Alcor Micro Unknown Fa00 F W Fa04 - Fixed
Open Device Manager -> Right-click the "Alcor Micro Unknown..." device -> Properties -> Details -> Hardware Ids.
Look for something like:
USB\VID_058F&PID_6387
Write this down. You need the PID to choose the correct Mass Production tool.
This document addresses an issue observed with USB storage or card reader devices based on Alcor Micro controllers (commonly AU6xxx or AU8xxx series). The problem manifests as a device reporting a hardware/firmware ID of "FA00" – an unknown or invalid state – which is corrected by applying a firmware update that results in a "FA04 fixed" status.
Carefully pry open the plastic or metal casing of your USB drive. You will see a small circuit board. Locate the Alcor Micro controller chip (a black square with 48 or 64 tiny legs).
The Shorting Procedure:
Why this works: The short forces the controller to bypass the corrupted flash memory and boot from its internal read-only memory (ROM), allowing the MP tool to communicate directly.
The term "Fixed" here is often misunderstood. It does not mean "repaired." In the context of mass production tools, "Fixed" refers to the media status—meaning the drive is being recognized as a fixed disk (hard drive) rather than a removable disk. Alternatively, it can indicate that the drive is in a fixed capacity mode (e.g., pretending to be a specific size even if the NAND is damaged). In the error state, it simply confirms that the controller is alive and powered but unable to proceed further.
In summary: Your USB drive’s brain is awake, but it has amnesia. It doesn’t know the layout of the memory chips. It is stuck in a factory testing mode.
This specific identifier, "Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 F/W FA04 Fixed," alcor micro unknown fa00 f w fa04 fixed
typically refers to a low-level repair process for a corrupted USB flash drive using an Alcor Micro controller. Overview of the Error "Unknown FA00"
: This is often a placeholder or error code displayed by flash drive diagnostic tools like ChipGenius when the controller (specifically the AU6989SN-GTC
or similar) is in a "factory" or "boot" mode and its specific firmware version is not correctly identified. "F/W FA04 Fixed"
: This indicates the drive has been successfully recovered by manually flashing or selecting the Open Device Manager -> Right-click the "Alcor Micro
firmware version within a mass production (MP) tool to restore functionality. Recovery Steps
If you are dealing with a drive showing these identifiers, the standard recovery process involves using the AlcorMP (Mass Production Tool) Identify the Controller ChipGenius to confirm your (typically (typically Download the Correct Tool : Look for versions supporting the AU6989SN-GTC series, such as ALCOR U2 MP v20.09.16.00 Manual Configuration Open the tool as an Administrator. menu, you may need to disable "Auto Detect Flash" if the drive is not recognized automatically. Manually select the entry corresponding to or the closest match for your NAND flash type. Execute the Flash
to begin the low-level format and firmware write. Once finished, the status should change to a "Fixed" or "Success" state. This process will wipe all data
from the drive. It is a repair for "No Media" or "Write Protected" errors where the hardware itself is still functional. that matches your drive's VID/PID? Alcor Micro Unknown Fa00 F W Fa04 Fixed [work] Write this down
Once the driver binds successfully: