How do I downgrade the WH14NS40 for UHD disks?

[boredlink]

I tried all the software, but I get the message, "Checksum is mismatched. Drive will go into BOOT mode." I've tried the PowerShell method and it told me it couldn't find the input file and had an internal error. Can someone please help?

[Billycar11]

Get an automated flasher from me or Marty then

[goferguy]

Billy, I have the same drive, followed your instructions with the SDFtool Flasher. However, I had a question about the recommended firmware for this drive. It recommended the WH16NS60 1.02MK firmware on your ultimate guide. However in the MK firmware package all I found for the WH16NS60 firmware was firmware version 1.03. Just wanted to check in and see if that is the current recommended firmware. Thanks a Bunch!

[MartyMcNuts]

Billy, I have the same drive, followed your instructions with the SDFtool Flasher. However, I had a question about the recommended firmware for this drive. It recommended the WH16NS60 1.02MK firmware on your ultimate guide. However in the MK firmware package all I found for the WH16NS60 firmware was firmware version 1.03. Just wanted to check in and see if that is the current recommended firmware. Thanks a Bunch!

It is in the "MK\old" folder

[Billycar11]

Billy, I have the same drive, followed your instructions with the SDFtool Flasher. However, I had a question about the recommended firmware for this drive. It recommended the WH16NS60 1.02MK firmware on your ultimate guide. However in the MK firmware package all I found for the WH16NS60 firmware was firmware version 1.03. Just wanted to check in and see if that is the current recommended firmware. Thanks a Bunch!

or in the all you need pack

[goferguy]

Thank you both! Much appreciated!

[SuckRaven]

Hello,

This is my first post on the forums, but have been reading a lot. I also recently purchased a WH14NS40, and am planning on flashing it with WH16NS60 1.02MK. I have a few questions that I hope someone can help answer. I currently have the drive hooked up via a BENFEI SATA III to USB 3.0 adapter, although I did this just to quickly check the specs of the drive after it arrived. When I actually flash the drive, it will be connected normally using an internal SATA to SATA connection.

2023-03-23_LG HL-DT-ST BD-RE WH14NS40_02.jpg (104.09 KiB) Viewed 11383 times

The SVC Code is NS50 and the Date of Manufacture is February, 2021

I first would like to do a clean dump of the firmware. There appear to be several methods to do this, but I have several questions:
1) Is it preferable/advisable to perform this on a 32-bit OS? (I have older computers running 32-bit WindowsXP)
2) Does the BIOS need to have Compatibility Support Module (CSM) enabled?
3) What is the best tool to simply do a raw dump of the clean, original bios of the drive? In this post: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=17058 by Teddy Raspin, he suggests:

"I've written "for old firmwares" because, it seems that the latest ASUS/LG firmwares, which fixes the AACS 1.0 loophole (for UHD reading), inhibit the devilsclaw's flasher and you could not be able to have a valid dump."
So would this option not work for my drive as I assume that the newer drives such as mine (2021) have implemented measures against this?

I do not absolutely need to have a clean dump of the firmware, but somehow this just seems like a prudent step to take, so I was looking for the best method to accomplish this step.

For the actual flashing with WH16NS60 1.02MK is there any need to use the Command Prompt or PowerShell using the makemkvcon64.exe method, or is the SDFTool Flasher more preferable nowadays?

Do HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.01-NM00100-211711202000 and HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936 both address/fix the sleep bug that I have read about?

Last question is, is there any reason why the WH16NS60 1.01MK firmware might be preferable to the 1.02, or is 1.02 the best option for my drive?

Pardon all of the questions especially as I am sure they have been answered may times in many places already, I just wanted to make sure I didn't brick my shiny new drive right off the bat. Thank you all for all of the amazing resources/information that you have complied and helped the community with over the years.

[Billycar11]

Hello,

This is my first post on the forums, but have been reading a lot. I also recently purchased a WH14NS40, and am planning on flashing it with WH16NS60 1.02MK. I have a few questions that I hope someone can help answer. I currently have the drive hooked up via a BENFEI SATA III to USB 3.0 adapter, although I did this just to quickly check the specs of the drive after it arrived. When I actually flash the drive, it will be connected normally using an internal SATA to SATA connection.
2023-03-23_LG HL-DT-ST BD-RE WH14NS40_02.jpg

The SVC Code is NS50 and the Date of Manufacture is February, 2021

I first would like to do a clean dump of the firmware. There appear to be several methods to do this, but I have several questions:
1) Is it preferable/advisable to perform this on a 32-bit OS? (I have older computers running 32-bit WindowsXP)
2) Does the BIOS need to have Compatibility Support Module (CSM) enabled?
3) What is the best tool to simply do a raw dump of the clean, original bios of the drive? In this post: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=17058 by Teddy Raspin, he suggests:

"I've written "for old firmwares" because, it seems that the latest ASUS/LG firmwares, which fixes the AACS 1.0 loophole (for UHD reading), inhibit the devilsclaw's flasher and you could not be able to have a valid dump."
So would this option not work for my drive as I assume that the newer drives such as mine (2021) have implemented measures against this?

I do not absolutely need to have a clean dump of the firmware, but somehow this just seems like a prudent step to take, so I was looking for the best method to accomplish this step.

For the actual flashing with WH16NS60 1.02MK is there any need to use the Command Prompt or PowerShell using the makemkvcon64.exe method, or is the SDFTool Flasher more preferable nowadays?

Do HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.01-NM00100-211711202000 and HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936 both address/fix the sleep bug that I have read about?

Last question is, is there any reason why the WH16NS60 1.01MK firmware might be preferable to the 1.02, or is 1.02 the best option for my drive?

Pardon all of the questions especially as I am sure they have been answered may times in many places already, I just wanted to make sure I didn't brick my shiny new drive right off the bat. Thank you all for all of the amazing resources/information that you have complied and helped the community with over the years.

You can't backup 1.05 at all

Sdf GUI is the preferred way

All WH16NS60 firmware fixes the sleep bug

Only 1.03 or 1.02 will work at first on your drive you cant go direct to 1.01 or 1.00

[MartyMcNuts]

Hello,

This is my first post on the forums, but have been reading a lot. I also recently purchased a WH14NS40, and am planning on flashing it with WH16NS60 1.02MK. I have a few questions that I hope someone can help answer. I currently have the drive hooked up via a BENFEI SATA III to USB 3.0 adapter, although I did this just to quickly check the specs of the drive after it arrived. When I actually flash the drive, it will be connected normally using an internal SATA to SATA connection.
2023-03-23_LG HL-DT-ST BD-RE WH14NS40_02.jpg

The SVC Code is NS50 and the Date of Manufacture is February, 2021

I first would like to do a clean dump of the firmware. There appear to be several methods to do this, but I have several questions:
1) Is it preferable/advisable to perform this on a 32-bit OS? (I have older computers running 32-bit WindowsXP)
2) Does the BIOS need to have Compatibility Support Module (CSM) enabled?
3) What is the best tool to simply do a raw dump of the clean, original bios of the drive? In this post: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=17058 by Teddy Raspin, he suggests:

"I've written "for old firmwares" because, it seems that the latest ASUS/LG firmwares, which fixes the AACS 1.0 loophole (for UHD reading), inhibit the devilsclaw's flasher and you could not be able to have a valid dump."
So would this option not work for my drive as I assume that the newer drives such as mine (2021) have implemented measures against this?

I do not absolutely need to have a clean dump of the firmware, but somehow this just seems like a prudent step to take, so I was looking for the best method to accomplish this step.

For the actual flashing with WH16NS60 1.02MK is there any need to use the Command Prompt or PowerShell using the makemkvcon64.exe method, or is the SDFTool Flasher more preferable nowadays?

Do HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.01-NM00100-211711202000 and HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936 both address/fix the sleep bug that I have read about?

Last question is, is there any reason why the WH16NS60 1.01MK firmware might be preferable to the 1.02, or is 1.02 the best option for my drive?

Pardon all of the questions especially as I am sure they have been answered may times in many places already, I just wanted to make sure I didn't brick my shiny new drive right off the bat. Thank you all for all of the amazing resources/information that you have complied and helped the community with over the years.

1. You cannot get a full firmware dump anymore. You can dump the important bits (SDFtool extracts these to a 70kb .tar file). There really is no need for a full dump these days as the flashing method now used is the same as the official way.

2. SDFtool flasher is a UI for the command line. Use whichever one you prefer. They do the exact same thing. I find it easier to select drive, firmware and click start button than to type out full command.

3. Yes, all NS60 firmware removes the sleep bug. For your model, NS60 1.02-MK is preferred if you use MakeMKV. If you want to use that other monkey software, NS60 1.00 is the way to go. (If this is the case, you must still flash to NS60 1.02-MK first before flashing NS60 1.00).

4. NS60 1.01-MK is never preferred over NS60 1.02-MK.

[SuckRaven]

Thank you both for your replies. That makes things much more clear.

I went ahead and dumped the small 70kb .tar file anyway just to have.
I will just use the GUI.
I will stick to 1.02-MK as I do not use the monkey software. (Although I do sometimes use the fox software for .ISO files)

Thank you again for the responses.

I am also planning on buying 1 or maybe 2 other drives as it seems likely that newer firmware will increasingly be annoying to deal with as the manufacturers implement ever-evolving countermeasures.

Is there a loose hierarchy of maybe the top 3 or 5 drives either of you personally recommend which are currently available that are the most hassle-free/painless? I plan on keeping those stashed away on a shelf somewhere in case newer drives years from now are not able to be downgraded.

[donpimp]

Just curious why do the Monkies prefer 1.00 to 1.02-MK? Also along these lines does monkey software "know" if a drive is libredrive, or is MKV the only smart Monkey?

[MartyMcNuts]

Just curious why do the Monkies prefer 1.00 to 1.02-MK? Also along these lines does monkey software "know" if a drive is libredrive, or is MKV the only smart Monkey?

Basically the monkey doesn't really work with MK firmware.

[donpimp]

"...NS60 1.00 is the way to go."
In this folder: "mk-firmware-pack-20200720\MK\old" I'm not seeing "1.00" just 1.01 and 1.02
I want to try out 1.00 for burn speed testing and other software, just monkeying around.
I'll scour the forum but thought someone might know where 1.00 lives...

[Billycar11]

"...NS60 1.00 is the way to go."
In this folder: "mk-firmware-pack-20200720\MK\old" I'm not seeing "1.00" just 1.01 and 1.02
I want to try out 1.00 for burn speed testing and other software, just monkeying around.
I'll scour the forum but thought someone might know where 1.00 lives...

The my de firmware pack linked below in the guide

[donpimp]

Thanks Billycar11, haven't tried yet 1.02-MK works great...