Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[n7qpp]

I just purchased a WP50NB40 from Amazon Warehouse. MKV shows this about the drive:
Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK04N1UJ4914
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Ye
Unrestricted read speed: Yes[/list][/list]

The sticker shows:

S/N 301HSXJ016986
ROM VER: 1.03


Joe (new to the broad)

[MartyMcNuts]

I just purchased a WP50NB40 from Amazon Warehouse. MKV shows this about the drive:
Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK04N1UJ4914
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Ye
Unrestricted read speed: Yes[/list][/list]

The sticker shows:

S/N 301HSXJ016986
ROM VER: 1.03


Joe (new to the broad)

It's obviously not brand new as it's already been cross-flashed!!

Have you tried a UHD disc yet?

[Billycar11]

I just purchased a WP50NB40 from Amazon Warehouse. MKV shows this about the drive:
Drive Information
OS device name: I:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK04N1UJ4914
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Ye
Unrestricted read speed: Yes[/list][/list]

The sticker shows:

S/N 301HSXJ016986
ROM VER: 1.03


Joe (new to the broad)

It's obviously not brand new as it's already been cross-flashed!!

Have you tried a UHD disc yet?

lol i wonder who returned that

[n7qpp]

Would there be a need to change the current firmware version? Sorry have not have the time to read all the good info yet

Joe

[Billycar11]

Would there be a need to change the current firmware version? Sorry have not have the time to read all the good info yet

Joe

Leave it as is
You got one of my reject drives

[n7qpp]

Interesting what was the reason for the rejection? I cam always return it

Joe

[Billycar11]

Interesting what was the reason for the rejection? I cam always return it

Joe

Failed my testing but I test with hard to read discs so it might be fine for you or you might find out why it was sent back

[WandStick9898]

I just got this Archgon MD-8107S-U3-UHD drive from Amazon:

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
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)

I'm on Windows 11 - connected from USB 3.0 to USB-C, but can switch cables if that matters.

Following this: viewtopic.php?p=74718#p74718 post,
I understand that I need to:
1 - Download the "The all you need firmware pack.zip\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL_DT... 1.03...bin" [DONE]
2 - Download the latest GUI SDF tool from here: (viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896).

In this post, I scrolled down to the MediaFire link to the latest tool, and am getting a "Can't reach that page".
The firmware pack came down just fine, but that one I can't seem to grab. Has the link changed and referenced in a different post?

With this drive, can I simply use the built in Powershell MKV Flasher instructions found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyQV1aPlbow

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[d00zah]

...
In this post, I scrolled down to the MediaFire link to the latest tool, and am getting a "Can't reach that page".

The firmware pack came down just fine, but that one I can't seem to grab. Has the link changed and referenced in a different post?

SDFtoolFlasher link is active for me... something (AV, etc) blocking?

https://www.mediafire.com/file/rak1mk0p ... 9.zip/file

[WandStick9898]

...
In this post, I scrolled down to the MediaFire link to the latest tool, and am getting a "Can't reach that page".

The firmware pack came down just fine, but that one I can't seem to grab. Has the link changed and referenced in a different post?

SDFtoolFlasher link is active for me... something (AV, etc) blocking?

https://www.mediafire.com/file/rak1mk0p ... 9.zip/file

My bad - it must have been a local firewall thing. Got the file fine from my phone. Thanks for the quick response.

[WandStick9898]

Thanks for all the help - and it appears to have flashed successfully. I tried a couple test discs (an "older" UHD disc (The Fifth Element) and a "newer" one "All Quiet on the Western Front"). Both are giving "failed to open disc" errors.

Here's the current MakeMKV info:

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: MO1M#######
Firmware date: 2118-10-24 19:34
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Disc Information
Label: FIFTH_ELEMENT_THE
Timestamp: 2017-05-17 14:13:04
Protection: AACS2.0/C v61
Data capacity: 60.37 Gb
Disc type: BD-ROM UHD
Number of layers: 2
Bus encryption flags: 80

MakeMKV v1.17.5 win(x64-release) started
Downloading latest SDF to C:\Users\user/.MakeMKV ...
Automatic SDF downloading is disabled or failed.
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=866A98CB9C4E)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Downloading latest HK to C:\Users\user/.MakeMKV ...
Automatic HK downloading is disabled or failed.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\user/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Fifth_Element_CBBF.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc

My MakeMKV is 1.17.5 - updated this week. Did I miss a step? Eg, do I need to manually download the SDF and HK files?

Sorry if I'm being dense.

[d00zah]

...
MakeMKV v1.17.5 win(x64-release) started
Downloading latest SDF to C:\Users\user/.MakeMKV ...
Automatic SDF downloading is disabled or failed.
Using LibreDrive mode (v06.3 id=866A98CB9C4E)
Using direct disc access mode
Loaded content hash table, will verify integrity of M2TS files.
Downloading latest HK to C:\Users\user/.MakeMKV ...
Automatic HK downloading is disabled or failed.
Saved AACS dump file as C:\Users\user/.MakeMKV/MKB20_v61_Fifth_Element_CBBF.tgz
The volume key is unknown for this disc - video can't be decrypted
Failed to open disc

My MakeMKV is 1.17.5 - updated this week. Did I miss a step? Eg, do I need to manually download the SDF and HK files?

Sorry if I'm being dense.

Source: Fixing Volume Key is Unknown

Step one: Send the TGZ file to svq@makemkv.com so that the program's author can create a decryption key for it.

Step two: Wait a few days for the key to be created and made available in the official Hash Key file that MakeMKV downloads when needed. You won't get an email saying this has happened; you need to retry the rip occasionally.

OK, you've been waiting for a while, and no success. Worse, you see where other people are able to rip the disk you cannot, but it still defies you...

see source

[WandStick9898]

Source: Fixing Volume Key is Unknown

Ah, I wasn't aware of that post, sorry for not searching better. Looks like Geoblocking is my issue. I will whitelist that HK IP address.

Thanks again d00zah - you're the best.

[d00zah]

Source: Fixing Volume Key is Unknown

Ah, I wasn't aware of that post, sorry for not searching better. Looks like Geoblocking is my issue. I will whitelist that HK IP address.

Thanks again d00zah - you're the best.

Happy to help. Just in case the problem persists, also check out:

hkdata.crabdance.com or hkdata.fairuse.org not found

[WandStick9898]

Source: Fixing Volume Key is Unknown

Ah, I wasn't aware of that post, sorry for not searching better. Looks like Geoblocking is my issue. I will whitelist that HK IP address.

Thanks again d00zah - you're the best.

Happy to help. Just in case the problem persists, also check out:

hkdata.crabdance.com or hkdata.fairuse.org not found

Thanks for the additional links. Just to confirm, removing the country specific geo-blocking did the trick!