Cross-flashed LG BP50NB40 (NB52) – UHD not reading, Blu-rays are fine

[steeledrum]

I apologize if this isn't in the right spot. I've lurked all over these, but never posted until now.

I recently purchased an LG BP50NB40 (SVC NB52) and cross-flashed it using SDFtool Flasher with the BU40N DE firmware. I ensured the bootloader was checked this last time and verified in LibreDrive that the firmware is patched (microcode access re-enabled) with BD raw data and metadata read enabled.

Drive info shows Firmware version 1.03, MT1959 platform, and Highest AACS version: 66.

All-region DVD support and unrestricted read speed are active.

I’m able to read and rip standard Blu-ray discs just fine with MakeMKV, but UHD discs are not being detected. I suspect this may be due to my firmware version or microcode limitations. Anyone have any ideas? Let me know if you have more questions. Regarding the below, when a UHD is inserted, it just says no disk found. For what it's worth I tried with Atomic Blonde, Doctor Sleep, and Jurassic World.

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:17
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 70

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[MartyMcNuts]

I apologize if this isn't in the right spot. I've lurked all over these, but never posted until now.

I recently purchased an LG BP50NB40 (SVC NB52) and cross-flashed it using SDFtool Flasher with the BU40N DE firmware. I ensured the bootloader was checked this last time and verified in LibreDrive that the firmware is patched (microcode access re-enabled) with BD raw data and metadata read enabled.

Drive info shows Firmware version 1.03, MT1959 platform, and Highest AACS version: 66.

All-region DVD support and unrestricted read speed are active.

I’m able to read and rip standard Blu-ray discs just fine with MakeMKV, but UHD discs are not being detected. I suspect this may be due to my firmware version or microcode limitations. Anyone have any ideas? Let me know if you have more questions. Regarding the below, when a UHD is inserted, it just says no disk found. For what it's worth I tried with Atomic Blonde, Doctor Sleep, and Jurassic World.

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:17
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 70

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

If you are on Linux, flash the drive to BU40N 1.00 as 1.03-MK is buggy on Linux.

[steeledrum]

I apologize if this isn't in the right spot. I've lurked all over these, but never posted until now.

I recently purchased an LG BP50NB40 (SVC NB52) and cross-flashed it using SDFtool Flasher with the BU40N DE firmware. I ensured the bootloader was checked this last time and verified in LibreDrive that the firmware is patched (microcode access re-enabled) with BD raw data and metadata read enabled.

Drive info shows Firmware version 1.03, MT1959 platform, and Highest AACS version: 66.

All-region DVD support and unrestricted read speed are active.

I’m able to read and rip standard Blu-ray discs just fine with MakeMKV, but UHD discs are not being detected. I suspect this may be due to my firmware version or microcode limitations. Anyone have any ideas? Let me know if you have more questions. Regarding the below, when a UHD is inserted, it just says no disk found. For what it's worth I tried with Atomic Blonde, Doctor Sleep, and Jurassic World.

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2120-05-07 09:17
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 70

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

If you are on Linux, flash the drive to BU40N 1.00 as 1.03-MK is buggy on Linux.

Thanks for the reply! I'm not on Linux. My current workflow is ripping on my Windows 11 machine, and from there I copy the files over to my Plex server which is on Linux. Eventually, I plan to use only one computer, but as I learn things this is how I'm doing it. It is good to know that the firmware is buggy on Linux. I'll keep that in mind once I move over.

Any other ideas?

[keydb_helper]

I recently purchased an LG BP50NB40 (SVC NB52) and cross-flashed it using SDFtool Flasher with the BU40N DE firmware. I ensured the bootloader was checked this last time and verified in LibreDrive that the firmware is patched (microcode access re-enabled) with BD raw data and metadata read enabled.

You missed a step when you were flashing the firmware as the drive is still utilising the BP50NB40 firmware. This firmware cannot read UHD discs. For slim/portable drives only the BU40N, BP60NB10 and Buffalo firmware variants can read UHD discs.

Once it is flashed correctly the drive info panel in MakeMKV should list the firmware as BU40N and your drive will read UHD discs.

[steeledrum]

You missed a step when you were flashing the firmware as the drive is still utilising the BP50NB40 firmware. This firmware cannot read UHD discs. For slim/portable drives only the BU40N, BP60NB10 and Buffalo firmware variants can read UHD discs.

Once it is flashed correctly the drive info panel in MakeMKV should list the firmware as BU40N and your drive will read UHD discs.

Can you elaborate on what I missed? I've attached how it looked when I did the flash.

[MartyMcNuts]

You missed a step when you were flashing the firmware as the drive is still utilising the BP50NB40 firmware. This firmware cannot read UHD discs. For slim/portable drives only the BU40N, BP60NB10 and Buffalo firmware variants can read UHD discs.

Once it is flashed correctly the drive info panel in MakeMKV should list the firmware as BU40N and your drive will read UHD discs.

Can you elaborate on what I missed? I've attached how it looked when I did the flash.

Yeah, I missed that too! This model must be cross-flashed to either BU40N or BP60NB10 to enable UHD readability (requiring 2 flashes). You have only completed 1 flash, which is the BP50NB40 1.03-MK firmware. This first flash removes the firmware encryption and does enable libredrive but this firmware is not UHD compatable.

You now need to perform the cross-flash to enable UHD readability. Please go to the SDFtool Flasher thread: viewtopic.php?p=94848#p94848 go to the section: to flash the BP50NB40 SVC:NB52 and follow from step 2. There's even a gif showing the process and there's no need to check the boot loader box at all.