00-MK
  2. BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
The BP60NB10 firmware only works with MAkeMKV & AnyDVD. The BU40N 1.00 firmware works with all ripping software.
If I wanted to flash this drive back to it's original firmware to return it, would I just do that with the original firmware dump I made with SDFTool before flashing it to be UHD capable?

I did see your post with the official LG flasher for this drive, but since mine is SVC NB52 and that flasher is for SVC NB50, I thought I'd ask.
MartyMcNuts
Posts: 2460
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:45 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by MartyMcNuts »

ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:15 am
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 10:36 pm
ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:35 pm



Just about to flash my new drive...
  • LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
  1. BP60NB10 1.00-MK
  2. BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
The BP60NB10 firmware only works with MAkeMKV & AnyDVD. The BU40N 1.00 firmware works with all ripping software.
If I wanted to flash this drive back to it's original firmware to return it, would I just do that with the original firmware dump I made with SDFTool before flashing it to be UHD capable?

I did see your post with the official LG flasher for this drive, but since mine is SVC NB52 and that flasher is for SVC NB50, I thought I'd ask.
No. That dump is not really helpful as it only contains important bits of the firmware, not the complete firmware. There isn't a NB52 flasher available either.

Why return it? They are good little drives once flashed! I use one myself. I suggest using the BU40N 1.00 firmware though, as it's compatible with a wider range of ripping software.
Cheers :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For UHD enabled drives (AU/NZ/SG) & DIY Single Drive Flasher (WW): https://www.uhdenableddrives.com
ThereIs_No_Spoon
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:35 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by ThereIs_No_Spoon »

No. That dump is not really helpful as it only contains important bits of the firmware, not the complete firmware. There isn't a NB52 flasher available either.

Why return it? They are good little drives once flashed! I use one myself. I suggest using the BU40N 1.00 firmware though, as it's compatible with a wider range of ripping software.
I actually did flash the BU40N 1.00 firmware -- It worked very well.

I'm just returning it because I'm a lucky b#st#rd -- I got my hands on that drive yesterday morning, and then I was gifted a BDR-XD07UHD yesterday evening. :wink:

So, am I just out of luck for getting it back to stock firmware then?
dcoke22
Posts: 2561
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:25 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by dcoke22 »

ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:41 pm
I actually did flash the BU40N 1.00 firmware -- It worked very well.

I'm just returning it because I'm a lucky b#st#rd -- I got my hands on that drive yesterday morning, and then I was gifted a BDR-XD07UHD yesterday evening. :wink:

So, am I just out of luck for getting it back to stock firmware then?
Congrats! Personally, I have 3 different optical drives I use for ripping, including a Pioneer. My main drive rips most things most of the time, but having the other drives greatly improves my success rate for rips and reduces the pain of troublesome discs. If my 'main' drive doesn't rip it, usually one of the others will.

I recommend you keep both.
MartyMcNuts
Posts: 2460
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:45 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by MartyMcNuts »

ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:41 pm
No. That dump is not really helpful as it only contains important bits of the firmware, not the complete firmware. There isn't a NB52 flasher available either.

Why return it? They are good little drives once flashed! I use one myself. I suggest using the BU40N 1.00 firmware though, as it's compatible with a wider range of ripping software.
I actually did flash the BU40N 1.00 firmware -- It worked very well.

I'm just returning it because I'm a lucky b#st#rd -- I got my hands on that drive yesterday morning, and then I was gifted a BDR-XD07UHD yesterday evening. :wink:

So, am I just out of luck for getting it back to stock firmware then?
Yep, no chance of getting it back to NB52 firmware. You could put NB50 1.03 on it but I agree with dcoke22, that you should keep it. I have 4 different drives connected to my PC (1 Pioneer and 3 different LG's) that cover all of my ripping needs.
Cheers :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For UHD enabled drives (AU/NZ/SG) & DIY Single Drive Flasher (WW): https://www.uhdenableddrives.com
ThereIs_No_Spoon
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:35 pm

Re: Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2022

Post by ThereIs_No_Spoon »

MartyMcNuts wrote:
Sun Feb 12, 2023 4:30 am
ThereIs_No_Spoon wrote:
Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:41 pm
No. That dump is not really helpful as it only contains important bits of the firmware, not the complete firmware. There isn't a NB52 flasher available either.

Why return it? They are good little drives once flashed! I use one myself. I suggest using the BU40N 1.00 firmware though, as it's compatible with a wider range of ripping software.
I actually did flash the BU40N 1.00 firmware -- It worked very well.

I'm just returning it because I'm a lucky b#st#rd -- I got my hands on that drive yesterday morning, and then I was gifted a BDR-XD07UHD yesterday evening. :wink:

So, am I just out of luck for getting it back to stock firmware then?
Yep, no chance of getting it back to NB52 firmware. You could put NB50 1.03 on it but I agree with dcoke22, that you should keep it. I have 4 different drives connected to my PC (1 Pioneer and 3 different LG's) that cover all of my ripping needs.
That sounds like quite the setup...I'm thinking of keeping it, tbh. But if I do return it, and want to flash the NB50 firmware, are the following steps correct?

1. Using your SDFTool, select the RECOVER option and in the pop up, select the BU40N 1.00 firmware that I flashed previously
2. Next, in the normal drop box I select the WP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK that I want
3. Click START and I'm golden

Or should I use the official LG flasher to put the official NB50 firmware on it?
Post Reply