The USB hardware identifier VID FFFF PID 1201 typically indicates a generic, "no-name," or potentially counterfeit USB mass storage device, often using FirstChip controllers. While these IDs are technically registered to a "Taiwan OEM," they are frequently seen on unbranded flash drives that appear in Windows as "NAND USB2DISK". What Do These Identifiers Mean?
Every USB device has a Vendor ID (VID) and a Product ID (PID) to help the operating system load the correct drivers.
VID FFFF: This is a generic or "placeholder" vendor ID often used by smaller manufacturers or for devices that haven't been officially registered with the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF).
PID 1201: This specific product ID is commonly associated with the FirstChip FC1178/FC1179 series of controllers. Common Issues with VID FFFF PID 1201 Devices
Users often encounter these IDs when a flash drive begins to fail or shows signs of being a "fake capacity" drive. iFlash - page #1 - FlashBoot.ru
The USB identifiers most commonly associated with generic "Taiwan OEM" mass storage devices or corrupted flash drives
. While a "Vendor ID" (VID) usually identifies a specific company,
is technically an invalid or unassigned ID often used as a placeholder in factory firmware or appearing when a device's internal information becomes unreadable. The "Ghost" Device: What is VID FFFF?
In the world of USB development, every manufacturer must pay for a unique VID from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF)
. Because this fee can be expensive, many generic or low-cost manufacturers use as a "filler" ID. Common Labels : You will see these devices listed in NirSoft's USB Speed Test database
as "NAND USB2DISK," "VendorCo ProductCode," or simply "USB Mass Storage Device". Performance : These are typically older devices with modest speeds, often averaging around 15–22 MB/s read 5–13 MB/s write Why is your device showing this ID?
If you own a name-brand drive (like a SanDisk) that suddenly identifies as VID FFFF PID 1201 , it usually signals a hardware or firmware failure: Firmware Corruption
: The drive's controller has lost its identity and reverted to a "safe mode" or default state. Corrupted Data
: Files are often inaccessible, and Windows may show the drive as "Unknown Device" or "Corrupted". Controller Hardware : Many of these devices use the FirstChip FC1178BC
controller, which is a common target for low-level repair tools. Troubleshooting and Recovery
If you encounter this specific ID on a drive that used to have a different name, it's often a sign that the drive is "bricked" but potentially recoverable with specialized software.
The USB identifiers VID 0xFFFF PID 0x1201 typically indicate a corrupted or generic flash drive , often associated with a "no media" error
. While 0xFFFF is technically assigned to "Taiwan OEM - OBSOLETE" in some databases, it is most commonly seen when a device's firmware has failed or is being used by a generic controller. Apple Support Community Device Identification Controller Vendor: Often identified as (specifically part number FC1178BC). Reported Product Names:
NAND USB2DISK, Disco 2.0, or simply "USB Mass Storage Device". Technical Profile:
Usually a USB 2.0 device with a high-speed protocol version (480 Mb/s) and a current requirement of 100mA. Common Symptoms
When a device shows these IDs, it often suffers from the following issues: Unreadable Content: Files appear as corrupted text or question marks. Inaccessible Media: usb device id vid ffff pid 1201
The drive may appear "greyed out" in File Explorer or show "0B" (zero bytes) capacity in disk management tools. Format Failure:
Standard Windows or macOS formatting tools often fail to recognize or repair the drive. Troubleshooting & Repair Options
If you are trying to restore a drive showing these IDs, users frequently recommend these steps:
The USB Device VID FFFF PID 1201 is not a specific brand-name product, but rather a "fingerprint" for generic, unbranded, or "white-label" USB mass storage devices. Devices with these identifiers are frequently linked to Taiwan OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) controllers, such as those from FirstChip. Overview of Devices with VID FFFF PID 1201
Because these IDs are generic, they appear on a wide variety of flash drives ranging from 1GB to 2TB. However, finding this specific ID often indicates one of three things:
Generic Hardware: A legitimate but cheap, unbranded thumb drive.
Emergency Mode: A drive that has malfunctioned and defaulted to a "FirstChip" emergency state, often showing 0GB capacity.
Counterfeit Product: A fake drive programmed to report a massive storage capacity (like 1TB or 2TB) that it does not actually possess. Performance and Reliability
Based on community data and technical specs for this hardware ID:
Speed: Most devices with this ID use USB 2.0 protocols. Real-world testing shows highly inconsistent speeds, often much slower than standard name-brand drives.
Build Quality: Often features inexpensive "NAND" flash and controllers like the FirstChip FC1178BC. These are generally designed for low-cost production rather than long-term data reliability.
Risk Level: High. Many users report these drives as "fakes" where the operating system shows a high capacity, but data is lost as soon as the small, actual storage limit (often 8GB–32GB) is reached. Expert and Community Perspectives
Community members often warn that these specific IDs are hallmarks of unreliable or fraudulent storage.
“Your USB flash drive is stuck in FirstChip emergency mode, hence the generic VID FFFF and 0-byte capacity.” www.elektroda.com
“If that is a fake USB drive with artificially inflated capacity... its quality is also unknown, so you might be better buying a legitimate one from a reputable store.” Reddit · r/techsupport · 3 years ago Recommendation: Proceed with Caution
If you are considering using or purchasing a drive with these IDs: How to Find Vendor ID and Product ID for Your USB Device
The USB Device ID VID FFFF PID 1201 typically indicates a generic or unbranded USB flash drive that is either in a "factory" state or has corrupted firmware. What the ID Means
VID FFFF (Vendor ID): This is not a registered manufacturer. It is often used by Taiwan OEM manufacturers or as a placeholder when a device has no production firmware.
PID 1201 (Product ID): This ID is frequently associated with drives using FirstChip controllers (specifically models like FC1178BC, FC1179, or YC2019).
Common Name: These devices often identify themselves as "NAND USB2DISK" with a capacity that might show as 0GB when failing. Why You Are Seeing This The USB hardware identifier VID FFFF PID 1201
If your drive was previously working and now shows this ID, it usually means:
Firmware Corruption: The controller has lost its production firmware (often after a power loss) and has reverted to a "bootloader" or "test" mode.
Counterfeit/Fake Drive: Many low-cost or counterfeit drives use these generic IDs. They may claim a high capacity (like 128GB) but actually contain much smaller NAND chips.
Hardware Failure: While the controller might still be communicating (allowing the PC to see the ID), the NAND flash chip itself may be damaged. How to Fix or Recover the Drive
Because the drive is in a low-level state, standard Windows formatting usually fails. You typically need a Mass Production Tool (MPTool) specific to the controller.
Identify the Controller: Use a tool like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor to confirm if the controller is indeed a FirstChip (e.g., FC1178 or FC1179).
Find the MPTool: Look for FirstChip MpTools (e.g., V1.0.5.2) on sites like USBDev.ru or FlashBoot.ru.
Re-flash the Firmware: Running the MPTool can "re-manufacture" the drive, mapping out bad sectors and restoring a usable capacity.
Note: This process will permanently erase all data on the drive. Warning on Data Safety
FirstChip FC1178BC MpTools V1.0.2.10 2018-04 ... - USBDev.ru
This USB device ID combination (VID: FFFF, PID: 1201) identifies a mass storage device, typically a FirstChip-based USB flash drive.
Because the Vendor ID FFFF is an unofficial or "generic" identifier often used by manufacturers who haven't registered a unique VID with USB.org, these devices are frequently "no-name" or OEM drives from regions like Taiwan. Device Specifications Based on typical database entries for this specific ID: Controller Vendor: FirstChip (specifically models like or ).
Product Model: Often labeled as NAND USB2DISK or "Disco 2.0". Protocol: USB 2.00 High Speed. Memory Type: Usually uses Intel or Samsung NAND flash. Troubleshooting & Management Guide
If you are looking into this device because it is malfunctioning (e.g., showing "Write Protected," "Unknown Device," or incorrect capacity), follow these steps: 1. Verify the Internal Controller
Since VID/PID can sometimes be spoofed, use specialized tools to confirm the hardware inside:
ChipGenius: A standard tool for identifying the exact controller and NAND flash chip.
Flash Drive Information Extractor: Provides deep technical details about the memory chip and firmware version. 2. Firmware Repair (Flashing)
If the drive is "dead" or has a corrupted file system, you may need the manufacturer's Mass Production Tool (MPTool) to re-flash the controller:
Required Tool: Search for FirstChip MpTools (specifically versions supporting or ).
Note: These tools are often hosted on technical communities like USBDev.ru. Security and safety considerations
Warning: Flashing firmware will permanently erase all data on the drive. 3. Basic Windows Repair If the device is recognized but unreadable: Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button.
Find the device under Universal Serial Bus controllers or Disk drives.
Right-click and select Uninstall device, then unplug and replug the drive to let Windows reinstall the default mass storage driver.
If the file system is corrupted, use the Windows Disk Management tool to delete the existing partition and create a new one (formatted as exFAT or FAT32 for best compatibility). 4. Security Warning
Because VID FFFF is a generic ID used by many manufacturers, these drives are occasionally used for "fake capacity" scams (e.g., a drive advertised as 128GB that actually only has 8GB of real storage). If you notice files disappearing after filling the drive halfway, use a tool like H2testw to verify the actual storage capacity.
Are you trying to recover data from this drive, or are you trying to fix it so it can be used again? FAQ-how to find VID and PID for USB flash disk - Huawei
The USB Device ID VID FFFF PID 1201 typically identifies a generic or unbranded USB mass storage device, often a flash drive using a controller Device Profile Vendor ID (VID): is often used by Taiwan OEM
manufacturers or as a placeholder for unbranded generic devices. Product ID (PID):
is commonly associated with mass storage products like "NAND USB2DISK" or "Disk 2.0". Hardware Controller: Most devices with this ID use (e.g., FC1178BC or FC1179). Common Use Cases and Problems This specific ID frequently appears in two scenarios: Generic/Counterfeit Drives:
Low-cost, unbranded flash drives often ship with these generic IDs. Firmware Corruption:
Branded drives (like SanDisk) may revert to this generic VID/PID when their firmware is corrupted or the controller enters "test mode," rendering the drive inaccessible. Restoration and Repair
If your drive is showing this ID and is not working, it likely requires a firmware re-flash using Mass Production Tools (MPTools) Step 1: Identify the Controller: Use a tool like ChipGenius
to find the exact controller part number (e.g., FC1178 or FC1179). Step 2: Download MPTools: Search for the specific MPTool for that controller (e.g., FirstChip MPTools Step 3: Factory Reset:
Run the tool and use options like "Clear + Factory Scan" to restore the drive's firmware. This will permanently erase all data on the device. Are you trying to recover data from a drive with this ID, or just trying to make the hardware functional
FFFF:1201 in Python (Linux)import os import redef check_usb_for_ffff1201(): with os.popen('lsusb') as f: for line in f: if 'ffff:1201' in line: print("ALERT: Found ffff:1201 USB device") # Get more details os.system(f"lsusb -v -d ffff:1201 2>/dev/null | grep -E 'iProduct|iManufacturer|bDeviceClass'") return True print("No ffff:1201 device found.") return False
if name == "main": check_usb_for_ffff1201()
Occasionally, USB passthrough mechanisms in virtualization software (like VirtualBox or QEMU) may report a device as FFFF:FFFF or similar masks if the host driver fails to capture the real hardware ID, though 1201 specifically points more toward the Rockchip scenario mentioned above.
Unplug the device and plug it into a different computer.
SiLabsUSBDriver or CH341SER) unless it matches CDC ACM class.RKDevTool on Windows)..img file) for your specific device model.Every USB device contains a descriptor with a Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID). Officially assigned VIDs are unique 16-bit numbers issued by the USB-IF to member companies. However, 0xFFFF is not assigned to any legitimate USB-IF member. When encountered, it indicates one of the following:
The specific PID 0x1201 further narrows the identification.
The best fix is avoiding VID_FFFF entirely. Here is how to spot fake drives before they fail: