FirstChip chipYC2019 USB Shows 0GB Capacity Issue

User question

C ORRUPTA USB 2.00
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: chipYC2019
Flash ID code: 453C98B37672 - SanDisk - 1CE/Single Channel [TLC] -> Total Capacity = 32GB

APARECE EN 0 CAPACIDAD

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• The drive is not physically “empty”; the FirstChip chipYC2019 controller has lost, or cannot load, its firmware, so it enumerates with the emergency VID FFFF / PID 1201 and reports 0 bytes.
• The only realistic field-repair is to re-flash the controller with the correct FirstChip Mass-Production Tool (MPTool/APTool) that supports chipYC2019 and the SanDisk TLC NAND ID 453C 98 B3 76 72.
• Standard OS utilities (Disk Management, diskpart, Linux fdisk, etc.) cannot help; they work above the controller layer. All data on the stick will be destroyed during the process.

Detailed problem analysis

1. Enumeration data
   • VID FFFF / PID 1201 → controller in boot-loader / test mode, no production firmware.
   • Manufacturer string “NAND”, Product “USB2DISK”, Revision 0.00 → default descriptors loaded by the ROM code.
   • Flash ID 0x453C98B37672 → SanDisk 32 GB TLC, single CE, single channel.
2. Failure mechanism
   • Firmware area inside the controller is corrupted (typical after sudden power loss, counterfeit capacity “over-fill”, or aging NAND).
   • Controller therefore does not mount the flash translation layer (FTL); capacity = 0.
3. Hardware condition clues
   • The flash ID is still readable → NAND bus and the controller itself are probably healthy.
   • If the ID were unreadable the MPTool would also fail; here chances of recovery are fair.
4. Why classic formatting fails
   • File-system utilities see only the USB Mass-Storage interface exported by firmware. Without firmware the drive exposes no LUNs, so capacity stays at 0.
5. Recovery principle
   • Load a vendor MPTool → it uploads a new firmware binary, builds an FTL, maps out bad blocks, and re-creates the descriptors (VID/PID, strings, capacity).

Current information and trends

• Latest public MPTool builds for FirstChip (FC1178 / FC1179 line, which covers chipYC2019) are:
  • FC1179_MPTool v1.0.5.2 (2022-06-01) – proven stable.
  • FC1179_MPTool v1.0.6.x and v1.1.x (early 2024 betas) – broader FlashDB, required for some new SanDisk dies.
• Active communities hosting them: usbdev.ru, mydigit.net, elektroda.com.
• Trend: growing number of low-cost drives with inflated capacity; controllers enter boot-loader once wear-level detection fails. Industry is moving to secure-boot controllers (e.g., Phison U17) which will make community repair harder.

Supporting explanations and details

Firmware re-flash workflow (generic but matches recent YC2019 tools):

1. Preparation
   • Windows 10/11 (x64) PC, local administrator rights.
   • Rear panel USB 2.0 port (stable 5 V rail).
   • Disable USB selective-suspend and antivirus for the session.

2. Identify exact controller revision
   • Run ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor.
   • Confirm Part-Number “chipYC2019”, FlashID 453C98B37672.
   • Note date code on the metal can; if 2021+, use MPTool 1.0.6.x or newer.

3. Obtain MPTool
   • Search “FC1179 MPTool” or “FirstChip APTool” on usbdev.ru, download package with FlashDB folder.
   • Virus-scan files manually—many tools are unsigned and trigger false positives.

4. Launch and configure
   • Run MPTool.exe as Administrator.
   • Insert USB; it should occupy Port 0 with status “Init”.
   • Enter “Setting” (pwd usually empty, 123456, 0000, or noted in read-me).
   – Select profile FC1179_AA or “Auto”.
   – Make sure FlashID auto-detect shows 453C98B3.
   – Capacity field: set 29 800 MB (≈31.9 GiB) or click “Auto size”.
   – VID/PID: you can leave default (1F75/0888) or use any valid pair (e.g., 0781/5581 for SanDisk).
   – File system: FAT32, single partition, Public (no CD-ROM).
   – Options: check “Erase All Block”, “Scan & FF”, “Auto-Reconnect”.
   • Save parameters (Save → OK).

5. Execute
   • Back in main screen press “Start”.
   • Phases: Download FW → Erase → Program → Verify → Build FTL → Format.
   • Duration: 3–15 min depending on scan depth.

6. Result codes
   • PASS/green = controller re-initialised, capacity restored.
   • FAIL-31, 33, B1 = unsupported FlashID; try newer tool or FlashDB.
   • FAIL-05, 0B = too many bad blocks; NAND is worn out → discard drive.

7. Post-flash
   • Safely remove, re-insert.
   • Windows installs a new “USB Mass Storage Device”; Disk Management should list ~29.8 GB.
   • Perform high-level format; run H2testw or f3write/f3read to verify the real capacity.

Example FlashDB line (extracted from 2023-12-25 release):

453C98B3 TLC SanDisk_32G_1CE BCH_64bit 8192 59

This entry must be present; otherwise add it manually or import a newer FlashDB.

Ethical and legal aspects

• Re-programming wipes data irreversibly; inform owners and obtain consent.
• Distributing vendor tools may infringe NDAs; share only links, not the binaries themselves.
• If the device is counterfeit (false 32 GB marketed as larger), restoring it to true capacity is legal but selling it under wrong spec is fraud.
• Observe E-waste regulations if the drive is deemed irreparable.

Practical guidelines

• Always verify controller part-number; flashing with an incompatible firmware can brick the stick permanently.
• Use an uninterruptible power source (laptop or UPS) during flashing.
• Keep several MPTool versions; success rate often depends on FlashDB vintage.
• After repair, stress-test with full-capacity writes; if error rate > 1 × 10⁻⁴, retire the device.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• Some chipYC2019 batches ship with fused secure-boot; community tools cannot re-flash them.
• Drives that repeatedly fall back to VID FFFF are often at end-of-life; even a successful flash may be short-lived.
• If MPTool never detects the drive, the controller’s ROM is damaged—unrecoverable without BGA replacement.

Suggestions for further research

• Reverse-engineering FirstChip firmware formats to create open-source repairers (see Project OpenFC).
• Investigate ECC settings vs. TLC endurance on SanDisk 98-B3 dies.
• Study secure element integration in next-gen USB controllers (Phison U18, Silicon Motion SM3282).

Brief summary

Your USB flash drive is stuck in FirstChip emergency mode, hence the generic VID FFFF and 0-byte capacity. Operating-system tools cannot fix this. Download a FirstChip MPTool compatible with chipYC2019, load the correct SanDisk 32 GB NAND profile, and re-flash the controller. If the process passes, the stick will re-appear with its normal capacity; if it fails repeatedly, the NAND or controller is physically damaged and the drive should be replaced.

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.