Help an idiot with a 1st gen WH14NS40

[himenohogosha]

Hi, another 1st gen idiot here. I bought a WH14NS40 from local marketplace. I updated to "latest" 1.03 firmware without having visited these forums first, and then found some guidance that said downgrading to 1.02 was better. I tried to do that with the instructions in viewtopic.php?f=16&t=18873 but ended up with a drive that couldn't read any discs (Bluray or DVD). Is the drive trashed? I've looked around and some people were able to recover the drive but maybe that's because they had newer production year models? Other things seem to suggest that this is just completely bricked now. Can somebody confirm either way? Thanks.

[d00zah]

Read the 1st post in THIS sticky, for general reference, but specifically for this issue...

Refer to section 'NS40 Recovery Image:' & the video.

Not necessarily as straight forward as flashing a compatible drive, sadly. Hope this helps.

[Billycar11]

Option to save bu40ns flashed to desktop drives too?

Depends. It is possible to put back original FW using self-update method, as long as all conditions below are true:
1. Flashed wrong firmware
2. Drive is recognized and visible as "new" but does not work (can't read discs, drive tray does not work, etc)
3. Flashing original firmware gives no error, but firmware does not gets flashed.

If this is the case, then yes - there is a way back.

this guy needs it viewtopic.php?f=16&t=23023

[dekedubya]

Yes, as per SamuriHL's instructions, this is currently the only chance you have of restoring your drive.

I created a windows 7 ultimate winpe 32 bit boot usb with Rufus, & I can boot it via my latitude E6510 legacy options in the dell bios, but when it starts up it is asking to setup windows from it. There was no mention of having to do this in SamuriHL's listed instructions-what am I missing here? I have no room to do this on the current internal drive running my existing windows unless I create an extra partition, which would be difficult even for a basic setup because the freed up partitions are too small, please advise, thanks.

[MartyMcNuts]

Yes, as per SamuriHL's instructions, this is currently the only chance you have of restoring your drive.

I created a windows 7 ultimate winpe 32 bit boot usb with Rufus, & I can boot it via my latitude E6510 legacy options in the dell bios, but when it starts up it is asking to setup windows from it. There was no mention of having to do this in SamuriHL's listed instructions-what am I missing here? I have no room to do this on the current internal drive running my existing windows unless I create an extra partition, which would be difficult even for a basic setup because the freed up partitions are too small, please advise, thanks.

Why bother creating your own?? Go back 3 posts. (The one from d00zah). Just download the NS40 recovery image I created.

[dekedubya]

Yes, as per SamuriHL's instructions, this is currently the only chance you have of restoring your drive.

I created a windows 7 ultimate winpe 32 bit boot usb with Rufus, & I can boot it via my latitude E6510 legacy options in the dell bios, but when it starts up it is asking to setup windows from it. There was no mention of having to do this in SamuriHL's listed instructions-what am I missing here? I have no room to do this on the current internal drive running my existing windows unless I create an extra partition, which would be difficult even for a basic setup because the freed up partitions are too small, please advise, thanks.

Why bother creating your own?? Go back 3 posts. (The one from d00zah). Just download the NS40 recovery image I created.

I did, but am getting "checksum mismatch error"; this for a 1st gen WH14NS40 downgrade fix, without booting into windows ide/ata mode?? Amazon should let people know the same drive has been upgraded so as to avoid such a frustrating situation!!

[MartyMcNuts]

I created a windows 7 ultimate winpe 32 bit boot usb with Rufus, & I can boot it via my latitude E6510 legacy options in the dell bios, but when it starts up it is asking to setup windows from it. There was no mention of having to do this in SamuriHL's listed instructions-what am I missing here? I have no room to do this on the current internal drive running my existing windows unless I create an extra partition, which would be difficult even for a basic setup because the freed up partitions are too small, please advise, thanks.

Why bother creating your own?? Go back 3 posts. (The one from d00zah). Just download the NS40 recovery image I created.

I did, but am getting "checksum mismatch error"; this for a 1st gen WH14NS40 downgrade fix, without booting into windows ide/ata mode?? Amazon should let people know the same drive has been upgraded so as to avoid such a frustrating situation!!

You cannot use the windows flashers to recover this drive. You must use dosflash which is on the recovery image. Download the recover iso and use rufus to write it to a USB thumbdrive.

Your PC needs to be in IDE mode (and drive connected to SATA port 0 or 1) to be able to use dosflash. No IDE mode means no drive recovery.

[dekedubya]

Why bother creating your own?? Go back 3 posts. (The one from d00zah). Just download the NS40 recovery image I created.

I did, but am getting "checksum mismatch error"; this for a 1st gen WH14NS40 downgrade fix, without booting into windows ide/ata mode?? Amazon should let people know the same drive has been upgraded so as to avoid such a frustrating situation!!

You cannot use the windows flashers to recover this drive. You must use dosflash which is on the recovery image. Download the recover iso and use rufus to write it to a USB thumbdrive.

Your PC needs to be in IDE mode (and drive connected to SATA port 0 or 1) to be able to use dosflash. No IDE mode means no drive recovery.

Even using these steps, the drive is not being recognized, most likely a complete brick, another hard-
school lesson learned-will have to get a new or used one as others are & do the downgrade steps, but CAREFULLY! Thanks.

[dekedubya]

You cannot use the windows flashers to recover this drive. You must use dosflash which is on the recovery image. Download the recover iso and use rufus to write it to a USB thumbdrive.

Your PC needs to be in IDE mode (and drive connected to SATA port 0 or 1) to be able to use dosflash. No IDE mode means no drive recovery.
[/quote]

Even using these steps, the drive is not being recognized, most likely a complete brick, another hard-
school lesson learned-will have to get a new or used one as others are & do the downgrade steps, but CAREFULLY! Thanks.
[/quote]
UPDATE!!
After some diligent searching I found an eBay seller who mentioned the details of the UHD issue because it is what he specializes in, & then some!

I purchased one of this sellers' modified LGWH14NS40 burners, & as promised it works perfectly on my laptop connected by my Vantec Nextstar USB Enclosure, though I have no interest in 4K Blu Ray discs as I don't own any; salvaging my damaged regular Blu-Ray movie discs, & the ability to burn BD-RE discs on my windows, were my only intentions.

Since this new modified drive worked for me IF allowed, I am sharing the U.S. eBay seller's description with the link below the line in quotes (go to the link for described pics), to help other U.S. forum "idiots" who made the same mistake I did, resulting in an extra softbricked LG drive I now have serving as a paperweight!

I should note, that I know nothing about this seller other than what info is listed on eBay, or if the seller is/was ever affilated with this forum, but I can confirm the unit I got from this seller WORKS, & all of the downgrading work has been done for the customer, making it worth the extra investment & slightly higher price for it being an otherwise "bare drive". And if you go to the link as a logged in buyer you will see that the seller is "top rated" at 100%.
-------------------------------------------------
Modified LGWH14NS40 listing by eBay seller phightinphan
(as of 9-14-20)

[/b] https://www.ebay.com/ipp/224102432739?t ... 675.l48352

"Brand new LG WH14NS40 that came from the factory with firmware 1.03 or 1.04, depending on date of manufacture. With 1.03 or 1.04 installed, these drives are not able to read a 4K disc, developed in an effort to further the anti-piracy movement. I have changed the firmware to that of the LG WH16NS40 version 1.02, the last stable version that makes these drives capable of reading 4K discs.

This drive will function as a regular WH14NS40 would. What makes my drive special is additionally it will READ a 4K disc, guaranteed. 4K was developed around anti-piracy, so PLAYING a 4K disc on your PC has a huge list of requirements. This is only one piece of the 4K chain. I CANNOT guarantee you will be able to plug this in and play a 4K disc on your PC. It will, however, READ a 4K disc. Therefore, with additional software (NOT included in this auction), this drive can provide you options to decrypt, rip, burn, copy, etc, giving the potential to change a 4K disc to a playable file format. Additionally, "official UHD" drives now come with a firmware installed that make them incompatible with copying software. You CANNOT just go out and buy a 4K drive and start ripping files! The ONLY solution is to have a drive like this that is "UHD friendly".

Works with DeUHD, DVDFab UHD, AnyDVD HD & MakeMKV (LibreDrive enabled). Reads 3D Blu-Ray. Works with BDXL. Compatible with Windows and Mac.

Pic #2 proves the drive reads a 4K disc. It shows the LG drive set as Drive K. Note the movie title and the size of the disc at 53.9GB, regular blu rays max out at 50GB. (PLEASE NOTE, the 4K movie pictured here is NOT included in this auction!)

Pic #3 shows the hardware IDs in My Computer showing the current firmware installed, firmware 1.02.

All drives are brand new and tested for 4K compatibility after the firmware has been changed. This drive has been removed from original packaging once, hooked to my PC to change the firmware, tested by inserting a 4K disc, and back in the original packaging. Other than that, it is absolutely brand new. The optical drive is the only item included in this listing. No additional cables, software, or mounting hardware is included.

Due to the nature of this listing, I guarantee the drive not to be DOA, that it will function as a regular WH14NS40 would, and additionally read 4K discs. Otherwise no returns are accepted. All drives are carefully packed to ensure safe arrival. In the unlikely event you should receive a damaged or defective drive (again, ALL drives are tested after changing firmware), a replacement drive will be sent in it's place.
Please note although I have multiple drives in this listing they are sold individually, as each, and the price listed is for ONE (1) drive.

Beware of newbies on here listing UHD friendly drives. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I am EXTREMELY flattered. Others love to copy my ideas and my listing, sometimes word for word. Rest assured, I am the original, trusted UHD friendly drive seller on eBay and have the history and feedback to prove it - no one else can back that statement up like I can. I am the ONLY Top Rated UHD seller and the ONLY UHD seller with 1,000+ feedback. I have been modifying and selling UHD drives since April, 2018 and have sold over 800 UHD friendly drives. Please take the time to read my feedback, I take great pride in what I sell. I have seen it all and done it all in the UHD friendly drive world!

I ship FAST, sometimes same day, usually within 1 business day. By this I mean your item will be dropped off at the shipping facility within this time frame. Additionally, your bid will be a confident one as I am an eBay member for over 20 years and have a 100% positive feedback score since day one. [/b]

Free priority shipping to the lower 48 states only. Feel free to contact me for a quote otherwise, or with any additional questions.

Thank you for reading and best of luck to you!!" [/b]

[Billycar11]

Beware of newbies on here listing UHD friendly drives.

just saying me marty and alex were here helping far more people then he ever has and he probably used firmware or flashers made by marty or me at some point.
just saying we sell the drives here to so do consider us

[lucbm]

I am trying to recover my WH14NS40 drive after updating with NS50 firmware. However, when I use the EEPROM DATA MOVER, the message "incorrect firmware file" appears. No matter what I do, it always shows the same error message. Any suggestion?

[st4evr]

I am trying to recover my WH14NS40 drive after updating with NS50 firmware. However, when I use the EEPROM DATA MOVER, the message "incorrect firmware file" appears. No matter what I do, it always shows the same error message. Any suggestion?

Have you by any chance already tried the recovery mode found in the SDFTool as also discussed and linked in the following thread?

https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... ked#p99438

And as it’s also advised there, be sure to take the time to carefully read the instructions to possibly avoid further breaking/bricking your drive and leave it completely unfixable. If that tool nor the DOS flashing method works, then in fact it may be too late and you should just move on and buy a new drive.

[lucbm]

My drive is recognized by the applications. I can read, erase and write firmware. However, the firmware extracted from the unit always gives the error message on the EEPROM DATA MOVER: incorrect firmware file !!!

[MartyMcNuts]

My drive is recognized by the applications. I can read, erase and write firmware. However, the firmware extracted from the unit always gives the error message on the EEPROM DATA MOVER: incorrect firmware file !!!

What did you use to extract your current firmware and can you tell us the size of the output file.

[jonghotti]

Beware of newbies on here listing UHD friendly drives.

just saying me marty and alex were here helping far more people then he ever has and he probably used firmware or flashers made by marty or me at some point.
just saying we sell the drives here to so do consider us

What did I miss?