FirstChip FC1178BC USB2DISK Intel QLC 1GB Fake Capacity Recovery

User question

Description: [E:]USB Mass Storage Device(NAND USB2DISK)
Device Type: Mass Storage
Device Protocal Version: USB 2.00 Current Speed: High Speed Max Current: 100mA USB Device ID: VID = FFFF PID = 1201
Device Revision: 0000 Manufacturer: NAND Product Model: USB2DISK Product Revision: 0.00 Controller Vendor: FirstChip Controller Part-Number: FC1178BC Flash ID code: 89D3AC32C204 - Intel - 1CE/Single Channel [QLC] -> Total Capacity = 1GB Tools on web: http://dl.mydigit.net/search/?type=all&q=FC1178BC

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• Your USB stick enumerates in FirstChip ROM/emergency mode (VID=FFFF, PID=1201), which means the controller firmware/FTL on the NAND is missing or unreadable.
• The flash scan reports Intel QLC NAND with ID 89D3AC32C204, single CE/channel, and only ~1 GB raw capacity. You will not recover 32 GB from this hardware.
• The practical fix is a factory “mass‑production” re‑initialization (MPTool) for FirstChip FC1178BC; this will rebuild firmware/FTL and expose the real usable capacity (likely ≈1 GB). All user data will be lost. (elektroda.com)

Detailed problem analysis

• Enumeration and descriptors
  • FFFF:1201 with strings “Manufacturer: NAND / Product: USB2DISK / Rev 0.00” is the fallback device the FC1178BC exposes when it cannot load valid firmware from reserved NAND blocks. In this state the OS sees “0.0 GB” or a phantom LUN. Typical bus profile is USB 2.0 high‑speed, 100 mA. (elektroda.com)
• NAND identification and capacity
  • Your scan line “89D3AC32C204 – Intel – 1CE/Single Channel [QLC] → Total Capacity = 1GB” matches community reports for FC1178BC sticks that collapsed from fake/overstated capacity to their real, tiny NAND size. Even after a successful re‑initialization, the controller can only expose what physically exists; there is no way to regain 32 GB from a 1‑GB die. (reddit.com)
• Why this happens
  • Common root causes are: (1) counterfeit/falsely‑programmed capacity; once writes exceed real NAND, the FTL metadata corrupts and the controller drops to ROM mode; (2) abrupt power‑loss during updates; (3) uncorrectable errors on low‑end QLC. All three present with the same emergency VID/PID. (elektroda.com)
• Controller/firmware mechanics
  • FC1178BC has a small immutable ROM loader; on power‑up it reads ISP/firmware and flash parameters from reserved NAND blocks. Parameter mismatch, too many UECCs, or missing tables → emergency mode (FFFF:1201) awaiting a vendor loader—the exact workflow used by FirstChip MPTool. (elektroda.com)

Current information and trends

• Since 2023, there’s been a marked rise in fake‑capacity USB sticks using FC1178/FC1179 controllers preprogrammed to overreport LBA count. When the FTL collapses, they fall back to 0 GB and FFFF:1201. Recovery, when possible, returns only the real capacity. (elektroda.com)
• Community MPTool bundles for FC1178/FC1179 continue to be maintained; later builds improve flash‑ID coverage (TLC/QLC), bad‑block handling, and “auto‑create ID” behavior. Source archives commonly referenced by practitioners include usbdev.ru (FC1178BC MpTools). Always use a build that explicitly supports FC1178BC. (elektroda.com)

Supporting explanations and details

• What MPTool does in this case
  • Uploads a vendor loader to the controller over USB, erases and scans NAND, selects ECC/geometry from its FlashList for your ID, writes a fresh firmware/translator, and formats the user area.
• Why data will be lost
  • Rebuilding the translator overwrites the mapping tables; subsequent logical reads return zeros/garbage even to professional tools. If data matters, stop and consult a lab before any MPTool attempt. (reddit.com)
• About the Intel ID string
  • The exact 89 D3 AC 32 C2 04 pattern is variationally reported with the same Intel QLC lineage in FC1178BC cases; single‑CE, single‑channel configurations are typical in low‑cost sticks and explain very low real capacity. (reddit.com)

Ethical and legal aspects

• MPTools are factory utilities. Many copies shared on forums are redistributed without license and may include modified binaries. Use at your own risk, ideally on an isolated Windows machine. (usbdev.ru)
• If this product was sold to you as 32 GB, yet contains ~1 GB of NAND, it constitutes a counterfeit/misrepresented device—seek refund or report the seller as appropriate under consumer protection laws.

Practical guidelines

• Preparation
  • Use a Windows 7/10 PC, run the FC1178BC MPTool as Administrator.
  • Connect the stick directly to a USB 2.0 motherboard port; avoid hubs/long cables.
  • Temporarily disable antivirus (these tools often trigger false positives). (elektroda.com)
• MPTool workflow (generic)
  • Start MPTool → device appears in a port as FFFF:1201.
  • Enter Settings; enable “Auto Create ID” or select the exact Intel ID if present; leave CE=1, Channel=1; ECC on Auto/default.
  • Start the process; let it complete the full erase/scan/rebuild. Expect minutes to tens of minutes depending on scan depth. (elektroda.com)
• After “PASS”
  • Re‑insert the stick; quick‑format (FAT32/exFAT).
  • Verify real capacity with H2testw (Windows) or F3 (Linux/macOS). If writes beyond ~1 GB fail or loop, the device is fake/unsalvageable beyond that size. (elektroda.com)
• If MPTool fails repeatedly at 0–1%
  • Try a later FC1178/FC1179 MPTool build; failure across multiple builds usually indicates physically bad NAND or a non‑matching/unknown flash ID and the device is beyond economical repair. (elektroda.com)

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• Some FC1178BC sticks are UDP/monolithic. If you need data recovery rather than repair, do not run MPTool; monolith chip‑off requires specialized tools and pinouts. (reddit.com)
• Any “fix capacity to 32 GB” option merely reintroduces lying firmware and will corrupt data again. Always let the tool compute capacity from the scan results. (elektroda.com)

Suggestions for further research

• For verification and safe downloads, review community threads describing successful FC1178BC recoveries and which MPTool builds worked for Intel QLC IDs close to yours. (elektroda.com)
• Learn/refresh on capacity‑verification tools (H2testw/F3) and on distinguishing real vs. faked media capacities.

Brief summary

• Your stick is in FC1178BC ROM mode (FFFF:1201) because the controller cannot load valid firmware/FTL. The attached NAND identifies as single‑CE Intel QLC with ≈1 GB physical capacity, consistent with counterfeit or heavily degraded media. The only practical path is to re‑initialize with a FirstChip FC1178BC MPTool; this will erase all data and, at best, restore the device to its real capacity. If MPTool cannot complete, the hardware is scrap; replace the device and verify any new media with a fill‑test. (elektroda.com)

If you want, I can walk you through a specific FC1178BC MPTool build and review screenshots of your Settings page to ensure the parameters match your flash ID before you run it.

Disclaimer: The responses provided by artificial intelligence (language model) may be inaccurate and misleading. Elektroda is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the presented information. All responses should be verified by the user.