Which firmware for Buffalo BRXL-PT6U2VB-EU BN11

[Maniac]

Hi,

I want to flash my drive to enable LibreDrive. It's a Buffalo BRXL-PT6U2VB-EU BN11.

But now I'm unsure which firmware to take. In the mk-firmware-pack I can see something which could match in the old folder HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-BN11-0M00300-211711201351.bin
In the HL-DT-ST I don't see something that matches with BN11. In this thread viewtopic.php?t=21544 I found something for BN12, but since I'm still unsure if this fits (and if BN11 is a firmware or hardware revision) I didn't flashed it yet

Which firmware should I flash?

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr0
Manufacturer: BUFFALO
Product: Optical Drive
Revision: BN11
Serial number: 
Firmware date: 2117-11-20 13:51
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 0.BN110
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)

[Overlap3470]

Same drive here, and same question.

Which Firmware to flash?

Maybe DE_Buffalo_BRUHD-PU3_BU10.bin to stay on the Buffalo line?

Or DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin?

Laufwerksinformation
OS-Gerätename: H:
Produzent: BUFFALO
Produkt: Optical Drive
Revision: BN11
Serienummer:
Firmware-Datum: 2117-11-20 13:51
Markierungen der Bus-Verschlüsselung: 1F
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible (with patched firmware)
Drive platform: MT1959
Harware support: Yes
Firmware support: No
Firmware type: Original (patched version available)
Firmware version: 0.BN110
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)

[Sayaka]

The correct answer : you are using Windows, so when in doubt you should probably be e-mailing Billycar11 (memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=15044) for an auto flasher or purchasing an auto flasher from MartyMcNuts here : https://payhip.com/b/MyeJ9

The "I feel like trusting Sayaka" answer : I should point out that I do not fully know what I am doing with this drive and firmware version, but I know enough that I can hopefully tell you a way to attempt this that shouldn't brick your drive. No warranty and no refunds, though.

Get MartyMcNuts's SDFTool Flasher here : viewtopic.php?t=22896

And mike admin's MK firmware pack here : https://www.makemkv.com/download/mk-fir ... 200720.zip

Do a regular WRITE (encryption should likely be unticked I believe; also, no bootloader flash and no RECOVER either) with SDFTool Flasher with the following firmware : HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-BN11-0M00300-211711201351.bin from the folder named "old" inside the MK firmware pack.

This should be enough to enable LibreDrive. If you have trouble reading discs afterwards, particularly UHD discs, you should then flash DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin from MartyMcNuts's All You Need Firmware Pack (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRnbXi ... sp=sharing) with a regular WRITE without encryption.

EDIT : Clarified something.

[Overlap3470]

Thanks, Sayaka, I did it

The original BN11 is a decrypted firmware.

used SDF Toll Flasher 1.3.6

Form original bn11 to HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-BN11-0M00300-211711201351.bin
simple write, no recover. I'm not sure if you'll need this step if you go for an bu40 1.00 or bu40 1.03mk after that.

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-BN11-0M00300-211711201351.bin will not read UHD Discs, But Libre is enabled.

Then I flashed to DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin, like the first one, no recover just simply write.

DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin will read UHD Discs and Libre is enabled.

[Sayaka]

Thanks, Sayaka, I did it

You're welcome ! I am glad I could help.

The original BN11 is a decrypted firmware.

I thought it might be, as the "2117" firmware date kind of gave it away.

I'm not sure if you'll need this step if you go for an bu40 1.00 or bu40 1.03mk after that.

I am not sure either, but I thought it was best to play it safe.

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-BN11-0M00300-211711201351.bin will not read UHD Discs, But Libre is enabled.

Then I flashed to DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin, like the first one, no recover just simply write.

DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin will read UHD Discs and Libre is enabled.

You are not the first person to report this. Thank you for this, it's nice to have the confirmation that merely flashing to the BU40N-BN11-MK firmware isn't enough.

[tomty89]

Form original bn11 to HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-BN11-0M00300-211711201351.bin
simple write, no recover. I'm not sure if you'll need this step if you go for an bu40 1.00 or bu40 1.03mk after that.

BU40N on any Firmware directly to > BU40N 1.03MK

WP/BP50NB40 to > BP50NB40-NB50-1.03MK then to > BP60NB10 1.02MK or 1.00MK
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
if using command line add "full" after rawflash

Apparently an immediate step is only necessary when the ultimate goal is to crossflash into a different model.

Not so sure about 1.00 though, but maybe it would also work as long as it's DE-patched (instead of the literal vanilla stock). Also I think the worst case is just that the firmware will be rejected / "nothing happened".

[Sayaka]

Apparently an immediate step is only necessary when the ultimate goal is to crossflash into a different model.

I'm not sure about that. If it's an OEM drive, it looks like the additional step may also be necessary when you need to "sidegrade", which AFAIK is not quite the same as a crossflash :

LG 1.04+ / BU40N 1.03 / Asus 3.10+ and similar
The newer OEM firmwares cannot be flashed easily due to the additional downgrade checks implemented by the drive/firmware manufacturer. 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 Asus 3.10MK (for compatible ASUS 5.25 drives ONLY) or (LG WH16NS60 1.02MK for compatible LG 5.25) or (BU40N 1.03MK LG Slim drives ONLY) respectively. (Note: MK firmware is available for firmware versions mentioned above.) Keeping the flashing of firmware in these scenarios within their respective family of drives/firmware (e.g ASUS firmware for ASUS drives and LG firmware for LG drives) at this stage of flashing. Then afterwards if that initial flash is successful you can move to different firmware respectively if you would like a different and compatible firmware version for the drive in question.

Hence why I flashed BU40N-1.03MK on my Buffalo BRXL-PUS6U3B-US (BN14) before flashing BU40N-1.00. What I do not know is whether this "issue" has something to do with the more recent, encrypted firmware, or whether it's a separate issue entirely.

Also I think the worst case is just that the firmware will be rejected / "nothing happened".

Probably true. Seriously "hurting" a drive with makemkvcon f/sdftool seems unlikely, unless the person is doing it on purpose or truly doesn't know what they're doing.

EDIT : Rephrased to avoid confusion.

[tomty89]

LG 1.04+ / BU40N 1.03 / Asus 3.10+ and similar
...and there is no MK version of the same firmware/drive model or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to Asus 3.10MK (for compatible ASUS 5.25 drives ONLY) or (LG WH16NS60 1.02MK for compatible LG 5.25) or (BU40N 1.03MK LG Slim drives ONLY) respectively...

AFAICT "sidegrade" literally means flashing to BU40N 1.03MK directly (for LG Slim drives), because of "there is no MK version of the same firmware" (for you to downgrade / upgrade / "same-grade" to). (And I think this paragraph is somewhat "dated", as in it seems to me that the general consensus / conclusion has become "sidegrade even when there is an MK version of the same firmware" (hence the birth/rise of the "all you need firmware pack(s)"; but I guess it's kept for "don't ASUS <> LG directly").

(And by crossflash I was referring to e.g. WP/BP50NB40 > BP60NB10 -- not ASUS <> LG.)

LG 1.04+ / BU40N 1.03 / Asus 3.10+ and similar
The newer OEM firmwares cannot be flashed easily due to the additional downgrade checks implemented by the drive/firmware manufacturer.

And I have to admit that I'm not sure how many different "downgrade checks" there have been, that's why I said I don't know if DE-patched BU40 1.00 can be directly flashed onto every BU40N. (DE is said to stand for "Downgrade Enabled", but maybe BU40 1.03MK has some "yet another DE patching"?)

EDIT:

"DE" firmware
This is an official firmware image with a single byte changed, so this firmware can be flashed over the latest firmware.

"MK" firmware
This is a custom firmware made by MakeMKV team. MK firmware is a patched official firmware image, with changes as minimal as possible, only to enable LibreDrive support. The MK firmware has the following properties:

• ...

• ...

• ...

• Removed firmware downgrade check (if present in firmware).

• Removed firmware "encrypted" downgrade check (if present in firmware).

So maybe it depends on whether the drive comes with an encrypted firmware. (But just maybe, because it doesn't seem like for BU40N you need to flash an MK firmware before you flash OmniDrive: "If you get an error (e.g. 0x82052603) when flashing a drive that currently has stock/original firmware, your drive is not accepting OmniDrive due to it having a newer firmware versoin. To fix this, you may have to flash a DE "downgrade-enabled" firmware first.")

---

In other words, you might need BU40 1.03MK as an intermediate flash (which doesn't have to be BU40N 1.03MK though), but you don't need one for it.