Eventual success flashing a March 2020 WH16NS40

[MorkFromOrk]

I just bought an LG WH16NS40-NS50 drive from Amazon (March 2020 - v1.04), along with a Vantec NexStar USB 3.0 enclosure (model NST-536S3-BK) and with some effort I was able to successfully flash for LibreDrive Support.

Disclaimer: This is all new to me and there was plenty of fumbling around to get this done. It didn't work "out of the box" so I thought that it might be helpful to post what I did to get this done.

NOTE that these are the final working steps - it took a while to sort this out:

- I watched the "How To" video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfpf6HoMMis

- I downloaded the patched flasher from https://forum.cdrinfo.pl/f29/crossflash ... s58-96313/

- I downloaded Mike's patched Firmware from https://www.makemkv.com/download/mk-fir ... 200415.zip

- I ran the flasher and chose "flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH16NS40_1.02.bin" that CAME with the patched flasher download.

- I got the error "WRITE DRAM NG 05/26/03"

- I Googled and found a post from MartyMcNuts saying "Flash BH16NS55 1.04 MK first. Then whatever firmware you want to use." (https://makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... &start=330) The question was actually about a WH14NS40, but I figured Close Enough and was able to successfully flash the drive with that - MakeMKV showed the change.

- I ran the flasher again and this time chose Mike's firmware for my specific drive and that was successful now: "HL-DT-ST- BD-RE_WH16NS40-NS50-1.03-NM00600-211711211653.bin" Again, MakeMKV showed the change.

> BEFORE - Drive freshly installed in the enclosure

Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS40
Revision: 1.04
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2119-01-04 13:48
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

> AFTER - Drive flashed to Mike's 1.03: HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS40-NS50-1.03-NM00600-211711211653.bin

Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2117-11-21 16:53
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[RoamingBison]

This is the way

I just got my replacement LG WH16NS40-NS50 from Amazon for the same 4 year old model where the blue laser died.
Your instructions worked for me as well with my 2020 1.04 firmware drive.

I used the patched flasher to flash to the BH16NS55 1.04 MK first and then flashed Mike's patched HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS40-NS50-1.03-NM00600-211711211653 file without rebooting in between.

I tried going straight to the drive specific firmware in the patched flasher, as well as Mike's first but I got the same error.

Nice work!

[MorkFromOrk]

I tried going straight to the drive specific firmware in the patched flasher, as well as Mike's first but I got the same error.

Good news! If I hadn't found the post by MartyMcNuts to flash first to the different firmware, I have no doubt that days later I would still be spinning my wheels trying to get the "proper" firmware to flash.

I'm glad to hear that my post helped.

[skidmark saint]

I see a lot of people are using the patched flasher from blackend. when i try to download the program i get 1 of 2 things. either the file is not on the server or a bunch of redirects and pop ups. Luckily i have not yet got any malware or anything but I was wondering how everyone is going about getting this file. I am not a fan of zippyshare since it does seem to have a bit of a bad reputation. tia

my drive information

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: DVD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.04
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2119-01-04 13:51
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.04
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)

[rockin]

I have the same issue as Skid and cannot get the patched flasher tool to download. I also have identical hardware as Skid. Any alternate links people have or could it be made available at a more reliable place?

Thanks!

[rockin]

Success already - I was using Firefox which was being sent every which way. I then tried Opera and it did not go anywhere not desired and was able to download it successfully.

Happy again.