Alcor Micro Unknown Fa00 - F W 3613 | Must Read
If your computer suddenly detects a generic USB mass storage device as , your USB flash drive or card reader has suffered a firmware corruption. This specific string indicates that the operating system can communicate with the Alcor Micro controller chip, but the controller cannot load the flash memory's firmware (F/W 3613) or communicate with the NAND memory chip.
Plug the device back in and see if Windows Update can fetch the correct driver. 2. Use the AlcorMP (Mass Production) Tool
When a USB drive based on an Alcor controller fails, tools like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor may return these specific values:
The USB Device ID ( VID = 058F PID = 6387 or 1234 ) is often generic for these drives. Because the VID/PID are generic, the AlcorMP tool might have difficulty auto-detecting the drive if the [DeviceDB] section of the .ini configuration file does not include the exact match. Advanced repair users often add the specific FA00 string manually to the AlcorMP.ini file to force recognition: AutoDetect=1 VID=058F PID=6387 Prod=USB Flash Disk Manufacturer=Generic alcor micro unknown fa00 - f w 3613
Using the wrong parameter can permanently disable the chip.
When a flash drive displays an "Unknown FA00" status, it means the flash memory controller can no longer communicate with the NAND memory chips. The drive has entered a hardware fail-safe mode (often called "rom-code" or "test mode").
The term "Unknown" in this context is not necessarily an indicator of a counterfeit or inferior product. Instead, it reflects the limitations of the chip detection algorithm being used. The hexadecimal code FA00 embedded within brackets is the Controller Part Number read directly from the device's firmware. This is the unique identifier that tells the computer which driver and protocol the flash drive adheres to. The fact that it is displayed as "Unknown" suggests that the ChipGenius database lacks a specific matching entry for this exact code, though the code itself is legitimate. Analysis of user reports across global forums shows this identifier appearing on devices with capacities ranging from 8GB to 128GB, indicating its use across a wide spectrum of product lines. If your computer suddenly detects a generic USB
The logical structure of the drive is so badly damaged that the OS identifies the controller chip instead of the storage volume. How to Fix Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 - F/W 3613 1. The "Uninstall and Power Cycle" Method Before downloading complex tools, try a clean slate: Open Device Manager (Right-click Start > Device Manager).
For many users, this is the beginning of a repair journey using specialized "Mass Production" (MP) tools:
Users encountering this "Unknown FA00" status often face several issues: Advanced repair users often add the specific FA00
Unpowered USB hubs cause voltage drops that prevent controllers from initializing correctly.
Before plugging the unit into the computer, use the metal tool to bridge together two data pins on the controller chip (typically pins , or pins 43 and 44 ).
If you can provide the or card reader , I can help you find a more tailored solution.
If your computer completely fails to register the device or AlcorMP shows a persistent connection timeout error, the controller's boot block is locked in an infinite crash loop. You must force the controller directly into :
If the drive is readable but corrupted, use data recovery software (like DMDE or R-Studio) to clone the raw disk image before attempting a mass production flash. MP tools erase the flash translation layer (FTL), making data recovery impossible afterward.