SDFtool Flasher

[Wiggles3443]

Apologies if this is somewhere in all of the comments, but I did not read through all of them and some searches that I did, didn't come back with anything.
I just got an LG drive, and noticed in MakeMKV it shows this information:

Drive Information
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.05
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 14:44
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 81

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)

I was looking to update the firmware based on the info shown in LibreDrive information, and did some searching online to find the firmware and happened upon a reddit thread with very little information that referenced this thread here. I wanted to just understand if I should be looking to use this tool or not. I don't currently do anything with 4K/UHD discs, just bluray (for now that is). Things work mostly ok, but I run into some issues with discs both on my new LG drive as well as my older Pioneer drive (mainly read errors, but have started to see timeout errors and other errors recently with the LG drive that I never saw with the Pioneer drive). Is this tool something that could possibly help out with that or should I just look for the standard firmware update online and apply that? I'm not completely new to this whole software, but after reading through some different threads I'm finding that there is a ton I do not know about it and there are some very helpful and knowledgeable people out there. Just looking to see if this is mainly for those working with 4K/UHD discs or if it's something that everyone should be using (including me) to apply updates.

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads/replies/helps out. I do greatly appreciate it and your time!

[d00zah]

Apologies if this is somewhere in all of the comments, but I did not read through all of them and some searches that I did, didn't come back with anything.
I just got an LG drive, and noticed in MakeMKV it shows this information:

Drive Information
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.05
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 14:44
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 81

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)

I was looking to update the firmware based on the info shown in LibreDrive information, and did some searching online to find the firmware and happened upon a reddit thread with very little information that referenced this thread here. I wanted to just understand if I should be looking to use this tool or not. I don't currently do anything with 4K/UHD discs, just bluray (for now that is). Things work mostly ok, but I run into some issues with discs both on my new LG drive as well as my older Pioneer drive (mainly read errors, but have started to see timeout errors and other errors recently with the LG drive that I never saw with the Pioneer drive). Is this tool something that could possibly help out with that or should I just look for the standard firmware update online and apply that? I'm not completely new to this whole software, but after reading through some different threads I'm finding that there is a ton I do not know about it and there are some very helpful and knowledgeable people out there. Just looking to see if this is mainly for those working with 4K/UHD discs or if it's something that everyone should be using (including me) to apply updates.

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads/replies/helps out. I do greatly appreciate it and your time!

FW won't necessarily help w/ read errors. 1st suggestion is always to clean a problem disc with a lint free cloth. Warm water & a dab of dish soap may be necessary for some. Even those fresh out of packaging are not exempt from this advice, even if they look perfect to the eye.

Pioneer drives are regarded as more reliable, overall, but may not be LibreDrive capable.

The Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025 recommends:

WH14NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK
(HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin)

Firmware version: 1.05 is encrypted, but this flash tool will handle it.

[Wiggles3443]

FW won't necessarily help w/ read errors. 1st suggestion is always to clean a problem disc with a lint free cloth. Warm water & a dab of dish soap may be necessary for some. Even those fresh out of packaging are not exempt from this advice, even if they look perfect to the eye.

Pioneer drives are regarded as more reliable, overall, but may not be LibreDrive capable.

The Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025 recommends:

WH14NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK
(HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin)

Firmware version: 1.05 is encrypted, but this flash tool will handle it.

Appreciate the response. So this won't help with read errors - that makes sense and I assumed it wouldn't. But flashing the drive basically makes it work with UHD discs correct? Looks like possibly opens up LibreDrive on the drive? Does that provide any benefits if only doing standard bluray discs and not trying to work with UHD discs?

[Wiggles3443]

FWIW This is my Pioneer drive that I'm giving a go with some that had read issues with the LG drive.
Drive Information
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-209D
Revision: 1.51
Firmware date: 2018-05-08
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 81

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.51/ID61
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[d00zah]

...
Appreciate the response. So this won't help with read errors - that makes sense and I assumed it wouldn't. But flashing the drive basically makes it work with UHD discs correct? Looks like possibly opens up LibreDrive on the drive? Does that provide any benefits if only doing standard bluray discs and not trying to work with UHD discs?

If the drive hardware is capable of UHD, LibreDrive makes then ripping possible. With less capable, but otherwise supported drives, see:

What is LibreDrive?

AACS host revocation, etc..

[calorimetro]

Hi, I flashed the firmware DE_LG_BH16NS55_1.02.bin (found on all you need package) on my drive BH16NS55 with the version 1.3.5 of software.
Then I tried to dump the firmware of the drive and I noticed the dump is different from the file I flashed.
Is it normal or something went wrong?

[dcoke22]

Hi, I flashed the firmware DE_LG_BH16NS55_1.02.bin (found on all you need package) on my drive BH16NS55 with the version 1.3.5 of software.
Then I tried to dump the firmware of the drive and I noticed the dump is different from the file I flashed.
Is it normal or something went wrong?

I think doing a firmware dump only gets the calibration data for the drive, not the whole firmware.

[bloomstream]

Hi There,
I'm having issues with the SDFtool Flasher. There's an error that pops up when I click start.



Is it because my hardware's firmware isn't the same as the one on the pack? how can I fix this? I appreciate your help

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi There,
I'm having issues with the SDFtool Flasher. There's an error that pops up when I click start.



Is it because my hardware's firmware isn't the same as the one on the pack? how can I fix this? I appreciate your help

Ensure MakeMKV is installed in the default location.
Ensure thee is no disc in the drive and the tray is closed.

How is the drive connected to your Windows PC?

[plantboy]

MODEL: BH16NS40
SVC CODE: NS50
ROM VER: 1.04
Manufactured: June 2019

See attached photos. I've spent a few hours reading the information here, but I'm hung up on "WH16" vs. "BH16", unsure if any of the firmware packs have what I need.

I'd really appreciate guidance.

I've already made a firmware backup via the SDFtool Flasher.exe, and the backup was named like this:
dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__BH16NS40_1.04_211901041338_KLKJ6PB3313.tar

Thanks!

MakeMKV_Info.png

DriveLabel.jpg

[d00zah]

MODEL: BH16NS40
SVC CODE: NS50
ROM VER: 1.04
Manufactured: June 2019

See attached photos. I've spent a few hours reading the information here, but I'm hung up on "WH16" vs. "BH16", unsure if any of the firmware packs have what I need.

I'd really appreciate guidance.

I've already made a firmware backup via the SDFtool Flasher.exe, and the backup was named like this:
dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__BH16NS40_1.04_211901041338_KLKJ6PB3313.tar

Thanks!

MakeMKV_Info.png

DriveLabel.jpg

Same hardware. "WH16" vs. "BH16" denotes OEM vs retail (or vice versa?).

[MartyMcNuts]

MODEL: BH16NS40
SVC CODE: NS50
ROM VER: 1.04
Manufactured: June 2019

See attached photos. I've spent a few hours reading the information here, but I'm hung up on "WH16" vs. "BH16", unsure if any of the firmware packs have what I need.

I'd really appreciate guidance.

I've already made a firmware backup via the SDFtool Flasher.exe, and the backup was named like this:
dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__BH16NS40_1.04_211901041338_KLKJ6PB3313.tar

Thanks!

MakeMKV_Info.png

DriveLabel.jpg

That backup is only the important cal data. It's not a full firmware backup.

The recommended firmware for your drive is WH16NS60 1.02-MK.

[Kenny42202]

Am I able to use this drive for UHD ripping? Does everything look all good? Just got this drive today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mr_Orange]

Am I able to use this drive for UHD ripping? Does everything look all good? Just got this drive today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, the guide says:

Code: Select all

Asus BW-16D1HT on any Firmware directly to > Asus BW-16D1HT 3.10MK

[Flashing8254]

Error report!!!
At the actual version of the SDFtool(1.3.6) I get an error message, that i have to install MakeMKV. But it's installed the latest version yet.(1.17.9)
Error report!!!