Let’s break the string down piece by piece:
The Verdict: You are likely dealing with an internal laptop SD card reader or an external cheap USB hub that Windows cannot automatically identify.
The 3613 firmware revision is notorious. Unlike later firmware (3700+), version 3613 does not support "hot plugging" detection on modern UEFI BIOS systems. This means:
Best workaround for FW 3613: Use a cheap USB 3.0 external card reader. If you spend more than 2 hours troubleshooting this chip, the best solution is a $10 dongle.
Best solution for Alcor Micro VID_058F PID_FA00 FW 3613:
The error "Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 F/W 3613" indicates that your USB flash drive has an Alcor Micro controller, but the flashing software cannot properly identify the specific firmware or memory chip. This is common with "fake" high-capacity drives or corrupted firmware. alcor micro unknown fa00 f w 3613 best
To fix this, you generally need a Mass Production (MP) tool to reflash the controller. Recommended Recovery Steps
Identify Your Chipset: Use a tool like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor to find the exact Controller Part-Number (e.g., AU6989SN, AU6998) and the Flash ID.
Download AlcorMP: Visit the Alcor Micro - USBDev.ru library to find a version compatible with your specific controller.
For firmware issues related to 2013-era chips (like those often labeled 3613), look for versions of AlcorMP or FCMPTool from around that timeframe. Run the Utility: Extract the downloaded zip file.
Launch the application (usually AlcorMP.exe) and then plug in your flash drive. XRD peaks matched WC and WO₃, plus amorphous
If the drive is shown as "Unknown" with the FA00 error, click Setup (S). You may need to manually select the correct Flash Type or change the ECC settings to improve stability.
Low-Level Format: Click Start to begin the "burning" or flashing process. Warning: This will permanently erase all data on the drive. Common Fixes for "Unknown" Status
Driver conflict: Ensure you are using a 32-bit version of Windows for better compatibility with older Alcor tools.
Wrong VID/PID: Some tools won't "see" the drive if the identification codes don't match. You can use the Alcor Change PID/VID Rework tool to reset these to the standard 058F / 6387 before reflashing.
Test Mode: If the software still doesn't recognize the drive, you may need to disassemble the casing and short the pins on the controller chip to force it into "Test Mode". Alcor Micro - USBDev.ru Let’s break the string down piece by piece:
"I was browsing through my computer's device manager when I stumbled upon a mysterious entry labeled 'Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 F W 3613'. I had no idea what it was or what it did, but it looked important. After some research, I found out that Alcor Micro is a company that specializes in developing USB flash drive controllers. The 'FA00' likely refers to a specific type of controller, and 'FW 3613' probably indicates the firmware version. I'm still not entirely sure what it means or why it's on my system, but I'm determined to learn more about it. Has anyone else encountered this enigmatic device?"
Here’s a focused troubleshooting & repair guide for the Alcor Micro USB controller showing Unknown Device (FA00) with F/W 3613 (or similar).
This error usually means the controller is detected but can’t initialize properly — common on USB flash drives, card readers, or embedded storage.
If you have encountered this identifier, it was likely extracted using a USB diagnostic tool such as ChipGenius or USBDeview.
This information is crucial when a flash drive is no longer readable by the operating system (Windows/macOS) but is still detected at the hardware level.
Alcor Micro USB device unknown (VID_058F&PID_FA00, FW 3613) – best fix?