Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Discussion of LibreDrive mode, compatible drives and firmwares
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tairitsu001
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:17 am

Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by tairitsu001 »

I have 2 Pioneer BDR-UD04 drives. When I initially got them, both had firmware version 1.20 and Libredrive worked on both.

However yesterday when I tried to rip something, I noticed one of them was acting weird.
The one giving me problems would not show a firmware date, and would not show any Libredrive information in MakeMKV.

Firmware version are still both 1.20.

I inserted a Blu Ray into the problematic drive and it would only rip at 2.1x instead of the full speed the drive is capable of.

I have tried different USB ports, different computers, different enclosures, all the same results.

firmware dump of problematic in attachments

Working Drive Info:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04D
Revision: 1.20
Serial number: QLDL013611WL
Firmware date: 2017-09-26
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.20/ID84
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted
Not working drive info:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04D
Revision: 1.20
Serial number: RADL049942WL
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

No disc inserted
Attachments
dump_FW_8127C0435D4165687651.tgz
Firmware Dump
(229 Bytes) Downloaded 11 times
tairitsu001
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:17 am

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by tairitsu001 »

More updates on the problematic drive:

It won't even read CDs properly, both trying to open the disc in a player, and also trying to rip in XLD. Probably safe to say the drive is toast?
dcoke22
Posts: 3937
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:25 pm

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by dcoke22 »

Have you tried cleaning the drive optics?

Gently wipe the drive optics with a Q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol and then before it dries, wipe any residue off with a clean microfiber towel.
tairitsu001
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:17 am

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by tairitsu001 »

dcoke22 wrote:
Sat Aug 30, 2025 4:55 pm
Have you tried cleaning the drive optics?

Gently wipe the drive optics with a Q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol and then before it dries, wipe any residue off with a clean microfiber towel.
I haven't, but would it make a difference in my case? The firmware information read by MakeMKV is weird to begin with even without anything in the drive.
dcoke22
Posts: 3937
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:25 pm

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by dcoke22 »

Ah, because the LibreDrive section is missing on the non-working drive. Probably not, since optics probably aren't your problem.

I don't know what that means. Maybe Billycar11 or MartyMcNuts will comment if they've seen anything like it before.
Coopervid
Posts: 3203
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by Coopervid »

I have never seen a case like this. It's either a hardware defect (most likely) or the drive got somehow into kernel mode (very unlikely). If you want you can try to flash it if it is in kernel mode. Let me know.
tairitsu001
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2025 4:17 am

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by tairitsu001 »

Coopervid wrote:
Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:36 pm
I have never seen a case like this. It's either a hardware defect (most likely) or the drive got somehow into kernel mode (very unlikely). If you want you can try to flash it if it is in kernel mode. Let me know.
Would be worth a try for me. Worst case would be bricking a drive that's already defective anyways. Old stock Pioneer drives aren't the easiest to get for me since I have to order them from China and have them shipped internationally.
Coopervid
Posts: 3203
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by Coopervid »

tairitsu001 wrote:
Mon Sep 01, 2025 9:50 am
Coopervid wrote:
Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:36 pm
I have never seen a case like this. It's either a hardware defect (most likely) or the drive got somehow into kernel mode (very unlikely). If you want you can try to flash it if it is in kernel mode. Let me know.
Would be worth a try for me. Worst case would be bricking a drive that's already defective anyways. Old stock Pioneer drives aren't the easiest to get for me since I have to order them from China and have them shipped internationally.
PM sent.
Coopervid
Posts: 3203
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: Pioneer BDR-UD04 stopped working

Post by Coopervid »

Another hint. The Verbatim enclosures are not very reliable and tend to die early. If flashing doesn't work (I expect so ) get the drive out of the enclosure and put it in a new one or connect via USB->SATA controller and mini to full SATA adapter. BENFEI ist cheap and works.
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