SDFtool Flasher

[Mr_Orange]

I think my drive has had it. It read the cleaning disc and it will read CDs but nothing else, even after cleaning.

[Coopervid]

Yes, these drives tend to die early. One of mine already after 1 year.

[Mr_Orange]

Yes, these drives tend to die early. One of mine already after 1 year.

Mine has lasted over 6 years, so I'm pretty happy with that. During that time, there were probably less than 5 UHDs that it couldn't rip.

[smileyguy]

When reading firmware from a LG WH16NS60 v1.00 I get a .bin file but when reading the firmware from my second WH16NS60 v1.03 I get a .tar file. Is the .tar file a good valid backup file and can it be used to flash the drive back to factory?

[Coopervid]

When reading firmware from a LG WH16NS60 v1.00 I get a .bin file but when reading the firmware from my second WH16NS60 v1.03 I get a .tar file. Is the .tar file a good valid backup file and can it be used to flash the drive back to factory?

You can't dump LG firmware. What you get is just the calibration data. Therefore you can't flash a drive with what is dumped.

[smileyguy]

When reading firmware from a LG WH16NS60 v1.00 I get a .bin file but when reading the firmware from my second WH16NS60 v1.03 I get a .tar file. Is the .tar file a good valid backup file and can it be used to flash the drive back to factory?

You can't dump LG firmware. What you get is just the calibration data. Therefore you can't flash a drive with what is dumped.

Thanks good to know that .tar is ony calibration data and not a firmware backup.

Another odd thing is that WH16NS60 with v1.03 firmware is Libre drive enabled as received. I did not flash the drive with 1.02MK as needed to enable Libre drive. My WH16NS60 with v1.00 say original unpatched but the v1.03 drive says microcode re-enabled. I haven't flashed either drive as it is not required. Backed up my 4k Superman 2025 without issue. Does microcode re-enabled mean encrypted or previously flashed? Does 1.02MK report as v1.03?

[MartyMcNuts]

When reading firmware from a LG WH16NS60 v1.00 I get a .bin file but when reading the firmware from my second WH16NS60 v1.03 I get a .tar file. Is the .tar file a good valid backup file and can it be used to flash the drive back to factory?

You can't dump LG firmware. What you get is just the calibration data. Therefore you can't flash a drive with what is dumped.

Thanks good to know that .tar is ony calibration data and not a firmware backup.

Another odd thing is that WH16NS60 with v1.03 firmware is Libre drive enabled as received. I did not flash the drive with 1.02MK as needed to enable Libre drive. My WH16NS60 with v1.00 say original unpatched but the v1.03 drive says microcode re-enabled. I haven't flashed either drive as it is not required. Backed up my 4k Superman 2025 without issue. Does microcode re-enabled mean encrypted or previously flashed? Does 1.02MK report as v1.03?

Yeah, someone has flashed WH16NS60 1.03-MK to it.

[smileyguy]

You can't dump LG firmware. What you get is just the calibration data. Therefore you can't flash a drive with what is dumped.

Thanks good to know that .tar is only calibration data and not a firmware backup.

Another odd thing is that WH16NS60 with v1.03 firmware is Libre drive enabled as received. I did not flash the drive with 1.02MK as needed to enable Libre drive. My WH16NS60 with v1.00 say original unpatched but the v1.03 drive says microcode re-enabled. I haven't flashed either drive as it is not required. Backed up my 4k Superman 2025 without issue. Does microcode re-enabled mean encrypted or previously flashed? Does 1.02MK report as v1.03?

Yeah, someone has flashed WH16NS60 1.03-MK to it.

Ok, I did not know there was a 1.03MK. When I got home I checked the firmware with SDFTool and neither are encrypted. Read function gives a .bin file for v1.00 and a .tar for v1.03.

[MartyMcNuts]

Thanks good to know that .tar is only calibration data and not a firmware backup.

Another odd thing is that WH16NS60 with v1.03 firmware is Libre drive enabled as received. I did not flash the drive with 1.02MK as needed to enable Libre drive. My WH16NS60 with v1.00 say original unpatched but the v1.03 drive says microcode re-enabled. I haven't flashed either drive as it is not required. Backed up my 4k Superman 2025 without issue. Does microcode re-enabled mean encrypted or previously flashed? Does 1.02MK report as v1.03?

Yeah, someone has flashed WH16NS60 1.03-MK to it.

Ok, I did not know there was a 1.03MK. When I got home I checked the firmware with SDFTool and neither are encrypted. Read function gives a .bin file for v1.00 and a .tar for v1.03.

Yeah, there is a 1.03-MK but it's still not as good as 1.02-MK. Just leave it alone until you start having read issues.

[Subprime4829]

How do I flash my BP50NB40 SVC:NB52 on macOS 26? I don't have access to a Windows machine at all so I can't use the GUI tool.

[MartyMcNuts]

How do I flash my BP50NB40 SVC:NB52 on macOS 26? I don't have access to a Windows machine at all so I can't use the GUI tool.

Terminal or a good VM.

[ckmccollim]

I wanted to create a written document that I could follow in the future for flashing the firmware for LG BP50NB40 SVC:NB52. (I really like this drive and may purchase another one.)

I followed the animated GIF video information for details.
I later saw another fellow on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2oIsrTIShI) flashed his final version to “DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin”

Should I be on “DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin” or “DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin”?
(If I should be on the first, what is the best way to get there from the second?)

Thank you for your help!

SDFtool Flasher for LG BP50NB40 SVC:NB52
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896

11-1-2025

To Update this LG BP50NB40 (NB52) Slim Portable Optical Drive to be able to read Ultra HD Blu-ray 4K discs follow these instructions and video. (I converted the animated GIF to a MP4 video file for easier viewing so I could start and stop it.)

Go to the link above and download both the current "SDFtool Flasher" and "All You Need Firmware Pack". Once both are unzipped and the Flasher tool running:

=================================
"UPDATE - 21/12/2021:
The latest version of the SDFtool Flasher has a checkbox option to flash the boot loader with the main firmware to the drive, although, currently there's really no need to use it.

For the moment, to flash the BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follow the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK."
=======================================
MY INTERPRETATION OF ABOVE:
Run the SDFtool Flasher tool.
Select the drive to be flashed from the top "Please select a Drive" pulldown box.

It will look something like this
(but with your drive letter and serial number):
H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212107081603_SIK04NAG90606

Then select the firmware to be flashed from the bottom "Please select a Firmware to Write" pulldown box:
DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin

The "MT1959 Platform:" has a Green Checkmark.
The "Encrypted Firmware:" has a Green Checkmark.
The "Include boot loader?" Is NOT checked (and I didn't check it.)
"WRITE Firmware" Blue circle selected.

Click "START" button and wait till it is completely finished.
(Onscreen information will keep you informed the whole time of the progress and the success.) When it is completely finished the SDFtool Flasher tool will reset itself with no drive or firmware selected.


====================================
"Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box.
4. Click START"
=====================================
MY INTERPRETATION OF ABOVE CROSSFLASH:

Select the optical drive again in the top box:
H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_SIK04NAG90606

Click on the "RECOVER Drive" option, and a popup window will open up. The top of this purple colored box will say "Select the drive's currently installed (wrong) firmware file..."
You will select "DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin" and click on "Open" button.

Now click on the bottom "Please select a Firmware to Write" pulldown box. (It will say at the top of this purple box "Select a firmware file to write...")
Select "DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin" and click "Open" button.

Verify the following:
The "MT1959 Platform:" has a Green Checkmark.
The "Encrypted Firmware:" has Red X.
The "Include boot loader?" Is NOT checked (and I didn't check it.)
"RECOVER Drive" Blue circle selected.

Click "START" button and wait till it is completely finished.

(Onscreen information will keep you informed the whole time of the progress and the success.) When it is completely finished the SDFtool Flasher tool will reset itself with no drive or firmware selected. You can now click "EXIT" button to finish.

==================================
10-29-2025 Purchased from Best Buy.
LG - 8x External USB 2.0 Blu-ray Disc Double-Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Disc Rewriter - Black
Model: BP50NB40 SKU: 9243009
Purchase Date: Oct 29, 2025
Total: $112.86
===============================
Key features:
External - Connects VIA USB 2.0.
Silent Play Reduces Noise from Disc Spin During Movie Playback.
Supports BDXL (100GB Triple Layer) Disc.
Jamless Play Smooths Out Playback of Damaged Blu-ray or DVD Discs.
Max. 6X BD-R Read and Write Capability / Max. 8X DVD±R Write Speed.
=====================================
BEFORE FIRMWARE UPDATED
Drive Information
OS device name: H:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2121-07-08 16:03
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.03
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)

==========================================
AFTER FIRMWARE UPDATED
Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
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

Disc Information
Label: THE_GREATEST_SHOWMAN
Timestamp: 2018-02-26 13:05:17
Protection: AACS2.0/C v61
Data capacity: 58.52 Gb
Disc type: BD-ROM UHD
Number of layers: 2
Bus encryption flags: 80

[MartyMcNuts]

I wanted to create a written document that I could follow in the future for flashing the firmware for LG BP50NB40 SVC:NB52. (I really like this drive and may purchase another one.)

I followed the animated GIF video information for details.
I later saw another fellow on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2oIsrTIShI) flashed his final version to “DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin”

Should I be on “DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin” or “DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin”?
(If I should be on the first, what is the best way to get there from the second?)

Thank you for your help!

SDFtool Flasher for LG BP50NB40 SVC:NB52
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=22896

11-1-2025

To Update this LG BP50NB40 (NB52) Slim Portable Optical Drive to be able to read Ultra HD Blu-ray 4K discs follow these instructions and video. (I converted the animated GIF to a MP4 video file for easier viewing so I could start and stop it.)

Go to the link above and download both the current "SDFtool Flasher" and "All You Need Firmware Pack". Once both are unzipped and the Flasher tool running:

=================================
"UPDATE - 21/12/2021:
The latest version of the SDFtool Flasher has a checkbox option to flash the boot loader with the main firmware to the drive, although, currently there's really no need to use it.

For the moment, to flash the BP50NB40 SVC:NB52, using the latest SDFtool Flasher, follow the steps below:

1. Flash the drive to BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK."
=======================================
MY INTERPRETATION OF ABOVE:
Run the SDFtool Flasher tool.
Select the drive to be flashed from the top "Please select a Drive" pulldown box.

It will look something like this
(but with your drive letter and serial number):
H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212107081603_SIK04NAG90606

Then select the firmware to be flashed from the bottom "Please select a Firmware to Write" pulldown box:
DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin

The "MT1959 Platform:" has a Green Checkmark.
The "Encrypted Firmware:" has a Green Checkmark.
The "Include boot loader?" Is NOT checked (and I didn't check it.)
"WRITE Firmware" Blue circle selected.

Click "START" button and wait till it is completely finished.
(Onscreen information will keep you informed the whole time of the progress and the success.) When it is completely finished the SDFtool Flasher tool will reset itself with no drive or firmware selected.


====================================
"Now for the crossflash:

2. Select the RECOVERY option and in the pop up, select the BP50NB40 (NB50) 1.03-MK firmware that you just flashed.
3. Select the BP60NB10 1.00-MK or BU40N 1.00 firmware in the normal drop box.
4. Click START"
=====================================
MY INTERPRETATION OF ABOVE CROSSFLASH:

Select the optical drive again in the top box:
H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_SIK04NAG90606

Click on the "RECOVER Drive" option, and a popup window will open up. The top of this purple colored box will say "Select the drive's currently installed (wrong) firmware file..."
You will select "DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin" and click on "Open" button.

Now click on the bottom "Please select a Firmware to Write" pulldown box. (It will say at the top of this purple box "Select a firmware file to write...")
Select "DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin" and click "Open" button.

Verify the following:
The "MT1959 Platform:" has a Green Checkmark.
The "Encrypted Firmware:" has Red X.
The "Include boot loader?" Is NOT checked (and I didn't check it.)
"RECOVER Drive" Blue circle selected.

Click "START" button and wait till it is completely finished.

(Onscreen information will keep you informed the whole time of the progress and the success.) When it is completely finished the SDFtool Flasher tool will reset itself with no drive or firmware selected. You can now click "EXIT" button to finish.

==================================
10-29-2025 Purchased from Best Buy.
LG - 8x External USB 2.0 Blu-ray Disc Double-Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Disc Rewriter - Black
Model: BP50NB40 SKU: 9243009
Purchase Date: Oct 29, 2025
Total: $112.86
===============================
Key features:
External - Connects VIA USB 2.0.
Silent Play Reduces Noise from Disc Spin During Movie Playback.
Supports BDXL (100GB Triple Layer) Disc.
Jamless Play Smooths Out Playback of Damaged Blu-ray or DVD Discs.
Max. 6X BD-R Read and Write Capability / Max. 8X DVD±R Write Speed.
=====================================
BEFORE FIRMWARE UPDATED
Drive Information
OS device name: H:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP50NB40
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2121-07-08 16:03
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.03
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)

==========================================
AFTER FIRMWARE UPDATED
Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
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

Disc Information
Label: THE_GREATEST_SHOWMAN
Timestamp: 2018-02-26 13:05:17
Protection: AACS2.0/C v61
Data capacity: 58.52 Gb
Disc type: BD-ROM UHD
Number of layers: 2
Bus encryption flags: 80

I prefer BU40N 1.00 as it is the original firmware and is compatible with all popular ripping software whereas BU40N 1.03-MK is a "MK" firmware and for UHD discs, only works with MakeMKV and Xreveal. If you want to use BU40N 1.03-MK, from BU40N 1.00 you can simply flash it as normal.