NEW OPTION: 'UHD Friendly' Firmware Downgrade / Cross-Flash Using Official (Modified) ASUS Flasher for ASUS & LG Drives

[TedBops]

Apologies for being a newbie but I expected to get a new drive. Fortunately, it still works so I have already arranged a refund and return. I will source a new one from elsewhere and try to check that it is firmware 3.01 or above before I do anything. I'll also make sure I read everything possible on this thread.
Thanks

Yep, simply put, that drive is too old. I'm pretty sure that the UHD friendly models started being produced around October 2015 and the initial firmware was 3.00.

Return it for a new one!!

Got my brand new BW-16D1HT today and installed into my PC (it was manufactured March 19). Ran MakeMKV and it says drive platform MT 1959 and firmware version 3.10. Before any attempt to use the Asus modified flasher do I chose firmware version 3.02 (DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin) or 3.10 (ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601-211901041014.bin) in the MK folder. I am a bit confused as folks seem to use both.
Assuming it all works, I have MakeMKV and AnyDVD HD. I already use AnyDVD HD to create ISOs from Bluray discs but yet to try UHD.
Newbie help appreciated as I don't want to brick my brand new drive!

[MartyMcNuts]

Apologies for being a newbie but I expected to get a new drive. Fortunately, it still works so I have already arranged a refund and return. I will source a new one from elsewhere and try to check that it is firmware 3.01 or above before I do anything. I'll also make sure I read everything possible on this thread.
Thanks

Yep, simply put, that drive is too old. I'm pretty sure that the UHD friendly models started being produced around October 2015 and the initial firmware was 3.00.

Return it for a new one!!

Got my brand new BW-16D1HT today and installed into my PC (it was manufactured March 19). Ran MakeMKV and it says drive platform MT 1959 and firmware version 3.10. Before any attempt to use the Asus modified flasher do I chose firmware version 3.02 (DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin) or 3.10 (ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601-211901041014.bin) in the MK folder. I am a bit confused as folks seem to use both.
Assuming it all works, I have MakeMKV and AnyDVD HD. I already use AnyDVD HD to create ISOs from Bluray discs but yet to try UHD.
Newbie help appreciated as I don't want to brick my brand new drive!

As your new drive has 3.10, you must flash BW-16D1HT 3.10-MK before you can flash any other firmware.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi Marty,

You ask:

A few questions:

1. How is your drive connected to PC?
2. What OS are you using?
3. How old is your drive?
4. Are you sure it came with firmware 3.03 (and not 3.10)?

I has a desktop tower with the ASUS mounted in a bay and connected to the MB with a SATA cable. I am running Win7 OS. I bought this drive early this year to replace an old one that went bad. As for the firmware, 3.03 is what MakeMKV displays so I believe that that is the firmware version on the drive.

Thanks,

KIt

Did you have anything running in the background that accesses the drive, such as AnyDVD, DVDFab etc? as these will hinder the firmware update process.

If not, can you please try it again. If you cannot get it to work, please try the LG flasher. Grab it from this link and place in the same folder as the ASUS flasher. Run it, click the little folder icon to choose a firmware, then click the play icon to flash.

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... =75#p72531

Let us know how you go.

[kitkimes]

Hi Marty,

You ask:

A few questions:

1. How is your drive connected to PC?
2. What OS are you using?
3. How old is your drive?
4. Are you sure it came with firmware 3.03 (and not 3.10)?

I has a desktop tower with the ASUS mounted in a bay and connected to the MB with a SATA cable. I am running Win7 OS. I bought this drive early this year to replace an old one that went bad. As for the firmware, 3.03 is what MakeMKV displays so I believe that that is the firmware version on the drive.

Thanks,

KIt

Did you have anything running in the background that accesses the drive, such as AnyDVD, DVDFab etc? as these will hinder the firmware update process.

If not, can you please try it again. If you cannot get it to work, please try the LG flasher. Grab it from this link and place in the same folder as the ASUS flasher. Run it, click the little folder icon to choose a firmware, then click the play icon to flash.

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... =75#p72531

Let us know how you go.

Marty,

I tried it again unsuccessfully, so I downloaded the flasher you suggested and ran it and chose the DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin file. When I hit the flash button, nothing happened. I waited a long time since I was unsure as to how long it would take. Any other ideas?

If I choose the bin file in subdirectory MK (the 3.10 version), would that one upgrade me to 3.10 but let me downgrade it then to 3.02? I'm willing to try if you think it would work (using the original ASUS flasher).

[lixee]

Got my BW-16D1HT today and flashed it with DE 3.02 (Manifacture Date Dec 2018, 3.03).

Wasn't able to test UHD discs yet, but normal BD discs work perfectly so far! Thank you so much!!!

Not sure about this one, but I think the Serial Number displayed in MakeMKV is now a different one? Didn't backup the original FW since no one seems to do that... just curious, in case I want to restore factory default (usually by flashing the official firmware).

[MartyMcNuts]

Got my BW-16D1HT today and flashed it with DE 3.02 (Manifacture Date Dec 2018, 3.03).

Wasn't able to test UHD discs yet, but normal BD discs work perfectly so far! Thank you so much!!!

Not sure about this one, but I think the Serial Number displayed in MakeMKV is now a different one? Didn't backup the original FW since no one seems to do that... just curious, in case I want to restore factory default (usually by flashing the official firmware).

The serial number should not change. Even when cross flashing, it stays the same.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi Marty,

You ask:

A few questions:

1. How is your drive connected to PC?
2. What OS are you using?
3. How old is your drive?
4. Are you sure it came with firmware 3.03 (and not 3.10)?

I has a desktop tower with the ASUS mounted in a bay and connected to the MB with a SATA cable. I am running Win7 OS. I bought this drive early this year to replace an old one that went bad. As for the firmware, 3.03 is what MakeMKV displays so I believe that that is the firmware version on the drive.

Thanks,

KIt

Did you have anything running in the background that accesses the drive, such as AnyDVD, DVDFab etc? as these will hinder the firmware update process.

If not, can you please try it again. If you cannot get it to work, please try the LG flasher. Grab it from this link and place in the same folder as the ASUS flasher. Run it, click the little folder icon to choose a firmware, then click the play icon to flash.

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... =75#p72531

Let us know how you go.

Marty,

I tried it again unsuccessfully, so I downloaded the flasher you suggested and ran it and chose the DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin file. When I hit the flash button, nothing happened. I waited a long time since I was unsure as to how long it would take. Any other ideas?

If I choose the bin file in subdirectory MK (the 3.10 version), would that one upgrade me to 3.10 but let me downgrade it then to 3.02? I'm willing to try if you think it would work (using the original ASUS flasher).

For further assistance please answer the questions previously asked. Thanks

[kitkimes]

Did you have anything running in the background that accesses the drive, such as AnyDVD, DVDFab etc? as these will hinder the firmware update process.

If not, can you please try it again. If you cannot get it to work, please try the LG flasher. Grab it from this link and place in the same folder as the ASUS flasher. Run it, click the little folder icon to choose a firmware, then click the play icon to flash.

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... =75#p72531

Let us know how you go.

Marty,

I tried it again unsuccessfully, so I downloaded the flasher you suggested and ran it and chose the DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin file. When I hit the flash button, nothing happened. I waited a long time since I was unsure as to how long it would take. Any other ideas?

If I choose the bin file in subdirectory MK (the 3.10 version), would that one upgrade me to 3.10 but let me downgrade it then to 3.02? I'm willing to try if you think it would work (using the original ASUS flasher).

For further assistance please answer the questions previously asked. Thanks

Thanks Marty,

If you are referring to something else running that would prevent the flasher from working, there wasn't. I did check it out but failed to mention it.

I did solve my problem though and I'll mention it here in case others run into the same situation.

I have a ASUS motherboard with 6 SATA ports. The first 4 ports have to be set in the same mode and then other ports have to be set together but they can be in a different mode. My first 4 ports are set to RAID because I have a 2 disk RAID setup in my tower. The last 2 ports are set to IDE. None of them are set to AHCI.

I had my ASUS optical drive plugged into one of the RAID ports. I changed it so that it was plugged into one of the IDE ports and rebooted. As soon as it came up my computer reported it had found new hardware and installed drivers. I then tried to downgrade my optical disk firmware to v3.02 and it worked the first time. I just grabbed any old Blu-ray disc and tried to rip it with MakeMKV and it worked first time.

So my warning to others is to not set your SATA port to either AHCI or RAID.

Thanks again. I'm a happy camper.

[MartyMcNuts]

Marty,

I tried it again unsuccessfully, so I downloaded the flasher you suggested and ran it and chose the DE_ASUS_BW-16D1HT_3.02.bin file. When I hit the flash button, nothing happened. I waited a long time since I was unsure as to how long it would take. Any other ideas?

If I choose the bin file in subdirectory MK (the 3.10 version), would that one upgrade me to 3.10 but let me downgrade it then to 3.02? I'm willing to try if you think it would work (using the original ASUS flasher).

For further assistance please answer the questions previously asked. Thanks

Thanks Marty,

If you are referring to something else running that would prevent the flasher from working, there wasn't. I did check it out but failed to mention it.

I did solve my problem though and I'll mention it here in case others run into the same situation.

I have a ASUS motherboard with 6 SATA ports. The first 4 ports have to be set in the same mode and then other ports have to be set together but they can be in a different mode. My first 4 ports are set to RAID because I have a 2 disk RAID setup in my tower. The last 2 ports are set to IDE. None of them are set to AHCI.

I had my ASUS optical drive plugged into one of the RAID ports. I changed it so that it was plugged into one of the IDE ports and rebooted. As soon as it came up my computer reported it had found new hardware and installed drivers. I then tried to downgrade my optical disk firmware to v3.02 and it worked the first time. I just grabbed any old Blu-ray disc and tried to rip it with MakeMKV and it worked first time.

So my warning to others is to not set your SATA port to either AHCI or RAID.

Thanks again. I'm a happy camper.

Ok, good to know. Glad you got it sorted.

Cheers

[BoneDaddy]

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm lost as to where I can find these LG 1.04 MK or Asus 3.20 MK. Here are my specs.

Brand new LG WH16NS60
FW: 1.02
Windows 10 Pro 1903

I have downloaded all files from OP's original post.

Have read this thread but still kind of lost.

Thanks

[MartyMcNuts]

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm lost as to where I can find these LG 1.04 MK or Asus 3.20 MK. Here are my specs.

Brand new LG WH16NS60
FW: 1.02
Windows 10 Pro 1903

I have downloaded all files from OP's original post.

Have read this thread but still kind of lost.

Thanks

If you downloaded the flasher + fw + mk firmware pack from the first post, you will find the BH16NS55 1.04 MK firmware file in MK/LG/BH16NS55. Flash this 1.04 firmware first, then you can flash whatever fw you want after that. For your drive, I recommend DE_WH16NS60_1.00.

Cheers!

[Billycar11]

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm lost as to where I can find these LG 1.04 MK or Asus 3.20 MK. Here are my specs.

Brand new LG WH16NS60
FW: 1.02
Windows 10 Pro 1903

I have downloaded all files from OP's original post.

Have read this thread but still kind of lost.

Thanks

If you downloaded the flasher + fw + mk firmware pack from the first post, you will find the BH16NS55 1.04 MK firmware file in MK/LG/BH16NS55. Flash this 1.04 firmware first, then you can flash whatever fw you want after that. For your drive, I recommend DE_WH16NS60_1.00.

Cheers!

side note WH16NS60 1.02MK is out in the new pack

[BoneDaddy]

Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm lost as to where I can find these LG 1.04 MK or Asus 3.20 MK. Here are my specs.

Brand new LG WH16NS60
FW: 1.02
Windows 10 Pro 1903

I have downloaded all files from OP's original post.

Have read this thread but still kind of lost.

Thanks

If you downloaded the flasher + fw + mk firmware pack from the first post, you will find the BH16NS55 1.04 MK firmware file in MK/LG/BH16NS55. Flash this 1.04 firmware first, then you can flash whatever fw you want after that. For your drive, I recommend DE_WH16NS60_1.00.

Cheers!

side note WH16NS60 1.02MK is out in the new pack

Should I wait and flash with that (where is the new pack). Or use the NS55 option?

[Billycar11]

Should I wait and flash with that (where is the new pack). Or use the NS55 option?

It does not really matter it just makes it so you only have to flash 1 firmware to it instead 2 of crossflashing and then downgrading

[BoneDaddy]

Should I wait and flash with that (where is the new pack). Or use the NS55 option?

It does not really matter it just makes it so you only have to flash 1 firmware to it instead 2 of crossflashing and then downgrading

So where do I find 1.02 MK?