Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2024

[Billycar11]

Thank you very much for this guide, the tools and patched firmwares. I didn't think we'd ever be able to rip 4K/UHD. I've been using and had a MakeMKV license since 2016 but only registered for the forums now.

I have an incoming LG WH14NS40 and Asus BW-16D1HT. Which firmware should I flash for the ff:
1. ripping protected/raw ISO with ImgBurn for later decryption/processing (MakeMKV or AnyDVD HD+Handbrake)
2. wide compatibility (at least both MakeMKV and AnyDVD HD support)

Should I use DE firmware on one (maybe WH16NS60 1.00 on the LG) and MK firmware on the other (maybe BW-16D1HT 3.10 MK on the Asus)?

Again, thanks!

as he said check they are correct svc and build date they will most likely be.

for the lg i would recommend ns60 1.00 de or 1.01mk it is faster and no sleepbug,

for the asus go 3.10mk

[rui-no-onna]

as he said check they are correct svc and build date they will most likely be.

for the lg i would recommend ns60 1.00 de or 1.01mk it is faster and no sleepbug,

for the asus go 3.10mk

Sounds good. Will do that.

Hopefully, I can just do everything via USB. If necessary though, I have access to Nehalem and Ivy Bridge desktops which I'm certain have IDE mode available. Haven't upgraded my PCs in forever.

[rui-no-onna]

Just received the drives and both have been flashed using the Unitek Y-1099 USB3-SATA adapter mentioned in the first post. Unexpectedly easy.

The LG came with 1.04 so I cross flashed that one with Asus 3.10 MK first before flashing NS60 1.00 DE.

Anyway, thank you for all the hard work on these tools and guides!

[Smigit]

Thanks for this great guide.

I keep reading that the LG WH16NS60 is the best option in terms of reliability. My assumption is because thats an 'Official' drive? What I'm keen to know is that a recommendation that would make it a better choice to the LG BU40N (Likely the Buffalo option) (also official) or would those two particular models be more or less equal in regards to robustness?

The context is I'm looking for a drive to rip UHD's and my home server is in a mITX case that has no front 3.5" bay. As such I'll either be using an external for the time being or I could get a 3.5" internal and Sata to USB adapter. The addition of the adapter puts the two options within $10 or so of one another so costs are roughly equal so it's a matter of comparing form factor and function.

So yeah, is there likely to be any difference in ability to rip using a LG WH16NS60 vs a LG BU40N? Rip speeds itself isn't important to me, just that it can read a wide range of discs without issue.

[MartyMcNuts]

Thanks for this great guide.

I keep reading that the LG WH16NS60 is the best option in terms of reliability. My assumption is because thats an 'Official' drive? What I'm keen to know is that a recommendation that would make it a better choice to the LG BU40N (Likely the Buffalo option) (also official) or would those two particular models be more or less equal in regards to robustness?

The context is I'm looking for a drive to rip UHD's and my home server is in a mITX case that has no front 3.5" bay. As such I'll either be using an external for the time being or I could get a 3.5" internal and Sata to USB adapter. The addition of the adapter puts the two options within $10 or so of one another so costs are roughly equal so it's a matter of comparing form factor and function.

So yeah, is there likely to be any difference in ability to rip using a LG WH16NS60 vs a LG BU40N? Rip speeds itself isn't important to me, just that it can read a wide range of discs without issue.

Well, if it was my choice:

If I wasn't going to move the drive around (leave it connected in the same spot) I would go with the ns60 as it is faster than the bu40n and less fiddly.

If portability is what you want then the bu40n would be the go.

Cheers.

[Billycar11]

Updated with an NS40 Recovery IMG from Marty and also thanks to Marty the BP60NB10 can now be flashed with the updated asus flasher

[Smigit]

If I wasn't going to move the drive around (leave it connected in the same spot) I would go with the ns60 as it is faster than the bu40n and less fiddly.

Thanks. So I likely won't see any difference on what discs I can read?

Portability isn't a big concern (powering exclusively off USB is nice but not essential), so I'll probably go the 60. Within the next 24 months I'd like to get a server rack at which point I'll likely get a rack mount case and thus can but something with the dedicated 3.5" bay so in that respect the internal drive might be the better option long term anyway even if I have nothing to put it into today.

[rui-no-onna]

Within the next 24 months I'd like to get a server rack at which point I'll likely get a rack mount case and thus can but something with the dedicated 3.5" bay so in that respect the internal drive might be the better option long term anyway even if I have nothing to put it into today.

Do note, you need 5.25" bays for optical drives, not 3.5".

[WhiteD1978]

Just got new drive... Downgrade Enabled Firmware with Unlocked Flasher not working...Window popup msg
(write DRAM NG 05/26/03)...

How do I sidegrade? or what are my opions?

HL-DT-ST BD-RE WH14NS40 1.04 Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH14NS40
Revision: 1.04
Serial number:
Firmware date: 2119-01-04 13:51
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 60 LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959Newer OEM Firmwares:

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. If your drive has one of these firmwares, and there is no MK version of the same or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to Asus 3.10MKor LG 1.04MK. Then flash to your desired firmware if you don't want that one.
Thanks For Time...

[rui-no-onna]

Just got new drive... Downgrade Enabled Firmware with Unlocked Flasher not working...Window popup msg
(write DRAM NG 05/26/03)...

How do I sidegrade? or what are my opions?

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. If your drive has one of these firmwares, and there is no MK version of the same or higher number, you will have to sidegrade to Asus 3.10MKor LG 1.04MK. Then flash to your desired firmware if you don't want that one.

Thanks For Time...

Per instructions you quoted, you need to crossflash to either LG 1.04 MK or Asus 3.10 MK.

Both are in the MK firmware pack but in case you don't want to sift through the various firmwares in that package, here's quick access to LG 1.04 MK.
https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 565#p76526

[WhiteD1978]

Got it working.
Thanks for Time.

[tommyq958124]

Sorry I am very new to this. I have a LG BE14NU40, Rom Ver:1.00. Can I flash this drive? If not, what is the best Drive to purchase currently. Prefer to be external, but any recommendation will be much appreciated. Performance is more important. Will the drive allow me to duplicate UHD Disk directly or do I need to back it up then some how Burn it back to a black disk. Also, is MakeMkv the prefer software to back and duplicate disk?
Thanks in advance

[Billycar11]

Sorry I am very new to this. I have a LG BE14NU40, Rom Ver:1.00. Can I flash this drive? If not, what is the best Drive to purchase currently. Prefer to be external, but any recommendation will be much appreciated. Performance is more important. Will the drive allow me to duplicate UHD Disk directly or do I need to back it up then some how Burn it back to a black disk. Also, is MakeMkv the prefer software to back and duplicate disk?
Thanks in advance

1.00 would work it means the drive is to old and i see in another place you said it made in 2013 so its to old and can not be made to work with uhds
the fastest drives are:
WH16NS60
BW161HT
WH161NS40 flashed to NS60
WH14NS40 flashed to NS60

[rui-no-onna]

BW161HT
WH14NS40 flashed to NS60

I have these two:
Asus BW-16D1HT (flashed to 3.10 MK)
LG WH14NS40 (flashed to NS60 1.00 DE)

Concur that they're pretty fast. I get 25 MB/s (~5.5x) average and 35 MB/s (~8x) peak ripping UHD66 with these drives so around 45 minutes for dual layer UHD.

[tommyq958124]

Thank you so much for the information