When your computer identifies a USB drive as "Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 F/W FA04," it indicates that the firmware on your (typically the AU6989SN series) has become corrupted or is in an uninitialized state. This error often manifests as a "No Media" or "0 Byte" capacity issue. Understanding the FA00 F/W FA04 Error
: A physical break in the circuit, such as a cold solder joint on a BGA (Ball Grid Array) flash chip, prevents the controller from detecting the memory's Flash ID (FID). Driver Mismatches alcor micro unknown fa00 f w fa04
The label "unknown" often appears in hardware lists because this specific Product ID ( FA00 ) is used for hardware. Unlike branded peripherals that have specific names in a driver database (e.g., "Logitech Mouse"), generic card readers often show up as "Unknown" or "Generic" until a specific driver is installed or the device class is identified. When your computer identifies a USB drive as
is almost certainly a smart card reader (or a combo smart card + fingerprint reader), likely built into a laptop or a USB-attached keyboard with an integrated reader. Driver Mismatches The label "unknown" often appears in
: Use a tool like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor to find the actual Controller Part-Number and Flash ID (FID). Download the Correct Utility :
: If the Flash ID code (FID) is reported as something generic (like 898989898989
: While listed as "Unknown [FA00]," this is often an alias for the Alcor AU6989SN-TA AU6989SNCS-TA controller. Common Issues : Users often see this message when a drive shows