Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[HotJuicyBurgers]

Hey all, been trying to flash my drive in linux, but my drive name is different than everyone elses. Anyone know what is up?

[root@8c4041fefc7c bin]# ./makemkvcon f -l
Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:2, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH14NS40_1.05_212005061444_KX1OC9E4345

[sjaeger172004]

Hi

I am new to flashing and to the site.

I am in Australia and looking for an external 4K drive.

How hard and risky to flash? And which drive to get thanks

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi

I am new to flashing and to the site.

I am in Australia and looking for an external 4K drive.

How hard and risky to flash? And which drive to get thanks

See my signature.

[angelus2141]

HI All,
First time here. So im new to ripping Blu-ray but looking to get into it and have a couple of questions. From posts ive read UHD and Blu-ray dont seem to be the same thing are they different? I was always under the impression they were the same.

Second I looked at the list of drive and when searching online I find drives with slightly different naming conventions. For example Pioneer BDR-S13E-X vs Pioneer BDR-S13J-X, is there a significance to the different drive lettering? Will ripping still work on the J vs the E?

TIA

[disneyvader]

I looking to buy one of the drives from the list of confirmed to work list but all of the product codes seem to be american product codes or at least only american sites show up in my searches
any idea of what the european product codes are or possibly EU sites where i can buy a drive?

[Coopervid]

HI All,
First time here. So im new to ripping Blu-ray but looking to get into it and have a couple of questions. From posts ive read UHD and Blu-ray dont seem to be the same thing are they different? I was always under the impression they were the same.

Second I looked at the list of drive and when searching online I find drives with slightly different naming conventions. For example Pioneer BDR-S13E-X vs Pioneer BDR-S13J-X, is there a significance to the different drive lettering? Will ripping still work on the J vs the E?

TIA

Doesn't matter at all if you get a drive with firmware starting 12-2022. Those are all screwed. Older ones can be crossflashed.

[sjaeger172004]

Found an old Pioneer BD-RW BDR-XD07 I had lying around

Does this need flashing?

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD07
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: AFDL010327WL
Firmware date: 2020-08-20
Bus encryption flags: 13

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8D30
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-BDS7
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

And my new Verbatiam

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: MO2OB193245
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

No disc inserted

[Billycar11]

Found an old Pioneer BD-RW BDR-XD07 I had lying around

Does this need flashing?

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD07
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: AFDL010327WL
Firmware date: 2020-08-20
Bus encryption flags: 13

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8D30
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-BDS7
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

And my new Verbatiam

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: MO2OB193245
Firmware date: 2124-04-23 13:47
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

No disc inserted

sure both can be flashed the lg you can do on your own the pioneer email me about it
but if you want me or marty can do the lg too

[Cuddy2977]

HI All,
First time here. So im new to ripping Blu-ray but looking to get into it and have a couple of questions. From posts ive read UHD and Blu-ray dont seem to be the same thing are they different? I was always under the impression they were the same.

Second I looked at the list of drive and when searching online I find drives with slightly different naming conventions. For example Pioneer BDR-S13E-X vs Pioneer BDR-S13J-X, is there a significance to the different drive lettering? Will ripping still work on the J vs the E?

TIA

From what I’ve understood, Angelus?

UHD and blu-ray are two different types of bluray.

‘Bluray’ content is usually in the 1920*1080 resolution.

‘UHD’ content is on a higher capacity bluray: and in 3840*2160 resolution.

I’m very aware people will be correcting me!

[MartyMcNuts]

HI All,
First time here. So im new to ripping Blu-ray but looking to get into it and have a couple of questions. From posts ive read UHD and Blu-ray dont seem to be the same thing are they different? I was always under the impression they were the same.

Second I looked at the list of drive and when searching online I find drives with slightly different naming conventions. For example Pioneer BDR-S13E-X vs Pioneer BDR-S13J-X, is there a significance to the different drive lettering? Will ripping still work on the J vs the E?

TIA

From what I’ve understood, Angelus?

UHD and blu-ray are two different types of bluray.

‘Bluray’ content is usually in the 1920*1080 resolution.

‘UHD’ content is on a higher capacity bluray: and in 3840*2160 resolution.

I’m very aware people will be correcting me!

You are correct...

Adding to that, UHD content is encoded using the newer HEVC/H.265 whereas standard blu-ray is encoded using H.264.

[HK_Rickyeva]

so i bouught the pioneer drive , can it be flash???

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-S12JX
Revision: 1.01
Serial number: ...
Firmware date: 2020-07-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 76

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F01
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.01/ID72
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[disneyvader]

Would these drives work after flashing? They don't appear in the list of proven drives but I am unable to find any of those here in the EU

LG BH16NS40
Hitachi-LG Data Storage BH16NS55

[doodoofart]

hi @ all and thanks for this great project.

a friend gave me an old external LG BP55EB40 he did not have any use for any longer. It doesn't read UHD discs so he bought another device.
I checked the specs and just wanted to make sure i don't screw it up.

i made a backup with SDFtool Flasher.

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP55EB40
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: MD[CENSORED]
Firmware date: 2115-04-22 15:34
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

I unscrewed the external usb case and the drive itself says: MODEL: BU20N

i would flash "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP55EB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070924.bin" from this thread viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113
using this command

Code: Select all

.\makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d D: rawflash -i C:\Users\flashgordon\Downloads\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP55EB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070924.bin

is this correct or unnecessary risk?

much appreciated and have a good day

[Billycar11]

hi @ all and thanks for this great project.

a friend gave me an old external LG BP55EB40 he did not have any use for any longer. It doesn't read UHD discs so he bought another device.
I checked the specs and just wanted to make sure i don't screw it up.

i made a backup with SDFtool Flasher.

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP55EB40
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: MD[CENSORED]
Firmware date: 2115-04-22 15:34
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

I unscrewed the external usb case and the drive itself says: MODEL: BU20N

i would flash "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP55EB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070924.bin" from this thread viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113
using this command

Code: Select all

.\makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d D: rawflash -i C:\Users\flashgordon\Downloads\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP55EB40-NB50-1.03-NM00800-212005070924.bin

is this correct or unnecessary risk?

much appreciated and have a good day

No do not flash that drive it will brick

[MartyMcNuts]

Would these drives work after flashing? They don't appear in the list of proven drives but I am unable to find any of those here in the EU

LG BH16NS40
Hitachi-LG Data Storage BH16NS55

BH16NS55 is in the list.
WH16NS40 is in the list. (WH/BH drives are the same thing)