Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2023

[RangerEnn]

Is there any reason why first post still states:

BU40N on any Firmware directly to > BU40N 1.03MK

1.04MK firmware was available since July 2020 - viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113

sebus

We have also tested 1-04, and it is not good firmware compared to 1-03mk.

Where can I find a download link for 1.03MK. I tried to find it earlier without success.

[RangerEnn]

what usb case are you using that is likely not passing through the flashing commands

That doesn't sound good. Is there a way to debug this so I can confirm that the problem is in fact the enclosure?

It's a weird TechPulse120 UHD reader that has little to no information about it on the Internet. I bought it because it was relatively cheap comapred to alternatives, but I'm starting to think that I'll be better off getting a well known model instead of this.

If there's no way to circumvent this limitation without dissasembly I'm returing the unit since it's still under 30 day return period.

[asmcom]

Is there any reason why first post still states:

BU40N on any Firmware directly to > BU40N 1.03MK

1.04MK firmware was available since July 2020 - viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19113

sebus

We have also tested 1-04, and it is not good firmware compared to 1-03mk.

Where can I find a download link for 1.03MK. I tried to find it earlier without success.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ldlp4W ... p=drivesdk

[sebus46]

It is already in the linked above post in:

mk-firmware-pack-20200720.zip\mk-firmware-pack-20200720\MK\old\

(if it is better than latest firmware, it is confusing to have it in folder called old)

[sebus46]

Thanks, ad advised, went back to 1.03 (from patched 1.04)

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE BU40N
Revision: 1.03
Serial number: MO5N37J5120
Firmware date: 2118-10-24 19:34
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 53

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: MT1959
Firmware type: Patched (microcode access re-enabled)
Firmware version: 1.03
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[bdawg77]

hello I have been on this forum for over 2 hrs trying to figure out how to get my BDR-XD07UHD to work with Libredrive, I downloaded marks flasher, It wouldn't recognize my drive, I downloaded the firmware zip no pioneers are in there. Trying to get UHD4K to read, makemkv updated, tried on two different systems, same message on both systems:

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8E21
Firmware version: ID05

How would I enable it?

[d00zah]

hello I have been on this forum for over 2 hrs trying to figure out how to get my BDR-XD07UHD to work with Libredrive, I downloaded marks flasher, It wouldn't recognize my drive, I downloaded the firmware zip no pioneers are in there. Trying to get UHD4K to read, makemkv updated, tried on two different systems, same message on both systems:

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8E21
Firmware version: ID05

How would I enable it?

Excerpt from 1st post:

...

PSA now most Pioneers come with new fw that prevents them from be crossflashed or downgraded do not buy one for UHD at this time
Pioneer Drives need Firmware from before December 2022 firmware after this does not work do not update if you have a working one more on this in the coming weeks if they can be flashed. if your pioneer UHD drive does not work post your makemkv drive info here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27378

Pioneer firmware update February 2023

No updates, to date...

[RangerEnn]

what usb case are you using that is likely not passing through the flashing commands

You were right. I disassembled the enclosure and plugged the drive directly to a USB port with a miniSATA-to-USB adapter. Not only MakeMKV was now able to use LibreDrive, thus being able to remux 4K discs, but now flash commands worked at first try. It still says 1.00 (Unpatched) even though I flashed 1.03 MK, but I don't care since I was able to remux films before flashing, so it's working as intended.

For the record, the flashing log was:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d F: -f E:\Descargas\sdf.bin rawflash enc -i E:\Descargas\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin

Reading input file E:\Descargas\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Sending image in encrypted format
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_211612201528_MO8N46A4552
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished
Done successfully

[Billycar11]

what usb case are you using that is likely not passing through the flashing commands

You were right. I disassembled the enclosure and plugged the drive directly to a USB port with a miniSATA-to-USB adapter. Not only MakeMKV was now able to use LibreDrive, thus being able to remux 4K discs, but now flash commands worked at first try. It still says 1.00 (Unpatched) even though I flashed 1.03 MK, but I don't care since I was able to remux films before flashing, so it's working as intended.

For the record, the flashing log was:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\MakeMKV>makemkvcon64.exe f --all-yes -d F: -f E:\Descargas\sdf.bin rawflash enc -i E:\Descargas\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin

Reading input file E:\Descargas\HL-DT-ST-BD-RE_BU40N-1.03-NM00000-211810241934.bin
Flashing flags = 0x0 : 0 0 0 0 : ---- ---- ---- ----
Sending image in encrypted format
Current Drive ID: HL-DT-ST_BD-RE_BU40N_1.00_211612201528_MO8N46A4552
Ready to write drive flash memory. (auto confirmed)
Operation started: Sending flash image to drive
 100% Operation finished
Operation started: Programming flash
 100% Operation finished
Done successfully

hmm i see thats not the first time either techpulse cases could not be flashed among other problems

[ironsniper1]

stupid question

[Woodstock]

What reason would you want to flash it?

DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Partial
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

If you're thinking you want to get UHD-capability from it, the date says it was built several years before UHD came about.

[ironsniper1]

stupid question

[Billycar11]

i dont do uhd i was just asking if i should or if its worth it in any given way

if you dont want it to read discs anymore flash it

[FormerVUID]

Follow the guide it does not say to flash that firmware

Not sure I understand. My firmware is 1.04, I need to downgrade to 1.02 to make it UHD friendly. When I use the flasher tool I get this pop-up DRAM NG 5/26/03. Why am I getting this pop-up? How can I get it to downgrade successfully?

Thanks

you can get it to downgrade successfully by reading the guide not skimming and glancing at it you are reading the wrong model name you are seeing WH16NS40 1.02 but the guide says WH16NS60 1.02 the use the all you need firmware pack it will simplify things for you

I finally woke up after 3 days of trying to flash from my Mac to an LG WH16Ns40 and when using the recommended .bin file, I'm working smoothly. I can't thank the members of this forum enough!

[carpler]

Hello everyone!
I just received my new Asus BW-16D1HT drive with firmware 3.11.
I have read very carefully what is stated in the first post of this thread, but I have some newbie doubts.
1) Using SDFtool (1.3.5) I think you have to leave everything as default: the program detects that the drive is MT1959 platform, that the firmware is encrypted and only asks you to indicate the correct firmware to flash (which would be the 3.10MK file found in the zip package in the first post). Nothing else needs to be done to flash it, is that correct?
I know it's a trivial question, but I prefer to ask before I do any damage to the new drive.
2) Yes, another stupid newbie question: besides unlocking UHD Reading/Ripping, are there any other modifications/benefits to the drive in flashing the mk firmware?
3) (linked to the previous question) Once the mk firmware has been flashed, is it possible to make a working copy of an old CD-ROM with Securom protection with MakeMKV, or does MakeMKV only work for DVD and Bluray movies? Is there any other software that can generate a working copy of these CD-ROMs that still benefits from the mk firmware?