Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[MartyMcNuts]

SDFtool Flasher only runs on Windows. If you're on Windows, it is what you should use. The command line instructions are for Linux or macOS.

Thanks for your answer!
Ok for using SDFtool Flasher on Windows.

But precisely, my quote was the instructions... for Windows!
The videos is also for Windows.
If they are indeed both outdated, there should be a warning saying it, otherwise it's confusing.

And I agree the instructions for Linux or MacOS are not, fine, but they are below, they were not part of my quote

At last, regarding question 2?
Flash direct BW-16D1HT 3.10MK, or WH16NS60 1.02-MK first?
I think here also, the post needs to be updated.

SDFtool Flasher is simply a UI for MakeMKV's SDF command line. Thus, neither are outdated.

Regarding firmware, both of those can be used first. It mainly depends on if you want to also write discs. If you do, use BW-16D1HT 3.10-MK, otherwise use WH16NS60 1.02-MK.

[Solamar]

I guess I need some help. I tried to follow the instructions and have everything messed up.

I have an external LG BE14NU40 from Jan 2015. Manufacturer HL-DT-ST Product BD-RE.
I am using MAkeMKV 1.17.18

I originally had this extracting UHD discs. I think it was 1.01 or 1.02. But I apparently updated it to BE141NU40_1.01_03 which is apparently 1.03 that breaks UHD.

I got the downgrade enabled firmware HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin and have that flashed. It flashed fine and rebooted and seems to be working. But when I try to load any disc (DVD or BluRay) Make MKV says "No disc inserted". I can eject and reload, and it spins and looks at the disc, but it always says "No disc inserted" even though I have read this disc on this drive before.

Is there any thing I can do to fix this? I am getting confused as to what I am doing wrong and why it will no longer load discs.

Bottom of External Drive: LG Model Number:BE14NU40 from Jan 2015. Manufacturer HL-DT-ST Product BD-RE.

From MakeMKV 1.17.18:
Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS40
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: Redacted
Firmware date: 2117-03-10 16:50
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 78

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

[Wall.E]

SDFtool Flasher is simply a UI for MakeMKV's SDF command line. Thus, neither are outdated.

Regarding firmware, both of those can be used first.

Thanks for your answers!
Done. I've now successfully flashed my drive

However, I quickly faced the Sleep bug
And on my drive, I can't just open the tray and close it, the drive is not responding any more.
I can even just reboot the PC, it's not enough.
Looks like the only option is to stop the computer and restart it.
It's really annoying, slow and not really good for the components to switch off and on.

Regarding firmware, both of those can be used first. It mainly depends on if you want to also write discs. If you do, use BW-16D1HT 3.10-MK, otherwise use WH16NS60 1.02-MK.

So if I understand well, it either live with the Sleep bug and be able to write disks or crossflash the WH16NS60 1.0x firmware but not be able to write disks any more?

[Billycar11]

So if I understand well, it either live with the Sleep bug and be able to write disks or crossflash the WH16NS60 1.0x firmware but not be able to write disks any more?

Or return the junky LG/Asus rebrand and get a pioneer from one of us

But the sleep bug is not that bad to recover from you really do just open close the tray
You may have a different problem

[Wall.E]

But the sleep bug is not that bad to recover from you really do just open close the tray
You may have a different problem

Maybe but then I don't see what else it can be.

My symptom is that when a disk (not necessarily UHD) is left idle in the drive for 2 minutes, the drive stops responding.
Can't read the disk and can't open the tray either via software or its physical button. Even a reboot of the computer is not enough. I need to stop the computer and restart it.

Other than this specific case, the drive is working perfectly well and behaving as expected, like never blocked if no disk is left in the drive when unused or the drive is working.
So if it's not the sleep bug, what can I look for to investigate?

Or return the junky LG/Asus rebrand and get a pioneer from one of us

I understand, but it would be at least 3 times the price. 80€ for the Asus, 260€ minimum for the cheapest Pioneer from the UK (incl. freight and VAT as the UK is not in the EU any more and it's becoming hard to escape this tax).

[Coopervid]

But the sleep bug is not that bad to recover from you really do just open close the tray
You may have a different problem

Maybe but then I don't see what else it can be.

My symptom is that when a disk (not necessarily UHD) is left idle in the drive for 2 minutes, the drive stops responding.
Can't read the disk and can't open the tray either via software or its physical button. Even a reboot of the computer is not enough. I need to stop the computer and restart it.

Other than this specific case, the drive is working perfectly well and behaving as expected, like never blocked if no disk is left in the drive when unused or the drive is working.
So if it's not the sleep bug, what can I look for to investigate?

Or return the junky LG/Asus rebrand and get a pioneer from one of us

I understand, but it would be at least 3 times the price. 80€ for the Asus, 260€ minimum for the cheapest Pioneer from the UK (incl. freight and VAT as the UK is not in the EU any more and it's becoming hard to escape this tax).

PM sent.

[MartyMcNuts]

But the sleep bug is not that bad to recover from you really do just open close the tray
You may have a different problem

Maybe but then I don't see what else it can be.

My symptom is that when a disk (not necessarily UHD) is left idle in the drive for 2 minutes, the drive stops responding.
Can't read the disk and can't open the tray either via software or its physical button. Even a reboot of the computer is not enough. I need to stop the computer and restart it.

Other than this specific case, the drive is working perfectly well and behaving as expected, like never blocked if no disk is left in the drive when unused or the drive is working.
So if it's not the sleep bug, what can I look for to investigate?

Or return the junky LG/Asus rebrand and get a pioneer from one of us

I understand, but it would be at least 3 times the price. 80€ for the Asus, 260€ minimum for the cheapest Pioneer from the UK (incl. freight and VAT as the UK is not in the EU any more and it's becoming hard to escape this tax).

What you are describing is the sleep bug but normally opening and closing the drive tray via the button is all that is needed. If you can't do that then perhaps you some sort of issue with consistent power getting to the drive.

[Nick-P]

​
​Subject: Confusion Over Drive Firmware on New BDR-212V

Hi,

I purchased a new BDR-212V from Amazon Warehouse on Sunday, knowing it was a returned item. According to Amazon, it was returned within 30 days, and the manufacturing date (2024) aligns with this timeline.

I installed the drive into a 5.25" bay yesterday and connected it via SATA. The back of the drive clearly identifies it as a BDR-212V with a white/yellow sticker, and an additional sticker states it was "further enhanced" by Vinpower Digital.

However, strangely, both MakeMKV and the firmware flasher detect the drive as a PIONEER BDR-209 with the product code BDR-209DBK.

While I understand it's technically a used product, no one would expect Amazon to sell them a drive without its own firmware. I'm also surprised Amazon didn't notice.

Given that the BDR-212V is already compatible with LibreDrive (correct me if I'm wrong on that), why would someone flash it with older firmware that also lacks UHD support?? I can't see a benefit?

Anyway, I'm assuming I can still flash it with the BDR-212U firmware like I had planned? Or not?

Thank you & regards,
Nick

[Coopervid]

​
​Subject: Confusion Over Drive Firmware on New BDR-212V

Hi,

I purchased a new BDR-212V from Amazon Warehouse on Sunday, knowing it was a returned item. According to Amazon, it was returned within 30 days, and the manufacturing date (2024) aligns with this timeline.

I installed the drive into a 5.25" bay yesterday and connected it via SATA. The back of the drive clearly identifies it as a BDR-212V with a white/yellow sticker, and an additional sticker states it was "further enhanced" by Vinpower Digital.

However, strangely, both MakeMKV and the firmware flasher detect the drive as a PIONEER BDR-209 with the product code BDR-209DBK.

While I understand it's technically a used product, no one would expect Amazon to sell them a drive without its own firmware. I'm also surprised Amazon didn't notice.

Given that the BDR-212V is already compatible with LibreDrive (correct me if I'm wrong on that), why would someone flash it with older firmware that also lacks UHD support?? I can't see a benefit?

Anyway, I'm assuming I can still flash it with the BDR-212U firmware like I had planned? Or not?

Thank you & regards,
Nick

No you can't. Return it since it's fake.

[Nick-P]

Fake? From Amazon? It wasn't Amazon marketplace it was Amazon themselves. (Sold and dispatched by Amazon directly).

[Nick-P]

Also the sticker on the back is perfect (flawless).

[Coopervid]

Also the sticker on the back is perfect (flawless).

A 209 can't be crossflashed to 212 and vice versa. Return it and order another one.

[Naiera]

My Verbatim/Pioneer 35888 shit the bed a few days ago and now I'm looking for something more durable. I've had it for just under two years and it's already stopped reading discs. They spin and it sounds like it's supposed to, but neither the OS nor MakeMKV sees anything

I'll be buying and flashing myself or having my friend in Delaware doing the flashing. Just looking for suggestions for an external drive that plays well with MacOS and doesn't break after reading a few hundred discs.

I contacted Verbatim one day before the warranty ran out and got them to do an RMA after a few e-mails back and forth. They sent me a replacement (apparently; I knew nothing until the shipment showed up in my tracking app) and it rips UHD Blu-rays

[Wall.E]

What you are describing is the sleep bug but normally opening and closing the drive tray via the button is all that is needed. If you can't do that then perhaps you some sort of issue with consistent power getting to the drive.

Maybe, as for the 1st time I had a case where the drive stopped working in the middle of a rip!
Same symptom, drive not responding at all, neither to MakeMKV, not by pressing the open/close button

But the weird thing is I never had that behaviour with the 3.11 Asus firmware, neither with the old LG drive I had just before and I was replacing by the Asus.
It's only happening with the 3.10MK firmware.

But... that's not all with this Asus drive.
On top of that, I think I have the same kind of issue as this one...
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24027

Some disks that I've been able to rip those last 2 days (prior to the flash of the 3.10MK firmware though) can't be ripped any more. The rip keeps on failing

So to be honest, I think I start to understand the comment regarding LG & Asus drives and I'll return this one.
I've already placed an order for a BDR-212V that should arrive in 1 week or 2.

In the meantime, I'll probably go back to the original firmware as it didn't had this hard version of the sleeping bug and I need to flash it back anyway to return the drive.

Thanks to Billycar11 & Coopervid for their advises to go for Pioneer!

[Nick-P]

Does the Hardware Type (or Hardware Rev) e.g., SAT 8601 or SAT 8800 remain the same after flashing? Is that a reading from a chip at the hardware level?

How can I know for sure its a fake?

Does this mean it also probably wasn't really manufactured this year?