Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2024

[dlharper007]

Greetings and Good Evening,

So here's my story. I basically have 2 PC's I rip movies from (I use Plex but I also have a Kodi backup). One PC is running Windows 7 on an Intel Core i7 3770K, the other is running Windows 7 on an AMD Ryzen 5 2600. I have an LG WH16NS40 with the proper specs' on the Intel, and the Asus BW-16D1HT is on the AMD. Here are my questions and observations:
1 Neither PC will even read a 4K disc.
2 They can rip Blu-rays all day every day.
3 I do have a Windows 10 PC that I can put one of the drives in, but it is running AMD as well.

So before I pull the trigger and downgrade the firmware, I wanted to check with the brain trust on here and see if there were any gotchas.

Thanks in advance!

[medikoo]

The archgon is a BU40N and is the better drive just be sure not to let it move while ripping then when the BU40N'S scratch discs.
In my testing the 5.25 desktop asus and lg drives have a 25% fail rate with those hash errors

Thanks @Billycar11, my experience seems to confirm that. I've just bought another BU40N, and it flawlessly backed up discs which were no go for WH16NS60. The only advantage of the latter is that it's way more silent and more solid, but if it doesn't work then there's no real value added.

[dlharper007]

As a follow-up to my questions, I was going to do the Asus first. Here's the MKV info. Do I need to check the enc box?

[dlharper007]

Ok, so I went back through the pages and got the answer to my question about enc (I figured it was in there and I missed it), and so took the plunge and it seems to have worked perfect. I'm testing it now.
You guys are awesome, by the way.

[Billycar11]

Greetings and Good Evening,

So here's my story. I basically have 2 PC's I rip movies from (I use Plex but I also have a Kodi backup). One PC is running Windows 7 on an Intel Core i7 3770K, the other is running Windows 7 on an AMD Ryzen 5 2600. I have an LG WH16NS40 with the proper specs' on the Intel, and the Asus BW-16D1HT is on the AMD. Here are my questions and observations:
1 Neither PC will even read a 4K disc.
2 They can rip Blu-rays all day every day.
3 I do have a Windows 10 PC that I can put one of the drives in, but it is running AMD as well.

So before I pull the trigger and downgrade the firmware, I wanted to check with the brain trust on here and see if there were any gotchas.

Thanks in advance!

You need to downgrade the firmware first and only if you meet the requirements

[dlharper007]

So, silly question time ... I used the SDF tool to install the Asus 16D1 MK Firmware. It took less than 20 seconds to load, and I've already ripped 2 4K discs. Do I still need to "side load" something else? I'm always "cautious" when it comes to upgrading/downgrading firmware . . . it's one of those you kinda look away and clench press the "go" button. Tomorrow I'll probably do the same for the LG drive.

[Billycar11]

So, silly question time ... I used the SDF tool to install the Asus 16D1 MK Firmware. It took less than 20 seconds to load, and I've already ripped 2 4K discs. Do I still need to "side load" something else? I'm always "cautious" when it comes to upgrading/downgrading firmware . . . it's one of those you kinda look away and clench press the "go" button. Tomorrow I'll probably do the same for the LG drive.

you should be good thats the point of the guide as few steps as possible to get to a firmware that works with makemkv

[mellofone]

Just purchased an Archgon MD-8107S-U3YC-UHD with the BU40N and it came with firmware 1.01. Is it a correct statement to say that I ONLY have to downgrade to 1.00 if I want to rip UHD? I haven't purchased any UHD discs yet, and a test standard Bluray worked just fine as is.

Can you flash with the Linux makemkv? I guess I'd have to find a Windows machine somewhere if I do want to downgrade

[MartyMcNuts]

Just purchased an Archgon MD-8107S-U3YC-UHD with the BU40N and it came with firmware 1.01. Is it a correct statement to say that I ONLY have to downgrade to 1.00 if I want to rip UHD? I haven't purchased any UHD discs yet, and a test standard Bluray worked just fine as is.

Can you flash with the Linux makemkv? I guess I'd have to find a Windows machine somewhere if I do want to downgrade

Correct. Downgrade straight to 1.00.

You can use the MakeMKV sdftool via command line on linux. I don't know the commands for linux off the top of my head but there are a couple of threads here about it. Otherwise, it would be very simple to do if you have access to a windows PC.

[legolad]

Hi all,

I've just bought the Archgon drive.
I understand it is a renamed LG BU40N drive.
I also understand I can use the built-in MakeMKV flasher from the command line (or via the GUI) to downgrade the Firmware to 1.00.

My confusion comes from the labeling of the firmwares. In the MKV firmware pack I see these BU40N folders:

BU40N-B-Japan-Buffalo
BU40N-FR
BU40N-N-Main
BU40N-R-Tier2-Taiwan
BU40N-U-Tier2-Non-UHD

The last folder contains a firmware file with 1.00 in the name (HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-U100-3M01801-211910161036.bin).
The others are all 1.01, 1.04, or something else.

I don't want to mess this up. Is one of these the 1.00 firmware? Am I looking in the wrong firmware collection?

Thanks in advance!

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi all,

I've just bought the Archgon drive.
I understand it is a renamed LG BU40N drive.
I also understand I can use the built-in MakeMKV flasher from the command line (or via the GUI) to downgrade the Firmware to 1.00.

My confusion comes from the labeling of the firmwares. In the MKV firmware pack I see these BU40N folders:

BU40N-B-Japan-Buffalo
BU40N-FR
BU40N-N-Main
BU40N-R-Tier2-Taiwan
BU40N-U-Tier2-Non-UHD

The last folder contains a firmware file with 1.00 in the name (HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-U100-3M01801-211910161036.bin).
The others are all 1.01, 1.04, or something else.

I don't want to mess this up. Is one of these the 1.00 firmware? Am I looking in the wrong firmware collection?

Thanks in advance!

No, the 1.00 firmware is not in the MK folder as it is the original, downgrade-enabled firmware. I've flashed heaps of these Archgon's and they all have come with 1.01. This means they can be flashed directly to DE_LG_BU40N_1.00. You can find the firmware in my DE Firmware Pack here: viewtopic.php?p=94848#p94848

[legolad]

Thanks, Marty!!!

[ben_uk]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of getting one of these drives;

LG WH14NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25
LG WH16NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25

Is there a guide in how to then flash these for UHD ripping? I havent done anything along these lines since about 2002 when I flashed cracked firmware to my then DVD drive to play multi-region discs.

[Billycar11]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of getting one of these drives;

LG WH14NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25
LG WH16NS40, UHD Friendly Internal 5.25

Is there a guide in how to then flash these for UHD ripping? I havent done anything along these lines since about 2002 when I flashed cracked firmware to my then DVD drive to play multi-region discs.

first post has how to videos if you dont feel comfortable buy an automated flasher from me or Marty

[legolad]

No, the 1.00 firmware is not in the MK folder as it is the original, downgrade-enabled firmware. I've flashed heaps of these Archgon's and they all have come with 1.01. This means they can be flashed directly to DE_LG_BU40N_1.00. You can find the firmware in my DE Firmware Pack here: viewtopic.php?p=94848#p94848

Thanks again, Marty. You and the rest of the crew here deserve all the kudos. You're all amazing!!!