WH14NS40 - LG Firmware bricked?

[unkis17]

All,

I am brand new here, first post. Let me lead with there is a lot of information here and I am NOT looking to use LibreDrive or any UHD enhanced features.

Today I was using my LG WH14NS40 - Firmware 1.00 MFG June 2012. I have been having issues reading some standard BD's within MakeMKV. I thought this might because of new security features, so I I downloaded the 1.05 Firmware from LG's site.

The firmware update from the site went fine. No warnings or errors, rebooted and now the drive will not read any type of disc at all.

I want to try and roll this firmware back, but LG's software has locked me out of that. Before I play with any more firmware I was hoping someone can point me in the direction of just getting this drive working again. I saw there is threads on SDF Tool Flasher. I didn't want to play with this just yet as I do not know what I am doing. Again I know this drive does not not work with 4K features, which is fine, I don't even have a 4K TV.

Any direction for a newb would be great. Thank you for any help in advance.

[Billycar11]

read the recovery section in the guide linked below

[unkis17]

@BillyCar,

Just to clarify. I am going use the Win10PE USB disk (i have made these before) in your link. Reboot pc, make sure the drive is connected as IDE, NOT AHCI.

Boot Win10PE, then using DOS Flash util and "...WH14NS40_1.00_NS50.BIN" I can flash back the bricked drive. Reboot and magic?

Also if I do this procedure correctly is there any reason for me flash the drive again to a newer firmware knowing that I do not want to use 4K discs?

Additionally thank you for the quick response!

Unkis

[Billycar11]

@BillyCar,

Just to clarify. I am going use the Win10PE USB disk (i have made these before) in your link. Reboot pc, make sure the drive is connected as IDE, NOT AHCI.

Boot Win10PE, then using DOS Flash util and "...WH14NS40_1.00_NS50.BIN" I can flash back the bricked drive. Reboot and magic?

Also if I do this procedure correctly is there any reason for me flash the drive again to a newer firmware knowing that I do not want to use 4K discs?

Additionally thank you for the quick response!

Unkis

no
Downgrade your drive to WH16NS60 1.00 with sdftool or makemkv command line
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then reflash WH16NS60 1.00 again with the unlocked lg or Asus flasher
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then boot in to your dosflash bottable and dump the firmware
Use the transfer tool to your correct firmware and flash it to it. the correct firmware for your drive is download/file.php?id=3036 WH16NS40 yes i know its not your exact model but to bad at least it will work

[unkis17]

@BillCar,

No luck. I was able to DL the unlocked asus flasher, which had the "WH16NS60 1.00." However when I used the SDFTool I got an error. - See attached

FYI before I performed this task I did change to "IDE" from "AHCI" of my SATA Controller just in case. Wasn't sure on that one.

Not sure what I did wrong here. I read and re-read everything, sorry.

(Also I did DL the "The all you need firmware pack, but it only had WH16NS60 1.02 file in it and you did say 1.00 so I did NOT attempt it.

Any chance I can still fix this?

[Coopervid]

@BillCar,

No luck. I was able to DL the unlocked asus flasher, which had the "WH16NS60 1.00." However when I used the SDFTool I got an error. - See attached

FYI before I performed this task I did change to "IDE" from "AHCI" of my SATA Controller just in case. Wasn't sure on that one.

Not sure what I did wrong here. I read and re-read everything, sorry.

(Also I did DL the "The all you need firmware pack, but it only had WH16NS60 1.02 file in it and you did say 1.00 so I did NOT attempt it.

Any chance I can still fix this?

Use another SATA port. E.g. SATA ports on an additional Marvell chips tend to fail. Use one that is connected to the motherboard chipset.

[Billycar11]

@BillCar,

No luck. I was able to DL the unlocked asus flasher, which had the "WH16NS60 1.00." However when I used the SDFTool I got an error. - See attached

FYI before I performed this task I did change to "IDE" from "AHCI" of my SATA Controller just in case. Wasn't sure on that one.

Not sure what I did wrong here. I read and re-read everything, sorry.

(Also I did DL the "The all you need firmware pack, but it only had WH16NS60 1.02 file in it and you did say 1.00 so I did NOT attempt it.

Any chance I can still fix this?

In your case you must first flash to WH16NS60 1.02mk with enc checked the with that flasher you have. Follow the rest of the steps after that remember you must use the LG or Asus flasher as they flash the full firmware and bootloader sdf tool does not only use that to get off encrypted firmware

[unkis17]

Thank you for the clarification about the 1.02MK firmware.

Earlier today I tried changing the SATA port and changing all SATA Controller (I have 2 on this PC it seems) to IDE as previously suggested. Well... This caused my whole system to crash even after trying to change it back.

A few hrs later I have Win10 reinstalled and working again. I was due for a clean install anyway, just didn't know I was doing it today...

Before I change things again. I have my SATA controller on AHCI and SATA 4/5 AHCI. Do I need to change this to IDE as suggested in the YT video to downgrade and flash in Win10PE boot?

Lastly in the MK firmwares, will I use the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010.bin" in the "HL-DT-ST Directory or will I use the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.01-NM00100-211711202000.bin" from the "old" directory? I'm thinking possibly old b/c this drive is pre-2012?

[Billycar11]

Thank you for the clarification about the 1.02MK firmware.

Earlier today I tried changing the SATA port and changing all SATA Controller (I have 2 on this PC it seems) to IDE as previously suggested. Well... This caused my whole system to crash even after trying to change it back.

A few hrs later I have Win10 reinstalled and working again. I was due for a clean install anyway, just didn't know I was doing it today...

Before I change things again. I have my SATA controller on AHCI and SATA 4/5 AHCI. Do I need to change this to IDE as suggested in the YT video to downgrade and flash in Win10PE boot?

Lastly in the MK firmwares, will I use the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010.bin" in the "HL-DT-ST Directory or will I use the "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.01-NM00100-211711202000.bin" from the "old" directory? I'm thinking possibly old b/c this drive is pre-2012?

bad news you wasted your time reinstalling all you had to do was change a simple registry key and it would be back to working you would be able to boot in safemode or do it in a preinstall environment done it many times over the years.
just lookup windows change ide to achi back in windows 7 Microsoft had a fix it utility for it didnt save it and now they removed it
and this is why you only boot to the recovery image not your native os.
get the firmware 1.02mk from the all you need firmware pack 1.03 can just create further confusion.
yes whatever port your drive is plugged in to needs to be in ide mode possible all of them depending on how your motherboard is setup some it will only work on the first or second port some it works on any of the 6

[unkis17]

@Billycar11,

Well I had no idea about that one. Again I'm messing with things I shouldn't have done to begin with. Seems at this point it would be quicker for Amazon to send me a new drive for $70 USD had I known I was going to crash my system.

To confirm. I can perform all of this from the Win10PE USB instead of flashing in native OS? I didn't know I can do that.

Also in the "All you need firmware pack" none of the BIN files are marked "MK." Do I have the wrong zip?

[Billycar11]

Just sorted to names to make it easier for typing in

[Jman5150]

is the information in this thread the updated for flashing this drive? i just ordered and received from amazon and the flasher i used a few years ago for this drive didnt work and i tried the 1.02 and it failed as well.

its wh16ns40 with ns50 manufactured mAY 2021.

also how do i check to see what the current firmware is from software. the flash failed but it would be nice to double check to see if its still the original firmware...(especially if i return it which is a consideration if it gets too messy).

any advice appreciated. just failed the flash and falling down research hole.

[Billycar11]

is the information in this thread the updated for flashing this drive? i just ordered and received from amazon and the flasher i used a few years ago for this drive didnt work and i tried the 1.02 and it failed as well.

its wh16ns40 with ns50 manufactured mAY 2021.

also how do i check to see what the current firmware is from software. the flash failed but it would be nice to double check to see if its still the original firmware...(especially if i return it which is a consideration if it gets too messy).

any advice appreciated. just failed the flash and falling down research hole.

No this thread is not the guide read it below