Alcor Micro Unknown Fa00 - F W 3613 -
ALCOR MICRO UNKNOWN FA00 - F/W 3613 is a cry for help from a dying or misconfigured USB flash drive controller. While you can often revive the drive as a usable storage device using Alcor’s MPTool, do not trust it with important data afterward. The root cause—poor NAND quality or counterfeit design—remains.
If the drive contained critical files, stop all DIY attempts immediately and send it to a professional lab like DriveSavers or Ace Laboratory (for PC3000 Flash). Otherwise, consider the drive e-waste and replace it with a reputable brand (SanDisk, Samsung, SK Hynix).
Need a specific MPTool version or further debugging? Provide the exact NAND chip marking (e.g., “H27UCG8T2BTR”) and I can narrow down the configuration.
Alcor Micro USB drive showing the "Unknown FA00" error with Firmware 3613
, you typically need to re-flash the controller using a specialized mass production (MP) tool. This error usually indicates that the drive's firmware has become corrupted or the controller is unable to read the NAND flash memory. 🛠️ How to Fix Alcor Micro "Unknown FA00" 1. Identify Your Specific Chip
Before downloading tools, you must verify the exact controller and memory chip. Standard Windows properties won't show this. ChipGenius Flash Drive Information Extractor Controller model (e.g., AU6989SN) and the (a string of hex codes). 2. Find the Correct MP Tool "FA00" often requires a specific version of the Alcormp Online Recovery Search for: "AlcorMP AU6989" (or your specific chip) + "Firmware 3613". Trusted Source: FlashBoot.ru
are the most comprehensive archives for these specialized tools. 3. Flashing Procedure Disable Antivirus:
These tools are often flagged as "false positives" because they access hardware at a low level. Run as Admin: Right-click the AlcorMP.exe ) and run as administrator. Insert Drive: If the tool doesn't see it, click Refresh (G) Setup/Configuration: Password is usually blank or "000000".
In "Flash Type," ensure it matches what ChipGenius told you.
. The process can take 5–30 minutes depending on the drive size and "Scan Level." ⚠️ Important Warnings Data Loss: This process is a "factory reset." It will erase all files on the USB drive. Hardware Fail:
If the tool returns an error like "Too many bad blocks" or "Hardware Error," the physical NAND chip may be permanently damaged. Test Mode:
If the computer doesn't detect the drive at all, you may need to "short" the pins on the controller chip (Hardware Test Mode) to force the PC to recognize it as a generic device. If you'd like to proceed with the repair, tell me: Controller Model did ChipGenius show? What is the (the long code)? Are you getting a specific error code (like 30100 or 50400) when you try to run a tool? alcor micro unknown fa00 - f w 3613
The identifiers Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 typically appear when a USB flash drive's controller is corrupted, malfunctioning, or is a counterfeit device
. In most cases, "FA00" is not a legitimate model number but a generic error code or placeholder indicating that the management software cannot correctly identify the physical controller chip. Identifying the Root Cause When diagnostic tools like ChipGenius Flash Drive Information Extractor return these specific strings, it usually means: Firmware Corruption
: The controller's internal software (Firmware 3613) is damaged, preventing the operating system from seeing the actual storage capacity (often showing "0 MB" or "No Media"). Pseudo-Controller : The "FA00" ID is frequently associated with AU6989SN-GT/TA
or similar series controllers where the Flash ID (FID) cannot be read (e.g., returning 89 89 89 89 89 89 Hardware Failure
: A physical break in the connection between the controller and the flash memory chip. Potential Solutions
If you are trying to recover the drive, you will likely need specialized "Mass Production" (MP) tools from Alcor Micro Identify the True Controller ChipGenius
to find the actual hardware ID (e.g., AU6989, AU6998). If it still says "FA00," you may need to open the drive's casing to read the laser-etched model number directly off the chip. Use AlcorMP Tools
: Once the true model is known, download the corresponding version of : These tools are designed for factory formatting and will erase all data on the drive.
If the standard tools fail to see the drive, you might need a "Rework" version of the utility, such as Alcor Change PID/VID Rework , to reset the device's identification strings. Check Drivers : Sometimes a persistent driver like mpszfilt.sys
(installed by some Alcor utilities) can cause conflicts with other USB devices if the utility crashes. Relaunching and properly closing the tool usually resolves this.
Are you trying to recover data from this drive, or are you simply looking to make it functional again? ALCOR MICRO UNKNOWN FA00 - F/W 3613 is
AlcorMP (Последняя версия ALCOR U2 MP v23.08.07.00.H)
The identifier Alcor Micro Unknown [FA00] - F/W 3613 (or similar firmware versions like F006 or C2DE) typically appears when a flash drive's controller is corrupted, malfunctioning, or is a "fake" device. The Story of the "Unknown" Drive
When a computer reads a USB drive, it asks the controller (the "brain" of the USB) for its identity. In the case of Alcor Micro chips, [FA00] is a generic status code rather than a specific model number.
The Identity Crisis: The "[FA00]" designation often means the software (like ChipGenius) cannot communicate properly with the chip's internal firmware. It is effectively the controller saying, "I know I'm an Alcor chip, but I don't know who I am exactly".
The Firmware Mismatch: Firmware versions like 3613 or F006 are specific instruction sets loaded onto these controllers. If the firmware becomes corrupted, the drive may show up as "No Media," have 0MB capacity, or become write-protected.
The "Clone" Factor: Many devices reporting this specific error are found in "no-name" or fake high-capacity drives (e.g., a "2TB" drive that is actually 16GB). These often use Alcor AU6989 series controllers or Chinese clones that mimic them. Common Technical Profile Controller Vendor: Alcor Micro. Status Code: Unknown [FA00].
Typical Hardware: Often related to the AU6989SN-GT/TA family of chips.
The "No FID" Problem: Sometimes the Flash ID (FID) also shows as "Unknown" or all zeros/nines, which suggests the controller can't even "see" the memory chips it's supposed to manage. How People "Fix" the Story
For many users, this is the beginning of a repair journey using specialized "Mass Production" (MP) tools:
Identification: Users use tools like ChipGenius to find the VID (often 058F) and PID (often 1234).
The Repair: They seek out the AlcorMP utility. This software "re-flashes" the firmware, essentially giving the controller a new brain and resetting the memory capacity to its true physical limit. Need a specific MPTool version or further debugging
Low-Level Format: If successful, the tool turns the "Unknown [FA00]" back into a recognized "AU6989" (or similar) device.
The "Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 - F/W 3613" designation refers to a USB Flash Drive controller that is often misidentified or corrupted. This specific string typically appears when diagnostic tools like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor cannot find a matching entry in their database for the hardware. Key Identification Features
Controller Model: Often maps to the Alcor AU6989SN-TA or AU6989SNCS-TA chipset.
Error Indicators: The "FA00" code is frequently associated with "No FID" (Flash ID) errors, meaning the controller cannot communicate with the memory chip.
Capacity Issues: Drives with this firmware identification often show 0 bytes, No Media, or "Write Protected" in Windows.
Common Use: Frequently found in unbranded or "fake" high-capacity USB drives that report much more storage than they actually have. Recommended Repair Tools
To fix or reflash this device, specialized "Mass Production Tools" (MPTools) are required: fake HP usb flash drives - HP Support Community - 5995925
Firmware version 3613 is known to occasionally enter a "bricked" state if a card is removed during a write operation. In this state, the device enumerates with correct VID/PID but fails to respond to commands. The only fix is a hardware reflash using Alcor’s proprietary AlcorMP tool (used in manufacturing).
Do not attempt AlcorMP unless you have specific experience. Using the wrong parameter can permanently disable the chip.
In many cases, Windows has the driver but fails to assign it automatically.
Success rate: ~40%. If this fails, proceed.