www.makemkv.com

This Guide Is Made By: Billy/Billycar11, MartyMcNuts, Blackened2687, Coopervid, d00zah, mike admin, SamuriHL, st4evr, TeddyRaspin, Woodstock, Bluntman, Alex/jonghotti, garygomm
Even if they didn't contribute directly i have used their information


Don't Forget To Buy MakeMkv Once You Get Ripping Your UHDs:
https://www.makemkv.com/buy/

STOP READ BEFORE FLASHING
IMPORTANT Before you flash:

1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2016 on label or late 2015 if you want to risk it.
2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv
3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label for NB drives NB50+
4. Just because your drive is the same model number does not mean it will work, if you are unsure ask me i offer remote flashing and check everything before i flash.
5. Dont flash your dive if it does not meet these requirements if you do you will be unable to read all disks and unable to restore without dosflash that does not work on most modern computers


Recommended UHD Drives to get:


The recommended drives are Pioneer's they are much better than Asus and LG but sadly they cant be flashed currently you will have to buy ones with old firmware from sellers for now.


All of these drives will need to be flashed to unlock UHD Reading/Ripping
Speed testes done by Asmcom and Billy

BP60NB10 NB10/12, UHD Official External Slim 9.5mm USB 2.0 | Rip speed 6x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour 5mins
BP50NB40 NB50/52, NB72 is not supported UHD Officialish External Slim 9.5mm USB 2.0 | Rip speed 6x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour 5mins
LG WH16NS60, UHD Official Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour
LG BU40N, UHD Official Internal Slim Sata 9.5mm | Rip speed 6x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour 5mins
LG WH14NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour if flashed properly other wise 6x rips speed and slower then BU40N
LG WH16NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour if flashed properly other wise 6x rips speed and slower then BU40N
ASUS BW-16D1HT, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour
ASUS BW-16D1HT Pro, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour
LG BH16NS55, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25 sata | Rip speed 8x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour if flashed properly other wise 6x rip speed and slower then BU40N
Buffalo BRUHD-PU3-BK, UHD Official, External Slim 9.5mm USB 3.0 LG BU40N inside| Rip speed 6x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour 5mins
Archgon MD-8107S-U3-UHD, UHD Official, External Slim 9.5mm LG BU40N inside USB 3.0-Marty| Rip speed 6x BD 66 ~45 mins BD 100 ~1 hour 5mins


Pioneer UHD drives are now supported more info about that will be coming from the developer and once the info is out i will update stuff here
this is a work in progress
PSA now most Pioneers come with new fw that prevents them from be crossflashed or downgraded do not buy one for UHD at this time
Pioneer Drives need Firmware from before December 2022 firmware after this does not work do not update if you have a working one more on this in the coming weeks if they can be flashed. if your pioneer UHD drive does not work post your makemkv drive info here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27378

drives that Currently work are:

BDR-XD08UMB-S Slim top load USB Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-XD07UHD Slim top load USB Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-XD06JUHD Slim top load USB Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-S12UHT Internal 5.25 sata Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-XS07UHD Slim Slot load USB Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-212UBK Internal 5.25 sata Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-211UBK Internal 5.25 sata Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-UD04 Slim 9.5mm tray load slim sata Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-S13U-X Internal 5.25 sata Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
BDR-S13UBK Internal 5.25 sata Rip speed 4x BD 66 ~1 Hour BD 100 ~1 hour 35mins
please tell me more if you have a pioneer UHD drive and it works i will add it to the list

about drive rip speed
some drives like the BU40N and WP/BP50NB40/BP60NB10 achieve near the same rip speed as desktop drives because they pick up speed faster and hold the 6x top speed longer then the other desktop drives.



Recommended Pre-Flashed Drive Sellers:

Billy: Billycar5924@gmail.com Flashed and Tested upfront prices at link below And Automated self flash kits For LG Asus and Pioneer
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17831 USA $10 off makemkv with purchase


Marty: martymcnuts@outlook.com upfront prices at link below And Automated self flash kits
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18747 Australia & NZ only


BluntmanUHD@protonmail.com upfront prices at link below
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=21354 Canada Only

asmcom: uhdfriendlydrives@gmail.com
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19387 UK & International


additional resources/options can be found here:
viewforum.php?f=20


Recommended Firmware to flash for MakeMKV:
WH16NS60 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

WH14NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

WH16NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

BH16NS55 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

UH12NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

Asus BW-16D1HT on any Firmware directly to > Asus BW-16D1HT 3.10MK

BU40N on any Firmware directly to > BU40N 1.03MK

BP50NB40 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK then to > BP60NB10 1.02MK or 1.00MK
NB52 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with enc > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with bootloader/full flash > BP60NB10 1.00_HBD from Marty download/file.php?id=2143
if using command line add "full" after rawflash

BP60NB10 on any Firmware directly to > BP60NB10 1.02MK


List below is for past refence and if it becomes relevant in the future for now any USB devices that works with optical drives should be able to flash them:
USB enclosures/sata adapters that work with optical drives and flashing:

Vantec NST-510S3-BK 9.5mm slim sata case
OWC Mercury Pro 5.25 case does not fit Pioneer 5.25 drives without modification @Coopervid for Tab modification Pic https://mega.nz/file/mV5mCDhT#T794dO696 ... l_wcIH352A
ICY BOX IB-550StU3S 5.25 case-ddeconin
Unitek Y-3324 USB to sata cable-Marty
Alxum AX-SC021NEW USB to sata cable-Marty
Vantec NexStar DX2 NST-540S3-BK


USB enclosures/sata adapters that work with optical drives but don't support flashing:

Vantec NST-536S3-BK 5.25 case most can flash except jmicron chipset pcb version 1V00D F0901
Vantec CB-ST00U3
Buffalo BR3D-12U3
Vantec 53653-bk


Sleep Bug:

All UHD Friendly drives have the sleep bug, this is when a UHD disk is left idle in the drive for 2 minutes. Once the drive goes to sleep, the UHD Friendly drive will no longer be able to read the disk without opening and closing the disk tray and will make horrible seeking noises until this is done.

Sleep Bug Fix:

To fix the sleep bug on a UHD Friendly drive flash firmware from an UHD Official drive like WH16NS60 DE 1.00 or 1.01MK 1.02MK 1.03MK


Crossflashing:

1. Changes the drive to act as another and gain most or all of its benefits
2. Can be used to increase a drives ripping speed and fix the sleep bug



Crossflashing Warnings:

1. Don't crossflash desktop drives to slim drives or the other way around
2. In some cases crossflashing an Asus drive to an LG or the other way around you may no longer be able to burn disks-SamuriHL
3. Flashing Official UHD firmware to a UHD Friendly drive will not enable Powerdvd aacs 2 decryption or playback

Newer OEM Firmwares and encrypted:

New Encrypted firmware
List of Know Encrypted firmware (so far, any firmware with date in 2020 is encrypted) LG 1.04+ / BU40N 1.03 / Asus 3.10+ and similar
The newer OEM firmwares cannot be flashed easily due to the additional downgrade checks implemented by the drive/firmware manufacturer. If your drive has one of these firmwares, and there is no MK version of the same firmware/drive model or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to Asus 3.10MK (for compatible ASUS 5.25 drives ONLY) or (LG WH16NS60 1.02MK for compatible LG 5.25) or (BU40N 1.03MK LG Slim drives ONLY) respectively. (Note: MK firmware is available for firmware versions mentioned above.) Keeping the flashing of firmware in these scenarios within their respective family of drives/firmware (e.g ASUS firmware for ASUS drives and LG firmware for LG drives) at this stage of flashing. Then afterwards if that initial flash is successful you can move to different firmware respectively if you would like a different and compatible firmware version for the drive in question.

As previously stated in this guide. DO NOT crossflash between ASUS and LG firmware for slim drives like the LG BU40N for example. It will brick your drive. You’ve now been warned twice within this guide regarding this.




Unlocked Flashers, Downgrade Enabled Firmware and MK Firmware:

The only flasher anyone should be using now is Martys SDF GUI it now has built in safety's still check out the requirements and follow the recommending firmware but it shouldn't let you brick an old drive and should detect if the firmware is encrypted automatically


New! The all you need firmware pack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRnbXi ... sp=sharing

New! GUI SDF tool: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896
By: MartyMcNuts

Asus flasher: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=18933
By: MartyMcNuts

LG flasher + DE firmware viewtopic.php?f=16&t=18873#p70284
By: Blackened2687 & Billycar11

MK firmware: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113
By: Mike Admin



How To Flash Videos and commands:

New Updated guide for all Drives and firmware including encrypted firmware: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyQV1aPlbow
1. Open cmd as admin

2. Navigate to makemkvs install directory by default on 64 bit systems it is here: cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV"

3. If you have a listed encrypted firmware you must use this command: makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d “ your drive letter here Example: D”: rawflash enc -i “path to your firmware Example: C:\Users\Billy\Downloads\Downgrade-Enabled-Firmware\Auto-Flash\LG-Desktop-NS60-sleep-fix\WH16NS60-1.02-MK.bin”

4. If you have unencrypted firmware use this command: makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d “ your drive letter here Example: D”: rawflash -i “path to your firmware Example: C:\Users\Billy\Downloads\Downgrade-Enabled-Firmware\Auto-Flash\LG-Desktop-NS60-sleep-fix\WH16NS60-1.02-MK.bin”

5. Remove my examples and quotes ”” when you run the commands

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mac/linux commands to flash.

1. download sdf.bin https://makemkv.com/sdf.bin
2. download the all you need firmware pack

3. Extract the file you need for your drive from the all you need firmware pack pick from the recommended firmware section.

4. then in terminal on the Mac
copy sdf.bin and the firmware file extracted from theall you need firmware pack into /tmp folder.

5. in terminal change directory "cd /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS"

6. type "./makemkvcon f -l"

This will show your drive identifier should look similar to this ''/IOBDServices/D5D25996'
Found 1 drives(s)
00: /IOBDServices/D5D25996, /dev/rdisk3, /dev/rdisk3
HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.01_211910161032_MOFK6283224


7. to perform the flash, type "./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/D5D25996' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i /tmp/your firmware filename here
or ./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/D5D25996' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash enc -i /tmp/your firmware filename here
if your firmware is on the encrypted list


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfpf6HoMMis only for unencrypted firmware

Troubleshooting:
If you get the error:
No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin
Internal error 0x8d000000
first put a regular Blu-ray in and open the disc in MakeMKV by clicking the drive icon make sure you get no errors like failed to download sdf
then try the regular flashing again
if that does not work try the commands below.
you may use these commands to override the auto detect if it does not recognize your drive. for now only the -t mtk19xx should be used.
"-t mtk19xx" - forces MTK payload
"-t pioneer" - forces Pioneer payload
"-t hlrs" - forces HLDS/RS1013 payload (old combo HD-DVD drives and
early HLDS drives on Renesas chipset).


only use the recovery steps for older NS40 drives!!:
Ok here's a summary of what you need to do

Try the recovery option in sdf tool if that fails do this:

Downgrade your drive to WH16NS60 1.00 with sdftool or makemkv command line
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then reflash WH16NS60 1.00 again with the unlocked lg or Asus flasher
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then boot in to your dosflash bootable and dump the firmware https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgybNfHhcg - Obsolete but can be useful for recovery
Use the transfer tool to your correct firmware and flash it.

NS40 Recovery Image:
Flashed an NS50 firmware to an NS40 drive and can no longer read disks this IMG has all the NS40 FW you need to recover your drive just follow my dos flash video guide linked above
https://www.mediafire.com/file/8by2zqop ... D.zip/file Made by

MartyMcNuts wrote:

NS40 recovery FW: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZtdhSX ... sp=sharing



Useful Links:
Manual Libredrive SDF download only for offline systems or linux/mac flashing to find it easier: https://makemkv.com/sdf.bin
Hashed keys for UHD disks only for offline systems: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=16959
sdf+keys replace your privatedata.tar with this: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SSo_O- ... sp=sharing from 4/23/2022

Super Thanks Billycar11 for the effort in creating this thread. This should be helpful to other current and new members.

Fantastic. This is the thread we need to be pointing EVERYONE to from now on. Much appreciated that you took the time to put this together.

I can confirm this usb-sata adapter flashes my Asus 16D1HT drive just fine -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WWLCYC3

fishman wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2019 5:40 am

I can confirm this usb-sata adapter flashes my Asus 16D1HT drive just fine -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WWLCYC3

Thanks fishman! Billy, that is a Unitek Y-1099 according to that amazon link.

Billycar11 wrote: ↑

Mon May 27, 2019 5:20 am

Buffalo BRUHD-PU3-BK, UHD Official, External Slim 9.5mm USB 3.0-must be removed from case to flash

I don't believe this is true. I downgraded a BU11 drive to BU10 using the ASUS_ODD_FW_Changer method. I haven't tried cross-flashing other BU40N FWs. But, I definitely didn't have to remove the drive from the case. I just plugged it in and flashed it. Easy peasy.

MartyMcNuts wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2019 6:45 am

fishman wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2019 5:40 am

I can confirm this usb-sata adapter flashes my Asus 16D1HT drive just fine -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WWLCYC3

Thanks fishman! Billy, that is a Unitek Y-1099 according to that amazon link.

thanks added

flashback8 wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2019 6:48 am

Billycar11 wrote: ↑

Mon May 27, 2019 5:20 am

Buffalo BRUHD-PU3-BK, UHD Official, External Slim 9.5mm USB 3.0-must be removed from case to flash

I don't believe this is true. I downgraded a BU11 drive to BU10 using the ASUS_ODD_FW_Changer method. I haven't tried cross-flashing other BU40N FWs. But, I definitely didn't have to remove the drive from the case. I just plugged it in and flashed it. Easy peasy.

i had the same felling im pretty sure i remote flashed one of these over usb but i got one today and it would not work with the asus or lg flasher on 2 different computers maybe they changed the chipset inside the usb case.


Update:
i was confused abut the Buffalo not being Flashable over USB tested some stuff it defiantly does not work with the LG flasher but i must have had an old version of Martys asus tool it said "This drive does not need any FW changes." but re downloaded Martys new one and worked first time so i learned the buffalo can only be downgraded over usb with the asus tool. something to add to the list.

Billycar11 wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2019 6:53 am

Update:
i was confused abut the Buffalo not being Flashable over USB tested some stuff it defiantly does not work with the LG flasher but i must have had an old version of Martys asus tool it said "This drive does not need any FW changes." but re downloaded Martys new one and worked first time so i learned the buffalo can only be downgraded over usb with the asus tool. something to add to the list.

Yep, that was my experience too. The LG flasher didn't work. On a lark, I gave the ASUS flasher a try. Bingo. Glad it worked for you too. :)

I just tried one of each of these sata-usb adapters and neither worked for flashing, which was strange because it was (visually) the one Marty said he had, but the part number IS different.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VR52ZZ0
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CK205ZG

Shall I send them back stating they don't support optical drives?

fishman wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:23 am

I just tried one of each of these sata-usb adapters and neither worked for flashing, which was strange because it was (visually) the one Marty said he had, but the part number IS different.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VR52ZZ0
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CK205ZG

Shall I send them back stating they don't support optical drives?

Yeah, different part numbers but look the same. The Amazon links both say they support optical drives too! I'm assuming you plugged in the power socket at the wall outlet?

Yes, I did. Both had failure #1 immediately. I even tried the LG flasher and it just hung. Just packed them up.

Anyone ever experience one drive that fails to backup a disc while another works perfectly fine on same disc?

I have a lot of drives; the most rock solid seems to be my WH16NS60 FW 1.00.

The Asus drive I have is pretty solid but on occasion, discs just fail. Repeated attempts don't work either.

Have to wonder what is it about the disc, how it's manufactured, or something else that prevents it from working.

-

Another question - I expect the latest WH16NS60 (if you can even still buy them) ship with some later firmware.

Is firmware even a consideration any longer or does the SD drive mode make that a moot point?

cheers

It's one of the reasons I bought the NS60 drive even though I have the ASUS BW16D1HT. Some discs just don't like one drive or another. I've been re-ripping a bunch of my discs over the past few days and one that I did before I got the NS60 was no longer readable by the ASUS drive even though it was the drive that made the original backup. Threw it in the NS60 and it read fine. No idea why that is since the drives are based on the same chipset but many people have reported that.

Is there an external USB enclosure that supports flashing and that is easily obtainable in europe?

Yep - it is strange.

I have 4 drives now - two Asus and one LG that are BDXL compatible and then the LG NS60, which is official. I had one of the original NS60 with Firmware 1.00. I don't suppose the latest will work without a firmware patch/downgrade.

The least amount of issues I have ever had are with the official drive.

One difference is that my NS60 is on the SATA bus while the ASUS drive is on the USB 3 bus.

In any case, I like to spread the backup duties around so no single drive does all the work.

-