FirstChip MPTool errorcode=2 on 2024-02-21: FC1179, chipYC2019, NAND Flash ID, ISP mode, USB 2.0

User question

How to solve errorcode=2 on fristchip 2024-02-21

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

ErrorCode=2 in FirstChip MPTool build 2024-02-21 usually means the tool fails at the very first low-level stage: it cannot start the temporary loader or cannot read a valid NAND Flash ID. In practice, the usual fixes are:

• use the correct MPTool branch for your exact controller,
• connect the drive to a direct USB 2.0 port,
• try Scan Level 4 = Clear + Factory scan instead of the default High scan,
• if the controller is older than FC1179-class, use an older FC1178/FC1179 tool instead of the 2024-02-21 package,
• if none of that works, suspect an unsupported NAND ID or a hardware fault in the NAND/PCB. (elektroda.com)

Detailed problem analysis

The 2024-02-21 package corresponds to FirstChip FC1179 MpTools V1.0.7.2. USBDev describes it primarily for FC1179 / FC1179S / FC1179AB, with likely support for some FC2279-family variants; it also explicitly says that for an older USB 2.0 FirstChip device, you should look for a more appropriate FC1178/FC1179 MPTool instead. That matters because a tool/loader mismatch is one of the most common reasons for ErrorCode=2. (usbdev.ru)

From the available technical/community documentation, ErrorCode=2 is not a normal filesystem-formatting error. It is an initialization failure before normal flashing begins. Typical causes are:

• wrong MPTool package for the controller revision,
• wrong or missing loader for that chip,
• NAND Flash ID not recognized by the tool database,
• unstable USB communication during boot/loader download,
• defective NAND or PCB. (elektroda.com)

A very common symptom in failed FirstChip drives is enumeration as VID:FFFF PID:1201 with strings like NAND / USB2DISK. That indicates the controller has dropped into a fallback/boot state waiting for service recovery, rather than operating as a normal flash drive. (elektroda.com)

Current information and trends

As of the public packages indexed on USBDev, the FC1179 MPTool v1.0.7.2 dated 2024-02-21 is a real published release, added to their listings in March 2024. User reports on that specific package show two important patterns:

• some FC1179/chipYC2019 devices recover with the default settings,
• others fail on High scan but succeed when changed to “4 - Clear + Factory scan.” (usbdev.ru)

There is also evidence that when one build throws ErrorCode=2, a different earlier build can work on the same hardware family. In one FC1179 forum case, a newer tool failed with ErrorCode=2, while an older 2019-12-10 8T24 FC1178/FC1179 MPTool recovered the device. (usbdev.ru)

Supporting explanations and details

What to do, step by step

1. Identify the controller and NAND first

   • Use ChipGenius or a similar flash-ID tool.
   • Record:
     • Controller Part-Number
     • Flash ID code
     • USB VID/PID
   • If you see FC1179 / chipYC2019, the 2024-02-21 FC1179 tool is a reasonable candidate.
   • If you see FC1178 / FC1178BC or another older USB 2.0 FirstChip controller, try the FC1178/FC1179 MPTool branch, not only the 2024 FC1179 package. (usbdev.ru)

2. Use a stable USB connection

   • Plug the drive into a rear-panel USB 2.0 port directly.
   • Do not use hubs or front-panel ports during recovery.
   • This is repeatedly recommended in FirstChip recovery guidance because loader download is sensitive to marginal USB communication. (usbdev.ru)

3. Run the correct MPTool build

   • For the 2024 package, start FCMpTools.exe and switch UI language to English if needed.
   • If the device is not from the FC1179 family, stop and switch to the appropriate older tool branch. (usbdev.ru)

4. Try the simplest recovery first

   • Insert the drive after the tool is open.
   • If it appears in the tool, try Start once with current settings.
   • If it fails with ErrorCode=2, go to settings and change:
     • Scan Level: 3 - High scan
       to
     • 4 - Clear + Factory scan
   • This exact change is documented in multiple user reports on the 2024-02-21 package. (usbdev.ru)

5. If ErrorCode=2 persists, try another FirstChip build

   • Especially if the controller is older, or if the NAND is unusual.
   • Community evidence shows some devices only recover with an older FC1178/FC1179 MPTool build. (usbdev.ru)

6. If the tool cannot read a valid Flash ID

   • That usually points to one of two conditions:
     • the NAND ID is not supported by that tool/database, or
     • the NAND/board has a hardware problem.
   • If you have tried multiple matching builds and still get ErrorCode=2, hardware failure becomes likely. (elektroda.com)

Ethical and legal aspects

• All MPTool/APTool operations are destructive. They rebuild low-level mapping and will erase the user data. If the data matters, do not continue with MPTool-based recovery. (elektroda.com)
• Many FirstChip cases involve fake-capacity USB drives. After recovery, the “real” capacity may be far lower than the label, which is consistent with multiple user reports. (usbdev.ru)
• Be cautious with unofficial tool archives from repair forums; verify files and use an isolated Windows system if possible. This is a general safety best practice; I am stating it as engineering caution rather than a sourced claim.

Practical guidelines

Best-practice sequence

My engineering recommendation

If you want the fastest route, do this in order:

• confirm the controller with ChipGenius,
• if it is FC1179 / chipYC2019, keep the 2024-02-21 tool,
• use a rear USB 2.0 port,
• switch Scan Level to 4 - Clear + Factory scan,
• if still ErrorCode=2, try an older FC1178/FC1179 MPTool build,
• if still failing and Flash ID is absent/invalid, treat it as bad NAND or PCB. (usbdev.ru)

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• There is no guarantee the 2024-02-21 package is the right one just because the date matches your search term.
• “FirstChip” recovery is highly dependent on:
  • exact controller revision,
  • exact NAND Flash ID,
  • tool branch and embedded loader.
• Some public advice online mixes FC1178, FC1179, and chipYC2019 cases; these are related but not always interchangeable. (usbdev.ru)

Suggestions for further research

To give you an exact fix, I would need this from your drive:

• Controller Part-Number
• Flash ID code
• VID:PID
• exact MPTool filename you used
• whether the drive shows as NAND USB2DISK / VID FFFF PID 1201

With that, I can tell you whether to use:

• the 2024-02-21 FC1179 v1.0.7.2 package,
• an older FC1178/FC1179 MPTool,
• or whether the drive is probably beyond software repair. (usbdev.ru)

Brief summary

For FirstChip MPTool 2024-02-21, ErrorCode=2 usually means early loader/NAND initialization failed. The most effective fixes are:

• use the correct MPTool for your controller,
• connect through a direct USB 2.0 port,
• on the 2024 tool, change Scan Level to 4 - Clear + Factory scan,
• if needed, try an older FC1178/FC1179 build,
• if all matching builds fail, the NAND or PCB is probably bad. (elektroda.com)

If you paste your ChipGenius report, I can narrow it down to the exact tool and settings.