Download ChipGenius (v4.19 or newer) or USBDeview. Look for:
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.
Seeing “Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 - FW 3613” is usually resolvable by identifying the VID/PID, updating drivers, or using vendor tools — but proceed cautiously with firmware flashing, and prioritize data recovery if the device contains important files. alcor micro unknown fa00 - f w 3613
If you want, tell me which OS you’re using and provide the VID/PID string from Device Manager or lsusb output and I’ll give specific next steps.
Alcor Micro is a Taiwanese company known for USB controller chips used in flash drives, card readers, and other USB mass-storage devices. If you see a device identified as “Alcor Micro Unknown FA00 - FW 3613” (or similar) on your computer, it usually indicates the operating system recognizes the hardware vendor but cannot identify the device model or its driver/firmware details. This article explains what that message means, common causes, and practical steps to resolve the issue. Download ChipGenius (v4
Sometimes, this string appears in Linux dmesg or Windows Device Manager because the generic USBSTOR driver doesn't know how to handshake with this specific firmware revision. The drive might be physically fine, but the OS just doesn't speak its language.
Boot a Linux live USB and run:
lsusb -v -d 058f:fa00
This will show if the device enumerates at all and what descriptors it sends – useful for reverse engineering or confirming hardware death.