Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[WhiteInk72]

I just have a question regarding the disclaimer. Is there a specific reason for not using an older drive? I'm only aware certain old drives won't work with 4k blu-rays, but is there something I'm missing? I have a Samsung SE-506CB/RSBD and judging by the disclaimers, it really sounds like I might break it or smth.

[Coopervid]

I am a complete rookie with this. I followed rule one and tried to read extensively, but I am lost on getting my particular drive UHD friendly. I would really appreciate a kind soul helping me out. I feel confident I can do what's needed if I have the right files and some very basic instructions.
Here is my info:

Drive Information
OS device name: K:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E101
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2015-10-20
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E101/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Thank you in advance for the help!

PM sent.

[Coopervid]

Hello just got this drive but it won’t read uhd disks

Verbatim 43888 Pioneer UD03, UHD discs spin then ‘no disc inserted’, regular Blu-ray works fine”:

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD03
Revision: 1.14
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8511
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US03
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.14
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

PM sent.

[ANZAC]

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO1P5691624
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
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)

No disc inserted

Executed:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d E: rawflash -i "C:\Users\Glenn\Downloads\The all you need firmware pack\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin"

Reading input file C:\Users\Glenn\Downloads\The all you need firmware pack\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.02_212012011716_MO1P5691624
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished
Done successfully

Drive still shows as 1.02 in MakeMkV..... I waited, I rebooted. Ran the flash again. Still 1.02.

Is it possible it is encrypted firmware 1.02?

Halp pls.

[MartyMcNuts]

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO1P5691624
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
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)

No disc inserted

Executed:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d E: rawflash -i "C:\Users\Glenn\Downloads\The all you need firmware pack\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin"

Reading input file C:\Users\Glenn\Downloads\The all you need firmware pack\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.02_212012011716_MO1P5691624
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished
Done successfully

Drive still shows as 1.02 in MakeMkV..... I waited, I rebooted. Ran the flash again. Still 1.02.

Is it possible it is encrypted firmware 1.02?

Halp pls.

If this is an Archgon, you must take the drive out of the enclosure to flash.

[Mr_Orange]

I snagged a Hitachi/LG BU40N off Amazon recently to replace my defunct BH16NS55 (RIP following 7 years of service). It came with firmware version 1.05 but a quick flash to 1.03MK and I'm off to the races.

I'm glad to be back to two drives again.

[xalanthyr]

Hello!

I'm a long user of your software and first timer when it comes to Blu-Rays. I just have a brand new supported ASUS drive with firmware in revision 3.11. I'm preparing for flashing the drive according to the instruction. I downloaded last supported Linux version binary, 1.17.7, but when I tried to display the drive's identification, I see something is a bit off. According to the docs:

6. type "./makemkvcon f -l"

This will show your drive identifier should look similar to this ''/IOBDServices/D5D25996'
Found 1 drives(s)
00: /IOBDServices/D5D25996, /dev/rdisk3, /dev/rdisk3
HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.01_211910161032_MOFK6283224

In my case I see the identifier to be a bit different:

Code: Select all

lukasz@ryzen ~/makemkv-bin-1.17.7/bin/amd64 $ ./makemkvcon f -l
Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:3, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
  ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.11_212012011759_KLZP84G1350

Is "dev_21:3" identfier supported by the tool? I don't know if makemkvcon will understand this different syntax and follow smoothly. Thanks in advance for your support!

[ANZAC]

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO1P5691624
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16
Bus encryption flags: 1F

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.02
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)

No disc inserted

Executed:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d E: rawflash -i "C:\Users\Glenn\Downloads\The all you need firmware pack\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin"

Reading input file C:\Users\Glenn\Downloads\The all you need firmware pack\The all you need firmware pack\LG slim BU40N\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.02_212012011716_MO1P5691624
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished
Done successfully

Drive still shows as 1.02 in MakeMkV..... I waited, I rebooted. Ran the flash again. Still 1.02.

Is it possible it is encrypted firmware 1.02?

Halp pls.

If this is an Archgon, you must take the drive out of the enclosure to flash.

Verbatim branded.

[ANZAC]

Drive still shows as 1.02 in MakeMkV..... I waited, I rebooted. Ran the flash again. Still 1.02.

Is it possible it is encrypted firmware 1.02?

Halp pls.

The YouTube how-to video said BU40N 1.04 onwards are encrypted.....

But then, looking at the encrypted firmware list it shows this:
HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N_1.02_212012011716_MO3L91F0715.bin

And my drive reports this:
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO1P5691624
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16

The serial numbers are different, but the dates look the same (though the filename formatting isn't the same).

Does this mean it is encrypted? Why can't the flashing program just detect if it is encrypted?

Thanks in advance.

[MartyMcNuts]

Drive still shows as 1.02 in MakeMkV..... I waited, I rebooted. Ran the flash again. Still 1.02.

Is it possible it is encrypted firmware 1.02?

Halp pls.

The YouTube how-to video said BU40N 1.04 onwards are encrypted.....

But then, looking at the encrypted firmware list it shows this:
HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N_1.02_212012011716_MO3L91F0715.bin

And my drive reports this:
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: MO1P5691624
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 17:16

The serial numbers are different, but the dates look the same (though the filename formatting isn't the same).

Does this mean it is encrypted? Why can't the flashing program just detect if it is encrypted?

Thanks in advance.

Firmware dated 2020+ is encrypted, so yes, it is encrypted. I have never seen 1.02 on a Verbatim drive before. Always been 1.04 or 1.05 and I've flashed hundreds of them. Only ever seen 1.02 on the Archgon.

[ANZAC]

Firmware dated 2020+ is encrypted, so yes, it is encrypted. I have never seen 1.02 on a Verbatim drive before. Always been 1.04 or 1.05 and I've flashed hundreds of them. Only ever seen 1.02 on the Archgon.

Well, "2120" is year 2021?

Anyway, that solved it. Thanks for help.

(This was a Verbatim from NewEgg).

[MartyMcNuts]

Firmware dated 2020+ is encrypted, so yes, it is encrypted. I have never seen 1.02 on a Verbatim drive before. Always been 1.04 or 1.05 and I've flashed hundreds of them. Only ever seen 1.02 on the Archgon.

Well, "2120" is year 2021?

Anyway, that solved it. Thanks for help.

(This was a Verbatim from NewEgg).

No, 2120 is 2020. The second digit should be a zero.

[Bourney0]

I would like to flash my Pioneer XD05S if possible. Here's the info from MakeMKV:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.01
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2014-12-26
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 76

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8231
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.01/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

[Billycar11]

I would like to flash my Pioneer XD05S if possible. Here's the info from MakeMKV:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.01
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2014-12-26
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 76

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8231
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.01/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

Just email me your makemkv drive info section like that see below

[rayians]

I have been trying to find an Asus BW-16D1HT to flash for about 2 months. They used to be $99, then went up to $129, then several hundred dollars, and now for the past month there is absolutely none to be had anywhere. Can anyone confirm or deny if these have been discontinued? If not, is there any idea when they will be available again. If they are gone, what is a good alternative that is readily available?