Sometimes the controller gets stuck in an infinite boot loop trying to communicate with a dead NAND cell, causing it to overheat.
To fix this, you generally need a . This is specialized software used in factories to "burn" the firmware onto the controller. Step 1: Identify Your Controller
If you’ve plugged in a USB flash drive only to find it unrecognized, or if you’ve gone digging into hardware IDs and found the strings or "FW FA04," you are likely dealing with a corrupted Alcor Micro controller. alcor micro unknown fa00 fw fa04 hot
Download ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor .
Hit "Start" and wait. Do not unplug the drive. If successful, the status bar will turn green, and the "FA00" error will be replaced by the drive’s actual capacity. Why is my drive getting "Hot"? Sometimes the controller gets stuck in an infinite
The error isn't necessarily a death sentence for your USB stick. In most cases, it’s a software "confusion" that can be cleared by re-flashing the controller. Just remember: using an MPTool will wipe all data on the drive.
Understanding the Alcor Micro "Unknown FA00 FW FA04" Error: A Troubleshooting Guide Step 1: Identify Your Controller If you’ve plugged
If the drive burns your finger, software likely won't fix it. The controller or a capacitor has likely failed. Conclusion
Alcor Micro is a major manufacturer of USB flash drive controllers. When a drive is functioning correctly, it reports its real capacity and brand name. However, when the firmware becomes corrupted—due to improper ejection, power surges, or NAND wear—it enters a or a generic state.
The drive shows up as a "Generic USB Hub" or "Unknown Device" with 0 bytes of space.