Option A – Generic Alcor driver
Option B – Use OEM driver
Option C – Force install a compatible driver
Do not panic. The device is almost certainly not physically broken. Follow these steps in order. alcor micro unknown fa00 - f w 3613
PID FA00 sometimes indicates firmware bootloader mode (device waiting for firmware flash).
By Technical Hardware Desk
Encountering an "Unknown Device" in your Windows Device Manager is a moment of frustration for any user. But when that device is labeled with the specific string "alcor micro unknown fa00 - f w 3613," it points to a very particular piece of hardware. This combination of identifiers—the vendor (Alcor Micro), the product code (FA00), and the firmware version (3613)—is a digital fingerprint. Option A – Generic Alcor driver
In this comprehensive guide, we will dissect what this device is, why Windows fails to recognize it, and the exact steps to resolve the driver issue permanently.
Let's break the string into its components:
| Component | Meaning |
|-----------|---------|
| ALCOR MICRO | The manufacturer of the USB controller chip. Alcor Micro (often stylized as AlcorMicro) is a Taiwanese semiconductor company known for budget-friendly USB 2.0/3.0 flash drive controllers, card readers, and KVM switches. |
| UNKNOWN | Windows cannot retrieve the device’s friendly name or model from its firmware. This usually indicates a corrupted or missing VID/PID (Vendor ID/Product ID). |
| FA00 | This is the Product ID (PID). In Alcor’s ecosystem, FA00 typically refers to a generic or uninitialized flash drive controller—often the AU699X, AU698X, or SC908 (Alcor branded) series. It can also appear when the NAND flash memory is not detected. |
| F/W 3613 | Firmware version 3613. This is a relatively old firmware (likely from ~2012–2015) for USB 2.0 controllers. Newer Alcor firmware versions are 5xxx, 6xxx, or 8xxx. | Option B – Use OEM driver
Key insight:
FA00is not a normal operational PID. A healthy Alcor flash drive would show something likeAU6989orSC908AN.FA00signals that the controller is in a firmware recovery mode, manufacturing test mode, or has lost its NAND mapping table.
On many desktop PCs, the front-panel media reader uses an Alcor FA00 chip. If the internal USB cable (a 9-pin or 5-pin connector) is loose or disconnected from the motherboard, the device may appear as "unknown" or not appear at all. Reseat the cable.
The problem with "Unknown FA00" is that the MPTool might also struggle to identify the NAND flash. If the tool can't identify the memory type, it can't format it. You may need to manually edit the configuration file (.ini) in the MPTool to force a generic setting, which is a trial-and-error process.