Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[Billycar11]

Hi folks, I'm new to MakeMKV and I'm looking to backup some UHD movies I own to digital copies

I'm going to purchase a drive for this and looking to get one that doesn't require flashing

It seems the Verbatim 43888 is the best option for now based on the last few pages, can someone confirm if this is the case?

Will any drive of that model work or do I need to ensure they're manufactured before a certain date?

Also, my understanding is they're actually a Pioneer drive in an enclosure, but the latest Pioneer drives from the factory can't be flashed with older firmware and aren't useful

Maybe someone could clear this up for me?

it far from the best option its ok its only the best if you dont want to get a flashed drive
the best are 5.25 pioneers with old fw see seller section for that.

[spud_gun]

Hi folks, I'm new to MakeMKV and I'm looking to backup some UHD movies I own to digital copies

I'm going to purchase a drive for this and looking to get one that doesn't require flashing

It seems the Verbatim 43888 is the best option for now based on the last few pages, can someone confirm if this is the case?

Will any drive of that model work or do I need to ensure they're manufactured before a certain date?

Also, my understanding is they're actually a Pioneer drive in an enclosure, but the latest Pioneer drives from the factory can't be flashed with older firmware and aren't useful

Maybe someone could clear this up for me?

it far from the best option its ok its only the best if you dont want to get a flashed drive
the best are 5.25 pioneers with old fw see seller section for that.

Thanks Billy car

I'll probably go with the Verbatim for now and see how it goes

Mind if I ask what makes the Pioneer drives better? There's a lot of reviews saying they're better but I'm curious what sets them apart from the others (speed, quality, reliability or something else)?

[Billycar11]

Thanks Billy car

I'll probably go with the Verbatim for now and see how it goes

Mind if I ask what makes the Pioneer drives better? There's a lot of reviews saying they're better but I'm curious what sets them apart from the others (speed, quality, reliability or something else)?

better build quality
they last long
lasers dont die like on lg and asus

[ArbitraryRenaissance]

I'm trying to flash on my Linux system, and I've been running into issues with the process. The instructions don't give any linux-specific commands, but I figured it wouldn't be too different from the instructions given for Mac. Here's what MakeMKV says about my drive:

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS40
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: [redacted]
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 14:40
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 64

I noticed that "makemkvcon f" is just an alias for "sdftool", but the syntax for this tool seems to have changed, because the syntax in the instructions were failing. The command I ended up running that seemed to actually do something was the following:

Code: Select all

sdftool -d /dev/sr0 rawflash -i /path/to/DE_LG_WH16NS60_1.02_MK.bin

This appeared to successfully flash the drive, but when I started burning disks, the LibreDrive information given on MakeMKV was still indicating that I didn't have patched firmware:

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.05
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)

So I thought maybe I had encrypted firmware, since I recently bought this drive. I ran the command

Code: Select all

sdftool -d /dev/sr0 rawflash enc -i /path/to/DE_LG_WH16NS40-NS50_1.02.bin

and this produced error code 0x82052400. I tried the same command without the "enc" flag, and produced the same error. In fact, even rerunning the first command also produces this error. I'm worried I might have bricked the drive, but if I haven't, I'm going to need some help figuring out how to get it working properly again.

EDIT: Okay, drive is definitely not bricked. It can still read and extract the contents of some BluRay disks. But it can't read UHDs.

[jeisom]

I have a BH14NS40 manufactured in 2012. I tried updating the firmware using "makemkvcon f -d '/dev/sr0' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i /tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin" and it updated, but now it doesn't acknowledge a disk is in the drive. I have a motherboard that lists IDE mode, legacy and native option, but whenever I try to downgrade with 'sdftool' it still has the same firmware listed. "SDFtool flasher" won't open(no error) and Dosflash gives an error as well in a WinPE 10 environment.

I did a configuration dump, but only after the initial flash.

Any Suggestions?

[d00zah]

I have a BH14NS40 manufactured in 2012. I tried updating the firmware using "makemkvcon f -d '/dev/sr0' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i /tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin" and it updated, but now it doesn't acknowledge a disk is in the drive. I have a motherboard that lists IDE mode, legacy and native option, but whenever I try to downgrade with 'sdftool' it still has the same firmware listed. "SDFtool flasher" won't open(no error) and Dosflash gives an error as well in a WinPE 10 environment.

I did a configuration dump, but only after the initial flash.

Any Suggestions?

Regrettably, you missed this in the 1st post:

STOP READ BEFORE FLASHING
IMPORTANT Before you flash:

1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2016 on label or late 2015 if you want to risk it.
2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv
3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label for NB drives NB50+
4. Just because your drive is the same model number does not mean it will work, if you are unsure ask me i offer remote flashing and check everything before i flash.
5. Dont flash your dive if it does not meet these requirements if you do you will be unable to read all disks and unable to restore without dosflash that does not work on most modern computers

Few have succeeded in recovering their drives... most do not.

[jeisom]

]Regrettably, you missed this in the 1st post:

STOP READ BEFORE FLASHING
IMPORTANT Before you flash:

1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2016 on label or late 2015 if you want to risk it.
2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv
3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label for NB drives NB50+
4. Just because your drive is the same model number does not mean it will work, if you are unsure ask me i offer remote flashing and check everything before i flash.
5. Dont flash your dive if it does not meet these requirements if you do you will be unable to read all disks and unable to restore without dosflash that does not work on most modern computers

Few have succeeded in recovering their drives... most do not.

Yeah, I missed that. If I continue to try, what firmware file should I try downgrading to? I can only find the firmware BH14NS40_N1.00-A4.exe and patched versions, but not the file extracted. I want to try from dos as a last ditched effort, but obviously need the correct file.

[Billycar11]

]Regrettably, you missed this in the 1st post:

STOP READ BEFORE FLASHING
IMPORTANT Before you flash:

1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2016 on label or late 2015 if you want to risk it.
2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv
3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label for NB drives NB50+
4. Just because your drive is the same model number does not mean it will work, if you are unsure ask me i offer remote flashing and check everything before i flash.
5. Dont flash your dive if it does not meet these requirements if you do you will be unable to read all disks and unable to restore without dosflash that does not work on most modern computers

Few have succeeded in recovering their drives... most do not.

Yeah, I missed that. If I continue to try, what firmware file should I try downgrading to? I can only find the firmware BH14NS40_N1.00-A4.exe and patched versions, but not the file extracted. I want to try from dos as a last ditched effort, but obviously need the correct file.

See recovery section of guide

You want to be on WH16NS60 1.00 with the bootloader flashed to that too.

I have a recovery kit that can get you half there but you still need to be able to do the dos flash part on your own.

And I no longer give it out and take payment later quite literally I have given it to 50 + people and not 1 has paid.

Email me if you want the recovery kit. See below.

[jeisom]

See recovery section of guide

You want to be on WH16NS60 1.00 with the bootloader flashed to that too.

I have a recovery kit that can get you half there but you still need to be able to do the dos flash part on your own.

And I no longer give it out and take payment later quite literally I have given it to 50 + people and not 1 has paid.

Email me if you want the recovery kit. See below.

After trying from dos and only getting mtk intro errors I decided to just find a used drive. The odds were not high to begin with on a successful recovery. When I get the newer drive I will ask about that before proceeding next time.

Thanks

[Billycar11]

you need the be on wh16ns60 1.00 with the bootloader also on that version read the guide recovery section

[766875]

Picked up another LG drive (BP50NB40) as my existing LG drive (BP60NB10) was throwing up errors on every disc I tried. It worked perfectly for months before.

Tried flashing the BP50NB40 but so far no luck. I tried downgrading too. Any ideas on what I'm missing.

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xxx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Users/stuartcopland/Downloads/Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.01_MK_HBD.bin

[Billycar11]

Picked up another LG drive (BP50NB40) as my existing LG drive (BP60NB10) was throwing up errors on every disc I tried. It worked perfectly for months before.

Tried flashing the BP50NB40 but so far no luck. I tried downgrading too. Any ideas on what I'm missing.

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xxx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Users/stuartcopland/Downloads/Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.01_MK_HBD.bin

enc

[766875]

Picked up another LG drive (BP50NB40) as my existing LG drive (BP60NB10) was throwing up errors on every disc I tried. It worked perfectly for months before.

Tried flashing the BP50NB40 but so far no luck. I tried downgrading too. Any ideas on what I'm missing.

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xxx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Users/stuartcopland/Downloads/Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.01_MK_HBD.bin

enc

Ah OK thanks Billy, should I go to Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.01_MK_HBD.bin

or use

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin

[Coopervid]

Picked up another LG drive (BP50NB40) as my existing LG drive (BP60NB10) was throwing up errors on every disc I tried. It worked perfectly for months before.

Tried flashing the BP50NB40 but so far no luck. I tried downgrading too. Any ideas on what I'm missing.

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xxx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/0AC881AF' -f /Users/xx/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash full main -i /Users/stuartcopland/Downloads/Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.01_MK_HBD.bin

enc

Ah OK thanks Billy, should I go to Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.01_MK_HBD.bin

or use

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP50NB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070917.bin

READ THE GUIDE! And don't be lazy!

[766875]

I did and successfully flashed to 1.03. Unfortunately it still won't read my discs, it just ejects them even although it's patched. I tried doing the next flash but it failed.

Code: Select all

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: SIM2221124041
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:17
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 81

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

Code: Select all

Reading input file /Users/xxx/Downloads/Hybrid_Firmware_for_BP50NB40_to_BP60NB10/DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin
Flashing flags = 0x1 : 0 0 0 1 : ---- ---- ---- BOOT
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_SIM2221124041
Using USB chipset workaround for Desktop drive handshake
Ready to write drive flash memory.
Type "yes" to continue, "no" to abort
yes
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
  98% .................................................
Write DRAM NG 05/26/02

Command produced error code 0x82052602