BP50NB40 (SVC NB40, MT1959) - rawflash says "Done successfully" but firmware stays at 1.03, tray dead
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:59 pm
Hello Marty,
I'm trying to recover an LG BP50NB40 drive and I'm out of ideas.
Drive information
* Model: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BP50NB40
* SVC: NB40
* Manufacture date: December 2016
* Original firmware: 1.00
* Platform: MT1959
What happened
1. Read original firmware successfully.
2. Flashed BP50NB40 NB50 1.03 MK successfully.
3. Tried to convert to BP60.
4. BP60 write appeared to succeed, but MakeMKV still reported BP50NB40 firmware 1.03.
5. I mistakenly ran Recovery afterwards.
6. Since then, the tray no longer works.
Current symptoms
* Windows detects the drive normally.
* MakeMKV detects the drive normally.
* Firmware version is always reported as 1.03.
* Pressing the eject button only flashes the LED about 10 times.
* The tray motor never moves.
LibreDrive information
Platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
GUI Recovery
I tried Recovery with:
BP50NB40-NB40-1.00-Clean.bin
The GUI finishes in about 2 seconds with no error, but nothing changes.
Command line test
Command:
sdftool64.exe --all-yes -d G: rawflash -i "BP50NB40-NB40-1.00-Clean.bin"
Output:
Reading input file BP50NB40-NB40-1.00-Clean.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_MZ1H12D4814
Ready to write drive flash memory.
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
100% Operation finished
Done successfully
After unplugging and reconnecting
* Firmware is still 1.03
* Tray still does not move
* LED flashes only
* No motor activity
Additional diagnostics
Command:
sdftool64.exe -d G: dump auto -o C:\dump
Result:
dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_MZ1H12D4814.tar
Only a 70 KB user dump is produced.
Command:
sdftool64.exe -d G: dump full -o C:\dump
Result:
Error: full dump is disabled in this firmware version
My questions:
1. Is there a recovery procedure specific to MT1959 / NB40?
2. Is the bootloader likely damaged?
3. Should I try rawflash with boot=MT1959 Boot BUP1 or any other flags?
4. Or does this indicate a hardware failure?
I can run any additional diagnostic commands or provide more information if needed.
Thank you very much.
I'm trying to recover an LG BP50NB40 drive and I'm out of ideas.
Drive information
* Model: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BP50NB40
* SVC: NB40
* Manufacture date: December 2016
* Original firmware: 1.00
* Platform: MT1959
What happened
1. Read original firmware successfully.
2. Flashed BP50NB40 NB50 1.03 MK successfully.
3. Tried to convert to BP60.
4. BP60 write appeared to succeed, but MakeMKV still reported BP50NB40 firmware 1.03.
5. I mistakenly ran Recovery afterwards.
6. Since then, the tray no longer works.
Current symptoms
* Windows detects the drive normally.
* MakeMKV detects the drive normally.
* Firmware version is always reported as 1.03.
* Pressing the eject button only flashes the LED about 10 times.
* The tray motor never moves.
LibreDrive information
Platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
GUI Recovery
I tried Recovery with:
BP50NB40-NB40-1.00-Clean.bin
The GUI finishes in about 2 seconds with no error, but nothing changes.
Command line test
Command:
sdftool64.exe --all-yes -d G: rawflash -i "BP50NB40-NB40-1.00-Clean.bin"
Output:
Reading input file BP50NB40-NB40-1.00-Clean.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_MZ1H12D4814
Ready to write drive flash memory.
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
100% Operation finished
Done successfully
After unplugging and reconnecting
* Firmware is still 1.03
* Tray still does not move
* LED flashes only
* No motor activity
Additional diagnostics
Command:
sdftool64.exe -d G: dump auto -o C:\dump
Result:
dump_user_HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BP50NB40_1.03_212005070917_MZ1H12D4814.tar
Only a 70 KB user dump is produced.
Command:
sdftool64.exe -d G: dump full -o C:\dump
Result:
Error: full dump is disabled in this firmware version
My questions:
1. Is there a recovery procedure specific to MT1959 / NB40?
2. Is the bootloader likely damaged?
3. Should I try rawflash with boot=MT1959 Boot BUP1 or any other flags?
4. Or does this indicate a hardware failure?
I can run any additional diagnostic commands or provide more information if needed.
Thank you very much.