Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated New Pioneer Flashing 2026

[Mr_Orange]

For the Asus SBW-06D2X-U, it states only the 8510/8511 platform is compatible with flashing. Are there versions of this unit around with a different platform? Would it be safe to buy one now?

[Billycar11]

For the Asus SBW-06D2X-U, it states only the 8510/8511 platform is compatible with flashing. Are there versions of this unit around with a different platform? Would it be safe to buy one now?

there are 4 versions at least really one has lg
so could be more

known ones are BU40N ,UD03 8510, UD03 8511, UD03 8590 there could be more

[Mr_Orange]

For the Asus SBW-06D2X-U, it states only the 8510/8511 platform is compatible with flashing. Are there versions of this unit around with a different platform? Would it be safe to buy one now?

there are 4 versions at least really one has lg
so could be more

known ones are BU40N ,UD03 8510, UD03 8511, UD03 8590 there could be more

OK, the first 3 are usable which is good news. Is the platform 8590 no good for UHD?

[Billycar11]

OK, the first 3 are usable which is good news. Is the platform 8590 no good for UHD?

yeah 8590 seems not to do UHD

[jwagner]

Hey everyone I wanted to post this on the forum to let everyone know that there is an affordable slim 4K Blu-ray optical drive that has a factory firmware that works out of the box with MakeMKV. I tested it with 4K, Blu-Ray and standard DVDs last night and it works successfully without any firmware modification.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1HNDPCL?re ... asin_title

IF the link doesn't work you can search for the title "JOTEC Premium Aluminum 4K UHD External Blu-Ray Drive
4K Blu-ray Burner, USB 3.0 & Type C Dual Interface, Compatible with All PC & Mac Models, Support 100GB 128GB"

The manufacturer ships both BU40N BU50N models. It retails for $142.99

In my case it handshakes with the MakeMKV status message of-

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk4
Current profile: DVD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: FR07
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 16:51
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.FR07J
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

I used the forum to flash a Verbatium BU40N (much more expensive but I was able to get it flashed thanks to everyone and Mike). I decided to buy a cheaper drive as a back up to flash while the process was in my memory. And much to my surprise the JOTEC has a better build quality and works out of the box with old school factory firmware.

[onigiribomb]

Hi Billycar11 / all,

I made the mistake from the "Heads up for old Asus BW-16D1HT with 1.01" thread: a brand-new BW-16D1HT (label 2026) on stock 1.01 (MT1939, ASUS_BW-16D1HT_1.01_211302051930). I flashed ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601 with rawflash main and it reported "Done successfully". It now only comes up as HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH16NS48 BOOT.

What I have:
- A full 2 MB dump of the original 1.01 firmware, taken with dump auto before flashing. Offsets 0x0-0x9FFF (bootloader, "MT1939 Boot Code") still match what the drive reports, so the bootloader looks intact.
- Linux, MakeMKV 1.17.7 sdftool, sdf.bin 0xA6.
- The drive is in a Vantec NST-540S3 USB enclosure (JMicron JMS578) with its own power supply.

What I tried:
- With -t mtk19xx, sdftool now talks to the drive in BOOT mode.
- rawflash "main,nocheck,boot=MT1939 Boot Code" -i dump_full_1.01.bin, and the same with boot=MT1959 Boot JB8 and with nowait, all fail the same way:
Faking existing boot loader with custom boot mark = "MT1939 Boot Code"
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__BH16NS48_BOOT
Desktop drive handshake failed with error=0x07030084, trying slim drive handshake.
Using USB chipset workaround for Slim drive handshake
Write flags NG 02/3A/00
Command produced error code 0x82023a00

Questions:
1. Is there a command or flag combination that can recover an MT1939 drive in BOOT through a JMicron USB bridge, or do I need a direct SATA connection? My only machine is a mini PC with one SATA port. I could temporarily connect the drive's data line there, with the enclosure's power supply powering the drive.
2. If it needs your remote recovery, does that work through a USB enclosure?

I understand this drive can't do UHD. I just want it back on 1.01 for DVD and Blu-ray. Thanks!

[Billycar11]

Hi Billycar11 / all,

I made the mistake from the "Heads up for old Asus BW-16D1HT with 1.01" thread: a brand-new BW-16D1HT (label 2026) on stock 1.01 (MT1939, ASUS_BW-16D1HT_1.01_211302051930). I flashed ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601 with rawflash main and it reported "Done successfully". It now only comes up as HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH16NS48 BOOT.

What I have:
- A full 2 MB dump of the original 1.01 firmware, taken with dump auto before flashing. Offsets 0x0-0x9FFF (bootloader, "MT1939 Boot Code") still match what the drive reports, so the bootloader looks intact.
- Linux, MakeMKV 1.17.7 sdftool, sdf.bin 0xA6.
- The drive is in a Vantec NST-540S3 USB enclosure (JMicron JMS578) with its own power supply.

What I tried:
- With -t mtk19xx, sdftool now talks to the drive in BOOT mode.
- rawflash "main,nocheck,boot=MT1939 Boot Code" -i dump_full_1.01.bin, and the same with boot=MT1959 Boot JB8 and with nowait, all fail the same way:
Faking existing boot loader with custom boot mark = "MT1939 Boot Code"
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE__BH16NS48_BOOT
Desktop drive handshake failed with error=0x07030084, trying slim drive handshake.
Using USB chipset workaround for Slim drive handshake
Write flags NG 02/3A/00
Command produced error code 0x82023a00

Questions:
1. Is there a command or flag combination that can recover an MT1939 drive in BOOT through a JMicron USB bridge, or do I need a direct SATA connection? My only machine is a mini PC with one SATA port. I could temporarily connect the drive's data line there, with the enclosure's power supply powering the drive.
2. If it needs your remote recovery, does that work through a USB enclosure?

I understand this drive can't do UHD. I just want it back on 1.01 for DVD and Blu-ray. Thanks!

only way i know of to fix that is dos flash
see guide on that for recovery i no longer assist on this as its usually a dead end as many dont have the hardware required

[SpencerC]

Hello All! I have a NORCO RPC-4020 4U server chassis that has a spot for a DVD/Bluray drive. This spot isn't your standard 5.25" drive bay. According to AI I can fit a slim optical drive:

The RPC‑4020 includes 1 external slim CD‑ROM bay, meaning it fits laptop‑style slim optical drives (12.7 mm or 9.5 mm height), not desktop 5.25" drives.

I see a few listed as "slim" on the list. Is there a recommended drive? Or rather, which is the best drive that will work in this chassis. I don't mind spending a few extra dollars for quality hardware.

Thank you in advance!

[mercilessming2000]

Thinking of buying the drive Wagner spoke of, is it true that 1080P standard Blu Ray rips with MakeMKv work just with encrypt key download , you only need libredrive feature/flash if you want 4k ripping if drive doesn't natively do it? I never tried before flashing, just flashed and went on but this drive if I get one that can't natively libreDrive and doesnt' turn out to be a model that can flash like they change from BU40s for example. But things seem to be getting tougher and more expensive for Physical media drives outside of DVD/CD drives so even if bad luck gives me just a 1080P blu ray ripper then I am better than nothing as I just want backup to my backup ripper drive.

Hey everyone I wanted to post this on the forum to let everyone know that there is an affordable slim 4K Blu-ray optical drive that has a factory firmware that works out of the box with MakeMKV. I tested it with 4K, Blu-Ray and standard DVDs last night and it works successfully without any firmware modification.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1HNDPCL?re ... asin_title

IF the link doesn't work you can search for the title "JOTEC Premium Aluminum 4K UHD External Blu-Ray Drive
4K Blu-ray Burner, USB 3.0 & Type C Dual Interface, Compatible with All PC & Mac Models, Support 100GB 128GB"

The manufacturer ships both BU40N BU50N models. It retails for $142.99

In my case it handshakes with the MakeMKV status message of-

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk4
Current profile: DVD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: FR07
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2116-12-20 16:51
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 82

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 0.FR07J
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

I used the forum to flash a Verbatium BU40N (much more expensive but I was able to get it flashed thanks to everyone and Mike). I decided to buy a cheaper drive as a back up to flash while the process was in my memory. And much to my surprise the JOTEC has a better build quality and works out of the box with old school factory firmware.