Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025

[biosehnsucht]

I'm having trouble flashing a brand new WH14NS40 I just purchased.

I'm in Linux (Manjaro), and with anything more recent than 1.17.7, trying to flash just hangs with no output. Doesn't brick the drive, just nothing happens.

If I downgrade to 1.17.7 then the command starts, but fails saying there's a disc in the drive. There isn't a disc in the drive. I've rebooted, powercycled, etc.

I tried using the downgrade enabled firmware that was linked in the "Ultra h4xor guide" first, and tried crossflashing to the WH16NS60 as well as the WH14NS40 it already is.

i.e. ...

Code: Select all

❯ makemkvcon f -d dev_21:0 -f sdf.bin rawflash enc -i 'downgrade-firmware/DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin'

Reading input file downgrade-firmware/DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Sending image in encrypted format
There is a disc in drive, please remove it and try again
DEBUG: Code 4278542595 at wfCw3OE9o6xoDD[;$ZOJdpeNgiQob2>_:29396644

Command produced error code 0xff056103

I'm still using the free beta license if it matters, but I would expect the error to be about the license being invalid if that was the case.

Using sudo vs not doesn't seem to matter. The only occurrences of this error I've been able to google legitimately were caused by having a disc in the drive.

Any idea why it would, across reboots / power cycles, think there's a disc in the drive when there's not ?

This is the drive's current firmware:

Code: Select all

❯ makemkvcon f -l
Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:0, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH14NS40_1.05_212005061444_KLGP3FF3814

[biosehnsucht]

(my previous post is still sitting in moderation, but I'll assume it's approved before/when this one is)

TL;DR I've successfully flashed my WH14NS40 to WH16NS60, but I had to use some old hardware to bring up a Debian system and still needed to use 1.17.7 (anything newer hangs when trying to flash). Still no idea why I kept getting an error about the disc being in the drive when it was empty, even across reboots, on Manjaro.

However, it's a bit confusing as what to do. I thought I needed to flash the downgrade-enabled firmware first, to then flash the libredrive firmware. But trying to do that would give errors like:

Code: Select all

$ sudo makemkvcon f -d dev_21:2 -f sdf.bin rawflash enc -i 'downgrade-firmware/DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin'

Reading input file downgrade-firmware/DE_flash_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WH14NS40_1.02_NS50.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Sending image in encrypted format
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH14NS40_1.05_212005061444_KLGP3FF3814
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 05/26/03

Command produced error code 0x82052603

However flashing directly to the libredrive firmware worked!

Code: Select all

$ sudo makemkvcon f -d dev_21:2 -f sdf.bin rawflash enc -i 'firmware/LG 5.25 desktop/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin'

Reading input file firmware/LG 5.25 desktop/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Sending image in encrypted format
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH14NS40_1.05_212005061444_KLGP3FF3814
Ready to write drive flash memory.
Type "yes" to continue, "no" to abort
yes
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished                                
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished                                
Done successfully

Should I now flash a DE firmware to then flash something else? Or am I done?

[2Close]

Hey Guys,

iam new to saving blurays and got a new verbatim 43888 from amazon:

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
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: 36

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

I've read the Ultimate UHD Drive Falsing Guide 2025 and downloaded the firmware files but am unsure what are the correct files for enabling libredrive.
Thanks very much for your help

I just got the same drive with most information the same, except "Highest AACS version" saying 81 in my case (and I'm using macOS, so OS device name corresponds to that). I also can't find the mentioned file HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin in the current pack. What should I use? I'm sorry if this is supposed to be obvious.

It was here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRnbXi ... sp=sharing
But i cant say, if its the right one for you.

[nicholfd]

I just realized I had two old drives in an old, 2010 cheese grater Mac Pro (non-operable). Both are the same model: WH16NS40. I pulled one & put it in a Windows machine:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f -l
Found 2 drives (s)
00: \Device\CdRom0, \Device\CdRom0, D:
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH16NS40_1.00_211304041441_K9AE5983418
  .
  .

MakeMKV Info:

Drive Info.png (88.06 KiB) Viewed 939 times

I thought I would be able to flash it to read UHD discs & tried with this:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV\makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d E: rawflash -i c:\Users\nicholfd\Desktop\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936. bin
No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin
Internal error 0x8d000000

-------- PROGRESS --------

Wrong drive letter in the flash command (I know - details matter). Tried again. Did something, but eventually failed (after long delay):

Drive Flash Failure.png (173.52 KiB) Viewed 921 times

Shutdown, removed power, reapplied power & turned back on. MakeMKV now shows:

Drive Info After Failed Flash.png (29.13 KiB) Viewed 921 times

Have I FUBAR'd this drive? I still have the 2nd one...

Thanks!

[Billycar11]

I just realized I had two old drives in an old, 2010 cheese grater Mac Pro (non-operable). Both are the same model: WH16NS40. I pulled one & put it in a Windows machine:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f -l
Found 2 drives (s)
00: \Device\CdRom0, \Device\CdRom0, D:
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH16NS40_1.00_211304041441_K9AE5983418
  .
  .

MakeMKV Info:
Drive Info.png

I thought I would be able to flash it to read UHD discs & tried with this:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV\makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d E: rawflash -i c:\Users\nicholfd\Desktop\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936. bin
No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin
Internal error 0x8d000000

Is this drive not flash-able? Did I miss step or option?

Thanks!

do not flash it

[nicholfd]

Is this drive not flash-able? Did I miss step or option?

Thanks!

do not flash it

Thanks - too late. I found an issue & tried again. Thought I made progress. I updated my original message before you posted this one or they crossed. Is it hosed?

Thanks!

[Billycar11]

Is this drive not flash-able? Did I miss step or option?

Thanks!

do not flash it

Thanks - too late. I found an issue & tried again. Thought I made progress. I updated my original message before you posted this one or they crossed. Is it hosed?

Thanks!

dead unless you have a pc with sata ide mode and a 32bit os
see recovery section in guide
i no longer give out kits for these was way to much trouble as know one tells the truth about their pcs

[nicholfd]

do not flash it

Thanks - too late. I found an issue & tried again. Thought I made progress. I updated my original message before you posted this one or they crossed. Is it hosed?

Thanks!

dead unless you have a pc with sata ide mode and a 32bit os
see recovery section in guide
i no longer give out kits for these was way to much trouble as know one tells the truth about their pcs

Thanks - the PC I moved the drive to is a "utility" PC, and to flash the drive I installed fresh Windows 10 64-bit (left unlicensed). I have a MSDN subscription & it looks like the 32-bit version of Windows 10 is still available (downloading now). What do I need to look for/at in the BIOS, or what information can I share to find out if the motherboard supports "SATA IDE mode"? I'm not sure I've ever heard of that.

Looking for the recover guide section now...

Or, is this drive not worth trying to recover (your time - I don't mind wasting my time playing with it)? I only wanted to mess with it as a backup for UHD discs. If it can be recovered & flashed to read UHD discs, I'm glad to make a PayPal donation. I'm sure I used it many years ago for DVD/BR. I probably abandoned it when/if it could not manage UHD (at the time). The Mac Pro it's been in has been out of use for probably 10 years...

[nicholfd]

Motherboard supports IDE mode

MB BIOS.png (113.95 KiB) Viewed 887 times

Windows 10 x86 (32-bit) installed, with BIOS set to SATA IDE mode.

Win 10 Info.png (9.65 KiB) Viewed 873 times

[MartyMcNuts]

Hey Guys,

iam new to saving blurays and got a new verbatim 43888 from amazon:

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
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: 36

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

I've read the Ultimate UHD Drive Falsing Guide 2025 and downloaded the firmware files but am unsure what are the correct files for enabling libredrive.
Thanks very much for your help

I just got the same drive with most information the same, except "Highest AACS version" saying 81 in my case (and I'm using macOS, so OS device name corresponds to that). I also can't find the mentioned file HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin in the current pack. What should I use? I'm sorry if this is supposed to be obvious.

It's in the MK/old folder in the firmware pack.

[Billycar11]

Motherboard supports IDE mode
MB BIOS.png


Windows 10 x86 (32-bit) installed, with BIOS set to SATA IDE mode.

Win 10 Info.png

follow the recovery section and my dosflash video do the recovery stuff first make sure to do the steps exactly or dos flash wont work
as i said i dont do kits for this anymore more time than its worth everything you need is in the guide and my old dosflash video from 2019

[jatenk]

It's in the MK/old folder in the firmware pack.

Oh yeah, that's right, thanks! Can I use it safely to flash the drive though? What's the significance in the AACS-version difference?

[MartyMcNuts]

It's in the MK/old folder in the firmware pack.

Oh yeah, that's right, thanks! Can I use it safely to flash the drive though? What's the significance in the AACS-version difference?

The firmware has absolutley nothing at all to do with the AACS version of the drive.

When you insert a BD disc that has a higher AACS revision (happens on some new releases), it will automatically update the drive's revocation lists and you will notice the highest AACS version change to that of the BD disc.

[jatenk]

It's in the MK/old folder in the firmware pack.

Oh yeah, that's right, thanks! Can I use it safely to flash the drive though? What's the significance in the AACS-version difference?

The firmware has absolutley nothing at all to do with the AACS version of the drive.

When you insert a BD disc that has a higher AACS revision (happens on some new releases), it will automatically update the drive's revocation lists and you will notice the highest AACS version change to that of the BD disc.

Alright, so just to make sure I got this correctly, I sidegrade my Verbatim drive to BU40N 1.03 in MK/old, and then enc-flash according to step 7 in the top post manual, correct?

[MartyMcNuts]

Oh yeah, that's right, thanks! Can I use it safely to flash the drive though? What's the significance in the AACS-version difference?

The firmware has absolutley nothing at all to do with the AACS version of the drive.

When you insert a BD disc that has a higher AACS revision (happens on some new releases), it will automatically update the drive's revocation lists and you will notice the highest AACS version change to that of the BD disc.

Alright, so just to make sure I got this correctly, I sidegrade my Verbatim drive to BU40N 1.03 in MK/old, and then enc-flash according to step 7 in the top post manual, correct?

What?!?

Your Verbatim should be a BU40N drive with 1.05 on it. There's no trick to flashing it. Just use SDFTool flasher and flash it directly to BU40N 1.03-MK (we call all firmware in the pack "MK" as it's far easier than NM000343.....) first, which will remove the firmware encryption and the drive is now ready for use with MakeMKV. If you also want to use other ripping software such as DVDFab etc, then you can flash it to DE BU40N 1.00.