Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

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Doc Holliday
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 11:35 pm

Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by Doc Holliday »

I just bought the Archgon Premium Aluminum External USB 3.0 UHD 4K Blu-Ray Writer Super Drive for PC and Mac. I'm new to ripping 4K discs, but that's what I bought it for. I've always used MakeMKV in the past on my blu rays, but I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to get this drive to read the disks so I can rip them.

I'm currently trying to figure out how to flash the drive, but I can't get the SDFtool Flasher open on my Mac that's running Sonoma. Can anyone help me with how to get the .exe file to run? I tried using the Wine application, but got an error.

I also might be overcomplicating this whole process. If anyone is able to provide some guidance, I would greatly appreciate it.
Billycar11
Posts: 5868
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by Billycar11 »

See guides Mac commands below
Buy a drive from the guide and video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drive Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $40 Email Billycar5924@gmail.com No attachments
seamus
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2025 7:13 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by seamus »

Billycar11 wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:07 pm See guides Mac commands below
I'm sorry, but I'm not following your reply... I have a drive I want to flash, but don't have a Windows computer - I have a Mac, and a Linux box.

Thanks,
~S
Billycar11
Posts: 5868
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by Billycar11 »

seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:45 am
Billycar11 wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:07 pm See guides Mac commands below
I'm sorry, but I'm not following your reply... I have a drive I want to flash, but don't have a Windows computer - I have a Mac, and a Linux box.

Thanks,
~S
the guide has the mac and linux commands there is no gui on those platforms you must use cli
Buy a drive from the guide and video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drive Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $40 Email Billycar5924@gmail.com No attachments
seamus
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2025 7:13 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by seamus »

Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:47 am
seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:45 am
Billycar11 wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:07 pm See guides Mac commands below
I'm sorry, but I'm not following your reply... I have a drive I want to flash, but don't have a Windows computer - I have a Mac, and a Linux box.

Thanks,
~S
the guide has the mac and linux commands there is no gui on those platforms you must use cli
OK, great... but where do I download the "flasher tool", and the firmware for my drives?

Thanks,
~S
Billycar11
Posts: 5868
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by Billycar11 »

seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:51 am
Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:47 am
seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:45 am

I'm sorry, but I'm not following your reply... I have a drive I want to flash, but don't have a Windows computer - I have a Mac, and a Linux box.

Thanks,
~S
the guide has the mac and linux commands there is no gui on those platforms you must use cli
OK, great... but where do I download the "flasher tool", and the firmware for my drives?

Thanks,
~S
its built into makemkv
Buy a drive from the guide and video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drive Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $40 Email Billycar5924@gmail.com No attachments
seamus
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2025 7:13 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by seamus »

Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:53 am
seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:51 am
Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:47 am
the guide has the mac and linux commands there is no gui on those platforms you must use cli
OK, great... but where do I download the "flasher tool", and the firmware for my drives?
its built into makemkv
That sounds good... do I need to download any firmware - or anything else - to get this to work?
And apologies for my ignorance, but I've just looked over the MakeMKV menu again, and I could find nothing re. flashing my drives. Is there an explanation posted anywhere on how to access this "built-in" tool?
Billycar11
Posts: 5868
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by Billycar11 »

seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 6:12 am
Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:53 am
seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:51 am

OK, great... but where do I download the "flasher tool", and the firmware for my drives?
its built into makemkv
That sounds good... do I need to download any firmware - or anything else - to get this to work?
And apologies for my ignorance, but I've just looked over the MakeMKV menu again, and I could find nothing re. flashing my drives. Is there an explanation posted anywhere on how to access this "built-in" tool?
see guide below
Buy a drive from the guide and video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drive Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $40 Email Billycar5924@gmail.com No attachments
nicholfd
Posts: 358
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:22 pm

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by nicholfd »

seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 6:12 am
Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:53 am
seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:51 am

OK, great... but where do I download the "flasher tool", and the firmware for my drives?
its built into makemkv
That sounds good... do I need to download any firmware - or anything else - to get this to work?
And apologies for my ignorance, but I've just looked over the MakeMKV menu again, and I could find nothing re. flashing my drives. Is there an explanation posted anywhere on how to access this "built-in" tool?
I'm replying here, so as to not dirty up Marty's SDFtool (for Windows) thread.

You came to a public forum, asking for free help from volunteers, and then you want to argue with & belittle the people who are trying to help you.

This makes you come off as a deserving jerk. Period.

Every question you have asked has been answered when asked (often by referring you to the answer in a separate thread). If you had read the first page of any of the threads you were referred to, you wouldn't be asking some of these questions.

Answered already in THIS VERY SINGLE PAGE THREAD - there is no GUI or "menu" for flashing on macOS or Linux. The only GUI for flashing is the SDFtool.exe app for Windows, and it is simply a GUI wrapper for the command line sdftool executable part of MakeMKV. There is no "secret" or hidden anything. On macOS, the tool is inside the MakeMKV app bundle. if you don't know what that is, you'll probably have trouble flashing on macOS (note this is not specific to MakeMKV - it's specific to macOS.) The tool is: MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/sdftool

The firmware you keep asking about - again, answered in the flashing guide thread you were referred to, AND one of the replies to your questions in another thread.

There has never been a public/free method/tool for flashing Pioneer drives - again, answered by one of the other replies to your questions. If you want to flash the ASUS that has a Pioneer drive, you'll have to pay to receive a Pioneer flashing tool - links have been provided & explicitly indicated in a reply to you in another thread.

You need to try harder to help yourself (read more), before complaining about the free, volunteer help you do receive.
seamus
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2025 7:13 am

Re: Running SDFtool Flasher on a Mac (Sonoma)

Post by seamus »

nicholfd wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2026 12:46 am
seamus wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 6:12 am
Billycar11 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 5:53 am
its built into makemkv
That sounds good... do I need to download any firmware - or anything else - to get this to work?
And apologies for my ignorance, but I've just looked over the MakeMKV menu again, and I could find nothing re. flashing my drives. Is there an explanation posted anywhere on how to access this "built-in" tool?
I'm replying here, so as to not dirty up Marty's SDFtool (for Windows) thread.

You came to a public forum, asking for free help from volunteers, and then you want to argue with & belittle the people who are trying to help you.

This makes you come off as a deserving jerk. Period.

Every question you have asked has been answered when asked (often by referring you to the answer in a separate thread). If you had read the first page of any of the threads you were referred to, you wouldn't be asking some of these questions.

Answered already in THIS VERY SINGLE PAGE THREAD - there is no GUI or "menu" for flashing on macOS or Linux. The only GUI for flashing is the SDFtool.exe app for Windows, and it is simply a GUI wrapper for the command line sdftool executable part of MakeMKV. There is no "secret" or hidden anything. On macOS, the tool is inside the MakeMKV app bundle. if you don't know what that is, you'll probably have trouble flashing on macOS (note this is not specific to MakeMKV - it's specific to macOS.) The tool is: MakeMKV.app/Contents/MacOS/sdftool

The firmware you keep asking about - again, answered in the flashing guide thread you were referred to, AND one of the replies to your questions in another thread.

There has never been a public/free method/tool for flashing Pioneer drives - again, answered by one of the other replies to your questions. If you want to flash the ASUS that has a Pioneer drive, you'll have to pay to receive a Pioneer flashing tool - links have been provided & explicitly indicated in a reply to you in another thread.

You need to try harder to help yourself (read more), before complaining about the free, volunteer help you do receive.
I hope you feel better for adding your very valuable two cents worth to the conversation. I disagree with basically everything you've posted here - and frankly wonder exactly what you thought you were adding with your insults??

And FWIW moronsky, I have tried to help myself. As I have already posted, I have read the "guidance" multiple times, but find it almost unintelligible. I see you've been involved here since 2011 - that's about 15 years. Obviously, you have learned some things, and developed some expertise... GOOD FOR YOU. But I cannot help but wonder why you insult and belittle a relative newcomer who is only trying to learn how to do something - something that is far from "crystal clear" or "simple".

But go ahead, I guess you are free to be an ass-hole if that cranks your tractor. Did you "volunteer" here to insult and belittle those who are struggling? I wonder - do you also kick your dog when you're feeling unhappy with yourself? My advice for you: Get some professional help.

Anyway - I never asked you personally for anything, and I never will. Have a nice day.

~S
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