Repairing Counterfeit Flash Drives
Posted by kittyfireflash on October 25, 2008
SOSFakeFlash has been asked by many victims of fake flash drive purchases - how to restore to the original true capacity? Electrostorm has provided excellent information to the tools you would need to deprogramme FrankenFlash.
See Repairing Counterfeit Fake MP Players For MP Players.
Mentioned previously (see: Did You Manage to Reprogramme a Fake Flash Drive Bought on eBay?), to repair a drive you need to know about the controller and the flash chips. To do this you need software that will provide this information. Once you have it, you need to find the right software to reflash the chip and perform the low level formatting of the drive. We are providing the links and steps submitted by Electrostorm. Understand that this could repair a fake – but not in all cases. You could lose the drive in attempting to repair – especially if you chose the wrong tool. Not all drives can be rescued and returned to their real capacity – but many have been.
electrostorm Says:
October 25, 2008 at 4:31
To restore most fake capacity USB flash memory devices.
Step 1:
Download chipgenius, this program will automatically detect an inserted flash drive and read out the 4 digit VID code and 4 digit PID code.
http://www.mydigit.cn/mytool/ChipGenius.rar
If you don’t have a software that can unzip the “rar” format, please get the software 7-zip from:
Step 2:
Go to the iFlash website and search for a matching VID and PID, download the corresponding software from the site.
http://www.flashboot.ru/index.php?name=iflash
Translated to English (recommended)
In most cases I have been able to use the software provided to reflash the controller chip and do a low level format and restore correct capacity.
Once you have repaired the drive using the steps and software above – you need to format the drive in your operating system. After operating system formatting you should once again test the capacity of the drive to ensure that you have truly succeeded. Use the tool H2testw 1.4 once more again. If you are able to write, read and verify without errors – you now have a flash drive you can store data on. It may be a lot smaller but the capacity will be real.
If you chose to try and repair your drive using the information presented here, please return and leave your feedback indicating your success or failure in returning a drive back to it’s original capacity.
Update 20091023: Please consult the new FAQ at FixFakeFlash Inspectortech for important information on repairing fake flash memory items before you attempt to repair.
InspectorTech said
To RUNWAYMODEL5
Your story is why we are here and why we fight the issue with the websites! Your loss is the issue!
If you first copied everything from the memory card to your computer, did you then do a move of the files from your computer to the usb drive or did you do a copy to the usb drive and then later delete the files from your hard disk?
If you did a move, trying to recover the files from the hard disk is not very promising.
If you copied from your hard disk to the usb drive, and then deleted from your hard disk – see your recycle bin to check if the files are still there. If so do a restore. If they are gone, stop using the computer immediately and get somebody techie to help you. Ask them to see if they can run forensic software to find the deleted files on the hard disk, they might be able to recover some.
If you copied directly from the memory card to the usb drive, they are gone for good.
This is very sad. The whole thing about fake flash is this:
The flash chip has a real size. Perhaps 1GB or 2GB. When it is reprogrammed, to lie about it’s size it appears larger. What happens is that space is reserved to record information about the files. So yes, you see folders and directories and you see file names. It looks like everything is there. It is only when you try to access a file you get an error.
The reason you get an error is because the file is NOT on the usb flash drive. Once you exceed the real capacity – there is no place to put the file. It was never copied to the flash drive. It only “Looks” like it was copied. So this is not a data corruption issue really. You can’t make the usb flash drive chip restore the photos and images. They are not on the flash drive. So there is nothing to recover from it.
You have only two potential sources: The memory card or the hard disk depending on the situation. You need to get someone who is very technical to try and help you find out if there is anything that could be recovered from either the memory card or the hard disk. The usb flash drive of no use since the files never went there.
You are not alone RUNWAYMODEL5, many eBayers have suffered your situation. It is horrible!
Let us know if you can find someone to help you see if there are files you could save.
kittyfireflash said
see http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for software to use
kittyfireflash said
see http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/ for software to use look under categories
RUNWAYMODEL5 said
TO InspectorTech-
Thank you so much for you quick reponse. Sadly, I can’t explain how much this hurts me to hear that I’m unable to retieve my files back. I did just what you said. I pulled my photos and videos straight from my memory cards to the USB drive . I pulled the files off the memory cards because I needed to free up memory. I didnt save or copy ANY on my hard drive becasue I didn’t want a cluttered computer because I just got a new Dell Studio 15. I was in tears all day yesterday when I was unable to view my files and photos. So you’re telling me theres nothing to be done? I can’t get them back? Youre 100% sure? I had VERY important files! Photos and videos of family and friends. I just lost my uncle a few months ago and photos of him that family wanted. I had documents for court, all gone?
Is this all true? I cant get anything back?
Tomy Joseph said
I tried using udtools 1.0.4.9 and at the end of scanning i got a message write config table failed. Now the drive is showing 0 mb size . Ud tool have reported 512 MB . Not able to format also , giving an error writw protect switch is enabled , release it eventhough it doesnt have any switch for write protection. not sure what to do next. Can any one guide me ?
Tomy Joseph said
Guys I did it agian with udtools 1.0.4.6 now the drive is operayional with 351 MB ,its identified as 512 MB , i guess the rest is gone bad sectors. One interesting thing is before running the dtools chipgenius retuened me below out put.
Device Name: +[J:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB2.0 Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 1221 PID = 3234
Serial Number: 100000000000037B
Revision: 2.30
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Ameco
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
But Now i m getting different PID and VID as below
Device Name: +[J:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk 2.0 USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 5136 PID = 4678
Serial Number: 5&&134C9627&&0&&8
Revision: 2.30
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: (No match record)
Chip Part-Number: (No match record)
Product Vendor: Generic
Product Model: Flash Disk 2.0
Did i make any mistakes ? How come the PID and VID got changes now ?
InspectorTech said
Hi Tomy
The vid and pid can easily change. In the manual configuration, the codes are set. So it depends on what the person who used the tool before you had when they uploaded the tool. This information is usually stored in an *.ini file. We don’t recommend that people change the manual settings for most it is hard enought just to use the tool.
Your observations on the differences in the two versions of the tool (recognizing the flash chip drive or not) is correct. Some of these tools are beta’s – much depends on the configuration list they have for flash chips. Each has to be listed in a parameters table. Sometimes newer tools will drop older chips.
Good to hear you suceeded!
Randy said
Why bother repairing a fake flash drive, when the result may be a 2GB flash drive that you should not trust with your data.
Current retail in store prices for 2GB flash drives, in North America range start at $6 at Walmart (current flyer). Internet prices (@Walmart.com) are in the $6 to $10 range.
What to do with the fake flash drive? Save for evidence in Mail fraud complaint?
Shane said
I had a Kingston DTI/512 DataTraveler which some how became write protected, although the unit does not ship with a write protect switch. I tried all the tools, methods, etc to get this drive working again until I came across this page, followed instructions…
I had a Kingston drive:
PnP Device ID: VID = 0930 PID = 6533
Chip Vendor: Kingston
etc etc …
went to the iFlash website armed with the VID and PID info, downloaded the tool, followed instructions and discovered that this drive is an Imation Flash Drive with new VID and PID …
PnP Device ID: VID = 0718 PID = 0083
Chip Vendor: Imation
Imation Data Traveler KINGSTON 512 Gb
So I have a rebranded Imation drive in Kingston clothes…
Needless to say, I have a working drive again
THANKS to SOSFAKEFLASH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rodinei said
Kingston
CCORE 4 Gb
VID =DC08
PID =EF0B
CM3110
chip = C&B 0906B CMT882GMAD
No sulucion, help!
Tks
Randy said
On post #136 InspectorTech recommended
It should NEVER EVER be fully trusted again, even if you can repair it and it passes H2testw. Always make sure you have a back up of files transferred to it.
—
I would also recommend that you use a program/utility that will detect errors when you read data from the repaired flash drive. 7Zip uses CRC checking to verify that data being read has not been corrupted. The CRC is created when the data is added to the ZIP file and checked when the data is read from the ZIP file.
There are other programs available that provide similar capabilities. Don’t rely on a Windows copy / paste commands to preserve data integrity.
Also, when using a ZIP utility, create the Zip file on your hard disk then copy the Zip file to the flash drive. This will be faster, and extend the life of the flash drive.
You may also want to put some markings on the repaired flash drive so that you will remember that it is not “trustworthy”.
alap1983 said
Dear InspectorTech
My FAKE Drive:
Kingston
CCORE 32GB
VID =DC08
PID =EF0B
CM3110
After Detailed Analysis, I have come to the conclusion that: State CCore CCM3110 core volume production tool: MPT V2.4.0007 beta MAY Work on fixing the correct size of the FAKE Flash Disk.
I have searched high & low for this App, but did not find it. I even tried Registering on the Chinese Website, but did not succeed.
Please send the Program to me.
I bought the Pend-Drive being AWARE that it WILL BE a Fake (From a LOCAL Vendor for a sum of NR300 (@$6.5)). But the desire to experiment lives on.
I am not afraid of experimenting OR loosing the data (I have not stored anything on the drive). Awaiting the App, to check & fix the real capacity of the drive.
Thanks & Regards
Alap
Rachel said
Hi, i managed to fix my fake 500GB Sony USB. Chips used where the Solid State Systems.
I was expecting maybe around 2GB after fixing but instead it was only 256MB. Wow! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.
InspectorTech said
Hi Rachel
Those sony fakes at 500GB are actually very old fakes. The best true capacity size ever found in the end was about 512MB. Still you didn’t do too bad, some people only had a 128MB capacity.
FlashChipTutor has a very large collection of Sony fakes at his site. People can find them all under the categories on the left side menu see http://flashdrivefacts.wordpress.com/category/brands-flash-devices/counterfeits-sony/ It is even broken down in to sub categories.
Did you retest with H2testw 1.4 to verify that your repair was sucessful?
Fake MP Player and How To Fix It – Niko’s Repair Of eBay Seller lovehuangfeifei2008 Fake MP Player « FixFakeFlash Inspectortech said
[...] Repairing Counterfeit Flash Drives [...]
Claudio Roberto Weirich said
Help Me !!!
Device Name: +[G:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic USB Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 058F PID = 1234
Serial Number: 5&&EE68B9&&0&&3
Revision: 7.76
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Alcor
Chip Part-Number: AU6981~AU6983
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: (N/A)
Tools on Web: http://dl.mydigit.net/2009/0427/406.html
No drive ?
kittyfireflash said
To Claudio
See http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/repairing-counterfeit-flash-drives/comment-page-2/#comment-765
and also if necessary visit the http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/ site.
Let people know how things turn out for you.
Justinaito said
hey this came in today,
i got a kingston 32gb fake
this is the details
Device Name: +[G:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic ÐËÍò¡µç×Ó USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 058F PID = 6387
Serial Number: F5E4F72C
Revision: 8.00
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Alcor(??)
Chip Part-Number: AU6983
Product Vendor: Generic
Product Model: ÐËÍò¡µç×Ó
Rishabh said
Chip Genius report :
Device Name: +[I:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk 2.0 USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 2000 PID = 2008
Serial Number: 5&&397397E0&&0&&4
Revision: 2.80
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MXT6208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: (N/A)
i downloaded UdTools1_0_4_6_20081010 and entered my vid=2000 and pid=2008 and clicked apply as per instructions but when i start reflashing and formating it the pogress bar does not proceed.
plz help.
Rishabh said
plz reply my report of june 20 at 6:50
ghostWolf said
Bought a counterfeit KINGSTON 64GB Datatraveler 150 via ebay (seller icemanpeterepete)
This thief (who obviously not replies to emails) reassured me that it was a genuine product that comes with a full 5 year KINGSTON warranty – bullshit !
I few days after receiving it I encountered problems and got in touch with KINGSTON – and sure enough it turned out that I’ve been flogged a counterfeit product.
I have followed the suggestions above
ChipGenius reports the following…
Device Name: +[J:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = EEEE PID = 1234
Serial Number: 0000000000000
Revision: 1.00
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Solid State System
Chip Part-Number: SSS6677
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=75735
The url above takes me to a Chinese bulletin board – no solution what I can find.
After opening up the thumb drive I read the following on the chip.
S6668
D5-M6C
HLLFK-001K
0917
I’m not sure, but it looks like the chip actually is a 1K chip.
baobab said
I bought 2 fake pen drives in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.
Thay came in fancy package: http://img36.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1kenvase.jpg
Even they both look much like the same, one is different from the other.
I could fix the first one with MPTools.
It was a Micov MW6208E – Samsung 8443 K9G8G08UOB 1 GB
PCTools gave me VID 1221 PID 3234 – Micov MXT8208.
As far as I could read chinese, seems that Micov MW6208E is the same than Micov MXT8208.
If not, anyway, it works.
http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2kmicovsamsungb.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2kmicovsamsung.jpg
I can not fix the second one.
PCTools gives me this values:
VID 1043
PID 8012
It is OnFlash 5188B – 56-1B08070047
Looks like Hisun or Hynix.
http://img35.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3konflashhysunb.jpg
http://img188.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3konflashhysun.jpg
Already downloaded alcor tools, Ameco UDTools, iFormat2 1.32, MPTools, PortFree Production Program PDx8, and UDTools 1.04. I guess no one is recognizing it right.
MPTools claims it’s HY27UT088G2M_1GB or K9GAGO8UOM_2GB
Please, heeeelp.
Randy said
To Baobab
Try Chipgenius to determine the controller model number. Some Chinese sites indicate the OnFlash 5188B to be an ICreate controller.
The next challenge would be to determine the type of memory. The manufactures tools may not report the exact model number. They make some guesses or report the last memory type that was used.
You may have to so some experimenting after you have determined what model number the controller is.
Randy said
To Ghostwolf
This may help? Links to downloads for production tool for 3S6677_MP_V3.017 production software
http://72.14.213.132/translate_c?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://hi.baidu.com/mpbc/blog/item/75b9c1fd8ebb3e4dd7887d5c.html/cmtid/bc22b11931d0c34f43a9adf3&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSSS%2B6677%2Bsolid%2Bstate%2Bcontroller%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX&rurl=translate.google.ca&usg=ALkJrhhAgFOejfmFCuhVU1ZwjQguWcCWOg
James Greenidge said
Except for the techie-hacker who has totally NOTHING to lose, the ONLY “fix” for a fake drive is –
THROW IT AWAY!!!
You CAN’T trust the programming or components in that drive!
Folks, this much more than just about being swindled or having your book report or Excell files scrambled in a fake flash drive.
Thousands of these fake drives have been purchased on eBay and Amazon as graduation and birthday gifts and party flavors and are landing in the unwary hands of those who jobs cannot tolerate data corrupted by one missing digit. When you walk past a hospital or construction site or industrial plant, someone there is plugging a flash drive into computers for precise medical and drug formula info or to feed instructions to heavy machinery or control a chemical plant or an aspect of our communications infrastructure. Maybe even computers aboard military aircraft and ships! This is an insidious blight that deserves FAR more attention by media and government than it has.
Please write to your local TV station and political representative about this pernicious blight! The person you eventually help might be you! Would you want the doctor or med tech managing your mother in a hospital to be carrying a fake flash?
James Greenidge
Queens, NY
abcdhar said
my device details are here:
Device Name: +[H:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB2.0 Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 2008 PID = 2168
Serial Number: 2007010101512931
Revision: 2.80
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
plz help to fix the drive
Randy said
Further to Jame’s comment.
There are numerious post on this blog about treating repaired flash drives as “untrustworthy”. The quality of the chips used in them is questionable. The repair process can reduce the lifetime of the flash memory and after repair the “bad block table” may be full.
So yes destroy the drive and throw it in the garbage.
However, the drive can have some uses. If you are going to repair and use one these fake flash drives, my recommendation is to put a visable label on the drive and only store files on the drive using Zip or Microsoft compressed folders.
I recommended Zip and/or Microsoft Compressed folders for storing any files on flash media. This provides an “end to end data integrity” check. If you have a data error you cannot recover the file from the flash but you don’t propogate invalid information. You should never have a flash drive being the only copy of your important data so not being able to recover the file should not be problem.
In the case of repairing a Music player is “data integrity” and issue?
kittyfireflash said
To abcdhar,
Please visit the http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/ look through the controller familiies for
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
you may find a direct link to software, otherwise you must visit the russian site (see the first post) for details to begin looking for the software you need.
Sarkar said
Hello,
Great site! I discovered your website trying to understand why my new 8 GB Kingston Data Traveler does not work- I bought it a month ago in Thailand, it was working fine and I had put some pics etc. in it, but now I find that no computer (windows) can read the drive- they say it needs to be formatted, but they cannot format it! I bought it from a seemingly good shop. Now I tried your suggestion to use ChipGenius, and this is what the program says about my drive:
>>
Device Name: +[G:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB2.0 Kingston USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 1221 PID = 3234
Serial Number: 1000000000000824
Revision: 2.50
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: (N/A)
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=72332
>>
But I could not find any file for this PID-UID. Can you please help?
Thank you.
KittyFireFlash said
To Sarkar
Your next step is to go to the http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/ site. Check the categories for the usb controller. Then to download a recent tool.
Much will depend on the flash drive storage chip, how recent. We have been getting reports that some can not be fixed with software most people use.
The AMECO MXT6208/MXT8208 UDiskTools 1.0.4.6 (20081010) (see the post and link) tends to fix most recent usb flash drives. Older ones an older tool is sometimes needed.
The two flash chip vendors of interest for you are:
AMECO and Micov (older).
jcan said
No need for any fancy special software in Linux . If you have a fairly new kernel or Live cd distro you can just type
lsusb
that should easily give you the 4 digit VID code and 4 digit PID code.
or do a
fdisk -l
if your drive is modified it should give a messy output that does not look normal to othere drives on your system
lastly try a dosfsck i dunno if you should try to repair just leave it alone just to see what it thinks. if your drive is show fake info it will show there..
http://mympx.org/forum/firmware/44164-fake-ebay-16gb-actually-2gb-ak2025-9800gba-08b-need-firmware.html My experiences
jcan said
note my Linux kernel is a debian 2.6.28
Mark said
I have flash drive 64GB….and fist it work and now, can’t used …now,stick is RAW and I tried many way to format and nothing can do good…I saw this website and I made step by step… but I have one prob: I found the one software at http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=72332 … but I can’t download this file cos of not register… I registered by using google translator. but when registering form, require invitation code … so, who can help me. and how will i do….my flash drive is….
Device Name: +[E:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk 2.0 USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 5136 PID = 4678
Serial Number: 5&&10EF021E&&0&&1
Revision: 2.30
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MW6208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=72332
I’m waiting reply … plz… HELP me
InspectorTech said
To Mark,
Visit http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/
Go to the categories:
Flash Chip Vendor
Flash Chip Part-Number
and review the articles and links for software downloads. Your vid and pid do not match but that does not mean the software micov will not work. You may also need to consult AMECO (same family but newer).
Don’t for get to let SOSFakeFlash know what works and also let me know at my site. I would post a new article for the vid and pid if you succeed to help others find it.
avi said
please help me to formate it to original memory….i have 64 GB kingston USB device..
But unable to formate, and data is corupted..
data from chipgenius-
Device Name: +[G:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB2.0 Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 1221 PID = 3234
Serial Number: 1000000000001AF5
Revision: 2.50
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: (N/A)
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=72332
data from h2testw-
The media is likely to be defective.
102.8 MByte OK (210685 sectors)
63.8 GByte DATA LOST (133955843 sectors)
Details:47.9 GByte overwritten (100466883 sectors)
0 KByte slightly changed (< 8 bit/sector, 0 sectors)
15.9 GByte corrupted (33488960 sectors)
1.5 KByte aliased memory (3 sectors)
First error at offset: 0×00000000066dfa00
Expected: 0×00000000066dfa00
Found: 0×00000000066ff800
H2testw version 1.3
i can write on this usb drive but this pen drive is not shown in notification area…. im using windows vista
Alex Hamilton said
Is there anyway to recover true capacity on this without having to use UDtools as Im having no joy getting it to work on vista?
Info on the device is posted below.
Cheers
Device Name: +[N:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB2.0 Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 1221 PID = 3234
Serial Number: 1000000000000839
Revision: 2.50
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Ameco(???)
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
Product Vendor: USB2.0
Product Model: Flash Disk
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=39918
ITGuy said
In response to Alex’s comment.
Unfortunately most of the manufacture’s tools are designed to work on Windows XP.
Have a read of these posts.
http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/mxt8208-vid-1221-pid-3234-repair-fake-flash-drive-solution/#more-35
You may also want to open up the drive and confirm the controller model number. Chipgenus is usually correct on the manufacture but has difficulty with the exact model # in the manufactures product line.
If you don’t have access to an XP system them you may have to resort to some of the non flashing solutions.
Garth said
Hi
I have a few doubts. In iFlash.ru it says this is a 8gb flash drive, but I see lots of people with different sizes… who should I trust, what’s the real size of this flash drive?
I downloaded the software to fix this flash drive, but I got a message ‘not find chip info’ and ‘bad blocks too much’… what should I do? And one version says it’s a 256mb flash drive. Another version of the same software says it’s a 2gb flash drive.
So, what’s the real size? And how do I fix it?
ITGuy said
In response to Garth
What size does H2testw report for “ok memory” or real memory. This should be the approximate size.
If you want to be 100% sure you will have to open up the drive and find out the details on the memory chip. Decodeing information is provide on this site.
InspectorTech said
To Garth
You need to test your usb flash drive for it’s true capacity using H2testw 1.4. It indicates the size of flash storage chip used. ChipGenius tells you about the usb controller chip used in the flash drive. To reflash you need to know the controller family to find the right software.
The Russian site reports what victims have found with their fake. A VID PID is about the controller not the storage chip.
Reflashing software contains a little database, on flash drive chips. Depending on the version it may or may not recognize the flash storage chip. It is a wrong assumption to think the lastest version of reflashing software contains more information on flash storage chips. Sometimes they drop older chips to be able to add newer ones.
The only 100% guarantee to be certain on the “real size” of the flash storage chip used, is to open the flash drive. It can be difficult depending on the model. It is also possible to break a usb flash drive in the process. In some cases the bottom half is glued to the bottom casing to make sure it does not wiggle. Often it is the flash drive chip size of the board. So anyone who wants or needs to do this must be very careful and gentle!
Once you find the rectangular flash chip, you then have to decode the entire serial and search for it on the internet. Most of the time you will find it, but sometimes not. See FlashChip Tutor site to read up on flash chip grading. Many people have found nothing more than hand written marker lettering – very bad sign! So the only true way to be sure of the flash drive chip is to take apart the item, decode the storage chip and then try to search it out. Be aware that manufacturers normally specify in bits, not btyes. If you see “Gb” they are talking bits, if you see “GB” they are talking bytes. 8 bits make a bytes so remember to divide by 8 if they use Gb.
Back to the reflashing software. In a lot of cases when the chip is recognized, an algorithm is used, an approximation. There are too many chip variations to be 100% precise. Much then depends on the version of software used. It also depends on how it has decided to detect bad sectors and so on. Also nand flash chips do not like to be repeatedly reflashed, ie low level format. It is usually done once in a flash chip’s life time. It has been observed in testing that the more you do low level formats on a chip, the more it shrinks in final capacity, especially when you different softwares or the wrong one for the usb controller. Flash nand chips are a completely different technology, they are not like hard disks.
The best comparision in true size is to test with H2testw 1.4 and also open the item and decode what the size is.
It is very important for everyone to understand, that while a usb flash drive “looks” the same, it can have different storage chips used. We’ve see this a lot. Remember they are recycling low capacity chips and factory rejects that should have gone to the furnance.
This brings up the last point. Trying to restore capacity can be an adventure, it can even be fun. However, any restored itme needs to be retested and never ever trusted. This means you can use it to transport files you have back ups of, or use to play movies or music that you have back ups of. Restored items should never be used to archive or store IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON! Not for one and only files! Ever!
At some point if we don’t have to continue hunting down and investigating so many fake flash sellers we would like to publish more information on nand flash technology so people will understand it better in simple terms. Such as wear leveling, life span, how data is written, why it is very difficult to recover data compared to a traditional hard disk, why they can in theory be so much faster in access speeds…
avi said
any body who can solve my problem…………..pls
ITGuy said
To Avi,
Could you explain your problem in more detail.
Are you having problems reflashing drive?
See the two proceeding posts.
avi said
hi ITGuy,
i have 64 GB kingston datatraveler. most of saved data get corrupted.i think it is fake. it has FAT32 file system,but when i try to format it show only NTFS file system.so i use SP27608 software to formate it and successful to format it in FAT32, problem remains. i have use chipgenius and h2testw to diagnose problem and I am pasting the chipgenius and H2TestW reports below to better explain the situation.i have tried AlcorMP(081208) as advised on one site but unable to fix the problem.
data from chipgenius-
Device Name: +[G:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB2.0 Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 1221 PID = 3234
Serial Number: 1000000000001AF5
Revision: 2.50
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: (N/A)
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=72332
data from h2testw-
The media is likely to be defective.
102.8 MByte OK (210685 sectors)
63.8 GByte DATA LOST (133955843 sectors)
Details:47.9 GByte overwritten (100466883 sectors)
0 KByte slightly changed (< 8 bit/sector, 0 sectors)
15.9 GByte corrupted (33488960 sectors)
1.5 KByte aliased memory (3 sectors)
First error at offset: 0×00000000066dfa00
Expected: 0×00000000066dfa00
Found: 0×00000000066ff800
H2testw version 1.3
kindly help me
thanx
ITGuy said
To Avi,
H2testw output shows the drive to be fake.
H2testw output also indicates real size 102MB! The size of the memory chip in this drive is most likely 128MB. The difference bettween the two values can be explained by overhead.
I don’t think it would be worth your time and effort to fix such a small drive.
Have you reported this as a fake to this blog and paypal / ebay?
Maxroberts said
A friend brought it when back from China… Kingston 32GB.
ChipGenius Report
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Device Name: +[E:]+USB Mass Storage Device(USB Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = EEEE PID = 1234
Serial Number: 5&&20F5DB59&&0&&1
Revision: 1.00
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Solid State System
Chip Part-Number: SSS6677
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=75735
Flashboot.ru has no tool
Please can you provide me with tool
Sarasvatas said
Following is the msg i got but no related software is available. plz help. thanks in advn
Device Name: +[E:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk 2.0 USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 5136 PID = 4678
Serial Number: 5&&21E739F&&0&&1
Revision: 2.30
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov
Chip Part-Number: MW6208
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=72332
Jamie said
Hi,
I bout a kingston datatraveler 200 128 GB stick from which I think it is fake:
Chipgenius Data:
VID: 1221
PID: 3234
Serial Number: 0001CFCFCFC5DCA1
Revision: 2.40
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: micov(???)
Chip Part-Number: MXT8208
Product Vendor: Udisk
Product Model: Udisk 2.0
H2testw formats up to a little more than 4 GB
The Chip on it says
MW8209
IPM122541-1
09HT0515
The big chip
M-ML-8G
A511-0811001
UDTools (Ameco_MW8209_1.1.1.0_090424)
say: MT29F8G08MAD_1GB
Which settings are correct now ? :-/
Randy said
To Jamie, when you said h2testw formats up to 4GB did you mean h2test2 tested to 4GB or that h2test2 reported 4GB OK?
UDTools is indicating that it found a 1GByte or 8Gbit memory chip (micron). Unfortunately M-ML-8G is not a well known flash part number. But a reasonable assumption would be that 8G represents 8Gbit.
The h2testw output will tell you it is a fake, also there are a number of post on comments on this site about how to verify kingston memory, have a look at them.
OSWALD said
I HAVE A MP3 PLAYER WHIT CHIP VENDO SINO WEALTH AND PART NUMBER OD SH86072, SOMEBODY HAVE A FIRMWARE OR ANOTHER TOOL TO REPAIR HIM?
Murphy said
Hi,
Can anyone assist in me telling me what software I need to flash the below device please, which incorrectly shows as 32GB SD Card. I have found the VID/PID on http://www.flashboot.ru/index.php?name=iflash, but there is no mention of any software download for this.
PnP Device ID: VID = 14CD PID = 8123
Serial Number: 812320080329
Revision: 4.00
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: SuperTop
Chip Part-Number: MA8123
The response I get from the test is:
Warning: Only 25132 of 31987 MByte tested.
The media is likely to be defective.
3.2 GByte OK (6838357 sectors)
21.2 GByte DATA LOST (44631979 sectors)
Details:21.2 GByte overwritten (44631104 sectors)
0 KByte slightly changed (< 8 bit/sector, 0 sectors)
437.5 KByte corrupted (875 sectors)
8 MByte aliased memory (16384 sectors)
First error at offset: 0×000000007ac7e000
Expected: 0×000000007ac7e000
Found: 0×0000000078c7e000
H2testw version 1.3
Reading speed: 11.7 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4
Thank you.
ITGuy said
In response to Murphy reguarding repairing / flashing a SDHC memory card.
In my research I have not found a method of flashing memory cards on a PC using an USB card reader. My research indicated that upgrading the firmware on a SDHC & CF cards requires a specialised device that works with the ISP capabilities of the card.
The VID / PID reported VID = 14CD PID = 8123 unfortunately is associated with number of devices from supertop and in your case most likely an usb reader not the memory card. It also is associated with a pen drive, which would explain the entry in flashboot.ru
There are work arounds, but I don’t recommend them if you intend to use the card in cameras as you may loose your photos.
Murphy said
ITGuy,
Thank you very much for the response. You are on the right track, I was reading the SDHC card in a USB card reader connected to my USB port. I am not intending to use this card in cameras, all I want to do is show the real size of the card to make it more usable (chip genius suggests it’s a 4GB card).
If you have any work arounds, please let me know! Thank you.
ITGuy said
To Murphy,
To change the “real size” requires flashing the card and doing this has the same problems as replacing the firmware.
The work arounds I know of are temporary. They involve formating the drive and specifying a smaller size or partitioning the drive. Formating the drive has the risk that you use normal windows programs the drive will revert back to fake size and you will loose data.
Raven2000 posted an solution using mkdosfs. You may want to see if the the panasonic sd card formatter works for you (google it).
There are a number of posts on this site and others about how to partition. However, normal windows routines will not allow you to partition a removeable drive (memory card etc).
Laurens said
Anyone know how I can format this mp3 player 16gb but only 2gb real size:
Device Name: +USB-invoerapparaat
PnP Device ID: VID = 046D PID = C517
Serial Number: 6&&52495C6&&0&&0000
Revision: (Information not returned)
Device Type: Standard USB device –
Chip Vendor: (No match record)
Chip Part-Number: (No match record)
ITGuy said
To Laurens
Look @ the post http://fixfakeflash.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/repairing-counterfeit-fake-mp-players/
and associated comments
pep said
i no this is a stupid question but can you repair a hacked SD card or is it jsu USB drive?
ITGuy said
To Pep,
in response to your question about repairing hacked SD cards. The reflashing techniques (VID & PID repair) discussed on this blog are for just USB drives.
The are options discussed on the blog, they are partitioning the drive and formatting. Some cameras may not work with a partition card, and if you use the formatting option then you can easier reformat the drive, using camera routines, and then loose pictures
The most recent posting someone used -
Partition Manager 1.3.12′ a free partition managing software from
http://active–partition-manager.smartcode.co/info.html
Extracted from a post by Raven2000
The mkdosfs utility can be downloaded from this link:
http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs
Bill B. said
Hi,
I brought a CLONE 64gb usb flash drive 2.0 from China use it twice and dead after trying to reformat TO NTFS SO I CAN STORE BIG FILE. Seller will not replied email after got my money. THERE IS DRIVER FOR IT SOMEWHERE. It came with “Fat format” and I tried to format to “NTFS format” took about 7 hours and computer said cannot format. I tried your instruction and unable to find the clone driver to reformat it. The property said the drive is working properly but need to format. It keep on showing 8mb usb drive not 64gb before I messed it up. Please help me get the proper driver which I CANNOT find, google, yahoo and msn all still no matching driver.
Device Name:Kingston +[E:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic flash drive 2.0 USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 5136 PID = 4678
ALSO FOUND CORSAIR MODEL MW6206 GENERIC (GENERIC FLASH DISK 2.0 USB DEVICE)
ALSO FOUND PQI MICOV MW8208 PnP Device ID: VID = 5136 PID = 4678
ALSO FOUND TRANSCEND MW8208 PnP Device ID: VID = 5136 PID = 4678
PLEASE HELP PROVIDE LINK TO PROPER DRIVER THAT YOU FOUND, I BASICALLY GAVE UP CANNOT FIND THE RIGHT DRIVER FOR IT.
THANKS, BILL
InspectorTech said
Bill,
We can understand you being confused. Your best option to determine which software you need is to carefully open the item up. Find out what the little square black chip says (usb flash controller familiy) and the long black flash chip(s) the flash storage. Write everything out on paper. Then visit the fixfakeflash site.
Your problem is covered in the FAQ. The old fashioned method, is the best (manual inspection). But it means you need tbe careful and gentle. Depending on your eyesight and the quality of the serials on the chips you may also need a strong light and a magnifying glass.
Good to see you careful Bill and doing research first, it is wise. It could be either MW6206 or MW8208 (more info at the site) they are similar to each other.
A manual inspection is advised, with gentle hands.
Walter said
Hi,
I’ve a Fake 2GB USB that have VID & PID fake too
here is the ChipGenius data:
Device Name: +[F:]+Dispositivo di archiviazione di massa USB(General usb disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = ABCD PID = EF18
Serial Number: A4ECC19FC99BD685
Revision: 1.21
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: (No match record)
Chip Part-Number: (No match record)
Product Vendor: General
Product Model: usb disk
Tools on Web: (N/A)
Open the USB I see the following unique Chip: UFD8220 (http://bbs.mydigit.cn/attachment/Mon_0910/18_97038_5a456e21be25b25.jpg)
that is unknown on internet.
The real size is 256M
Someone can help me to fix this?
Thanks
Senol Calisan said
For Turkish Fix Fake Guide Follow Link Below
Turkish Fix Fake Guide
Türkçe Fake Flash disk kurtarma için yukarıdaki link e tıklayın
SOSFakeFlash verified this link. And says thank you, to Senol for making this effort.
CARLOS EDUARDO said
A ALGUM AMIGO QUE JÁ PASSOU POR ISTO, TALVEZ POSSA ME AJUDAR E FICAREI GRATO EU COMPREI UM PEN DRIVER DE 16G CUJOS OS DADOS COPIADOS PELO CHIP GENIUS SÃO ESTES:
Device Name: +[F:]+USB Mass Storage Device(Generic Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 0001 PID = 7778
Serial Number: 480F1CA2
Revision: 8.00
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Alcor
Chip Part-Number: FC8308
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=20620
evice Name: +[E:]+USB Mass Storage Device(JetFlash ALCOR USB Device)
contudo ocorreu algum erro e ele diminuiu para 2 gigas novamente fui ao chip genius e ele me deu a seguinte informação
PnP Device ID: VID = 0001 PID = 7778
Serial Number: 58ADB055
Revision: 8.07
Device Type: Standard USB device – USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: (No match record)
Chip Part-Number: (No match record)
Product Vendor: JetFlash
Product Model: ALCOR
Tools on Web: (N/A) alguem poderia me ajudar a resolver este problema desde já agradeço!!! sem mais carlos eduardo
CARLOS EDUARDO said
CARLOS EDUARDO said
Your comment i awaiting moderation.
November 27, 2009 attn 18:48
The SOME FRIEND THAT ALREADY WENT BY THIS, MAYBE I can HELP MYSELF AND I will BE THANKFUL I BOUGHT A PEN DRIVER 16G WHOSE THE DATA COPIED BY THE CHIP GENIUS are THESE:
Device Name: + [F:] + USB Mass Storage Device (Generic Flash Disk USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 0001 PID = 7778
Serial Number: 480F1CA2
Revision: 8.00
Device Type: Standard USB device. USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: Alcor
Chip Part-Number: FC8308
Product Vendor: (N/A)
Product Model: U
Tools on Web: http://bbs.mydigit.cn/read.php?tid=20620
however it happened some mistake and he decreased to 2 jigs again I went to the chip genius and him gave me the following information: D evice Name: + [And:] + USB Mass Storage Device (JetFlash ALCOR USB Device)
PnP Device ID: VID = 0001 PID = 7778
Serial Number: 58ADB055
Revision: 8.07
Device Type: Standard USB device. USB2.0 High-Speed
Chip Vendor: (In the match record)
Chip Part-Number: (In the match record)
Product Vendor: JetFlash
Product Model: ALCOR
Tools on Web: (N/A) somebody could help myself at once to solve this problem thank!!! without more carlos eduardo