If your manufacturer doesn't list a driver (common for older laptops), you can search directly by the hardware ID.
Pro Tip: If you are an IT technician working on multiple machines, downloading the standalone Alcor Card Reader installer and keeping it on a USB drive is a massive time-saver for future repairs.
Suppose you found an alcorusb.inf from an OEM pack. Here is the manual method:
Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 F W FA04 is not a virus, not a hardware failure, and not a reason to panic. It’s just a driverless chip. Use Method 3 (SDIO) or Method 2 (force generic USB) to make it work in under 5 minutes.
Have another “unknown device” nightmare? Drop the hardware ID in the comments below.
Got this working? Share which laptop model and driver fixed it for you!
Resurrecting Your "Unknown" Alcor Micro USB: Solving the FA00/FA04 Error
Have you ever plugged in your flash drive only to be met with a cryptic "Unknown Device" message? If you’ve dug into the hardware details and found labels like or firmware
, you’ve likely hit a wall. While these codes can seem like a death sentence for your data, they are often just a sign that your Alcor Micro controller has lost its way.
Here is how to understand—and potentially fix—this specific Alcor Micro headache. What is the FA00 / FA04 Error? In many cases, an Alcor controller reporting as
doesn't actually exist as a physical model. Instead, it is often a "dummy" or error state for controllers like the AU6989SN-TA . When the firmware (FW) displays
or the FID (Flash ID) comes back as a string of nonsense (like 898989...), the drive is essentially in a "panic mode" where it can no longer communicate with its own flash memory. The Recovery Strategy
To get the drive working again, you typically need a "Production Tool" to reflash the firmware. Identify the Real Controller : Use a tool like ChipGenius Flash Drive Information Extractor alcor micro unknown fa00 f w fa04 work
to find the actual VID (Vendor ID) and PID (Product ID). Even if the system says "Unknown," these tools can often pull the raw hardware IDs. Find the Right AlcorMP Version : The most reliable source for these utilities is
, which hosts a massive archive of AlcorMP and FC MPTool versions. The "Driver" Trick button and manually enter your VID/PID (e.g., Add VID/PID Save InstallDrive
Unplug and re-plug your stick. This forces the utility to recognize the "Unknown" device. Using "Test Mode" (The Last Resort)
If the software still won't see the drive, you may need to enter
. This involves carefully shorting two pins on the controller chip (usually with a needle or tweezers) while plugging it in. This bypasses the corrupted firmware and forces the controller into a state where AlcorMP can finally see it and "re-burn" the correct firmware. Important Caveats : Reflashing the firmware will wipe all data
on the drive. This is a tool for repairing the hardware, not recovering files. Fake Drives
: These errors are extremely common in "fake" high-capacity drives (e.g., a "2TB" drive that is actually 8GB). Reflashing will often reveal the true, much smaller capacity.
If you're stuck on a specific Alcor chip model, check out the specialized guides at for the most compatible firmware versions. Have you successfully flashed an Alcor drive before?
Let us know which AlcorMP version worked for your specific chip!
Alcor AU6989SN-TA Firmware Issues | PDF | Usb Flash Drive - Scribd
The identification of an Alcor Micro [FA00] or FA04 controller often indicates that your USB drive is in a "test mode" or has corrupted firmware, frequently seen in AU6989SN-TA chips. This specific "Unknown" status usually means the AlcorMP tool cannot communicate with the flash memory chip to identify its FID.
To resolve this and restore functionality, follow these steps using standard Alcor repair procedures: 1. Identify the Hardware If your manufacturer doesn't list a driver (common
Before running repair tools, confirm the exact controller and memory chip.
Use a tool like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor to find the VID, PID, and Controller model. If the controller is indeed an Alcor variant like , you will need a specific version of AlcorMP or FC MpTool. 2. Configure AlcorMP for "Unknown" Devices
If the drive shows as "Unknown [FA00]" or "FA04" in the software, you must manually force the tool to recognize the device:
Open AlcorMP (ensure you use the version matching your chip generation). Click on the Driver button.
Enter the VID and PID of your drive (commonly 058F and 1234 for Alcor). Click Add VID/PID, then Save InstallDrive.
Re-plug the USB stick. If it still doesn't appear, press Refresh. 3. Flash the Firmware
Once detected (even as generic), you can attempt a low-level format:
Settings (Setup): You may need a password (often blank or 0000) to access the configuration.
Optimization: Choose "Capacity Optimize" for standard repair or "Speed Optimize" if you want better performance at the cost of some storage.
Start: Press the start button to begin the low-level formatting process. Note: This will erase all data. 4. Advanced Troubleshooting: Test Mode
If the software refuses to see the drive at all (remaining "Unknown"):
Manual Shorting: You may need to open the drive's casing and carefully short two pins on the controller chip while plugging it in to force Test Mode. Pro Tip: If you are an IT technician
Alternative Tools: For stubborn "Unknown" errors on Alcor chips, try FC MpTool (specifically versions like FC_MpTool_FC8308), which is often more effective for generic or fake-capacity drives.
Warning: Using the wrong firmware version can permanently brick the device. Always try to find the Alcor Micro Tool that specifically supports your FID (Flash ID).
Do you have the VID/PID or the Flash ID (FID) from a tool like ChipGenius to narrow down the exact software version you need?
This appears to refer to a Alcor Micro USB card reader controller (often found in multi-format card readers or embedded on motherboards) with a specific hardware ID:
By: Tech Fix Blog
Have you ever opened your Windows Device Manager, expanded the "Other devices" section, and been greeted by a sad yellow exclamation mark next to something called "Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 F W FA04" ?
If so, you’re not alone. This cryptic string has frustrated countless users trying to get their SD card reader, USB port, or fingerprint sensor working again. But don’t worry—here’s what it means and exactly how to make it work.
In the realm of USB flash drive repair and data recovery, encountering an "Unknown" device with a Vendor ID (VID) of 058F and a Product ID (PID) of FA00 (or sometimes FA04) is a very common occurrence. This state indicates that the flash drive's controller has entered "Factory Mode" or "Safe Mode."
The drive is no longer recognized by the operating system as a storage device; instead, it is identified only as a generic Alcor Micro controller. This write-up outlines the technical causes of this state and the "work" required to restore functionality.
Some FA00/FA04 devices appear as a CD-ROM (fake) first. That is mode-switching. To make it work:
Before fixing the problem, we must understand what we are looking at.
After cross-referencing with multiple driver databases (Microsoft Update Catalog, PCI ID Repository, and Linux lsusb dumps), the Alcor Micro FA00/FA04 device maps most frequently to:
Thus, when you say "alcor micro unknown fa00 f w fa04 work" – you are likely trying to get a USB-connected smart card or memory card reader operational.