SDFtool Flasher

[ShatteredGlass]

I've been doing some testing and it seems that the only way to switch between MK firmware on a BP50NB40-NB50 is by using the "RECOVER" option in SDFtool Flasher. For example, a BP50NB40-NB50 that has 1.03 MK Firmware on it, I'm unable to downgrade to 1.01 unless I use the "RECOVER" option. Or if I'm on 1.01 and want to switch to 1.03 I must use the "RECOVER" option. Both of the MK Firmware's have "DE" set @ 0x1ec056 so I know that's not the issue. I'm able to use the "ASUS ODD FW Changer (Modified)" to switch firmware on the BP50NB40 no problem. Also, I can switch firmware on my WH16NS40 with SDFtool Flasher no problem, i.e. going from 1.05 to 1.03 and back to 1.05. So this only seems to be an issue with the BP50NB40.

Another thing I noticed is that if I try to switch from 1.03 to 1.01 on my BP50NB40 and I remove the "DE" byte from the MK Firmware and flash with SDFtool, it won't produce any error. The process will complete 100%, even though it doesn't actually downgrade. However, if I do the same thing with my WH16NS40 and try to switch from 1.05 to 1.03 with the "DE" by removed, SDFtool will throw a "Command produced error code 0x8f052400" error.

So why the differences between the two drives? Is this a bug or just by design?

LG have done something to the latest model BP50NB40 which causes these issues. We haven't figured out what that is yet ..

Ahhh ok, I was wondering what the issue was. Makes sense now. Thanks for the info.

[vmax5000]

I just purchased a new LG drive, see screenshot from MKV snip and I tried to downgrade the firmware from 1.05 to 1.02 but I keep getting the error shown in screenshot error. I am running windows 11, shouldn't make a difference I would think. Am I using the wrong firmware or is it some other issue? I tried both encrypted and unencrypted with the program but got the same error.

Thanks

[ShatteredGlass]

I just purchased a new LG drive, see screenshot from MKV snip and I tried to downgrade the firmware from 1.05 to 1.02 but I keep getting the error shown in screenshot error. I am running windows 11, shouldn't make a difference I would think. Am I using the wrong firmware or is it some other issue? I tried both encrypted and unencrypted with the program but got the same error.

Thanks

That's because you're trying to flash DE firmware. You need to use MK firmware from THIS THREAD

[MartyMcNuts]

I just purchased a new LG drive, see screenshot from MKV snip and I tried to downgrade the firmware from 1.05 to 1.02 but I keep getting the error shown in screenshot error. I am running windows 11, shouldn't make a difference I would think. Am I using the wrong firmware or is it some other issue? I tried both encrypted and unencrypted with the program but got the same error.

Thanks

You cannot flash directly to WH16NS40 1.02 from the encrypted 1.05. Also, the best (and recommended) firmware for your drive is WH16NS60 1.02-MK, which can be flashed to directly.

[vmax5000]

Thanks guys, but I hate to sound dumb but where do I find the MK firmware? There seems to be a few links to firmware.

Sorry to bug you guys...

[vmax5000]

by ShatteredGlass » Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:17 pm

vmax5000 wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 22, 2022 1:03 pm
I just purchased a new LG drive, see screenshot from MKV snip and I tried to downgrade the firmware from 1.05 to 1.02 but I keep getting the error shown in screenshot error. I am running windows 11, shouldn't make a difference I would think. Am I using the wrong firmware or is it some other issue? I tried both encrypted and unencrypted with the program but got the same error.

Thanks

That's because you're trying to flash DE firmware. You need to use MK firmware from THIS THREAD

When I click on THIS THREAD it just takes me right back here...

[vmax5000]

I found it!

Thanks for your help.

[poster72]

Hope you can all bear with me here, lots of threads and lots of info, and i have tried many failed attempts. I have a WH15N60 which came with 1.03 encrypted firmware i think. Trying to flash it for use with UHD discs for backing up. I have tried the original BH14ns40_patched application, the ASUS_ODD_FW and now the SDFtool flasher. I attemtempted to flash my drive with the HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010. I get a desktop drive handshake error, trying slim drive handshake, and error code 0x8f052400 finally.

Can someone give me a hint here?

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS6
Firmware date: 2120-05-08 10:10
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.03
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)

No disc inserted


USB 3.0 connected external enclosure

[poster72]

well ignore my previous post i apologize. I thought it was possible over usb, however docking it internally allowed me to do the downgrade.

Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[MartyMcNuts]

well ignore my previous post i apologize. I thought it was possible over usb, however docking it internally allowed me to do the downgrade.

Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Yes, it is possible over USB if you have a compatible enclosure or SATA to USB adapter.

[poster72]

I was using this enclosure from amazon, surprised it didn't work with the enclosure i guess?
Vantec NST-536S3-BK NexStar DX USB 3.0 External Enclosure for SATA Blu-Ray/CD/DVD Drive all black
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MR ... =UTF8&th=1

[MartyMcNuts]

I was using this enclosure from amazon, surprised it didn't work with the enclosure i guess?
Vantec NST-536S3-BK NexStar DX USB 3.0 External Enclosure for SATA Blu-Ray/CD/DVD Drive all black
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MR ... =UTF8&th=1

Yeah, apparently the new Vantec NST-536S3-BK enclsoures don't work for flashing anymore. The older one's do. I believe Vantec have changed the chip inside due to shortages.

[MastaG]

Any reason why I should choose the MK 1.02 over version 1.03?
I mean the latter is more recent right?

[MartyMcNuts]

Any reason why I should choose the MK 1.02 over version 1.03?
I mean the latter is more recent right?

More recent does not mean better. The 1.03-MK is made from the encrypted firmware and is crap. Plenty of people have had issues with it. 1.02-MK is the recommended firmware. It reads good and is fast.

[eatont9999]

I just flashed my new LG WH16NS60 drive from its original 1.03 firmware to the MK/old/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin and selected non-encrypted. It seems to read Blu-ray discs but not UHD disks. It would read either one before the flash but I couldn't rip UHD disks, obviously. Now it just sits there seeking and MakeMKV says the disc is being loaded. It does not move from that status.

I had to connect it via SATA due to the recent Vantec issues. I did all flashing connected via SATA. Before it would give me a handshake error.

I tried version 1.01 and 1.03 but both do the same thing. Is it me doing something wrong or is this process not working with the latest drives. Mine was manufactured on 2021-08-18, SVC Code: NS60, ROM: 1.03.

Any help is appreciated.