Flashing Verbatim 43888 from Linux

[simland]

Hi, just got the 43888 and have not been able to flash from Linux (I don't have anything with Windows). When I use makemkvcon from the shell there is simply no response at all to the flash command. Other commands do work.

I am using PopOS which is Ubuntu based. I usually used the MakeMKV flatpak which works just fine. I have also downloaded the src/bin and built/installed with no problems. I got the 'The all you need firmware pack.zip'.

When I plug it in:

Code: Select all

[101498.475361] usb 2-1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
[101498.491095] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=18a5, idProduct=0428, bcdDevice= 1.cd
[101498.491114] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[101498.491123] usb 2-1: Product: Verbatim 4K BD RW
[101498.491130] usb 2-1: Manufacturer: Verbatim
[101498.491137] usb 2-1: SerialNumber: 0025084C09D5
[101498.493448] usb-storage 2-1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[101498.494750] scsi host4: usb-storage 2-1:1.0
[101499.556499] scsi 4:0:0:0: CD-ROM            HL-DT-ST BD-RE BU40N      1.05 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
[101499.559299] sr 4:0:0:0: Power-on or device reset occurred
[101499.564676] sr 4:0:0:0: [sr0] scsi3-mmc drive: 24x/24x writer dvd-ram cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
[101499.572408] sr 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr0
[101499.572618] sr 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 5

Code: Select all

$ makemkvcon f -l
Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:1, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.05_212404231347_MO1P7JI5138
  
   makemkvcon f -d /dev/sr0 --info
SDF.bin version: 0x00A5

Drive Tool SDF present

Drive Specific SDF not present

Identification SDF present

[Identification SDF] Embedded Info Strings:
8000:LibreDrive Information

8013:Status
8102:Possible, not yet enabled

8001:Drive platform
:MT1959


[Identification SDF] Drive autodetect string:
mtk:19:59:BU5 :HL-DT-ST:BD-RE BU40N     1.05:N000300:-

As far as I can tell I should be flashing like this:

Code: Select all

makemkvcon f --all-yes -d /dev/sr0 rawflash enc -i ./HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for any advice.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi, just got the 43888 and have not been able to flash from Linux (I don't have anything with Windows). When I use makemkvcon from the shell there is simply no response at all to the flash command. Other commands do work.

I am using PopOS which is Ubuntu based. I usually used the MakeMKV flatpak which works just fine. I have also downloaded the src/bin and built/installed with no problems. I got the 'The all you need firmware pack.zip'.

When I plug it in:

Code: Select all

[101498.475361] usb 2-1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
[101498.491095] usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=18a5, idProduct=0428, bcdDevice= 1.cd
[101498.491114] usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[101498.491123] usb 2-1: Product: Verbatim 4K BD RW
[101498.491130] usb 2-1: Manufacturer: Verbatim
[101498.491137] usb 2-1: SerialNumber: 0025084C09D5
[101498.493448] usb-storage 2-1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[101498.494750] scsi host4: usb-storage 2-1:1.0
[101499.556499] scsi 4:0:0:0: CD-ROM            HL-DT-ST BD-RE BU40N      1.05 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
[101499.559299] sr 4:0:0:0: Power-on or device reset occurred
[101499.564676] sr 4:0:0:0: [sr0] scsi3-mmc drive: 24x/24x writer dvd-ram cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
[101499.572408] sr 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr0
[101499.572618] sr 4:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 5

Code: Select all

$ makemkvcon f -l
Found 1 drives(s)
00: dev_21:1, /dev/sr0, /dev/sr0
  HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.05_212404231347_MO1P7JI5138
  
   makemkvcon f -d /dev/sr0 --info
SDF.bin version: 0x00A5

Drive Tool SDF present

Drive Specific SDF not present

Identification SDF present

[Identification SDF] Embedded Info Strings:
8000:LibreDrive Information

8013:Status
8102:Possible, not yet enabled

8001:Drive platform
:MT1959


[Identification SDF] Drive autodetect string:
mtk:19:59:BU5 :HL-DT-ST:BD-RE BU40N     1.05:N000300:-

As far as I can tell I should be flashing like this:

Code: Select all

makemkvcon f --all-yes -d /dev/sr0 rawflash enc -i ./HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for any advice.

For Linux flashing, use an older version. Nothing newer than v1.17.7

[Billycar11]

Also make sure to go down to 1.00 after mk

[simland]

Thanks,

I found the old versions here (in case anyone else is looking): makemkv.com/download/old
I successfully flashed with:

Code: Select all

makemkvcon f -d'dev_21:1' -f ./sdf.bin rawflash slim,enc -i HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin

[MartyMcNuts]

Thanks,

I found the old versions here (in case anyone else is looking): makemkv.com/download/old
I successfully flashed with:

Code: Select all

makemkvcon f -d'dev_21:1' -f ./sdf.bin rawflash slim,enc -i HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin

Now flash down to BU40N 1.00 for use on Linux.

[librelibre]

I hadn't seen this before. What is the benefit of flashing 43888 down to BU40N 1.00 for linux?

[Billycar11]

I hadn't seen this before. What is the benefit of flashing 43888 down to BU40N 1.00 for linux?

It makes it work

[librelibre]

Re: Flashing Verbatim 43888 from Linux

>Post by Billycar11 » Fri Apr 10, 2026 6:11 pm

> librelibre wrote: ↑
> Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:42 am
> I hadn't seen this before. What is the benefit of flashing 43888 down to BU40N 1.00 for linux?

> It makes it work

I read the guide and it said to flash to BU40N 1.03MK. I did not see where it said to flash down to flashing 43888 down to BU40N 1.00 for linux. The instructions for a different drive gives you a choice of firmware, so I guess sometimes it's a matter of preference. So is this a preference, a new bug, or necessary? Because it's not in the guide, and if it's necessary the guide should be updated. No need to be snippy. Just trying to understand what is going on.

[MartyMcNuts]

Re: Flashing Verbatim 43888 from Linux

>Post by Billycar11 » Fri Apr 10, 2026 6:11 pm

> librelibre wrote: ↑
> Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:42 am
> I hadn't seen this before. What is the benefit of flashing 43888 down to BU40N 1.00 for linux?

> It makes it work

I read the guide and it said to flash to BU40N 1.03MK. I did not see where it said to flash down to flashing 43888 down to BU40N 1.00 for linux. The instructions for a different drive gives you a choice of firmware, so I guess sometimes it's a matter of preference. So is this a preference, a new bug, or necessary? Because it's not in the guide, and if it's necessary the guide should be updated. No need to be snippy. Just trying to understand what is going on.

There's a bug in Linux version so use BU40N 1.00.