Does flashing enable WH14NS40 to play UHD/4K discs?

[joeybuddy96]

I already have a WH14NS40. I don't really do any ripping at all. I would just rather not plop a Benjamin down on a new drive just to get 4K/UHD support.

[Woodstock]

Run MakeMKV. What does it say about your drive?

And, if you're not ripping, why do you worry about UHD support?

[MartyMcNuts]

If your drive is UHD ripping capable and LibreDrive enabled, you can use MakeMKV as an "on-the-fly" decryption engine and watch your UHD discs directly.

[joeybuddy96]

Run MakeMKV. What does it say about your drive?

And, if you're not ripping, why do you worry about UHD support?

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.01
Serial number: K9ED9AE1114
Firmware date: 2113-04-04 23:25
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.01
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

At the time, I wanted to just be able to play UHD discs and not rip them. Intel shut down the server that allowed UHD playback last year (https://community.intel.com/t5/Intel-So ... -p/1545831), so ripping is pretty much required to watch UHD blu-rays, even if I buy a drive that is physically capable of UHD blu-ray playback.

[Woodstock]

Your drive was built over two years before UHD support was added to LG drives, and your hardware will not support it (MT1939 processor).

[joeybuddy96]

Ah, thanks for researching that!
Is there something I need to do to at least be able to rip regular blu-rays? Do I need to buy certain firmware or a flashing utility, and a MakeMKV license?

[Woodstock]

As far as ripping non-UHD disks, it should work fine. Normal Bluray is what that chip was designed for.

It will work with normal playing software and MakeMKV just fine. I used to have a couple of them before my equipment was stolen last year.