Alcor Micro FA00 USB Flash Repair: AlcorMP Tool for Generic 32GB Flash Disk VID 058F PID 6387

User question

how can l repair this USB with the following properties Description: [F:]USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk) Device Type: Mass Storage Device Protocal Version: USB 2.00 Current Speed: High Speed Max Current: 200mA USB Device ID: VID = 058F PID = 6387 Serial Number: 18EBAC7E Device Vendor: Generic Device Name: Mass Storage Device Revision: 0100 Manufacturer: Generic Product Model: Flash Disk Product Revision: 8.07 Controller Vendor: Alcor Micro Controller Part-Number: Unknown [FA00] - F/W 3F13 Flash ID code: ECDE98DE94C5 - Samsung - 1CE/Single Channel [TLC] -> Total Capacity = 8GB Tools on web: http://dl.mydigit.net/special/up/alcor.html Possible Flash Part-Number ---------------------------- Unknown Flash ID mapping table ---------------------------- [Channel 0] [Channel 1] ECDE98DE94C5 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• The ONLY realistic way to revive an Alcor-Micro FA00 USB stick is to re-initialise the controller with the factory Mass-Production software “AlcorMP”.
• Download a build that explicitly lists FA00 support (e.g. AlcorMP v16.09.30.00 or any newer revision that still supports FA00).
• Run the tool under Windows with administrator rights, choose “Full Scan / Capacity-Optimise”, keep VID 058F PID 6387 unchanged, and let the utility rebuild the Flash-Translation-Layer (FTL).
• All user data will be destroyed; the drive will come back as its true physical capacity (≈7.6 GB) only if the NAND and the controller are still healthy.

Key points
– Controller: Alcor Micro FA00, F/W 3F13  – NAND: Samsung TLC, 1 CE, 8 GB
– Standard OS formatting cannot fix firmware/FTL corruption.
– If AlcorMP fails (red slot) the device is physically defective → replace.

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Detailed problem analysis

1. Hardware synopsis
   • VID/PID 058F/6387 → Alcor Micro Corp.
   • Internal code FA00 (same silicon family as AU6989SN), firmware string 3F13.
   • Flash ID EC DE 98 DE 94 C5 → Samsung TLC, single-channel, 8 GByte raw.
   • Current symptoms (write-protect, RAW partition, wrong size, etc.) are classic signs of a corrupted FTL or bad-block table inside the controller.

2. Why common formatting fails
   The mapping between logical sectors and physical NAND pages is stored inside the controller’s SRAM/Flash; when that map is broken, the USB device still enumerates but every I/O fails. OS-level formats only rewrite the partition table on the logical side and therefore cannot touch the damaged map.

3. Principle of the Mass-Production (MP) tool
   AlcorMP uploads a temporary loader, erases the internal firmware region, scans every physical block, classifies good/bad blocks, rebuilds ECC tables, writes new firmware parameters, then low-level formats the user partition. The procedure is invariably destructive but is the only factory-approved recovery path.

4. Capacity issue & counterfeit angle
   Your scan shows only one 8 GB TLC die. If the stick was sold as 16/32 GB, it is a fake. AlcorMP will reveal its honest size (≈7.6 GB). Trying to force 16 GB will inevitably produce errors and data loss.

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Current information and trends

• Latest public builds: v16.09.30.00, v17.03.07.00, v19.05.17.00; all contain FA00 in their INI tables.
• Community mirrors: flashboot.ru, usbdev.ru, mydigit.net (link you already have).
• Recent Alcor generations (AU6989SN-GT) moved to USB 3.0 and different tools (U2 MP); those builds do not* work on FA00.
• Growing number of counterfeit sticks still ship with AU/FA controllers; MP tools remain the standard mitigation.

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Supporting explanations and details

Recommended AlcorMP settings

Flash Type = AutoDetect
Scan Level = Full Scan4 ; exhaustive bad-block scan
Mode = Capacity Optimize ; accept real capacity
ECC = Force Enable
Partition = Public 100 % ; 1 partition
File-System = FAT32 (exFAT if >32 GB – not your case)
VID / PID = 058F / 6387 ; keep default
Strings = optional cosmetic

Typical workflow

1. Prepare PC (Win 7/10, admin rights, rear-panel USB 2.0 port).
2. Extract tool to C:\AlcorMP\; run AlcorMP.exe as administrator.
3. Password prompt → leave blank or MP, 1234.
4. Insert the drive; slot turns blue.
5. Enter “Setup → Load default” then adjust parameters above.
6. Click “Start”; expect 10-60 min. Do NOT unplug.
7. Green = success → safely remove, re-insert. Windows may ask for a quick format.

Error code cheat-sheet	Code	Meaning	Action
30100	Flash not found	Try other port/tool; likely dead controller
30200	Program/verify error	Repeat scan, lower speed, new PC
40100	Too many bad blocks	NAND worn out → discard

Analogy: think of the controller as a tiny SSD. When its firmware table is shredded, the only cure is to reflash at factory level—exactly what AlcorMP does.

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Ethical and legal aspects

• The procedure voids any remaining warranty.
• Firmware images shipped with leaked MP tools are company confidential; distribution may violate licensing.
• If the stick contains third-party data, wiping it without consent could breach data-protection laws (GDPR, etc.).
• Always virus-scan MP packages; many are posted on grey-market forums.

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Practical guidelines

Do
✓ Use a dedicated, offline or virtual Windows install.
✓ Keep mains power stable; a power loss during MP can brick the controller.
✓ Accept the 8 GB final capacity; use h2testw or F3 to verify integrity.

Don’t
✗ Attempt MP flashing on a system you rely on for daily work.
✗ Change advanced INI values (Timing, CE mapping) unless you have the NAND datasheet.
✗ Use the stick for critical data after repair; TLC + single-channel + ageing → limited endurance.

Potential challenges
• Tool refuses to start under Win 11 → run in compatibility or use Win 7 VM + USB passthrough.
• “Device not detect” → run Driver\LoadDriver.exe, switch USB ports, avoid USB 3 hubs.
• Multiple identical sticks → process ONE at a time; MP tools bind to the first enumerated device.

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Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• If data recovery (not functional repair) is the priority, STOP: MP will make recovery impossible. Seek a forensic lab that reads NAND off-board.
• Some FA00 lots suffer from internal mask ROM faults; even MP may not revive them—nothing short of replacing the controller helps.

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Suggestions for further research

• Study AlcorMP INI structure to tailor timings for marginal NAND.
• Explore open-source alternatives (e.g., Sigrok with NAND-reader) for academic purposes.
• Track new FA-family successors (FA15, AU699x) and corresponding MP tools to maintain service capability.

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Brief summary

Your flash drive’s controller (Alcor FA00) can only be resurrected with the factory “AlcorMP” Mass-Production utility. Obtain a build that lists FA00, run it under Windows with administrator rights, let it perform a Full Scan + Capacity Optimise. Expect the drive to come back as a stable ~8 GB device; if the process aborts, the hardware is beyond economical repair. Always back up data first, verify tool integrity, and be aware that the operation voids warranties and destroys existing data.

User question

escription: [Y:]USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk) Device Type: Mass Storage Device Protocal Version: USB 2.00 Current Speed: High Speed Max Current: 200mA USB Device ID: VID = 058F PID = 6387 Serial Number: 58B9CF4B Device Vendor: Generic Device Name: Mass Storage Device Revision: 0100 Manufacturer: Generic Product Model: Flash Disk Product Revision: 8.07 Controller Vendor: Alcor Micro Controller Part-Number: Unknown [FA00] - F/W 3623 Flash ID code: 2CC41832A201 - Micron - 1CE/Single Channel [TLC] Tools on web: http://dl.mydigit.net/special/up/alcor.html

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• Repairing a USB flash drive that uses an Alcor Micro FA00 controller (VID 058F, PID 6387, F/W 3623, Micron TLC NAND) requires the factory Alcor Mass-Production utility (AlcorMP).
• Install a recent AlcorMP version that lists “FA00” in its Setting.ini (e.g. v16.09.30.00 or v17.03.07.00).
• Run the tool under Windows with administrator rights, select Full Scan4 + Capacity Optimise, and let it rebuild the Flash Translation Layer (FTL).
• All user data is lost; success depends on the physical health of the controller and NAND.

Key points
• Only the MP tool can re-initialise the firmware/FTL.
• True capacity may be lower than the advertised 32 GB (common with counterfeit media).
• Persistent errors (slot stays red) indicate irreparable hardware.

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Detailed problem analysis

1. Controller & NAND
   • Controller: Alcor Micro FA00 (derivative of AU698x family) running firmware 3623.
   • NAND: Flash-ID 2C C4 18 32 A2 01 → Micron 64-Gb TLC, single CE, single channel.
   • Architecture: The FA00 contains an MCU, ECC engine and SRAM; it exposes a standard USB-MSC interface while internally managing a proprietary FTL.

2. Failure modes observed in FA00 sticks
   • RAW or 0 byte capacity in OS.
   • “The disk is write-protected” or can’t be formatted.
   • Wrong size (e.g. reports 32 GB although only ~8 GB of NAND is fitted).

   Root cause: corruption of the FTL tables stored inside the NAND’s “system blocks”. Normal OS format routines never touch this area.

3. Why AlcorMP is required
   • Puts the controller into vendor mode, uploads a small loader, erases system blocks, re-scans the entire NAND, builds a new bad-block map, writes fresh firmware descriptors (VID, PID, serial), and finally low-level formats the user area.

4. Capacity expectation
   • If the seller used an 8-GiB or 16-GiB die but programmed the FTL for 32 GB, AlcorMP will detect the real number of usable blocks and the final capacity will shrink accordingly (≈ 7.4 GiB or 14.8 GiB).

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Current information and trends

• FA00 is still shipped in low-cost “generic” sticks; newest leaked AlcorMP builds (2020-2023) add updated flash timing/ECC tables for recent 96-L and 128-L TLC dies.
• Online repositories that still host the tool:
– mydigit.net/special/up/alcor.html (original link you posted)
– usbdev.ru (mirror, Russian)
– flashboot.ru (archive of older builds)
• Community continues to document fake-capacity detection with H2testw/F3; trend is to reject media that cannot supply SLC-mode cache or that shows >5 % factory bad-block ratio.

Potential future developments
• Alcor has AU6989SN (USB 3.2 Gen 1) successors; MP tools are converging but FA00 remains separate.
• Increasing move from standalone MP tools toward secure-booted controllers (Phison PS2251-18 etc.)—future “generic” re-programming may be locked down.

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Supporting explanations and details

Recommended AlcorMP configuration
• Flash Type: AutoDetect
• Scan Level: Full Scan4 (thorough bad-block sweep)
• Optimise Mode: Capacity Optimise (never Speed Optimise on TLC)
• ECC: leave “Auto” or set 12-bit; stronger ECC mitigates TLC retention loss.
• Partition: Public 100 %, FAT32 (≤32 GB) or exFAT (>32 GB).
• VID/PID: keep 058F/6387 to avoid driver mismatch.

Step-by-step field procedure

1. Download & extract AlcorMP (e.g. C:\AlcorMP).
2. Disable antivirus only if it blocks the executable (false positives are common).
3. Right-click AlcorMP.exe → “Run as Administrator”.
4. Open “Setup” (password usually blank or “MP”). Load default, then adjust items above.
5. Insert only the target flash drive in a rear-panel USB 2.0 port.
6. Press Start (A). Progress will show Erase → Scan → Format → Verify.
7. Green slot = pass → unplug/re-plug, run H2testw/F3 to confirm capacity & stability.
8. Red slot + code 30100 (Flash Not Found) or 40100 (Too Many Bad Blocks) → hardware scrap.

Example timing (32-GB TLC, Scan4): ≈ 12–25 min on USB 2.0; longer if many bad blocks.

Analogy: Think of FTL as the table of contents of a huge book. If pages are torn, rewriting a new table without checking every page (Fast Scan) will reference empty paper; Full Scan4 reads every page, marks the unreadable ones, and rewrites a correct, shorter book.

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Ethical and legal aspects

• Firmware images and MP tools are proprietary, leaked from manufacturing partners; use breaches licence terms.
• Process destroys all user data—obtain informed consent if drive is not your property.
• If the stick is under warranty, re-flashing voids it; approach the vendor first.
• Re-flashing counterfeit capacity drives may perpetuate resale fraud—always advertise the true capacity after repair.

Safety / privacy
• After low-level re-initialisation previous data is practically unrecoverable without chip-off forensic methods.
• If the stick held sensitive data, consider secure physical destruction instead of reuse.

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Practical guidelines

Implementation best practices
• Work on a stable desktop PC running Win 7/10; laptops with aggressive USB power saving can drop the link mid-flash.
• Disconnect UPS software or anything that might send USB HID commands.
• Keep only one problematic stick connected to avoid wrong-slot formatting.

Typical challenges & mitigations	Issue	Likely cause	Fix
Slot never turns blue	Windows driver missing	Run LoadDriver.exe inside the AlcorMP pack or install WinUSB driver with Zadig.
Error 30200 “Program Fail”	Marginal NAND timing, noisy port	Use rear I/O port, shorter cable, lower ECC=Auto.
Successful flash but drive still reports 0 MB	Fake VID override, FW table corrupt	Re-flash with “Restore Default” checked; if still 0 MB → NAND dead.

Verification
• Run H2testw (Windows) or F3write/F3read (Linux/macOS) across full capacity; only drives that pass without read/verify errors are safe for real data.

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Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• Even after a “green” MP run, TLC NAND that has accumulated many bad blocks may fail again soon—use only for non-critical data.
• There is no 100 % guaranteed software path to recover user files; if data is vital, perform chip-off imaging before any MP attempt.
• Some FA00 sticks embed OTP ROM; if ROM is corrupt, tool will fail regardless of NAND health.

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Suggestions for further research

• Explore open-source NAND-flash test suites (FlashROM, Sigrok) to characterise bad-block growth over time.
• Compare FA00-based drives with newer secure-controller designs (Phison PS2251-17, Silicon Motion SM3281) for failure behaviour.
• Investigate SPI-ROM dumping via Test-pads on the PCB to retrieve factory firmware for analysis.
• Study ECC density vs. TLC/QLC endurance trends in low-cost USB media.

Resources for deeper study
• usbdev.ru forum (Russian; richest database of MP versions and flash ID lists).
• FlashDetect (open-source Python script for flash ID decoding).
• “Inside NAND Flash Translation Layers” – IEEE Micro, 2022.

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Brief summary

Your USB stick’s FA00 controller has lost or corrupted its FTL. Only the proprietary AlcorMP factory tool can rebuild it.

1. Obtain AlcorMP ≥ v16.09.30.00 with FA00 support from a trusted mirror.
2. Run under Windows as admin, choose Full Scan4 + Capacity Optimise, keep original VID/PID.
3. Process erases all data, detects real NAND capacity, and restores functionality if hardware is sound.
4. Verify with H2testw/F3; discard the drive if bad-block count is excessive or if AlcorMP returns flash-related errors.

Following these steps maximises your chance of reviving the device while giving you a clear go/no-go indicator on its future reliability.