Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[babayaga]

So the trick was to only flash DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin and everything worked, no more no less, it's a bit hard to understand sometimes in this forum, what you should actually do, and the guide can be a bit misleading i think. And what about the HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.04-NM00500-212005061142.bin that is included with the flasher? is this a newer iteration of the 1.03MK firmware or just a original 1.04 firmware?

Files in the MK firmware pack are all MK firmware. An MK firmware is just an original firmware of the same version number that has been patched in some way, so when there is a more updated original firmware, there's a chance that mike could patch it and update the pack.

(Note really sure what DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin is.)

... If your drive has one of these firmwares, and there is no MK version of the same firmware/drive model or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to ... or (BU40N 1.03MK LG Slim drives ONLY) ...

But I have to admit that I'm also not sure whether there's something "special" about HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin, or if it's just that "The all you need firmware pack" and the guide didn't catch up with it when the MK firmware pack got updated...

P.S. The thing is being more updated does not necessarily means the firmware is better, especially when it comes to UHD capability / ripping compatibility / ... (what people here mainly concern). Also maybe whoever maintains the guide / all you need pack follows the "not broken don't fix it" policy (while mike just tried his best in MK-ising the relevant original firmware when new versions showed up).

No, this is the reason so many people ask the same question here, because there are tons of different firmware packs, flashers, and what not, now im reading that pioneer players (built within the years of working firmware that is), doesn't need firmware updates (well, they can update), but they do read UHD discs out of the box, and a firmware is not really needed? or am im completely in the woods

[tomty89]

Well after all these are just "community efforts" from different people, and they might all have a different thought about e.g. what's neat.

I think the all you need firmware pack(s) was actually trying to simplify things for people, but I guess sometimes when you do that things could end up getting a bit confusing.

I don't think there are really that many flasher, unless you count those that are for e.g. recovery purpose. For the "liberation" of the LG/ASUS drives there is just really one, command-line sdftool / makemkvcon f (which are really the same thing).

(I think the GUI sdftool flasher is a wrapper / clone of the CLI one that comes with MakeMKV, and works in only Windows, but I could be wrong.)

P.S. Do not "update" your Pioneer drive with official updater from Pioneer, especially not an updater that were released after November 2022. I don't think there is any case that you would need / want to do that. "Upgrading" as in crossflashing with a firmware of a later-generation drive is another story. You might have a better idea once you receive the flasher frome someone as it comes with a manual. I also explained it for a bit in the other thread where you asked.

[ralauscon]

Are you able to flash pioneer bdr-xd05?

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.10
Serial number: SADL091165UC
Firmware date: 2017-06-22
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8232
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.10/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[Billycar11]

Are you able to flash pioneer bdr-xd05?

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD05
Revision: 3.10
Serial number: SADL091165UC
Firmware date: 2017-06-22
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8232
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-XD05
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 3.10/ID34
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

sure email me that info and all others email me no need to post your info here just reach out to me directly
see below for email

[Erdie]

Dear all,

I am new here and I have issue with my brand new Asus SBW-06D5H-U. The Drive information is:

Code: Select all

Produzent: ASUS
Produkt: SBW-06D5H-U
Revision: A102
Serienummer: MO9OCA91429
Firmware-Datum: 2124-08-05 14:55
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 1F
Highest AACS version: 68

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

As far as I know the required firmware would be "ASUS-SBW-06D5H-U-A102-MK". But I do not know where to get it. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you
Erdie

[Billycar11]

Dear all,

I am new here and I have issue with my brand new Asus SBW-06D5H-U. The Drive information is:

Code: Select all

Produzent: ASUS
Produkt: SBW-06D5H-U
Revision: A102
Serienummer: MO9OCA91429
Firmware-Datum: 2124-08-05 14:55
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 1F
Highest AACS version: 68

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

As far as I know the required firmware would be "ASUS-SBW-06D5H-U-A102-MK". But I do not know where to get it. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you
Erdie

Treat it as a bu40n

Or email me or Marty for an automated flasher

[inw13210]

I got Logitec LBD-PWA6U3L and i can't rip UHD Bluray
Do i have to flash firmware?
If i have to, what firmware i have to download?

Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BP71N
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: SIK09P7GB1515
Firmware date: 2122-02-18 16:25
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 61

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

[Erdie]

Thanks Billy, I have now a working device!

[nicholfd]

I got Logitec LBD-PWA6U3L and i can't rip UHD Bluray
Do i have to flash firmware?
If i have to, what firmware i have to download?

You need to post the MakeMKV drive info for anyone to be able to help you.

[inw13210]

I got Logitec LBD-PWA6U3L and i can't rip UHD Bluray
Do i have to flash firmware?
If i have to, what firmware i have to download?

You need to post the MakeMKV drive info for anyone to be able to help you.

I already fix the post

[nicholfd]

I got Logitec LBD-PWA6U3L and i can't rip UHD Bluray
Do i have to flash firmware?
If i have to, what firmware i have to download?

You need to post the MakeMKV drive info for anyone to be able to help you.

I already fix the post

Looks like others successfully flashed the drive to BU40N-1.03 for 4K/UHD.

See this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=28105&p=198604&hil ... 1N#p198604

[adradr]

Hello all. Thought I'd post in this thread rather than opening a new one, but if it's preferred I post a standalone thread, I'd be happy to.

I am attempting to flash a Buffalo BRXL-16U3 on a Mac.

Code: Select all

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BH16NS58
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-08 09:33
Bus encryption flags: 1F

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

I paid attention to the first post of this guide and downgraded my MakeMKV and downgraded my MakeMKV to 1.17.7 (I bought a license to satisfy the prompt that said I needed to. Afterwards the initial launch would say that the program failed, though it still started up alright).

I moved the

Code: Select all

sdf.bin

file and the version of the firmware that my searches of the forum indicated I should use

Code: Select all

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

to the /tmp directory and fired up the CLI to get the drive ID

Code: Select all

$ cd /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS
$ ./makemkvcon f -l

After that I ran the full command:

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/B16D63D6' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i '/tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin'

Which completed with a "Done successfully"

Then I reinstalled the latest version of MakeMKV (because of the fatal error bug) and unplugged the drive and plugged it back in. But the firmware remains the original version.'

Happy to try again or take a new tack. Can I just use 1.18.3?

[Billycar11]

Hello all. Thought I'd post in this thread rather than opening a new one, but if it's preferred I post a standalone thread, I'd be happy to.

I am attempting to flash a Buffalo BRXL-16U3 on a Mac.

Code: Select all

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BH16NS58
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-08 09:33
Bus encryption flags: 1F

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

I paid attention to the first post of this guide and downgraded my MakeMKV and downgraded my MakeMKV to 1.17.7 (I bought a license to satisfy the prompt that said I needed to. Afterwards the initial launch would say that the program failed, though it still started up alright).

I moved the

Code: Select all

sdf.bin

file and the version of the firmware that my searches of the forum indicated I should use

Code: Select all

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

to the /tmp directory and fired up the CLI to get the drive ID

Code: Select all

$ cd /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS
$ ./makemkvcon f -l

After that I ran the full command:

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/B16D63D6' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i '/tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin'

Which completed with a "Done successfully"

Then I reinstalled the latest version of MakeMKV (because of the fatal error bug) and unplugged the drive and plugged it back in. But the firmware remains the original version.'

Happy to try again or take a new tack. Can I just use 1.18.3?

You need to follow enc instructions

[nicholfd]

Hello all. Thought I'd post in this thread rather than opening a new one, but if it's preferred I post a standalone thread, I'd be happy to.

I am attempting to flash a Buffalo BRXL-16U3 on a Mac.

Code: Select all

Drive Information
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BH16NS58
Revision: 1.03
Firmware date: 2120-05-08 09:33
Bus encryption flags: 1F

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

I paid attention to the first post of this guide and downgraded my MakeMKV and downgraded my MakeMKV to 1.17.7 (I bought a license to satisfy the prompt that said I needed to. Afterwards the initial launch would say that the program failed, though it still started up alright).

I moved the

Code: Select all

sdf.bin

file and the version of the firmware that my searches of the forum indicated I should use

Code: Select all

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin

to the /tmp directory and fired up the CLI to get the drive ID

Code: Select all

$ cd /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS
$ ./makemkvcon f -l

After that I ran the full command:

Code: Select all

./makemkvcon f -d '/IOBDServices/B16D63D6' -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash main -i '/tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin'

Which completed with a "Done successfully"

Then I reinstalled the latest version of MakeMKV (because of the fatal error bug) and unplugged the drive and plugged it back in. But the firmware remains the original version.'

Happy to try again or take a new tack. Can I just use 1.18.3?

No need to downgrade or use an old version of MakeMKV on macOS. It's great that you bought a license of MakeMKV - need to support those who support our hobby. I'm not aware of any requirement to buy a license to use the tool, as long as you have a current/non-expired "beta" key.

That drive has encrypted firmware. You need to use the encryption option ("enc" I believe - check the instructions).

Thanks,
Frank

[Lilspartan]

Hi, I'm trying to flash my BU40N but getting "No drive tool logic found in SDF.bin" on both Windows and Linux with the latest sdf.bin from makemkv.com.
Drive info:

Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BU40N
Firmware version: FR07
Firmware date: 2118-01-22 15:36
Platform: MT1959
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 72
Serial: 808HS043042

What I've tried:

Latest sdf.bin from makemkv.com
sdf_000000a5.bin extracted from appdata.tar
Both Windows (makemkvcon64.exe) and NixOS Linux (makemkvcon)
Firmware file: HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-FR07-JM02202-211801221536.bin from the 2020 firmware pack

Is the FR07 variant supported? Is there an updated SDF.bin or alternative method I can try?