USB flash drive flashing issue
Solved/Closedbazfile Posted messages 58442 Registration date Status Modérateur Last intervention -
Hello everyone, please I really need help, I have a 128 GB USB drive that was acting up, then I flashed it with FirstChip. After flashing, my USB drive now has only 4GB. Please help me get my 128GB capacity back. Thank you in advance.
14 réponses
Hello,
Classic...
Probably yet another counterfeit USB key with a fake capacity.
See here with the diskpart command:
https://www.pcastuces.com/pratique/materiel/reparer_cle_usb/page4.htm
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37799244-trouver-capacite-cle-usb
Hello MPMP10
I've often seen fake 128GB = 32GB
4GB as the actual memory chip is also possible, that's why when flashing, the FirstChip tool gave it its real usable capacity in my opinion.
ChipGenius detects the hardware directly, often but not always the memory chip that is hidden behind the controller.
I'm waiting for feedback on the ChipGenius data, before or after flashing.
Let's get an idea of the hardware.
@+
Hello and Merry Christmas to everyone,
4gigas would correspond to a Fat32 formatting.
Have you tried an NTFS formatting?
Hello, well yes and no...
In FAT32, you can go up to a maximum of 2TB for a partition, but the limitation concerns the size of files, which must not exceed 4294967295 bytes (2³² − 1) for each file. That’s all.
The best thing is to format it in exFAT if it's meant to be used on both a recent tablet, a PC, or a smartphone.
As for the USB stick mentioned earlier, it is indeed the announced size, but it runs really slow... I have the same one and I checked it. However, you definitely shouldn't change its firmware... fatal error... You have to be careful with all these utilities that are more or less reliable and are meant for people who have some familiarity with this kind of extreme manipulation.
Hello,
There was probably a good reason to flash it in the first place.
And there are brands and controllers that are more reliable than others, or with a tool that’s easier for production, sorting...
Flashing the firmware of a drive is not necessarily a fatal error.
When the need arises...
You have the same one, you can format it and then check it with H2testw.
It’s very handy for detecting the actual and reliable memory (Maximum allocated by the firmware) of a memory chip.
Good drive, or Fake Flash, or not properly flashed (Which includes dead blocks in the allocated memory) or simply unreliable.
https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/11535-h2testw/
Hello,
What does the ChipGenius log say?
Create a report (with the key connected) using ChipGenius.
Right-click in the ChipGenius window and then left-click on "Ok," then use Ctrl + V to paste the text in your next reply here.
Note: It may be perceived as a virus when it is not a virus at all.
Disable the real-time protection of your antivirus while performing this operation, or add the files to exceptions.
Good evening everyone, thank you very much for responding. Please excuse me, I traveled without my laptop. If I come back, I will do as you suggested and then I will get back to you.
The USB drive had a "no media" issue and then I flashed it, and now I see 4GB. I formatted it with Diskpart and I still see the same 4GB.
Mr. Fabul, here is what you asked me for:
*ChipGenius
Description: [E:] USB mass storage device (VendorCo ProductCode)
Device Type: Mass Storage Device
Protocol Version: USB 2.00
Current Speed: High Speed
Max Current: 100mA
USB Device ID: VID = 346D PID = 5678
Serial Number: 2664251003292078067
Device Vendor: USB
Device Name: Disk 2.0
Device Revision: 0200
Manufacturer: VendorCo
Product Model: ProductCode
Product Revision: 2.00
Controller Vendor: FirstChip
Controller Part-Number: FC1179
Flash ID code: 89D3AC32C600 - Intel - 1CE/Single Channel [QLC] -> Total Capacity = 1GB
Tools on web: http://dl.mydigit.net/search/?type=all&q=FC1179
*ChipEasy
Logical drive : E:\ Capacity: 0.0G
Device ID : VID = 346D PID = 5678
Device SN : 2664251003292078067
Device version : 2.00
Device vendor : VendorCo
Device model : ProductCode
Protocol : USB2.0
Max power : 100mA
Partition type : Device active :
Aligned state : Misaligned
Network error, the request for chip model failed!
OS Version : Windows 8 Professional
4GB is already better than 1GB > (Detected by ChipGenius)
Flash ID code: 89D3AC32C600 - Intel - 1CE/Single Channel [QLC] -> Total Capacity = 1GB
Now you can verify it with H2testw to ensure that the 4GB is completely reliable.
https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/11535-h2testw/
If you want a real USB key of 128GB or more, you need to buy it from a reliable seller.
A brand like Patriot or SanDisk makes increasingly affordable 1TB drives.
With h2testw I see 4GB. Please, I would really like to know if it's not possible to flash my USB stick to have 128GB? Since it was 128GB, now after I flashed it with FirstChip, it shows 4GB. I don't understand why after flashing I have 4GB instead of 128GB. Please help me. Could someone explain this discrepancy? Thank you in advance.
Because it’s a real 4GB memory
Before, it was just a fake 128GB low-cost drive that contained a real 4GB memory
The firmware was tampered with to make Windows believe it could hold 128GB
This leads to UNRELIABLE drives with which you simply lose your data.
Often, sellers write this in tiny print in the sales contract, to avoid being held accountable for returns.
You need to read carefully, or inform yourself, do research to avoid being scammed like this.
You can request a refund by showing the ChipGenius log, or leave a comment on the sales site so that others don’t get caught.
PS:
If upon receipt you had formatted it and checked it with H2testw, you would have had immediate proof of tampering.
ChipGenius helps, and can serve as additional proof, but H2testw tests for errors.
