Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[Collyde]

I upgraded my BU40N a number of years ago.
The Drive and Libredrive report FW 1.01

Should I update to a later flash? What would I gain? Are there release notes?

-- Harald

ps I reflashed with /Applications/MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/makemkvcon f -d /IOBDServices/E8BA6DA0 -f /tmp/sdf.bin rawflash enc -i /tmp/HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin - but the FW stayed at 1.01.

Remove enc

That worked. Thank you!

Cheers,
-- Harald

[Billycar11]

Hello I currently have a Pioneer drive with 4UHK capabilities, however I would like assistance on how the drive can read and Rip 4K UHD discs.

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-R SRM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-209M
Revision: 1.31
Serial number: PADL081160WL
Firmware date: 2015-05-25
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 66

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.31
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

Disc Information
Label: TMNT_ OutOfShadows_3D
Timestamp: 2025-07-08 09:36:21
Data capacity: 22.58 Gb
Disc type: BD-R
Number of layers: 1
Channel bit length: 74,5 nm (25.0 GB max. per layer)

sure email me that info and all others email me no need to post your info here just reach out to me directly
see below for email

[AstralWanderer]

Recently flashed an LG BD-RE WH16NS58 drive to WH16NS60_1.02_MK without incident - thanks to those here who provided the tools, firmware and instructions.

However I did notice another benefit aside from LibreDrive. When I first installed the LG drive, I noticed immediately how much slower system startup became - this drive would spin up and stop (as if checking for a disk) twice during the BIOS startup screen and then twice more during Windows startup.

With the new firmware, the drive no longer spins up at all and this has cut about 30 seconds from my Windows startup times.

[randomguy123]

I recently purchased a drive WP50NB40, svc code NB52, dumped the firmware as `dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WP50NB40_1.03_212107081609_.tar`

I'm looking to flash it, but this may not have a DE firmware available yet. Is this the right place to ask for help?

[Billycar11]

I recently purchased a drive WP50NB40, svc code NB52, dumped the firmware as `dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WP50NB40_1.03_212107081609_.tar`

I'm looking to flash it, but this may not have a DE firmware available yet. Is this the right place to ask for help?

see post 1 or
email me or marty for an auto flasher

[Sayaka]

dumped the firmware as `dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_WP50NB40_1.03_212107081609_.tar`

By the way, there is virtually no point in doing this. The original firmware for your drive is encrypted, so only the user data got dumped. You will not be able to flash it back, because it's not a full backup of the original firmware.

Anyway, the only thing you need here is the All You Need Firmware Pack from MartyMcNuts. Do a rawflash enc,slim to DE_LG_WP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin, then a rawflash full,slim of DE_LG_WP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin, then a rawflash main,slim to DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK.bin *or* DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin if you want DVDFab compatibility.

With SDFTool Flasher, you would just do an encrypted flash to DE_LG_WP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin, then a RECOVER Drive, selecting DE_LG_WP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK.bin from the pop-up window and then DE_LG_BP60NB10_1.00_MK.bin or DE_LG_BU40N_1.00.bin from the drop-down menu.

Or you can do as Billy said and e-mail him or Marty for an auto flasher.

[huger33]

I flashed my BP50NB40 NB52 a few months ago with SDFtool, it had the MT1959 platform on it. I tried flashing again and now SDFtool says my drive does not have the Mt1959 platform and it won't flash. The RECOVER DRIVE is also grayed out. Is there anyway to recover the drive. When I unplug and replug back in, SDFtools sees the drive, as H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_Boot, but windows sees it as a DVD/CD-RW Drive in Windows (versus BD-RE Drive). I am also unable to eject the drive tray, no lights on it.

[Billycar11]

I flashed my BP50NB40 NB52 a few months ago with SDFtool, it had the MT1959 platform on it. I tried flashing again and now SDFtool says my drive does not have the Mt1959 platform and it won't flash. The RECOVER DRIVE is also grayed out. Is there anyway to recover the drive. When I unplug and replug back in, SDFtools sees the drive, as H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_Boot, but windows sees it as a DVD/CD-RW Drive in Windows (versus BD-RE Drive). I am also unable to eject the drive tray, no lights on it.

This is the same drive or different?

[huger33]

I flashed my BP50NB40 NB52 a few months ago with SDFtool, it had the MT1959 platform on it. I tried flashing again and now SDFtool says my drive does not have the Mt1959 platform and it won't flash. The RECOVER DRIVE is also grayed out. Is there anyway to recover the drive. When I unplug and replug back in, SDFtools sees the drive, as H: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_Boot, but windows sees it as a DVD/CD-RW Drive in Windows (versus BD-RE Drive). I am also unable to eject the drive tray, no lights on it.

This is the same drive or different?

This is the same drive, i reflashed it today. I tried on a different computer, same thing. Drive letter appears, but it won't eject and no lights on front. Its a 2 month old drive, purchased from BB online.
I tried to update to HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4, but it kept showing 1.0.2 so I started trying different things, which i honestly don't remember the last firmware I tried to install. But at one point I recover flashed to DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK, and then to the HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4. I think then I just tried to , HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive.
I know omnidrive is not your firmware, but I figure it was based off yours and using the SDFtools (newest). I'm wondering if it's bricked. As far as I can remember, I think I only used those three firmwares, it was just the combination was different each time.

[Billycar11]

This is the same drive, i reflashed it today. I tried on a different computer, same thing. Drive letter appears, but it won't eject and no lights on front. Its a 2 month old drive, purchased from BB online.
I tried to update to HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4, but it kept showing 1.0.2 so I started trying different things, which i honestly don't remember the last firmware I tried to install. But at one point I recover flashed to DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK, and then to the HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4. I think then I just tried to , HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive.
I know omnidrive is not your firmware, but I figure it was based off yours and using the SDFtools (newest). I'm wondering if it's bricked. As far as I can remember, I think I only used those three firmwares, it was just the combination was different each time.

try with the lg unlocked flasher or asus
unlocked one is in my de pack
flash stock bu40n 1.00 fw and see what happens

[huger33]

This is the same drive, i reflashed it today. I tried on a different computer, same thing. Drive letter appears, but it won't eject and no lights on front. Its a 2 month old drive, purchased from BB online.
I tried to update to HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4, but it kept showing 1.0.2 so I started trying different things, which i honestly don't remember the last firmware I tried to install. But at one point I recover flashed to DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK, and then to the HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4. I think then I just tried to , HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive.
I know omnidrive is not your firmware, but I figure it was based off yours and using the SDFtools (newest). I'm wondering if it's bricked. As far as I can remember, I think I only used those three firmwares, it was just the combination was different each time.

try with the lg unlocked flasher or asus
unlocked one is in my de pack
flash stock bu40n 1.00 fw and see what happens

I tired the BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe unlocker and it said "Valid ATAPI device can not be found!!! F/W model is BD-RE BH14S40. FYI I have two LG drives SATA connected to this computer as well, while my BP50NB40 is usb connected. The error with the unlocker appears to want my usb drive connected to my computers SATA port. It seems like I need to somehow connect. Would something like this work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB5BNLK6?re ... asin_title and using a usb A double female connector work?
Also, your video said it to only do it if your drive says MT1959. See attachment photo

[Billycar11]

This is the same drive, i reflashed it today. I tried on a different computer, same thing. Drive letter appears, but it won't eject and no lights on front. Its a 2 month old drive, purchased from BB online.
I tried to update to HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4, but it kept showing 1.0.2 so I started trying different things, which i honestly don't remember the last firmware I tried to install. But at one point I recover flashed to DE_LG_BP50NB40-NB50_1.03_MK, and then to the HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive-1.0.4. I think then I just tried to , HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_OmniDrive.
I know omnidrive is not your firmware, but I figure it was based off yours and using the SDFtools (newest). I'm wondering if it's bricked. As far as I can remember, I think I only used those three firmwares, it was just the combination was different each time.

try with the lg unlocked flasher or asus
unlocked one is in my de pack
flash stock bu40n 1.00 fw and see what happens

I tired the BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe unlocker and it said "Valid ATAPI device can not be found!!! F/W model is BD-RE BH14S40. FYI I have two LG drives SATA connected to this computer as well, while my BP50NB40 is usb connected. The error with the unlocker appears to want my usb drive connected to my computers SATA port. It seems like I need to somehow connect. Would something like this work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB5BNLK6?re ... asin_title and using a usb A double female connector work?
Also, your video said it to only do it if your drive says MT1959. See attachment photo

no your drive has no sata connector if its real
and only use the recommended adapters from the guide

[huger33]

try with the lg unlocked flasher or asus
unlocked one is in my de pack
flash stock bu40n 1.00 fw and see what happens

I tired the BH14NS40_N1.00-A4_patched.exe unlocker and it said "Valid ATAPI device can not be found!!! F/W model is BD-RE BH14S40. FYI I have two LG drives SATA connected to this computer as well, while my BP50NB40 is usb connected. The error with the unlocker appears to want my usb drive connected to my computers SATA port. It seems like I need to somehow connect. Would something like this work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB5BNLK6?re ... asin_title and using a usb A double female connector work?
Also, your video said it to only do it if your drive says MT1959. See attachment photo

no your drive has no sata connector if its real
and only use the recommended adapters from the guide

So you recommend I try to connect my usb bp50n to the sata ports on my desktop using the guides cable recommendation and try the unlocked flasher again?
How best do i connect my optical drive to this cable? My drive has a micro usb connector, do I use a little "USB A to micro" adapter? Or use the drives stock USB A cable (which has two usb a ends, i believe for extra power delivery) and a female to female USB A connector.

[Billycar11]

So you recommend I try to connect my usb bp50n to the sata ports on my desktop using the guides cable recommendation and try the unlocked flasher again?
How best do i connect my optical drive to this cable? My drive has a micro usb connector, do I use a little "USB A to micro" adapter? Or use the drives stock USB A cable (which has two usb a ends, i believe for extra power delivery) and a female to female USB A connector.

You don't
See if the Asus flasher sees your drive if not
It's probably done for sorry

[huger33]

So you recommend I try to connect my usb bp50n to the sata ports on my desktop using the guides cable recommendation and try the unlocked flasher again?
How best do i connect my optical drive to this cable? My drive has a micro usb connector, do I use a little "USB A to micro" adapter? Or use the drives stock USB A cable (which has two usb a ends, i believe for extra power delivery) and a female to female USB A connector.

You don't
See if the Asus flasher sees your drive if not
It's probably done for sorry

Dammit. It didn't. Well thanks for your time.