1a) if you have the newer version of MakeMKV (1.18 including beta) installed, you have to remove it, and search here in this forum for the link to 1.17.6 and install that (viewforum.php?f=3)
1b) if you have not used the drive yet, put a DVD in it, and run MakeMKV once, and have it read the drive. I used the GUI. That prepares you for #2.
2) then you need an sdf.bin file. Get that from inside your .makeMKV/._private_data.tar file. OR get it from the forum here: https://makemkv.com/sdf.bin . Either way, put it into a temp folder. I used Home/Downloads/temp/.
3) Then you have to get the "The all you need firmware pack.zip" from this forum in the UHD Flashing section, and get out of it the ASUS_BW_16D1HT-3.10-WM..... .bin file . I copied it into the /Downloads/temp directory.
PLEASE NOTE: the LG file does NOT work on the ASUS BW-16D1X-U, probably because it is externally USB to internal SATA.
4) Get your drive accessed at the lowest level by running in terminal:
sudo modprobe sg
5). then using a terminal of course, use this command modified for you:
sudo makemkvcon f -f ~/Downloads/temp/sdf.bin -d /dev/sr0 rawflash enc -i ~/Downloads/temp/ASUS-BW-16D1HT-3.10-WM01601-211901041014.bin
a) it is all one long command line. if you have to, paste the above into Kate or whatever text editor, and if it is 2 lines, delete the line break so it is one line. then paste that
b) use your own sdf file which may have a bunch of 0's and other numbers in the name, too. Or the downloaded version, which is just sdf.bin
c) you MUST use 'rawflash enc' then the rest, because that is what tells makeMKV to deal with the A105 encryption.
d) hit return AND WATCH. You will have to type 'yes' to confirm you really do want to risk bricking your shiny new drive. Do that, and it finishes in about 30 seconds, and returns to the command line. At least mine did. Your drive, your risk!
6) When it completes, switch the power toggle to OFF. unplug the USB and the power. Toggle the power switch once and the drive opening button once. Wait 30 seconds. Then plug it back in.
Verify with makeMKV 1.17.6 that it worked (I used the GUI, and had it read a disc, displaying the chapters etc)9) Then replace 1.17.6 with the 1.18 beta or higher, because you need that to read and rip those UHB discs.
10) then put a disk in and start ripping all your disks to your home server!
Please note, that the forum owners here say that these drives have difficulty with UHD discs. I have only tried one, and it read the titles, but then made wonky sounds when I tried to rip it. I have read in the forums here that putting in a regular DVD, running it, makes the drive ready for Blu Ray UHDs after that. So I am ripping a regular BluRay first, and then will try a UHD Blu Ray. I'll try to remember to post any problems here.
12) When MakeMKV comes out of the current beta phase and can take payments again, then pay them for this awesome software. I have already ripped about 35 DVDs and several regular Blu Rays, on my previous Mat'shit'a drive, which pretended nothing in it with UHD dics, making me think the whole drive was dead until I finally thought to try DVDs and regular Blu Rays.