What is the absolute best firmware for the BD-RE BU40N Drive?

[JohnR3184]

Hi all. I purchased the BU40N drive and I see many different firmwares to choose from for this drive. So my question here is, what do you guys feel is the best firmware for this drive? Many thanks in advance.

[d00zah]

Hi all. I purchased the BU40N drive and I see many different firmwares to choose from for this drive. So my question here is, what do you guys feel is the best firmware for this drive? Many thanks in advance.

The guide states:

BU40N on any Firmware directly to > BU40N 1.03MK


Windows? Use SDFtool Flasher

or refer to 1st post of guide, section How To Flash Videos and commands:

[JohnR3184]

Is firmware 1.03 MK better than 1.04 MK?

[MartyMcNuts]

Is firmware 1.03 MK better than 1.04 MK?

Yes and 1.00 is even better.

[JohnR3184]

Thank you Marty. Yes I've seen that firmware 1.00 allows me to use Leawo Prof Media app which is very useful for creating ISO backups so that I can see the menu option on my discs. But on the other firmwares ex. 1.03 MK and 1.04 MK on the same app doesn't see the drive. However 1.04 MK allowed me to backup Thank God it's Friday bluray via makemkv but on 1.00 the bluray couldn't be read at all for some odd reason. The disc was cleaned but it still wouldn't read. So I currently I'm on 1.00 firmware but I'll be juggling between 1.00 and 1.03 or 04 MK as needed. For example if I run into another disc that can't be read by firmware 1.00 then I'll flash to 1.03 MK for that disc, then flash back to 1.00 after the backup is done. Thanks again marty for your input. It's def appreciated and very useful.

[MartyMcNuts]

Thank you Marty. Yes I've seen that firmware 1.00 allows me to use Leawo Prof Media app which is very useful for creating ISO backups so that I can see the menu option on my discs. But on the other firmwares ex. 1.03 MK and 1.04 MK on the same app doesn't see the drive. However 1.04 MK allowed me to backup Thank God it's Friday bluray via makemkv but on 1.00 the bluray couldn't be read at all for some odd reason. The disc was cleaned but it still wouldn't read. So I currently I'm on 1.00 firmware but I'll be juggling between 1.00 and 1.03 or 04 MK as needed. For example if I run into another disc that can't be read by firmware 1.00 then I'll flash to 1.03 MK for that disc, then flash back to 1.00 after the backup is done. Thanks again marty for your input. It's def appreciated and very useful.

Not a good idea. Stick with one firmware version and do not change it.

You do realize you can only flash a drive x amount of times before the drive becomes permanently stuck on the last flashed firmware version.

Before you ask, no, I don't know exactly how many times a drive can be flashed. When I was testing drives and flashing tools a few years ago, I had flashed a BP50NB40 many times and is now permanently stuck on BP60NB10 1.00-MK. it cannot be changed.

[Woodstock]

Curious why it would be necessary for an "average user" to need to update the firmware more often than "to make sure it doesn't crash". Once it can read all the disk types, what does a new version gain you?

[JohnR3184]

ok good to know. I'll stick with 1.00 then since it's the best for this drive. Thanks Marty.

[chihwahli]

Is firmware 1.03 MK better than 1.04 MK?

Yes and 1.00 is even better.

Marty?
Bought your 1.03 version a while ago when I was using mainly Windows 11. Now I am using Ubuntu as main, any need to switch to 1.00 for by BU40N slim?
Thank you in advance.

[MartyMcNuts]

Is firmware 1.03 MK better than 1.04 MK?

Yes and 1.00 is even better.

Marty?
Bought your 1.03 version a while ago when I was using mainly Windows 11. Now I am using Ubuntu as main, any need to switch to 1.00 for by BU40N slim?
Thank you in advance.

Not unless you have read issues.

[chihwahli]

Yes and 1.00 is even better.

Marty?
Bought your 1.03 version a while ago when I was using mainly Windows 11. Now I am using Ubuntu as main, any need to switch to 1.00 for by BU40N slim?
Thank you in advance.

Not unless you have read issues.

Hello Marty,
Thank you. Does this count as issue and that 1.00 might fix it?
Please see link: viewtopic.php?t=42112

[Billycar11]

Marty?
Bought your 1.03 version a while ago when I was using mainly Windows 11. Now I am using Ubuntu as main, any need to switch to 1.00 for by BU40N slim?
Thank you in advance.

Not unless you have read issues.

Hello Marty,
Thank you. Does this count as issue and that 1.00 might fix it?
Please see link: viewtopic.php?t=42112

Yes 1.00 is required on Linux
Due to a bug I assume where mk does not work

[chihwahli]

I still get get around it while I have both windows and linux. But If I like to have the 1.00 firmware to, I guess I have to purchase again right?

[Sayaka]

Due to a bug I assume where mk does not work

I don't think the bug applies to all MK firmware, as I've never had any issues with DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK on Linux (for drives such as BP55EB40s).

But If I like to have the 1.00 firmware to, I guess I have to purchase again right?

I mean, you could flash BU40N 1.00, which works fine with both Windows and Linux and should work with *most* discs, but apparently there are some cases where BU40N 1.03-MK may help. If you want to test both firmware versions, you would likely need to purchase another BU40N indeed, as constantly reflashing a Blu-ray drive is not recommended (aside from the fact that each flashing operation carries a risk, there is also the fact that there is likely a limit to how many times you can flash a drive, even if you should be fine with a few flashes).

[Billycar11]

Due to a bug I assume where mk does not work

I don't think the bug applies to all MK firmware, as I've never had any issues with DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK on Linux (for drives such as BP55EB40s).

But If I like to have the 1.00 firmware to, I guess I have to purchase again right?

I mean, you could flash BU40N 1.00, which works fine with both Windows and Linux and should work with *most* discs, but apparently there are some cases where BU40N 1.03-MK may help. If you want to test both firmware versions, you would likely need to purchase another BU40N indeed, as constantly reflashing a Blu-ray drive is not recommended (aside from the fact that each flashing operation carries a risk, there is also the fact that there is likely a limit to how many times you can flash a drive, even if you should be fine with a few flashes).

No it's not all mk fw but most