Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[NGS428]

I think you misread. The recommended firmware for your drive is WH16NS60 1.02-MK, not NS40.

Yes, you use enc the first time you flash and yes, the Unitek 1039 should work just fine.

Marty, thanks for the reply. I see that now in the first post. I assumed that info may have not been updated since when I downloaded the MK firmware pack, "HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.02-NM00100-211810291936.bin" was located in the "old" folder.

HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_WH16NS60-1.03-NM00600-212005081010.bin is in the current "WH16NS60" folder.

And the WH16NS60 and the WH14NS40 are the same drive, just different firmware? Just curious how I can flash one to the other.

No, WH16NS60 1.02-MK is the recommended firmware. 1.03 is crap.

No, they share most of the hardware it is just the NS60 is an official UHD drive (and has an AACS 2 chip) but the firmware reads faster and removes the sleep bug.

Thanks Marty! Super easy to flash with your flasher tool. Thanks for all you do!
Also, if you want to, you can add the "Unitek Y-1039" to the first post. It worked just fine.

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom0
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS60
Revision: 1.02
Firmware date: 2118-10-29 19:36
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 68

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[fiod3s]

I've already successfully flashed a HL-DT-ST BU40N 1.04 with the original firmware DE_LG_BU40N_1.00 so thanks for this valuable guide and the tools as well.

Now I've got the following

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: FR07
Serial number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Firmware date: 2119-05-10 13:48
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 76

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

The surprise is the firmware date which isn't 2118-01-22 15:36 as expected.

Why? What's the differences? Is that encoded?

Any advice?

[russelms]

Well I went and screwed my drive I believe. It is a WH16NS40 NS50 Manufactered in 2016 and was running 1.02 unpatched.

I tried SDF tool but it would always fail with an error, so then I tried the Blackened2687 unlocked flasher to flash to the WH16NS60 1.02 MK and it failed with a 4//something error.

Now undetectable by MakeMKV but in windows it still shows in device manager but is unable to power-up (something like that).

Is DOS flashing an option to recover?

Thanks

[MrRom92]

The last 2 posters reference, had you carefully read the 1st post in this thread (Billycar11 works diligently to keep it current) , starting from encrypted FWs. This requires flashing w/ either Mike's command line tool, or the SDFtool Flasher, w/ the 'enc' option selected.

Hello, I’ve read it carefully - several times over in fact - but it is still not the easiest thing to follow. Sorry to trouble you I am still not quite understanding the difference between FWs 1.00 & 1.02MK for the WH16NS60, or which is better/why, but as I’ve already successfully flashed to 1.00 I suppose I can just stay on this FW if I don’t experience any issues.

[d00zah]

Hello, I’ve read it carefully - several times over in fact - but it is still not the easiest thing to follow. Sorry to trouble you I am still not quite understanding the difference between FWs 1.00 & 1.02MK for the WH16NS60, or which is better/why, but as I’ve already successfully flashed to 1.00 I suppose I can just stay on this FW if I don’t experience any issues.

The only difference I am aware of is that v1,0 FW is unpatched, & is supported by AnyDVD... which is really only important if you also use AnyDVD & it stopped working after you flashed the drive. As FW releases are no longer accompanied by a change log, any other differences are speculative, & perhaps subjective.

The bottom line is "Does it work for you"? As an old engineer, I'm often vexed by this FOMO driven world.

[MrRom92]

Hello, I’ve read it carefully - several times over in fact - but it is still not the easiest thing to follow. Sorry to trouble you I am still not quite understanding the difference between FWs 1.00 & 1.02MK for the WH16NS60, or which is better/why, but as I’ve already successfully flashed to 1.00 I suppose I can just stay on this FW if I don’t experience any issues.

The only difference I am aware of is that v1,0 FW is unpatched, & is supported by AnyDVD... which is really only important if you also use AnyDVD & it stopped working after you flashed the drive. As FW releases are no longer accompanied by a change log, any other differences are speculative, & perhaps subjective.

The bottom line is "Does it work for you"? As an old engineer, I'm often vexed by this FOMO driven world.

Well it at least appears to be working and ripping UHDs so I take it that I’m set! thank you I just had an issue ripping/burning a copy of a standard BD but I am presuming it’s unrelated to all of this drive flashing UHD stuff

[d00zah]

I just had an issue ripping/burning a copy of a standard BD but I am presuming it’s unrelated to all of this drive flashing UHD stuff

For the most part, correct. Once MakeMKV reports LibreDrive is enabled, the primary benefit for BD is w/ AACS. Everything else should just be general stuff related to optical media.

[earlymorningmarch]

BH16NS55 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

Is there a reason why we are using 1.02MK when there is only 1.05MK in the MK Firmware pack?
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113
Are there firmware versions where it is better/worse for certain task/ software?

Thanks

[Billycar11]

BH16NS55 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

Is there a reason why we are using 1.02MK when there is only 1.05MK in the MK Firmware pack?
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113
Are there firmware versions where it is better/worse for certain task/ software?

Thanks

Yes because it's faster, has no sleep bug and causes less confusion because it's not encrypted
It's in the all you need firmware pack

[KentaZX]

Okay my WH16NS40 drive stopped working in general, as in not reading ANY discs whatsoever after I made a mistake of upgrading the firmware from 1.02 to 1.05 through LG's site. I have tried to follow this guide to flash the firmware to WH16NS60 1.02MK firmware, and while it did flashed, it will STILL not read any discs at all. my I bought this drive back at 2014 too if that helps. I've also tried using the W1H16NS60 1.00, WH16NS40 1.05 again, 1.02 NS50 firmware to see if that makes a difference, using the patched downgrade flasher and then the asus modified flasher. but nothing worked at all. Is my drive screwed?

[KentaZX]

Ive been trying to follow this guide to fix my LG WH16NS40 drive since its not reading any disc anymore ever since I updated its firmware to 1.05. I tried flashing different firmwares like WH16NS60 1.00, 1.02, and 1.02MK and WH16NS40 1.05MK as well and nothing worked.

[Billycar11]

Okay my WH16NS40 drive stopped working in general, as in not reading ANY discs whatsoever after I made a mistake of upgrading the firmware from 1.02 to 1.05 through LG's site. I have tried to follow this guide to flash the firmware to WH16NS60 1.02MK firmware, and while it did flashed, it will STILL not read any discs at all. my I bought this drive back at 2014 too if that helps. I've also tried using the W1H16NS60 1.00, WH16NS40 1.05 again, 1.02 NS50 firmware to see if that makes a difference, using the patched downgrade flasher and then the asus modified flasher. but nothing worked at all. Is my drive screwed?

every thing needed to prevent this and fix this is in the first post

IMPORTANT Before you flash:

1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2015 on label
2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv
3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label
4. Just because your drive is the same model number does not mean it will work, if you are unsure ask me i offer remote flashing and check everything before i flash.
5. Dont flash your dive if it does not meet these requirements if you do you will be unable to read all disks and unable to restore without dosflash that does not work on most modern computers



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgybNfHhcg - Obsolete but can be useful for recovery
only use the recovery steps for older NS40 drives!!:
Ok here's a summary of what you need to do

Try the recovery option in sdf tool if that fails do this:

Downgrade your drive to WH16NS60 1.00 with sdftool or makemkv command line
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then reflash WH16NS60 1.00 again with the unlocked lg or Asus flasher
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then boot in to your dosflash bottable and dump the firmware
Use the transfer tool to your correct firmware and flash it.

NS40 Recovery Image:
Flashed an NS50 firmware to an NS40 drive and can no longer read disks this IMG has all the NS40 FW you need to recover your drive just follow my dos flash video guide linked above
https://www.mediafire.com/file/8by2zqop ... D.zip/file Made by

[KentaZX]

Okay my WH16NS40 drive stopped working in general, as in not reading ANY discs whatsoever after I made a mistake of upgrading the firmware from 1.02 to 1.05 through LG's site. I have tried to follow this guide to flash the firmware to WH16NS60 1.02MK firmware, and while it did flashed, it will STILL not read any discs at all. my I bought this drive back at 2014 too if that helps. I've also tried using the W1H16NS60 1.00, WH16NS40 1.05 again, 1.02 NS50 firmware to see if that makes a difference, using the patched downgrade flasher and then the asus modified flasher. but nothing worked at all. Is my drive screwed?

every thing needed to prevent this and fix this is in the first post

IMPORTANT Before you flash:

1. Make sure your Drive was built after 2015 on label
2. Drive Platform MT1959<Most important in makemkv
3. SVC NS50+ LG only on label
4. Just because your drive is the same model number does not mean it will work, if you are unsure ask me i offer remote flashing and check everything before i flash.
5. Dont flash your dive if it does not meet these requirements if you do you will be unable to read all disks and unable to restore without dosflash that does not work on most modern computers



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgybNfHhcg - Obsolete but can be useful for recovery
only use the recovery steps for older NS40 drives!!:
Ok here's a summary of what you need to do

Try the recovery option in sdf tool if that fails do this:

Downgrade your drive to WH16NS60 1.00 with sdftool or makemkv command line
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then reflash WH16NS60 1.00 again with the unlocked lg or Asus flasher
Full shutdown pull power plug or flip switch push power button for 10 seconds
Then boot in to your dosflash bottable and dump the firmware
Use the transfer tool to your correct firmware and flash it.

NS40 Recovery Image:
Flashed an NS50 firmware to an NS40 drive and can no longer read disks this IMG has all the NS40 FW you need to recover your drive just follow my dos flash video guide linked above
https://www.mediafire.com/file/8by2zqop ... D.zip/file Made by

Is there no way at all to boot the dosflash in a 64-bit windows computer? Also I've checked the IMG and couldnt find any of the NS40 firmware in there, let alone my firmware.

EDIT: I just realized I could just boot into that image to open DOSFlash, but now my Drive is not being detected by dosflash at all and I cant even dump the firmware.

[rblood01]

At this point, I'd do one of two things.
1) get a different drive and try again

or

2) see if one of the experts here that do remote flashing is willing to assist you in getting this drive properly functional.

I know, from experience that this process can be confusing as I just went through it myself. Even reading the instructions and such (when finding the most current ones) can leave someone with questions. The fact that you have a problem disk after flashing firmware, makes me believe this step, which should be pretty easy and safe, isn't possible on this drive for you. Reason I suggests to see if someone with experience can remotely check, and if possible repair the drive. At least at that time, you'd have a solid reliable answer to your issue.

[KentaZX]

Okay for option 2, Do I just private message one of the experts here? IF so, who do I talk to? If not, is there some sort of a proper procedure to get some remote flashing help here?