Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025

[cloaked1]

OK so I just want to make sure I'm about to do the right thing after reading through the documentation. I literally just purchased this drive today. It's "...unable to decrypt unit (AACS)!" despite the fact that everything is properly set up to decrypt discs. This is my second bluray drive on this Linux system of mine.

OK, so I've downloaded the sdf.bin and the firmware zip file. My drive is:

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr1
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO9M6190140
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 65

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)

Disc Information
Label: A QUIET PLACE
Timestamp: 2018-05-24 18:49:18
Protection: AACS2.0/C v61
Data capacity: 59.81 Gb
Disc type: BD-ROM UHD
Number of layers: 2
Bus encryption flags: 80

and the device it's on is /dev/sr1

OK, so according to the above, I should be able to use the following to update the fw correct?

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makemkvcon f -d /dev/sr1 -f /path/to/sdf.bin enc -i HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin

[cloaked1]

I think it was successful:

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✦ at 14:14:54 ❯ makemkvcon f --all-yes -d /dev/sr1 rawflash enc -f ../../../../sdf.bin -i HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin

Reading input file HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Sending image in encrypted format
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.02_212012011716_MO9M6190140
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished                                
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished                                
Done successfully

I'm checking.

[cloaked1]

OK, I think using encryption messed things up. I reflashed it without encryption and everything is working nicely!!

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✦ at 14:16:39 ❯ makemkvcon f --all-yes -d /dev/sr1 rawflash -f ../../../../sdf.bin -i HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin

Reading input file HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.04_212005061142_MO9M6190140
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished                                
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished                                
Done successfully

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Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr1
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.04
Serial number: MO9M6190140
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 11:42
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 65

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.04
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Disc Information
Disc is being loaded

[Billycar11]

OK, so according to the above, I should be able to use the following to update the fw correct?

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makemkvcon f -d /dev/sr1 -f /path/to/sdf.bin enc -i HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin

yes that should work

[strangedays]

so im pretty green at this .... just flashed my LG WP50NB40 (NB52) with "DE_LG_WP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK" but now on to the cross flash as per instructions --- however id like my drive to be compatible with most ripping SW as per below - however seeing this is almost a year old is there any new .bin files for cross flashing that would make this little drive even better ? If not should i be flashing DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin or DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin ?

would be cool to rip (backup) games with this, but if not possible ill stick with ripping (backing up) my BR movies... please advise

LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
BP60NB10 1.00-MK
BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
The BP60NB10 firmware only works with MAkeMKV & AnyDVD. The BU40N 1.00 firmware works with all ripping software.
If I wanted to flash this drive back to it's original firmware to return it, would I just do that with the original firmware dump I made with SDFTool before flashing it to be UHD capable?

I did see your post with the official LG flasher for this drive, but since mine is SVC NB52 and that flasher is for SVC NB50, I thought I'd ask.
No. That dump is not really helpful as it only contains important bits of the firmware, not the complete firmware. There isn't a NB52 flasher available either.

Why return it? They are good little drives once flashed! I use one myself. I suggest using the BU40N 1.00 firmware though, as it's compatible with a wider range of ripping software.

[valutin]

Hello, first post here and just wanted to say thanks and the hurdles I went through to get to where I am at:
My drive BU50N, ordered a BU40N but was shipped this one.

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Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU50N
Revision: CH00
Serial number: 111HS065187
Firmware date: 2121-05-20 09:06
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

Hurdle 1:
In the SDFTool Flasher, I have MT1959 and Encrypted Firmware both with a tick.
I did a READ to save a copy of the current firmware (not sure it is useful but we never know, when in doubt, just do READ...)
I try to WRITE the BU50N firmware from the mk firmware pack but it returned an error.

Read the first post for the 1000 times I think, figured out the ENCRYPTED portion.

WRITE BU40N 1.04 firmware over, It did report an error at the end... but it seems ot have worked... then RECOVER using mk BU50N and mk BU40N as the wrong firmware.
Now it seems to work:

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LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

Will see if it rips now...

[Billycar11]

so im pretty green at this .... just flashed my LG WP50NB40 (NB52) with "DE_LG_WP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK" but now on to the cross flash as per instructions --- however id like my drive to be compatible with most ripping SW as per below - however seeing this is almost a year old is there any new .bin files for cross flashing that would make this little drive even better ? If not should i be flashing DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin or DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin ?

would be cool to rip (backup) games with this, but if not possible ill stick with ripping (backing up) my BR movies... please advise

LG WP50NB40, SVC: NB52, ROM VER: 1.03, Manufactured in October 2022
...and in step #3 above Marty writes that it can be flashed with either firmware:
BP60NB10 1.00-MK
BU40N 1.00
Is there any appreciable difference, features, or advantage/disadvantage between those two firmwares on this drive?
The BP60NB10 firmware only works with MAkeMKV & AnyDVD. The BU40N 1.00 firmware works with all ripping software.
If I wanted to flash this drive back to it's original firmware to return it, would I just do that with the original firmware dump I made with SDFTool before flashing it to be UHD capable?

I did see your post with the official LG flasher for this drive, but since mine is SVC NB52 and that flasher is for SVC NB50, I thought I'd ask.
No. That dump is not really helpful as it only contains important bits of the firmware, not the complete firmware. There isn't a NB52 flasher available either.

Why return it? They are good little drives once flashed! I use one myself. I suggest using the BU40N 1.00 firmware though, as it's compatible with a wider range of ripping software.

Your going to want bu40n 1.00 if you use other stuff

[gregoliver]

I just want to say thanks! My previous BR (slim Pioneer) drive died and I bought a 5.25 LG WH16NS40 (which now shows as a WH16NS60), but it all works. Thanks for all the useful guides!

[oakbark]

Wow, gregoliver beat me to it! I wanted to say "Thanks" as well to MartyMcNuts for precise answers to others which I greatly benefited from. My ancient Asus was un-upgradable, so I bought a new LG WH16NS40 and using the 1.3.5 Flasher, flashed to the WH16NS60 1.02 - MK firmware as well. Couldn't be happier...thanks again. I purchased an MakeMKV key back in 2013 and have used it successfully many times...thanks to Mike and the dedicated crew.

[MartyMcNuts]

Wow, gregoliver beat me to it! I wanted to say "Thanks" as well to MartyMcNuts for precise answers to others which I greatly benefited from. My ancient Asus was un-upgradable, so I bought a new LG WH16NS40 and using the 1.3.5 Flasher, flashed to the WH16NS60 1.02 - MK firmware as well. Couldn't be happier...thanks again. I purchased an MakeMKV key back in 2013 and have used it successfully many times...thanks to Mike and the dedicated crew.

You're welcome!

[MGislv]

Hi,

I've never flashed a drive before, I fear I might brick it.
I bought a WH16NS40 in late 2022, from what I understood all I need to do is flash the "WH16NS60 1.02MK" firmware to enable UHD ripping.
The section about newer firmware versions says that newer versions have firmware checks, do I need to worry about this?
Makemkvcon says my drive firmware is this: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH16NS40_1.05_212005061440_M42M7PB5639

Thanks.

[gregoliver]

So, i have th same drive in a Vantec NST-540S3-BK enclosure. I use Linux for everything in the house, so if you do not - sorry!

This flashed my drive (shipped with 1.05) back to 1.02 with no issues.

makemkvcon f -f ./sdf.bin --drive=dev_21:0 rawflash enc --in=HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

firmware was from the All You Need package and also, it did tell me that a slim drive model was detected, but I went ahead and typed yes anyway and it worked.

**note**

I did try this though a virtual machine (Qemu / KVM) passing through the JMicron device first and it failed, so I plugged it directly into my laptop and it completed successfully.

[MGislv]

So, i have th same drive in a Vantec NST-540S3-BK enclosure. I use Linux for everything in the house, so if you do not - sorry!

This flashed my drive (shipped with 1.05) back to 1.02 with no issues.

makemkvcon f -f ./sdf.bin --drive=dev_21:0 rawflash enc --in=HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

Thanks man! That was exactly the command I needed, enjoying my 4k blu-rays on linux now

[Fanofurban]

Hey everyone, there is a lot to read through, so I thought I'd post a quick message just checking to see if there have been any updates for my specific drives. I have two LG drives:

WH14NS40 rom version 1.03 manufactured in 2014 SVC CODE: NS40
WH10LS30 rom version 1.00 manufactured in 2010 no mention of SVC CODE

Are either of these capable of being flashed to read 4k discs?

Thanks so much!

[Woodstock]

I thought I'd post a quick message just checking to see if there have been any updates for my specific drives.

Both were built before the standard was set, so no, there would be no updating to make them do 4K UHD. No need to change software.