Every attempt was met with that stubborn, cryptic error: . 💡 The Breakthrough
USB Device ID Mismatch in Alcor Micro Card Readers (VID_058F) Keywords: VID_058F&PID_FA00 , VID_058F&PID_FA04 , Internal Flash Descriptor, Windows Device Manager.
Alcor Micro has produced many controller models (e.g., AU698X series). The "FA00" signature is a generic fallback mode, so you will need to find the correct factory tool. You can find these tools on specialized forums (such as FlashBoot.ru or USBDongle.com) or with careful internet searching for "ALCOR MP tool" combined with your drive's USB IDs (VID and PID). The most common tool for these controllers is , which comes in many versions (e.g., v16.02.19.00).
It is strongly recommended to use an older Windows PC (Windows 7 is ideal) as these factory tools often have compatibility issues with modern operating systems. Run the tool as an . alcor micro unknown fa00 f w fa04 fixed
If the drive still shows FA00 or no FID, you must force the controller to ignore its corrupted firmware: Locate the large rectangular NAND flash chip.
The drive is (Windows Disk Management, Linux lsblk ), but an Alcor MP tool detects it partially as FA00 . The FA04 fixed indicates a manual configuration was applied to force the device into a working state with fixed disk mode.
Do not unplug the drive during this phase. The progress bar will cycle through a bad-block scan, erase, and write cycle. Once completed, the box text will turn green and read "OK". Alternative Solutions for Stubborn Hardware Issue Found Technical Root Cause Corrective Action Error 30400 / 30100 Every attempt was met with that stubborn, cryptic error:
Always plug the corrupted flash drive directly into a USB 2.0 port on the motherboard (rear port on desktops). Avoid external USB hubs or USB 3.0 ports, as they can cause data drops during flashing. Step 1: Identify the Exact Controller Using ChipGenius
Follow these steps in order to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. 1. Simple Hardware Troubleshooting (Quick Fixes)
If AlcorMP refuses to detect the USB drive because the "FA00" loop is too severe, you must force the controller into . The "FA00" signature is a generic fallback mode,
: Download and run ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor (Innostor) . Copy down the exact Flash ID (FID) string (e.g., 45 3E 98 03 or similar memory signatures).
To fix an throwing the error "Unknown [FA00] - F/W [FA04]" (or similar firmware codes like 3653), you must flash the controller with a matching Mass Production Tool (MPTool). This specific error occurs when the drive's firmware gets corrupted, causing the flash controller to lose communication with the underlying NAND memory chip. As a result, Windows displays the drive as "No Media," "0 Bytes," or an "Unknown Device".
Click to save the settings and return to the main dashboard. Step 4: Execute the Mass Production Process Click the Start (A) button on the main AlcorMP interface.