Is the LibreDrive firmware causing Linux to be unable to read DVDs, but still read BluRays just fine?

[Laurence5905]

TL;DR -- is my LibreDrive firmware causing Linux not to read DVDs?

So, I'm having a very weird problem with my BD-RE drive. It's an LG WH14NS40 that was flashed to the LibreDrive MT1959 version 1.05 firmware many, many years ago.

Here's the Info copied directly from MakeMKV:

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr2
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: KLMJ7HC1010
Firmware date: 2120-05-06 14:44
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 62

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.05
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Been using it on a Windows 10 system for several years now, with zero issues. I just switched to Linux, and now it absolutely *REFUSES* to read DVDs! Just flat will not read them at all. It reads BluRays in Linux, no problem. But it will not read DVDs in Linux. I have tested it again just today -- in Windows and in MacOS, DVDs read with no issues. It's only Linux that has a problem reading, and only DVDs, not BluRays.

My system: Fedora 43 (KDE), kernel version 6.19.8-200, and yes I do have the rpmfusion-tainted libdvdcss library installed, as well as all the various codecs and mesa video-card drivers that you can get from rpmfusion. CPU is AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. GPU is AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT. 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Gigabyte B550i AX Pro motherboard. Oh, and the drive is in an OWC Mercury Pro external enclosure connected via its included USB 3.1 cable to a powered hub.

Anyway -- the reason why I'm posting this here is that I'm wondering if it's the LibreDrive firmware that's causing the issue? Should I flash to that new 1.02MK firmware that's in this topic here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19634 Are there known issues reading DVDs on Linux with any of these LibreDrive firmwares?

Any help would be appreciated. I've been going crazy trying to figure out why I can read BluRays just fine but DVDs screw up everything.

[olddognewtricks]

Can you dd to create an image of the DVD?

dd if=/dev/sr2 of=~/Desktop/somename.img status=progress conv=noerror,notrunc,sync

There's a wikipedia page for the command if you're not familiar with it....

the above reads all the data from /dev/sr2 and makes a bitcopy img at ~/Desktop/somename.img

You should then be able to open the image in something like handbrake hopefully

What does dmesg -T report when you do the above? (the -T puts human readable timestamps).

[Laurence5905]

Absolutely nothing will read the DVD whatsoever.

I've tried using dd to make an image -- tried it again just now using the exact command you gave me (except I changed /dev/sr2 to /dev/sr1 because the drive now is on /dev/sr1 after a reboot) -- and it simply hangs until I unplug the drive. Then it gives me "failed to open, No such device or address."

I know it's not the drive itself or the enclosure, because when I plug it into a Windows machine or a MacOS machine, it reads DVDs just fine.

At this point, it's *got* to be some sort of incompatibility between the 1.05 firmware and Fedora 43 (KDE), no? Has anyone else had this issue? Will flashing the 1.02MK firmware over the 1.05 firmware screw something up? I surely don't want to brick my drive...

[Laurence5905]

Oh, and here's the `dmesg -T` results:

Code: Select all

[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb 4-3.3: new SuperSpeed USB device number 9 using xhci_hcd
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb 4-3.3: New USB device found, idVendor=1e91, idProduct=de2c, bcdDevice= 0.01
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb 4-3.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=2, Product=3, SerialNumber=1
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb 4-3.3: Product: Mercury Pro Optical
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb 4-3.3: Manufacturer: Other World Computing
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb 4-3.3: SerialNumber: WP9C02268000
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] usb-storage 4-3.3:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:52 2026] scsi host8: usb-storage 4-3.3:1.0
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:53 2026] scsi 8:0:0:0: CD-ROM            HL-DT-ST BD-RE  WH14NS40  1.05 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:53 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] scsi3-mmc drive: 47x/47x writer dvd-ram cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:53 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr1
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:53 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg6 type 5
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Sense Key : Illegal Request [current] 
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Add. Sense: Read of scrambled sector without authentication
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 CDB: Read(10) 28 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 02 00
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] blk_print_req_error: 8 callbacks suppressed
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] I/O error, dev sr1, sector 4096 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x880700 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Sense Key : Illegal Request [current] 
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Add. Sense: Read of scrambled sector without authentication
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 CDB: Read(10) 28 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 02 00
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] I/O error, dev sr1, sector 4096 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x800000 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] buffer_io_error: 3 callbacks suppressed
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] Buffer I/O error on dev sr1, logical block 512, async page read
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Sense Key : Illegal Request [current] 
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Add. Sense: Read of scrambled sector without authentication
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 CDB: Read(10) 28 00 00 3e 4c bc 00 00 02 00
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] I/O error, dev sr1, sector 16331504 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x880700 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Sense Key : Illegal Request [current] 
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Add. Sense: Read of scrambled sector without authentication
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 CDB: Read(10) 28 00 00 3e 4c bc 00 00 02 00
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] I/O error, dev sr1, sector 16331504 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x800000 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] Buffer I/O error on dev sr1, logical block 2041438, async page read
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=0s
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Sense Key : Illegal Request [current] 
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 Add. Sense: Read of scrambled sector without authentication
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 CDB: Read(10) 28 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 02 00
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] I/O error, dev sr1, sector 4096 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x800000 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:27:56 2026] Buffer I/O error on dev sr1, logical block 512, async page read
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] usb 4-3.3: USB disconnect, device number 9
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK cmd_age=15s
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] sr 8:0:0:0: [sr1] tag#0 CDB: Read(10) 28 00 00 3e 4d 88 00 00 38 00
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] I/O error, dev sr1, sector 16332320 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x80700 phys_seg 4 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] device offline error, dev sr1, sector 16332320 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x800000 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] Buffer I/O error on dev sr1, logical block 2041540, async page read
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] device offline error, dev sr1, sector 16332832 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x80700 phys_seg 26 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] device offline error, dev sr1, sector 16332832 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x800000 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] Buffer I/O error on dev sr1, logical block 2041604, async page read
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] device offline error, dev sr1, sector 4096 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x800000 phys_seg 1 prio class 2
[Sun Mar 29 12:28:12 2026] Buffer I/O error on dev sr1, logical block 512, async page read

I ran the dd command you gave me, let it hang for a bit, then unplugged the drive.

[MrPenguin]

At this point, it's *got* to be some sort of incompatibility between the 1.05 firmware and Fedora 43 (KDE), no? Has anyone else had this issue? Will flashing the 1.02MK firmware over the 1.05 firmware screw something up? I surely don't want to brick my drive...

You can eliminate LibreDrive from this simply by never opening MakeMKV. So are you saying that you cannot even mount the disk using:

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$ udisksctl mount -b /dev/sr2

Fedora 43 doesn't mount the optical disk's filesystem automatically. It requires some kind of interaction to request it.

Also, your dmesg log is talking about "/dev/sr1" but your MakeMKV info is for "/dev/sr2". Are you sure you're sending your requests to the correct optical drive? Check the output of:

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$ lsscsi

[olddognewtricks]

I can't be certain, but the dmesg output is suggesting that there's an issue when the drive is trying to be read.

I would be interested to know what dmesg reports when you try to read a BR disc and see if it reports any errors then.

Also, could you try connecting directly rather than through the hub and see if yiu get any errors.

[Laurence5905]

I can't imagine there are any errors with BluRay discs, seeing as how they read perfectly with no issues. And same with the USB hub -- if it can read a BluRay through that hub, it can certainly read a DVD, no? And it's not just a fluke -- I've read 4 different BluRays with no issues, and failed to read 3 different DVDs now. And those same 3 "failed" DVDs read just fine when I hook the drive to a MacBook or a Windows laptop.

[Laurence5905]

You can eliminate LibreDrive from this simply by never opening MakeMKV. So are you saying that you cannot even mount the disk using:

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$ udisksctl mount -b /dev/sr2

Fedora 43 doesn't mount the optical disk's filesystem automatically. It requires some kind of interaction to request it.

That is correct -- *nothing* will allow me to interact with the drive once a DVD has been inserted.
Well -- if I mount it *very* quickly, like, within the first 2 or 3 seconds after inserting the disc, before the disc spins down, I can *sometimes* get it mounted to the point where `ls /mnt/dvd` will show a listing of the files on the disc, but then nothing will read those files. Not VLC, not dd, nothing.

Also, your dmesg log is talking about "/dev/sr1" but your MakeMKV info is for "/dev/sr2". Are you sure you're sending your requests to the correct optical drive? Check the output of:

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$ lsscsi

And, yes, the drive keeps switching from /dev/sr1 to /dev/sr2 and back, randomly. I don't know why. I *think* it happens after I've "ruined" the drive by inserting a DVD into it, and then I insert a BluRay into it, and the BluRay shows up as /dev/sr2. So sometimes it's /sr1 and sometimes it's /sr2. (It's *never* /dev/sr0, btw, because that is the virtual drive that the JetKVM I have plugged in shows to the system, but that shouldn't be relevant here I wouldn't think.)

[MrPenguin]

And, yes, the drive keeps switching from /dev/sr1 to /dev/sr2 and back, randomly. I don't know why. I *think* it happens after I've "ruined" the drive by inserting a DVD into it, and then I insert a BluRay into it, and the BluRay shows up as /dev/sr2. So sometimes it's /sr1 and sometimes it's /sr2.

That makes no sense: The same /dev/srX node should be used for both DVDs and BluRays. Is this a USB drive, and is it getting enough power?

[Laurence5905]

That makes no sense: The same /dev/srX node should be used for both DVDs and BluRays. Is this a USB drive, and is it getting enough power?

It seems to be getting enough power. I have zero issues when I rip BluRays, and you'd think if it were a power issue, I'd have issues no matter what type of disc I rip. Hence the reason I'm stumped, and so is everyone else (so far).

I'm not really sure how the LibreDrive firmware works -- are you saying that it simply isn't activated unless MakeMKV activates it? And as long as I don't run MakeMKV, it will never be activated and the system will see the regular firmware somehow?

[MrPenguin]

I'm not really sure how the LibreDrive firmware works -- are you saying that it simply isn't activated unless MakeMKV activates it? And as long as I don't run MakeMKV, it will never be activated and the system will see the regular firmware somehow?

Yes . MakeMKV reads the LibreDrive microcode from its $HOME/.MakeMKV/_private_data.tar file, and then writes it to the drive's /dev/sgX node. So unless something is launching MakeMKV automatically, you should be able to clear LD completely from your drive's volatile RAM by power-cycling (replugging) it.

Do you have some stale script in your /etc/udev/rules.d/ directory that you have forgotten about? Do you have any kind of

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/etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-cd.rules

script?

[Laurence5905]

Do you have some stale script in your /etc/udev/rules.d/ directory that you have forgotten about? Do you have any kind of

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/etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-cd.rules

script?

I do have a file in there called 99-optical-permissions.rules, which I added yesterday in an attempt to fix this issue. The /dev/sr* devices were owned by root:root not root:cdrom so I kept getting permission errors trying to access them.

And because I could mount the DVD and get a successful `ls /mnt/dvd` if I very quickly mounted the drive after inserting a disc, I put a thingy in there that prevented cdrom_id from locking the drive, thinking that maybe it was a time-out kind of issue?

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# Fix permissions for optical drives
SUBSYSTEM=="block", KERNEL=="sr[0-9]*", GROUP="cdrom", MODE="0660"
 
# Prevent cdrom_id from locking USB optical drives
SUBSYSTEM=="block", KERNEL=="sr[0-9]*", ENV{ID_CDROM}=="1", ATTRS{removable}=="1", \
    ENV{UDISKS_IGNORE}="1", OPTIONS+="nowatch"

I'll remove it and reboot and see what happens...

BTW, I also have completely removed and reinstalled all of the dvd-related packages. libdvdcss, libdvdnav, libdvdread, dvdauthor, and dvd+rw-tools. Maybe that'll fix this after the reboot? We shall see...

[Laurence5905]

I'll remove it and reboot and see what happens...

Didn't change anything, unfortunately.

[Laurence5905]

Just for kicks, I removed the USB hub from the equation and plugged the drive directly into a USB port on the back of my motherboard.

No change.

[Laurence5905]

I also got rid of the JetKVM. So no more virtual /dev/sr0.

Still no change.