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ASUS responded by updating the drive’s firmware. Later versions (1.03 and above) turned the drive "UHD Hostile," intentionally breaking the ability to read 4K discs. | Firmware | UHD Support | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1.00 – 1.02 | ✅ Full | The "Holy Grail." Works natively with MakeMKV. Very rare today. | | 1.03 | ⚠️ Partial | Still works but may require a "clean" firmware flash. | | 1.04 – 1.05 | ❌ Hostile | Blocks UHD reads. Can be flashed back (downgraded) using a special recovery tool. | | 1.06 – 3.10 | ❌ Locked | Contains encrypted bootloaders. Downgrading requires a physical flasher (e.g., Raspberry Pi Pico or Arduino). | The Flashing Workaround The community, led by developers like Mike Chen (MakeMKV) and Teddy Rasputin , has created custom "MK" firmware that restores UHD functionality.
You can usually flash down to 1.02-MK or 1.03-MK using a simple Windows flasher (SDFtool Flasher). bw-16d1ht firmware
However, ASUS has spent years trying to close the loophole. If you own one of these drives, understanding its firmware version is the difference between a functional ripping machine and a paperweight. Officially, 4K UHD Blu-ray drives must use a software handshake (AACS 2.0) to decrypt discs. However, a handful of "UHD Friendly" drives—including the early BW-16D1HT—could read raw sector data from UHD discs without this handshake, allowing tools like MakeMKV to do the decryption. ASUS responded by updating the drive’s firmware
While the ASUS BW-16D1HT is technically a standard 16x Blu-ray writer, its true value lies not in burning discs, but in what its firmware allows it to do: Very rare today
For new users: Stop hunting for old stock. Instead, buy a or a pre-flashed LG BP60NB10 (external). The Pioneer drives currently offer better support for modern UHD discs without the cat-and-mouse firmware war. Disclaimer: Flashing drive firmware with unofficial builds voids your warranty and carries a small risk of bricking the device. This article is for educational purposes. Always verify that you own a legal copy of any disc you wish to back up.
For enthusiasts of physical media and home theater PC (HTPC) builders, few drives have achieved the cult status of the LG WH16NS60 and its OEM clone, the ASUS BW-16D1HT .
