F3 by Michel Machado is an open source Linux software to test flash memory capacity that now runs on Mac computers!. H2testw does not run on Macs (Apple) computers as it is Windows based. This has been serious problem, now solved! Michel first developed the programme to run on Linux.
Starting with Version 2.0, F3 compiles and works on Macs!
At last, Mac users now have a software they can use to test flash memory capacity!
What Harald Bögeholz did for Windows users, Michel Machado has done for Linux and Mac Users! Both hard working champions to help people discover the true capacity of flash memory chips.
Michel Machado:
I’ve released F3 version 2.0, which compiles and works on Macs. Check the page:
Repairing flash memory cards to their real capacity is not as easy as it is for fake usb flash drives or mp players. TechChips at FlashChipTech released a report you should read:
At FixFakeFlash we have been providing people with information to repair hacked memory chips for over two years. One of the software products used to auto identify identify flash memory controllers and storage chips is Chipgenius also know as Chip Genius.
TechChips has finally released a report on this software you should read before you begin your mission to try and repair flash memory to their real capacity.
F3 by Michel Machado is an open source Linux software to test flash memory capacity. H2testw does nor run in Linux. There are two programmes, one to read and one to write files to the item being tested.
If you are a Linux user and need to test flash memory cards, usb flash drives and mp players. please try out F3. Read the rest of this entry »
FixFakeFlash from SOSFakeFlash, explains steps to rescue a fake flash (counterfeit) drive. How you can try to return it to its true size. Wrestling with FrankenFlash drives to make them useful is a mystery to most victims of fake flash drive purchases. The information FixFakeFlash has for you comes from the efforts of fake flash victims who succeeded in repairing their drives.
To repair counterfeit (fake) flash drives you need the VID and the PID for a flash drive. This will help you determine the software tool required to perform a low level reformatting (commonly known as reflashing). Reformatting in an operating system is “high level” and can not repair the drive. The controller on the flash drive has been reprogrammed to lie – this is why you normally need a special software tool. They exist and are available, but you need to know which one you must use for your drive.
The VID is the Vendor information, the PID is the flash chip controller information. The PID is supposed to identify the chip set family for a software reprogramming tool. How to find this information? The easiest way is to download a program called chipgenius – it will read the drive for you. Only if chipgenius does not find any useful information or the information does not match anything known on the internet should you consider taking your USB flash drive apart. Some drives do not come apart easily so avoid this unless you have no other choice. In most cases you will not have to consider doing this.
Update 20091023: Please consult the new FAQ at FixFakeFlash Inspectortech for important information on repairing fake flash memory items before you attempt to repair.
Follow these steps to begin the journey to fix and repair your fake USB flash drive to its real size:
FixFakeFlash – solution FC8308 controller identified with VID = 0001 PID = 7778, fake flash drive. The drive tested and repaired was from eBay Fake Flash Seller emily123123. Advertised as 8GB, it’s true capacity was 2GB. This fake flash drive can be repaired using the following information.
Suspect that you have a counterfeit (fake) MP Player, USB Flash drive or Memory Card that has been digitally altered to report a larger capacity than it really is? Known as “Fakes” you will find them for sale on eBay, on wholesaler internet sites and even in small retail stores around the world.
Real flash chips from genuine manufacturers have been are upgraded (reprogrammed) to lie about their real size to operating systems.
SpecTekNand Flash chips have been targeted by those who engage in this devious activity. Only when one exceeds the real capacity of the chip, does data loss begin. Buyers trying to find why the devices fail frequently take them apart to find out why they don’t hold the advertised capacity.
The first step is to try and decode the chip being used. If the brand is SpecTek you need to write down the information on the chip so you can find out what the real size is is.
The black market is busy changing the sizes of Flash nand chips with capacity of 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB to report sizes from 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 60GB, 64GB, 120GB, 128GB, 240GB, 250GB, 260GB, 320GB, 360GB, 500GB, 512GB. So how can you find out the real size of the chip in your MP Player, USB Flash Drive or Memory Card?
SpecTek uses use coding, where each position in the chip’s serial identification has special meaning. The decoding chart is found at SpecTek.
For capacity storage sizing, Gb is Gigabits. 8 bits make a byte. So if you see 32Gb it is 32/8 = 4GB. Always divide by 8. GB is Gigabytes. Usually advertised sizes for storage use GB – Gigabytes. This is what consumers understand best for storage. It is very important to understand this difference when you consult a manufacturers decoder. If the ‘b’ is in lowercase they are referring to bits, not bytes as most everyone expects.
If you confirm that you have a fake – a digitally altered storage chip, please report it to SpecTek and let them know that one of their chips has been reprogrammed into Frankenflash. The more information the genuine manufacturers receive the more it will help them to track and investigate.
If you have a digital camera, photograph the chip close up if you can so people can easily read the serial and also do one of the whole device. This is evidence you can submit in a legal claim or as additional information in a PayPal dispute issued for an eBay purchase.
So how do you test your flash memory chips to find out if they are the advertised size?
There are many programmes on the market, but there is only one that seems to provide the most accurate and informative results, H2testw. It might take a long time to run as it must test the “advertised capacity” not just the real size of the flash memory chip. If you have a large capacity to test, consider running over night or on the weekend when you don’t need your computer. Our technical teams use this programme and prefer it.
If you are planning on trying to restore your fake usb flash drive, mp player or memory card it is important that you first find out what the real size of the flash memory chip is. It is also important to use this software tool after you have repaired, to make sure that it is now safe to use. The program H2testw can give you greater confidence that you succeeded in your restoration of true capacity.
So you are trying to repair a fake flash memory product? Wondering how you got into this mess? Well what do you know about the costs of flash memory?
SOSFakeFlash helps eBay members who have been frauded on eBay. They collect data as well as investigate fraudulent sellers caught. The InspectorTech group at FixFakeFlash is republishing their article. Please read it and learn why you ended up at the FixFakeFlash site!
Feel free to post the address to this article at websites and forums. You have a tough challenge ahead of you to fix your fake memory item. Warn people, help educate the global public. Write in your native language!
There are better things to do with our lives then repairing flash memory items reprogrammed to lie about their real size. Did you lose files and data?
Reprinted From SOSFakeFlash 20100108:
Why do people become victims on eBay when they buy flash memory cards, usb flash drives or MPx Players?
Members do not understand the real costs of flash memory chips. They assume the low prices on eBay are because the retail outlet has been removed from the picture. Wrong!
Please visit FlashFakeCentral . The site was fast tracked to the internet.
You have two very important lessons assigned to you:
A) Consult Flash Memory prices. Flash Memory Chips – Prices. You will even find a current hotlink to the spot prices for the day.
B) Read the Global report. It covers SOSFakeFlash’s efforts for 2008 to the end of 2009. Global – eBay Fake Memory. You will find out how much fake flash sellers receive in bid prices for their false capacity items depending on their continent of registration, What the average buying prices are by victims, even how the false capacity sizes offered is changing by business quarter.
After you have completed your lessons, return to SOSFakeFlash to test your item, report in and begin your fight against having been frauded on eBay.
FixFakeFlash – solution FC8308 controller identified with VID = 1111 PID = 2222, fake flash drive. The drive tested and repaired was from eBay Fake Flash Seller 123456wowo123456 aka mememao9898. Advertised as 16GB, it’s true capacity was 4GB. This fake flash drive can be repaired using the following information.
WiseOne repaired:
If you have this controller and or VID PID information, the solution may help you to repair your fake.
What does a Counterfeit Corsair Flash Voyager GT usb flash drive look like? A recent victim on eBay documented his case, complete with purchase, feedback, testing, warnings to buyers and of course photographic evidence.
CaptainVoyager’s takes you step by step examining the flash drive with photos. Then he takes it apart. What does he find? Join CapatinVoyager on his detective mission and find out. His presentation is very different for the photo section – no text. You need to be a detective too! Hint. Examine the photo’s of the fake Flash Voyager GT, hover with your mouse to see his captions.
It’s his contribution to the war against fake flash usb drives and especially counterfeited brand names!
If you purchased a fake Flash Voyager GT usb flash drive advertised as 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB on eBay please report in to SOSFakeFlash using their Report A Fake Tab.
A Fake usb flash drive, is a memory pen stick that has been digitally altered – reprogrammed to lie to an operating system about the real size of it’s flash nand storage chip. Once you exceed true capacity of the chip, you begin to loose files. People do not suspect the real reason, thinking it an error in the data transfer. Only when it happens again and again do they suspect there is something more… How can you find out if you have a fake usb flash drive?
This time they will be show casing sellers who sold false capacity MP Players. Too many buyers fall for seller claims that the units are defective. Most never learn the truth, these items have had their flash chips manipulated to report a size much larger that the chips can support. SOSFakeFlash is inviting buyers to learn more and leave comments on their experiences.
Visit this site during the next week for an eye opening education!
SOSFakeFlash begining June 24th, 2009 will launch a consumer awareness week for MP Players being sold on eBay. They will start by listing some of the best articles published by the FrankenFlash Project. This will be followed by alerts on fake flash sellers of MP Players on eBay. The canons are being loaded to fire at fraudsters who are minting money at buyers expense on eBay.
If you have solutions to fixing fake MP Players send them in to sosfakeflashdrive@gmail.com for these sellers. Everyone is being asked to examine these sellers and select some eBay members who left postive feedback to test and to fight back if they were sold false capacity!
SOSFakeFlash published a series of articles to educate consumers on the problem of fake mp players, usb flash drives and memory sticks sold on ebay during the week of June 5th 2009 to June 12th 2009. It includes information collected by the FrankenFlash Project over a 13th month period. The objective was to increase global awareness about the problem of false capacity devices being sold on eBay and to assist members to avoid buying false capacity items. These devises can be dangerous to files as they will be lost the moment the true capacity of the flash drive chips is exceeded.
Consumers will fall prey to fake flash sellers, not only in the Orient but any country if they make a dangerous mistake. Not understanding the true costs of nand flash drive chips. Many assume that the reason for the low prices on eBay is the result of cutting out the “Middle Man”. Anyone who follows this line of reasoning is in for a very unpleasant surprise. The FrankenFlash project after many months of research reveals the truth in the hope that people will avoid becoming victims in the future. The old saying “You get what you pay for” is stinging!
SOSFakeFlash Announces Consumer Education Week To Fight Fraud on fake up players, usb flash drives and memory cards. The FrankenFlash Project is alarmed at the escalation the selling of these devices. Consumers are made victims each day in over 63 countries.
After 15 months of investigation it is clear that consumers are ill informed. As a result they fall prey to fraudsters and scammers who sell them false capacity devices. SOSFakeFlash intends to reveal the truth and to demonstrate that when consumers hunt for bargains and cheap prices there is only one outcome – the purchase of a false capacity item. The consequences can be lethal. It is not only money that is lost but also data.
The flash nand chips used in up players, usb flash drives and memory cards are being digitally altered to report a capacity much higher than the chips can support. This digitally altering occurs in the orient and is sent around the world through internet wholesaler sites in the orient.
People interested in large profits buy these items and as a result inflict misery on others. Too many sellers do not search their products or test them properly. There is no fabulous profit in selling true capacity up players, usb flash drives and memory cards. This is a myth and the FrankenFlash project announces zero tolerance for any seller proven to have sold false capacity devices. If any seller is caught they will be published on the internet. The record will be permanent and will under no circumstances be retracted. It is a sellers duty to research and test the items they offer for sale.
Please visit http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/ to see what they reveal. eBay will be exposed as will PayPal, both are complicit in aiding and promoting the sale of false capacity items. Buyers also need to be better informed on the true costs – there is little mark up involved.
SOSFakeFlash will reveal the sad truth with evidence: “You get what you paid for”! This will be unpopular with victims.
To begin understanding the truth of what is happening you are invited to read:
H2testw is the software tool most used by eBay victims of fake mp players to test and find the true capacity of MP Players that are fake. Finding the right software to repair an MP Player can be challenging. Some times it helps to have a look inside to see what the flash drive storage chip is and what the controller chip is. This is the first article to help you learn more about fake MP Players and what they look like inside.
This article is reprinted from SOSFakeFlash and uses a documented fake MP Player as an example.
SOSFakeFlash publishs a lot of consumer alerts on fake flash sellers prowling ebay for buyer victims. Evidence is collected and stored in a database. eBayer id’s, eBay item numbers, the model sold by the seller along with other important information.
It leads to alerts being issued on the internet and sellers being added to the famous eBay Fake Flash Sellers List. As time goes by the counts against sellers increase. Some times a victim will report in months after the fact, long after the ebay listings have disappeared. The project works hard to preserve information. Alerts are issued after the information has been collected, not before! Necessary given eBay’s recent behavior of shutting fake flash sellers down quickly to be able to remove all traces of lising information.
SOSFakeFlash, in this article will take you inside of a fake MP Player purchased on eBay and show you how it is possible to prove it is a false capacity, confirming what the program H2testw 1.4 reports in capacity testing.
Paypal likes to demand that victims return fake flash usb drives or mp players or memory cards to get a refund. “Return the crime to the criminal!” they order. On other occasions they will dismiss the test results of H2testw 1.4 and demand you find somebody at Southby’s to certify that you received a counterfeit.
The FrankenFlash Project has been in operation for over 14 months, they know something about fake mp players, usb flash drives and memory cards. The simple fact is, when the devices are taken apart – the truth is revealed. It only confirms what the program H2testw 1.4 reports. The secret? It lies in the actual flash drive nand memory chips in the device!
For most victims, taking apart a fake MP Player is not a task they feel up to. The latest contributor, Niko is up to the task and is presenting his findings for everyone to see! He has two fake MP Players to reveal to you, this is the first one sold by hitech2day. You will quickly see there is nothing “defective” here! It is clear deception on the part of fake flash sellers.
To PayPal and eBay, do pay attention! To fake flash sellers, watch out! We do our homework “dears “.
Listed on eBay hitech2day offered this model. Is it 16GB?
When Niko opened the drive this is what he saw:
So what did the flash drive chip for storage show?
This is good practise for anyone with a samsung nand flash drive chip to try out!
There is no “m” available for the last character.
So click on search.
So here we see the real chip size. It is 32G bit. 8 bits is a byte so we need to divide by 8. That makes 32Gb /8 = 4GB.
So eBay seller hitech2day has lied about the true capacity! hitech2day was not selling a 16GB MP Player but a 4GB MP Player. eBay, PayPal are you still with us? Can you do the math and follow the evidence? Do you really think ebay buyers are complaining without cause? If ebay members can do their homework, why can’t you? It’s not rocket science, you know.
Now the controller chip for the MP Player difficult to read in the photo:
It is:
AK2025
8L014BA 1LP
We can’t tell you much about it at the moment.
eBay members are not imagining things about the fake mp players being sold on eBay.
The problem is very real! Both eBay and PayPal are very much aware of it. Only they prefer to show a blind eye. After all, the money is good! The FrankenFlash project has observed that eBay and PayPal do not intend to put a stop to the traffic in fake mp players being sold.
Just how far back in time does it go? If you are a victim of a fake flash MP Player, make sure that you register there. You can also register for other fake flash items too! Let it grow! And grow! The FrankenFlash Project collects information too, so do not forget SOSFakeFlash or to report in! Every item matters and counts.
SOSFakeFlash issue’s alerts on the internet to warn and assist victims. They can not and will not issue an alert without evidence. It is very powerful! It is a record and it stays forever. They also will NOT remove an alert! If a seller on eBay is caught, the alert stays!
Niko is currently searching for a solution to repair this fake MP Player. If one is found he will present it to everyone.
Keep an eye out for Niko’s other fake flash MP seller and his repair solution coming soon.
Is this MP Player sold by lovehuangfeifei2008 really 8GB? No it is not. It is only 2GB. So how did a victim fix this MP Player?
See how Niko managed to restore the Fake MP Player sold by lovehuangfeifei2008 to it’s real 2GB size. The solution could help you repair your fake MP Player to it’s true size so you can use it.
Suspect that you have a counterfeit (fake) MP Player, USB Flash drive or Memory Card that has been digitally altered to report a larger capacity than it really is? Known as “Fakes” you will find them for sale on eBay, on wholesaler internet sites and even in small retail stores around the world.
Real flash chips from genuine manufacturers have been are upgraded (reprogrammed) to lie about their real size to operating systems. Samsung Nand Flash chips have been targeted by those who engage in this devious activity. Only when one exceeds the real capacity of the chip, does data loss begin. Buyers trying to find why the devices fail frequently take them apart to find out why they don’t hold the advertised capacity.
The first step is to try and decode the chip being used. If the brand is Samsung you need to write down the information on the chip so you can find out what the real size is is for the chip.
The black market is busy changing the sizes of Flash nand chips with capacity of 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB to report sizes from 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 60GB, 64GB, 120GB, 128GB, 240GB, 250GB, 260GB, 320GB, 360GB, 500GB, 512GB. So how can you find out the real size of the chip in your MP Player, USB Flash Drive or Memory Card?
Samsung use coding, where each position in the chip’s serial identification has special meaning. You can use the chart to check the real size. The decoding chart is found at Samsung under Nand Flash. They also publish catalogues of the chips they make that you can download and consult.
For capacity storage sizing, Gb is Gigabits. 8 bits make a byte. So if you see 32Gb it is 32/8 = 4GB. Always divide by 8. GB is Gigabytes. Usually advertised sizes for storage use GB – Gigabytes. This is what consumers understand best for storage. It is very important to understand this difference when you consult a manufacturers decoder. If the ‘b’ is in lowercase they are referring to bits, not bytes as most everyone expects.
Samsung also offers Product Catalogues (Memory and Storage Selection Guide) in pdf file format that list all the flash drive storage chips they have made.
FixFakeFlash suggests you visit Samsung’s site get the most current information and download their pdf files:
You will find their decoder easy to use. Make sure that when you open your fake flash item that you copy all the information about the chip down correctly.
If you confirm that you have a fake – a digitally alterned storage chip, please report it to Samsung and let them know that one of their chips has been reprogrammed into frankenflash. The more information the genuine manufacturers receive the more it will help them to track and investigate.
If you have a digital camera, photograph the chip close up if you can so people can easily read the serial and also do one of the whole device. This is evidence you can submit in a legal claim or as additional information in a PayPal dispute issued for an eBay purchase.
FixFakeFlash Inspectortech 