Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2024

[wag12wag12]

It has been suggested to flash a WH16NS40 NS50 drive that has firmware 1.04 installed using BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe to HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin firmware. I have found the BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe program, but where do I find this firmware?
I am thinking of buying either a WH16NS40 or WH14NS40, will this also work on a WH14NS40 and is there any advantage to buying a WH16NS40 over a WH14NS40 as far as being able to rip UHD disks?

Thanks,
Bill

[wag12wag12]

I thought if it had firmware version 1.04, you had to do a sidegrade first before you could do a downgrade?

1.02mk WH16NS60 is the equivalent of side grading and no need for downgrade if you use makemkv

Ahh, I see now. I thought side-grading/cross-flashing just meant flashing an LG drive with an Asus firmware or an Asus drive with an LG firmware. I went ahead and just flashed my drive straight to HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin and it worked like a charm. I've already successfully been able to rip a few 4K UHD and regular blu-rays in MakeMKV with it. Thanks!

I wanted to try this firmware HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin, where did you find it?
Thanks,
Bill

[psycaz]

Picked up the Vantec CB-ST00U3 based on the recommendation here. It works great. Drive seems much happier not being used vertically.

[jonghotti]

It has been suggested to flash a WH16NS40 NS50 drive that has firmware 1.04 installed using BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe to HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin firmware. I have found the BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe program, but where do I find this firmware?
I am thinking of buying either a WH16NS40 or WH14NS40, will this also work on a WH14NS40 and is there any advantage to buying a WH16NS40 over a WH14NS40 as far as being able to rip UHD disks?

Thanks,
Bill

The firmware should be here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113 and there is no difference ripping UHD discs with either the WH16NS40 or WH14NS40 - top speed is 6.0X, on a good day, on both of them. If loaded with firmware from the WH16NS60 however you can top out a near 8.0X.

[jonghotti]

Picked up the Vantec CB-ST00U3 based on the recommendation here. It works great. Drive seems much happier not being used vertically.

That is the adapter to get, good job!

[meridius]

anyone know where to get a Vantec NST-510S3-BK USB 3.0 Slim SATA Optical Drive Enclosure in the UK ? as i just can not find it, is there other USB 3.0 Slim SATA Optical Drive Enclosure for the BU40N thanks

[jonghotti]

anyone know where to get a Vantec NST-510S3-BK USB 3.0 Slim SATA Optical Drive Enclosure in the UK ? as i just can not find it, is there other USB 3.0 Slim SATA Optical Drive Enclosure for the BU40N thanks

Yep, order a BU40N from me and that's the enclosure it will come in.

[asmcom]

anyone know where to get a Vantec NST-510S3-BK USB 3.0 Slim SATA Optical Drive Enclosure in the UK ? as i just can not find it, is there other USB 3.0 Slim SATA Optical Drive Enclosure for the BU40N thanks

Yes Meridius, I have sent you email. Vantec have also confirmed to you.
Please advise on requirements.

Kind Regards

[newbiefromstars]

edit: moving this post to specifc thread : )

[jonghotti]

Hello from a lost planet!
I did read lot of threads on this very informative forum but still, as many newbies, it may stay a bit confusing for simple minds like mine
I'm on the way to get a new BR burner and I would not be there is I did not plan to make it able to backup 4K BR.

It's not a irrevocable need but I would prefer a portable external (slim) solution. I did not read much that it was not advised, but I may have misunderstood and if you guys advise me to go internal regular 5.25, I could certainly live with that.

Now, I had a look on available units on my location (greetings from Finland), and I could easily get a LG BU40N (so I'll need a case to add) or two different models from Buffalo, the BRXL-PT6U2VB or BRUHD-PU3-BK (and these are already enclosed).

I'm unsure to understand all, but it seems that all of them are actually LG BU40N, am I right??? The differences being locked in the firmware, still right?
Or do the BRXL-PT6U2VB is a different drive than the most expensive BRUHD-PU3-BK, and possibly both of them not even close to the LG BU40N?

If they are all the same, buying the LG + an enclosure would cost just little more than the Buffalo BRXL-PT6U2VB. So maybe I save some time and go this Buffalo straight? Or should I keep on the original LG, or the more expensive BRUHD-PU3-BK?

I guess that the choice is more about the probability to succeeded flashing the drive, so, in short :
- which of those is the best candidate for a safe flashing?
- if the external slim are too weak, should I better go for a regular 5.25 (really can but really would prefer to other option if there no issue).

Ultimately, after many pages of many posts, if there is one best candidate from my initial casting, could someone drives me straight to the right firmware to download, because it starts being confusing from pages to pages : )

Thank you for your patience, I guess that it's a bit tiring to answer again and again similar questions.
Jere
PS: if this post doesn't belong to this pecular thread, feel free to move it to the appropriate place.

Probably the wrong thread for this. Email me and i'll answer all your questions alexcoluzzi32@gmail.com

[newbiefromstars]

Probably the wrong thread for this. Email me and i'll answer all your questions alexcoluzzi32@gmail.com

Hi, thank you. I moved the topic outside this thread so everyone can get benefit of answers/informations here:
https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=21691

[schmivacy]

I can pick up any of these drives locally. The prices are approximately:

• LG WH16NS60 - 80 USD

• ASUS BW-16D1HT - 70 USD

• LG WH16NS40 - 60 USD

Is there any reason to prefer one of the more expensive drives over the WH16NS40?

This is my first BD drive, but it looks like I'll have to flash the firmware of any of them, so am I correct in thinking that I can flash the WH16NS60 firmware on the WH16NS40 (by following the instructions at https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=21015)?

Thanks!

[MartyMcNuts]

I can pick up any of these drives locally. The prices are approximately:

• LG WH16NS60 - 80 USD

• ASUS BW-16D1HT - 70 USD

• LG WH16NS40 - 60 USD

Is there any reason to prefer one of the more expensive drives over the WH16NS40?

This is my first BD drive, but it looks like I'll have to flash the firmware of any of them, so am I correct in thinking that I can flash the WH16NS60 firmware on the WH16NS40 (by following the instructions at https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=21015)?

Thanks!

Yes you can. Either of the windows flashers will do the job.

[ChickenFinger]

A question to the resellers,
I had a WH16NS40 fail on me recently. I purchased another one and had a bunch of hash errors. I cleaned the hell out of the discs and they still didn't work (including old ones i've ripped).
Replaced that one and now everything has ripped flawlessly, however the drive bay makes a scratching noise when it opens and closes.

Have you guys noticed poor quality control on these drives?
Do the WH16NS60 series seem to have better quality control?

[Billycar11]

A question to the resellers,
I had a WH16NS40 fail on me recently. I purchased another one and had a bunch of hash errors. I cleaned the hell out of the discs and they still didn't work (including old ones i've ripped).
Replaced that one and now everything has ripped flawlessly, however the drive bay makes a scratching noise when it opens and closes.

Have you guys noticed poor quality control on these drives?
Do the WH16NS60 series seem to have better quality control?

WH16NS60 have even worse quality control that why I stopped selling all desktop drives I only do Slim's now. for desktop drives overall about 25% of them will get hash errors on UHD disks. Then I swapped to Slim's only