Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[Coopervid]

I'm flashing my drive following the guide in the original post of this thread. Everything seems to go through fine, but MakeMKV doesn't see the drive as any different from how I started, and UHD disks still get ejected.

My drive info from MakeMVK:

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.05
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 14:44
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 1.05
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)

And the output from my command:

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./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/AEFAD468' -f /Users/*/Downloads/sdf.bin rawflash main -i /Users/*/Downloads/mk-firmware-pack-20200720/MK/HL-DT-ST/WH16NS60/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010.bin 

Reading input file /Users/*/Downloads/mk-firmware-pack-20200720/MK/HL-DT-ST/WH16NS60/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__WH14NS40_1.05_212005061444_KLEO5OD3538
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

You need to replace main with enc in your command.

[NobleOccum]

That got it for me, thanks! Ripping an UHD right now!

[Gene80]

Hello, I have the following gear and would like to confirm that it would be a candidate before I attempt:

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1HT
Revision: 1.01
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2113-02-05 19:30
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 57

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.01
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Mfg Date December 2023.
My enclosure is a Vantec NexStar DX2 NST-540S3-BK

I noticed your comment on the Drive platform needing to be "MT1959<" but I'm not following if you are saying it needs to be greater or less than 1959? Mine appears to be MT 1939.

Thank you.

[Woodstock]

Drive platform: MT1939

This drive platform went obsolete when UHD became available. Cannot say why it claims to have been built in 2023.

[Coopervid]

Hello, I have the following gear and would like to confirm that it would be a candidate before I attempt:

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1HT
Revision: 1.01
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2113-02-05 19:30
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 57

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1939
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.01
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Mfg Date December 2023.
My enclosure is a Vantec NexStar DX2 NST-540S3-BK

I noticed your comment on the Drive platform needing to be "MT1959<" but I'm not following if you are saying it needs to be greater or less than 1959? Mine appears to be MT 1939.

Thank you.

It's a fake and drive is from 2013 when LGs weren't UHD capable.

[Gene80]

Thank you, I will return it today! Do you have any drives for sale, or have any recommendations on where I should look so I don't buy another fake.

[nicholfd]

Thank you, I will return it today! Do you have any drives for sale, or have any recommendations on where I should look so I don't buy another fake.

Hello!

If you are in the US, I have three models of drives on-hand, pre-flashed for use with MakeMKV, available for purchase. Links to the "For sale" threads & my contact e-mail are in my signature.

Thanks,
Frank

[Gene80]

Email sent. Thank you Frank!

[tuxingtansuozhe]

I found an online listing of one of the drives on the list manufactured in April 2016.
Are all drives that were manufactured in 2016 compatible? Is there a cutoff month?

[mkvuser190]

You need to post your own Makemkv info to be helped.

That is my info. I copied it from my own post in another thread. Sorry for the confusion!

[Coopervid]

Hi all

I'm new to this forum, and I am very confused by this thread. I don't see my drive or firmware listed, but people in another thread have helped others with the same drive. I have a Pioneer drive, and I am scared to brick it if I do something wrong. Could somebody tell me if my drive is flashable for UHD? Thank you.

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Drive Information
OS device name:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD07
Revision: 1.03
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2020-08-20
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 63

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8D30
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-BDS7
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Also, I'm sorry for essentially re-posting this from another thread. I just think this one is more active than the other one.

PM sent for this drive.

[Mort-]

I too am sort of confused with my drive, and do not wish to mess this up. I purchased a Verbatim 43888 and did all the research I could on here before starting and thought I was ready to flash until MakeMKV tells me I got a Pioneer UD04 drive, not the LG BU40N I was expecting and folks are saying come in these now. I searched again for info on flashing this but all I came up with was posts along the lines of "this drive will work", but not which firmware to use? Is what I need in the "All You Need Firmware Pack", or is there something else I'm looking for? Will the GUI work for this or am I to use the command line instructions?

Thanks!

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Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04
Revision: 1.14
Serial number: -=-=-=-
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
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

[MartyMcNuts]

I too am sort of confused with my drive, and do not wish to mess this up. I purchased a Verbatim 43888 and did all the research I could on here before starting and thought I was ready to flash until MakeMKV tells me I got a Pioneer UD04 drive, not the LG BU40N I was expecting and folks are saying come in these now. I searched again for info on flashing this but all I came up with was posts along the lines of "this drive will work", but not which firmware to use? Is what I need in the "All You Need Firmware Pack", or is there something else I'm looking for? Will the GUI work for this or am I to use the command line instructions?

Thanks!

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-UD04
Revision: 1.14
Serial number: -=-=-=-
Firmware date: 2020-06-15
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8A10
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-US04
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

You must have been extremely lucky and got an old unit from wherever you bought it. They stopped putting Pioneer drives in the 43888 early 2025!!

You do not need to do anything as it is already UHD compatible out of the box. Just insert a UHD disc and start ripping!!

[nmcdeal]

Hello there,

Yes newbie here.
I have read online in these forums that my BluRay drive is able to be flashed and read UHD Bruray discs.
I have provide details of my drive below from MakeMKV

My Drive is a BD-RE ASUS BW-16D1H-U drive manufactured Dec 2021.

However when I use SDFtol Flasher v1.3.6 it says that I don't have the MT1959 platform that allows flashing ?!?

Is someone able to assist me? I am stuck in what I need to do next.
Thank you in advance.

Also is there a link to the firmware

Details from MakeMKV
Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1H-U
Revision: E115
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2019-03-07
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E115/ID71
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[nicholfd]

Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E115/ID71
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

You got lucky & hit the drive lottery - your USB ASUS chassis has a Pioneer mechanism, not a LG mechanism. SDFtool is only for LG mechanisms/drives.

Coopervid, Billycar11 or someone can provide you with a flasher for your Pioneer drive - it's not publicly available.