Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[MartyMcNuts]

I assume the following is what you mean for the NB52.

NB52 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with enc > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK with bootloader/full flash > BP60NB10 1.00_HBD from Marty download/file.php?id=2143

I personally am reading this as 3 steps but I don't want to flash it wrong. Is the bootloader an extra file I have to flash or can I go straight from 1.03 to cross flashing to BP60? Maybe I can understand it better in the thread. Can you link to it for me please?

No, that is not what I mean. I said the first post of the SDFtool Flasher thread.

Hi Marty,

I found the thread and followed the gif but now I'm getting a error where my drive says no disc when I have a disk in it. Do you know how to fix that?

Paste the MakeMKV drive info and libredrive info sections so I can see if it flashed correctly. If it still says BP50NB40 then you haven't flash it correctly.

[austincummings0324]

No, that is not what I mean. I said the first post of the SDFtool Flasher thread.

Hi Marty,

I found the thread and followed the gif but now I'm getting a error where my drive says no disc when I have a disk in it. Do you know how to fix that?

Paste the MakeMKV drive info and libredrive info sections so I can see if it flashed correctly. If it still says BP50NB40 then you haven't flash it correctly.

Here is the drive info as I flashed it.

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK0FPB2B2059
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

No disc inserted

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi Marty,

I found the thread and followed the gif but now I'm getting a error where my drive says no disc when I have a disk in it. Do you know how to fix that?

Paste the MakeMKV drive info and libredrive info sections so I can see if it flashed correctly. If it still says BP50NB40 then you haven't flash it correctly.

Here is the drive info as I flashed it.

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK0FPB2B2059
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

No disc inserted

Ok, all good.

1. Ensure you insert the disc first, let the OS initialise it before you open up MakeMKV.

2. Ensure the drive is getting enough power. Don't use case ports as these often don't provide enough constant power for optical drives. Use ports direct from the motherboard or an AC self-powered USB hub of at least 24w. USB-C is even better if you can. If using the y-cable that came with the drive, make sure both USB connections are plugged in.

[austincummings0324]

Paste the MakeMKV drive info and libredrive info sections so I can see if it flashed correctly. If it still says BP50NB40 then you haven't flash it correctly.

Here is the drive info as I flashed it.

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK0FPB2B2059
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

No disc inserted

Ok, all good.

1. Ensure you insert the disc first, let the OS initialise it before you open up MakeMKV.

2. Ensure the drive is getting enough power. Don't use case ports as these often don't provide enough constant power for optical drives. Use ports direct from the motherboard or an AC self-powered USB hub of at least 24w. USB-C is even better if you can. If using the y-cable that came with the drive, make sure both USB connections are plugged in.

Right now I have the Y-cable plugged into both ports on my mother board. My computer can't even register it in Files explorer even though makemkv can. I have tried to power cycle my computer and drive as well. It appears the cable is on and giving power but should I try it with a USB-C to MicroUSB cable instead just to see if that would be better?

[TechSmid]

Good evening,

I'm trying to figure out how to flash my Verbatim.
I've looked at all the descriptions and videos, but I don't understand which flasher I should use.
This is my drive info:

Drive Information
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: 82

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

Kind regards,
Rick

[Fave119]

Good evening,

I'm trying to figure out how to flash my Verbatim.
I've looked at all the descriptions and videos, but I don't understand which flasher I should use.
This is my drive info:

Drive Information
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: 82

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

Kind regards,
Rick

I think I have the exact same drive as you, also a Verbatim with the exact same drive information.
I found this repo which worked for me: https://github.com/nxyzo/Flashing-Verba ... -to-1.03MK

I am now on Revision 1.03 with fully enabled libredrive

[AnimatedConverse]

I can see that it's possible to use this to flash my drive, but will it work just to pick the DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.10_MK.bin or DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin firmware? My drive is the BW-16DH-U
My drive looks like this in makemkv:
Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1H-U
Revision: A205
Serial number: KLQN61H0044
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 18:18
Bus encryption flags: 1F

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

Thanks so much!

[MartyMcNuts]

Here is the drive info as I flashed it.

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: SIK0FPB2B2059
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 15:28
Bus encryption flags: 17

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

No disc inserted

Ok, all good.

1. Ensure you insert the disc first, let the OS initialise it before you open up MakeMKV.

2. Ensure the drive is getting enough power. Don't use case ports as these often don't provide enough constant power for optical drives. Use ports direct from the motherboard or an AC self-powered USB hub of at least 24w. USB-C is even better if you can. If using the y-cable that came with the drive, make sure both USB connections are plugged in.

Right now I have the Y-cable plugged into both ports on my mother board. My computer can't even register it in Files explorer even though makemkv can. I have tried to power cycle my computer and drive as well. It appears the cable is on and giving power but should I try it with a USB-C to MicroUSB cable instead just to see if that would be better?

Sure, it's worth a try. USB-C is the better option when available.

[MartyMcNuts]

I can see that it's possible to use this to flash my drive, but will it work just to pick the DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.10_MK.bin or DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin firmware? My drive is the BW-16DH-U
My drive looks like this in makemkv:
Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1H-U
Revision: A205
Serial number: KLQN61H0044
Firmware date: 2120-12-01 18:18
Bus encryption flags: 1F

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

Thanks so much!

Yes, 3.10-MK can be flashed to directly. If you want to use 3.02, you can flash to it afterwards.

[mannduro]

hi, this is my Drive (external USB 3.0 Drive)

Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: E:
Produzent: ASUS
Produkt: BW-16D1H-U
Revision: A101
Serienummer: K92F3JC0726
Firmware-Datum: 2114-12-08 09:59
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 1F
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.A101W
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

How do i make this read UHD discs ?

[Billycar11]

hi, this is my Drive (external USB 3.0 Drive)

Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: E:
Produzent: ASUS
Produkt: BW-16D1H-U
Revision: A101
Serienummer: K92F3JC0726
Firmware-Datum: 2114-12-08 09:59
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 1F
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.A101W
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

How do i make this read UHD discs ?

You don't it's 12+ years old
Don't flash it. It will die

[austincummings0324]

Ok, all good.

1. Ensure you insert the disc first, let the OS initialise it before you open up MakeMKV.

2. Ensure the drive is getting enough power. Don't use case ports as these often don't provide enough constant power for optical drives. Use ports direct from the motherboard or an AC self-powered USB hub of at least 24w. USB-C is even better if you can. If using the y-cable that came with the drive, make sure both USB connections are plugged in.

Right now I have the Y-cable plugged into both ports on my mother board. My computer can't even register it in Files explorer even though makemkv can. I have tried to power cycle my computer and drive as well. It appears the cable is on and giving power but should I try it with a USB-C to MicroUSB cable instead just to see if that would be better?

Sure, it's worth a try. USB-C is the better option when available.

I tried to use a USB-C to MicroUSB cable direct to my motherboard and it still didn't work. Even tried using a dock and it didn't work. Any idea why a brand new drive would do this after being flashed? Starting to feel like I should return the drive and try again...

[MartyMcNuts]

Right now I have the Y-cable plugged into both ports on my mother board. My computer can't even register it in Files explorer even though makemkv can. I have tried to power cycle my computer and drive as well. It appears the cable is on and giving power but should I try it with a USB-C to MicroUSB cable instead just to see if that would be better?

Sure, it's worth a try. USB-C is the better option when available.

I tried to use a USB-C to MicroUSB cable direct to my motherboard and it still didn't work. Even tried using a dock and it didn't work. Any idea why a brand new drive would do this after being flashed? Starting to feel like I should return the drive and try again...

Nope, no idea. Did you test the drive with a blu-ray before flashing just to make sure the drive worked and wasn't faulty to begin with?

If you are going to return it, you can do the RECOVER process again, this time, selecting the current BU40N firmware that is on the drive, then choose the BP50NB10 1.03-MK firmware in the normal firmware selection drop down box.

[austincummings0324]

Sure, it's worth a try. USB-C is the better option when available.

I tried to use a USB-C to MicroUSB cable direct to my motherboard and it still didn't work. Even tried using a dock and it didn't work. Any idea why a brand new drive would do this after being flashed? Starting to feel like I should return the drive and try again...

Nope, no idea. Did you test the drive with a blu-ray before flashing just to make sure the drive worked and wasn't faulty to begin with?

If you are going to return it, you can do the RECOVER process again, this time, selecting the current BU40N firmware that is on the drive, then choose the BP50NB10 1.03-MK firmware in the normal firmware selection drop down box.

I ended up returning the drive. I think this one was a bit complicated for me. Do you have any recommendations on drives below $200 USD? I don't really have the budget to buy one alr flashed so I will have to deal with one I need to flash on my own. I was looking at getting the BP60NB10 or an actual BU40 instead. Thoughts?

[MartyMcNuts]

I tried to use a USB-C to MicroUSB cable direct to my motherboard and it still didn't work. Even tried using a dock and it didn't work. Any idea why a brand new drive would do this after being flashed? Starting to feel like I should return the drive and try again...

Nope, no idea. Did you test the drive with a blu-ray before flashing just to make sure the drive worked and wasn't faulty to begin with?

If you are going to return it, you can do the RECOVER process again, this time, selecting the current BU40N firmware that is on the drive, then choose the BP50NB10 1.03-MK firmware in the normal firmware selection drop down box.

I ended up returning the drive. I think this one was a bit complicated for me. Do you have any recommendations on drives below $200 USD? I don't really have the budget to buy one alr flashed so I will have to deal with one I need to flash on my own. I was looking at getting the BP60NB10 or an actual BU40 instead. Thoughts?

Verbatim 43887 (normally a Pioneer BDR-UD03), 43888 (contains a LG BU40N), 43889 (contains a LG BU40N) or 43890 (can be either a Pioneer BDR-UD03 or a LG BU40N).