Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[Billycar11]

Hi all,

Hoping for some guidance before I flash anything, since my drive's starting state doesn't quite match the cases I've found in other threads.

My drive info (from MakeMKV):

Manufacturer: LG
Product: BP50NB40
Revision: A101
Serial number: M60G7F01205
Firmware date: 2116-02-24 11:44
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 43

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.A101D
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

What's working: Standard Blu-ray discs read and rip perfectly.

What's not working: UHD 4K discs don't mount at all — no media detected, drive spins briefly then gives up. Tested on two different movies/discs, so it doesn't seem to be a single bad disc.

My question: Since "Product" still shows as BP50NB40 (not BU40N or BP60NB10), I understand from other threads that this firmware platform can't handle UHD regardless of LibreDrive status. Given my drive already shows "Enabled" natively (not the usual starting point of "Possible, not yet enabled" that most guides assume), which is the correct file/process to cross-flash to BP60NB10 or BU40N?

I found DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin in Marty's "All You Need Firmware Pack" and was planning to try a straight WRITE (not RECOVER) with that hybrid file via makemkvcon on macOS (Mac Mini, Apple Silicon) — but wanted to confirm this is correct for an A101 revision specifically before proceeding, since I haven't seen this exact starting state discussed elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

They emailed me and I looked into this further
This drive was fake as the build date was Oct 2025 with svc nb50
If it were real the build date would have been nb52

[bb_2023]

Thanks for the reply!

Quick update — I ended up going with a Buffalo BRXL-PUS6U3B-TAA

Could someone point me to the current, correct MK firmware files for this drive (BN14 revision)? Want to make sure I'm flashing the right thing before proceeding.

Thanks again!

Drive Information
Manufacturer: BUFFALO
Product: Optical Drive
Revision: BN14
Serial number: MO8Q1HJ5746
Firmware date: 2121-06-21 13:33
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 43

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

No disc inserted

[Billycar11]

Thanks for the reply!

Quick update — I ended up going with a Buffalo BRXL-PUS6U3B-TAA

Could someone point me to the current, correct MK firmware files for this drive (BN14 revision)? Want to make sure I'm flashing the right thing before proceeding.

Thanks again!

Drive Information
Manufacturer: BUFFALO
Product: Optical Drive
Revision: BN14
Serial number: MO8Q1HJ5746
Firmware date: 2121-06-21 13:33
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 43

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

No disc inserted

Got your email.
It's a bu40n for anyone else wondering

[asmcom]

Hi all,

Hoping for some guidance before I flash anything, since my drive's starting state doesn't quite match the cases I've found in other threads.

My drive info (from MakeMKV):

Manufacturer: LG
Product: BP50NB40
Revision: A101
Serial number: M60G7F01205
Firmware date: 2116-02-24 11:44
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 43

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.A101D
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

What's working: Standard Blu-ray discs read and rip perfectly.

What's not working: UHD 4K discs don't mount at all — no media detected, drive spins briefly then gives up. Tested on two different movies/discs, so it doesn't seem to be a single bad disc.

My question: Since "Product" still shows as BP50NB40 (not BU40N or BP60NB10), I understand from other threads that this firmware platform can't handle UHD regardless of LibreDrive status. Given my drive already shows "Enabled" natively (not the usual starting point of "Possible, not yet enabled" that most guides assume), which is the correct file/process to cross-flash to BP60NB10 or BU40N?

I found DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin in Marty's "All You Need Firmware Pack" and was planning to try a straight WRITE (not RECOVER) with that hybrid file via makemkvcon on macOS (Mac Mini, Apple Silicon) — but wanted to confirm this is correct for an A101 revision specifically before proceeding, since I haven't seen this exact starting state discussed elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

They emailed me and I looked into this further
This drive was fake as the build date was Oct 2025 with svc nb50
If it were real the build date would have been nb52

Total madness, Billy.

Have you seen the fake BU40Ns as well? A customer of mine sent me one that he had bought on AliExpress for $113 and asked if I could take a look at it because it would hardly read any discs.

It was absolute rubbish. The build quality was poor, and its disc-reading performance was terrible. It's unbelievable how many fake and questionable optical drives are appearing now.

Amazon is becoming a problem, too. We are seeing more and more drives sold there that aren't what they claim to be, especially supposedly genuine BU40N and other UHD-capable drives.

I also asked a friend of mine in Taiwan recently if he could look into whether any new Pioneer drives might still be sitting with distributors somewhere, or perhaps stock that was held back for warranty replacements.

He spoke to a friend of his who worked for Pioneer for many years, and he also confirmed that Pioneer copies are now being sold, some for over £400.

That makes the situation even more worrying. At those prices, most buyers would naturally assume they were purchasing a genuine Pioneer drive, especially when the seller is asking considerably more than the original retail price.

It's becoming dangerous to buy Blu-ray optical drives from some of these marketplaces. A high price and a convincing label or enclosure no longer guarantee you're getting a genuine drive.

Kind Regards

Asmcom

[Billycar11]

Hi all,

Hoping for some guidance before I flash anything, since my drive's starting state doesn't quite match the cases I've found in other threads.

My drive info (from MakeMKV):

Manufacturer: LG
Product: BP50NB40
Revision: A101
Serial number: M60G7F01205
Firmware date: 2116-02-24 11:44
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 43

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.A101D
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

What's working: Standard Blu-ray discs read and rip perfectly.

What's not working: UHD 4K discs don't mount at all — no media detected, drive spins briefly then gives up. Tested on two different movies/discs, so it doesn't seem to be a single bad disc.

My question: Since "Product" still shows as BP50NB40 (not BU40N or BP60NB10), I understand from other threads that this firmware platform can't handle UHD regardless of LibreDrive status. Given my drive already shows "Enabled" natively (not the usual starting point of "Possible, not yet enabled" that most guides assume), which is the correct file/process to cross-flash to BP60NB10 or BU40N?

I found DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK_HBD.bin in Marty's "All You Need Firmware Pack" and was planning to try a straight WRITE (not RECOVER) with that hybrid file via makemkvcon on macOS (Mac Mini, Apple Silicon) — but wanted to confirm this is correct for an A101 revision specifically before proceeding, since I haven't seen this exact starting state discussed elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

They emailed me and I looked into this further
This drive was fake as the build date was Oct 2025 with svc nb50
If it were real the build date would have been nb52

Total madness, Billy.

Have you seen the fake BU40Ns as well? A customer of mine sent me one that he had bought on AliExpress for $113 and asked if I could take a look at it because it would hardly read any discs.

It was absolute rubbish. The build quality was poor, and its disc-reading performance was terrible. It's unbelievable how many fake and questionable optical drives are appearing now.

Amazon is becoming a problem, too. We are seeing more and more drives sold there that aren't what they claim to be, especially supposedly genuine BU40N and other UHD-capable drives.

I also asked a friend of mine in Taiwan recently if he could look into whether any new Pioneer drives might still be sitting with distributors somewhere, or perhaps stock that was held back for warranty replacements.

He spoke to a friend of his who worked for Pioneer for many years, and he also confirmed that Pioneer copies are now being sold, some for over £400.

That makes the situation even more worrying. At those prices, most buyers would naturally assume they were purchasing a genuine Pioneer drive, especially when the seller is asking considerably more than the original retail price.

It's becoming dangerous to buy Blu-ray optical drives from some of these marketplaces. A high price and a convincing label or enclosure no longer guarantee you're getting a genuine drive.

Kind Regards

Asmcom

I have seen fake bu40n but they were not convincing at all
The bp50nb40 fakes look exact but use old drives and wrong svc code and date combo as well as fw version on bottom sticker it says lb20

[huger33]

BP50NB40 SVC NB40 April 2015
Any updates on whether this drive's firmware can be flashed?

If not, will this ever happen?
If not, does this mean I can't rip UHD, but regular bluray/cds I can?

[Billycar11]

BP50NB40 SVC NB40 April 2015
Any updates on whether this drive's firmware can be flashed?

If not, will this ever happen?
If not, does this mean I can't rip UHD, but regular bluray/cds I can?

hug your hopes and dreams of 4k UHD on that drive goodbye

[huger33]

BP50NB40 SVC NB40 April 2015
Any updates on whether this drive's firmware can be flashed?

If not, will this ever happen?
If not, does this mean I can't rip UHD, but regular bluray/cds I can?

hug your hopes and dreams of 4k UHD on that drive goodbye

Why's that? It doesn't have the mechanical/optical capability or the firmware can't be unlocked yet.

[MartyMcNuts]

BP50NB40 SVC NB40 April 2015
Any updates on whether this drive's firmware can be flashed?

If not, will this ever happen?
If not, does this mean I can't rip UHD, but regular bluray/cds I can?

hug your hopes and dreams of 4k UHD on that drive goodbye

Why's that? It doesn't have the mechanical/optical capability or the firmware can't be unlocked yet.

That drive is too old and will never be UHD compatible.

[Vista1967]

Hello, I signed up on your great forum today and I'm reading your articles because I'm a future user of the Intenso Blu-ray external reader (Intenso Blu-ray external drive EOD 500BD Slim) which I ordered on Amazon and am waiting for delivery.
I've been looking for information and it seems that it contains the Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) BU40N model. Is that correct, or how can I check when it arrives on Monday? Reading the forum, I see that there are many fake copies, so I'm concerned whether mine is what it says it is. If it turns out to be fine, can I flash it without any issues using your SDFtool Flasher and the DE_LG_BU40N_1.03_MK.bin firmware?

Here is the link to my reader on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com.be/dp/B0GGBD37L6

Thank you in advance for your answer and help!

[Billycar11]

if your unsure email me or marty your makemkv drive info section in plain text for an auto flasher see below for email
otherwise just use the guide on page 1

[Vista1967]

Thank you for your reply, I've just sent you an email

[rcarb64]

I very recently bought a new LG BP60NB10 that was manufactured in December 2025, firmware version 1.02, SVC NB12. I've read online that caution must be used when trying to downgrade firmware for a drive this new (i.e., "new" being LG drives manufactured since July or August of 2025) since LG has built new protections in the drive firmware that can actually brick the drive if someone is trying to downgrade the firmware. I have also read that attempting to flash SVC NB10 firmware onto an SVC NB12 drive (or vice versa) can also potentially brick the drive and that I need to make sure that I have the corresponding NB12-specific 1.02MK file for my NB12 drive when attempting to downgrade the firmware. But the only firmware file that I could find on this site is HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP60NB10-1.02-NM00800-212005070935.bin with the file date of 10/1/2020. How do I know if this is for SVC NB10 or SVC NB12? Has anybody else had success trying to downgrade the firmware on a newer LG BP60NB10 drive and have it work correctly for them? Anybody know where I might be able to find the proper NB12-specific 1.02MK file for my drive? Thanks!

[Sayaka]

Shortest possible answer :

Given the information you've already given us, if :

1) The drive platform is MT1959 when you open MakeMKV (it should be),

2) The current firmware date for your drive is 2020 or more when you open MakeMKV (it should be),

3) LibreDrive is not yet enabled,

Flash HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BP60NB10-1.02-NM00800-212005070935.bin with SDFtool Flasher with a regular WRITE with encryption. No bootloader, no RECOVER (no rawflash full and no rawflash "main,nowait,nocheck,boot" either, if using the command line : just a simple rawflash enc).

That's it. It should go smoothly.

[BossGigantor]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and was looking to flash my drive for MakeMKV

It is an external Asus drive model BW-16D1X-U

Details from MakeMKV:
Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: BW-16D1X-U
Revision: E113
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2020-07-21
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: E113/ID76
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

SDFtool does not work as my drive platform is not MT1959. Based on research on this forum it appears I may have an Asus chassis with a Pioneer drive.

Any help to flash this drive to rip UHD would be greatly appreciated as I am a total noob.