Help with Drive Options

[webdweeb]

I am a recent lurker on the forum and have a question regarding 4 drives I currently own: Pioneer BDR-D207DBK (firmware 1.21, in OWC USB 2.0/FW 400/800/eSATA ext case), Pioneer BDR-209DBK (firmware 1.10, in OWC USB 2.0/FW 400/800/eSATA ext case), Asus BW-16D1HT (bare drive, unknown FW, build date on drive is 2018-05-15), Pioneer BDR-XD05S (firmware 3.01, Pioneer external USB 3.0 case). I recall reading that the Asus is flashable to allow read/write of UHD 4k disks, but I am unsure of the options for the other three drives. I am the original owner for all 4 drives, none of which have had their original firmware flashed. I have successfully used the 207 and 209 drives in the past to rip and burn double layer blurays and DVDs, SACD-Rs (using single layer DVD-Rs), DVD-Audio, standard single layer Blu-rays, along with Redbook CDs, but I am unsure if any of the Pioneer drives can be flashed to allow ripping or burning of higher capacity discs (4k, BDXL, etc). I've seen a couple of older threads that mention the 209D, but not the 207D, but I was unclear as to the post-flash capability of the drive, hence my question

Thanks for any input on my drive options.

[webdweeb]

A bit more relevant info: the Pioneer BDR-XD05S has a build date of August 2016, and the Asus BW-16D1HT has a firmware version of 3.03

[MartyMcNuts]

I am a recent lurker on the forum and have a question regarding 4 drives I currently own: Pioneer BDR-D207DBK (firmware 1.21, in OWC USB 2.0/FW 400/800/eSATA ext case), Pioneer BDR-209DBK (firmware 1.10, in OWC USB 2.0/FW 400/800/eSATA ext case), Asus BW-16D1HT (bare drive, unknown FW, build date on drive is 2018-05-15), Pioneer BDR-XD05S (firmware 3.01, Pioneer external USB 3.0 case). I recall reading that the Asus is flashable to allow read/write of UHD 4k disks, but I am unsure of the options for the other three drives. I am the original owner for all 4 drives, none of which have had their original firmware flashed. I have successfully used the 207 and 209 drives in the past to rip and burn double layer blurays and DVDs, SACD-Rs (using single layer DVD-Rs), DVD-Audio, standard single layer Blu-rays, along with Redbook CDs, but I am unsure if any of the Pioneer drives can be flashed to allow ripping or burning of higher capacity discs (4k, BDXL, etc). I've seen a couple of older threads that mention the 209D, but not the 207D, but I was unclear as to the post-flash capability of the drive, hence my question

Thanks for any input on my drive options.

Post the MakeMKV drive info & libredrive info sections for all of your drives. Then we can help further.

[webdweeb]

Here is the info for the Asus:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1HT
Revision: 3.03
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2118-01-19 15:58
Bus encryption flags: 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: 3.03
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)

[MartyMcNuts]

Here is the info for the Asus:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1HT
Revision: 3.03
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2118-01-19 15:58
Bus encryption flags: 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: 3.03
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)

That one can easily be flashed. Just use the SDFtool Flasher viewtopic.php?p=94848#p94848 and either firmware BW-16D1HT 3.10-MK or WH16NS60 1.02-MK (recommended)

Post the info for the Pioneer drives.

[webdweeb]

I am on a Mac, which can be problematic for firmware updates on certain devices. I have an older Intel Mini with VMware Fusion running Windows 7, as well as a newer M1 MacBook Pro with Windows 11 (ARM CPU version)-any idea if either of these would be suitable to flash the firmware?

[MartyMcNuts]

I am on a Mac, which can be problematic for firmware updates on certain devices. I have an older Intel Mini with VMware Fusion running Windows 7, as well as a newer M1 MacBook Pro with Windows 11 (ARM CPU version)-any idea if either of these would be suitable to flash the firmware?

I don't know for sure. I do know that it doesn't work via parallels and any other VM can also be an issue. An actual Windows 10 or 11 PC is best.

You could use the command line on Mac and do the flash that way.

viewtopic.php?p=74718#p74718 about 2/3rds the way down the first post. Look for heading: How To Flash Videos and commands

[webdweeb]

Thanks-I will take a look at the terminal command line option, which is probably my only option unless I can find a friend with a PC that can help me do the flashing.

BTW, here is the info for the Pioneer slim drive:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.01
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2014-12-26
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8231
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.01/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[webdweeb]

Number 3, Pioneer BDR-209DBK (in an OWC external case):

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-209D
Revision: 1.10
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2013-09-10
Bus encryption flags: 13

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.10/ID61
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

My fourth drive, the PIONEER BDR-207DBK, is bare and needs to be mounted in the OWC case, so I will post the particulars once I do that.

[Billycar11]

Number 3, Pioneer BDR-209DBK (in an OWC external case):

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-209D
Revision: 1.10
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2013-09-10
Bus encryption flags: 13

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.10/ID61
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

My fourth drive, the PIONEER BDR-207DBK, is bare and needs to be mounted in the OWC case, so I will post the particulars once I do that.

the 207 cant be done
the others can email me for the pioneer flasher if you want it

see below

[webdweeb]

Billycar11, thanks for chiming in. Does your flasher work on a Mac, or will I have to use the Terminal as I do with the Asus drive? Also, does each Pioneer drive require a tailored flasher? Thanks again for the input!

[webdweeb]

So I take it the BDR-207D max disc capacity is a double layer Bluray, correct? It's been awhile since I did any BD burns on either of the 5.25" Pioneers, but I am pretty sure I was able to do a DL BD disc on the 207 (or I might be thinking of the 209!). That one has a sticky tray anyway, so maybe it is time to send it to the great disc drive farm in the sky.

[Billycar11]

Billycar11, thanks for chiming in. Does your flasher work on a Mac, or will I have to use the Terminal as I do with the Asus drive? Also, does each Pioneer drive require a tailored flasher? Thanks again for the input!

windows only use vms at your own risk

[webdweeb]

Ok, thanks-maybe I can find another forum member with the same MacOS restriction and see how they handled it. Or I could just bite the bullet and get myself a low end PC for the various utilities that are Windows-specific. I have a similar challenge with programming some older URC universal remotes (wanted a Harmony, but Logitech pulled the plug on that option), as that SW also runs only on a PC, and a lot of the other disc and media manipulation SW also prefers the Windows environment.

[MartyMcNuts]

Ok, thanks-maybe I can find another forum member with the same MacOS restriction and see how they handled it. Or I could just bite the bullet and get myself a low end PC for the various utilities that are Windows-specific. I have a similar challenge with programming some older URC universal remotes (wanted a Harmony, but Logitech pulled the plug on that option), as that SW also runs only on a PC, and a lot of the other disc and media manipulation SW also prefers the Windows environment.

Those that only have access to Mac use terminal to flash their drives. It's not hard. The Ultimate Guide 2025 even has the command for you. Just edit the drive and firmware paths.