Verbatim 43888 with LG drive?

[Seoska]

Bought a Verbatim 43888 as i was told it will work straight out of the box. Just received the Verbatim 43888 which i bought from Amazon and it seems like they have changed drives as the drive info in makemkv is showing an LG drive?

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk3
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 60

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

Should I send this back and try and find an older version? Or can this be used?

[MartyMcNuts]

Bought a Verbatim 43888 as i was told it will work straight out of the box. Just received the Verbatim 43888 which i bought from Amazon and it seems like they have changed drives as the drive info in makemkv is showing an LG drive?

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk3
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 60

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

Should I send this back and try and find an older version? Or can this be used?

Can you show us some pics of this drive? Are you sure you purchased a Verbatim 43888? The info shown is for a LG BU40N, which can be used, it just needs to be flashed first.

[Seoska]

Im surprised about that too but its definitely a verbatim. Sold and shipped from Amazon AU. Looks like verbatim may have switched suppliers?

[Seoska]

Packaging

[Billycar11]

urf well there goes that one
hate when company's do that swap the specs but not update the name they should have renamed it the 43891 since the ud03 was the 43890.

[jonghotti]

So the Verbatim has a BU40 in it. Just like the Buffalo and the Archgon, cool.

[ripthem]

I just bought the same from Amazon, the package looks exactly the same!

But makemkv says this:

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk4
Current profile: DVD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04
Revision: 1.14
Serial number: [redacted]
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.14
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Checking the label on the drive, it says Model code: KIAB

It also mentions "LibreDrive" when opening a disk!

To be on the sure side, I bought a second drive - will check and write when I got it!

[Seoska]

Would have preferred the Pioneer version but have flashed the LG drive to firmware 1.03MK and its ripping with no issues.

Went into a bricks and mortar store to compare the packaging and they are identical. There is no unique identifier on the box to know whether or not the drive is a LG or Pioneer. So from here on in it will just be pot luck on which drive you receive. Unless you know the store has really old stock.

Thanks to ripthem we know based on the label on the physical drive that:

Model Code: KIAA = LG Drive
Model Code: KIAB = Pioneer Drive

I find that model code a little strange as you would think the Pioneer would be A as its an earlier version.

Would be good if someone can post a model code of an older version that at least 12 months old.

[ryley]

Model Code: KIAA = LG Drive
Model Code: KIAB = Pioneer Drive

I find that model code a little strange as you would think the Pioneer would be A as its an earlier version.

Would be good if someone can post a model code of an older version that at least 12 months old.

For what it is worth, I have a Pioneer Verbatim 43888 with the model code KIAA. I purchased the drive about 12 months ago.

[MartyMcNuts]

I have both the Pioneer version and the LG version. From what I can tell, the bottom of the box is a little different and the LG drive tray fascia plate has the Super Multi and Blu-Ray logo's on them whereas the Pioneer version drive tray fascia plate is all black.

The Verbatim 43888 containing the LG BU40N has a picture of the drive in the bottom right corner. Looking at the box may help you if you are purchasing from a physical store...

Verbatim 43888 - Pioneer BDR-UD04.jpg (460.43 KiB) Viewed 990 times

Verbatim 43888 - LG BU40N.jpg (464.99 KiB) Viewed 990 times

[Billycar11]

Hi Seoska-

I got the same Verbatim LG Drive from Amazon as yours (and it is not supported by MakeMKV) too. I bought the Verbatim 43888 UHD Drive from Amazon AU (Model Code: KIAA, P/N: 43888), but the order was fulfilled by Amazon Germany.

I am unfamiliar with firmware flashing. May I know how do you flash its firmware?

What software tools you use?
And from where I can download the correct firmware version to be used to flash the drive’s firmware?

Appreciate your help and advice. Thanks in advance!

if its the BU40N see below for guide or if you want an auto flasher me and marty have that too

[Coopervid]

Hi Seoska-

I got the same Verbatim LG Drive from Amazon as yours (and it is not supported by MakeMKV) too. I bought the Verbatim 43888 UHD Drive from Amazon AU (Model Code: KIAA, P/N: 43888), but the order was fulfilled by Amazon Germany.

I am unfamiliar with firmware flashing. May I know how do you flash its firmware?

What software tools you use?
And from where I can download the correct firmware version to be used to flash the drive’s firmware?

Appreciate your help and advice. Thanks in advance!

Please post your Makemkv info.

[Mr_Orange]

Hi Seoska-

I got the same Verbatim LG Drive from Amazon as yours (and it is not supported by MakeMKV) too. I bought the Verbatim 43888 UHD Drive from Amazon AU (Model Code: KIAA, P/N: 43888), but the order was fulfilled by Amazon Germany.

I am unfamiliar with firmware flashing. May I know how do you flash its firmware?

What software tools you use?
And from where I can download the correct firmware version to be used to flash the drive’s firmware?

Appreciate your help and advice. Thanks in advance!

I bought the same thing (Amazon AU fulfilled by Amazon Germany) and I received the Pioneer version. The model code is KIAB.

Drive Information
OS device name: M:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04
Revision: 1.14
Serial number: ############
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.14
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

[Coopervid]

Good for you. But they seem to switch to LG drives, Bad but the BU40N is at least the best LG drive.

[Mr_Orange]

Good for you. But they seem to switch to LG drives, Bad but the BU40N is at least the best LG drive.

The whole reason I bought it was to add a Pioneer to my ripping capability so I would not have been happy if they had sent my an LG version.

Interestingly, the Verbatim is slower than my desktop LG BN16NS55 (flashed to WH16NS60 1.02MK) as it taps out at 4.0x ripping speed.