In many instances, the Chiphead VID 1E3D is a re-badged chip that is functionally identical to the (a famous USB-to-Serial chip). However, Windows does not automatically apply the Prolific driver because the VID/PID does not match.
Open the device case (if safe) and look for a small QFN-32 or QFN-48 chip labeled "CS-" or "CHIPS." If you see "CS198A," you have the right device.
If your flash drive is suddenly displaying this specific raw hardware footprint—or showing up as a generic "ChipsBnk Flash Disk" with —the drive's internal firmware has likely entered a protective fail-safe state due to a corrupted file system, sudden extraction, or bad memory blocks. Technical Profile: VID 1e3d PID 198a
These flash drives are commonly found in low-cost USB drives, promotional flash drives, or multi-card readers. Because Chipsbank specializes in high-integration controller chips for flash memory, these devices are often cost-effective rather than high-performance. 2. Troubleshooting "VID 1e3d PID 198a" Issues
Understanding USB Device ID: VID 1E3D PID 198A The USB device identifiers and PID 198A are specific codes that identify a hardware product produced by Chipsbank Microelectronics Co., Ltd. . In technical terms, the VID (Vendor ID) 1E3D points to Chipsbank, while the PID (Product ID) 198A typically represents a "Flash Disk" or a generic USB mass storage controller. Technical Specifications and Device Role usb device id vid 1e3d pid 198a top
Assigned strictly to Chipsbank Microelectronics Co., Ltd. . This is a Chinese semiconductor enterprise that specializes in budget-friendly, high-density USB mass storage controllers.
When a standard flash drive (such as a generic promotional drive, budget Lexar, or unbranded AliExpress thumb drive) defaults to raw vendor information, you will usually notice the following system behavior:
The hardware string represents a USB mass storage flash drive powered by a Chipsbank Microelectronics Co., Ltd. controller. This specific identifier combination is highly common in budget USB 2.0 thumb drives, promotional or novel giveaway flash drives, and unfortunately, counterfeit "high-capacity" drives sold online. When a drive displays this device ID, it means the operating system is interacting directly with a Chipsbank controller chip, such as the CBM2098 or CBM2199E .
Poor. Users frequently report "fake capacity" issues where the drive claims to be large (e.g., 2TB or 16TB) but actually contains only 8GB–32GB of usable flash memory. Common Issues & Maintenance In many instances, the Chiphead VID 1E3D is
For most computer users, a USB device is just a tool—a flash drive, a webcam, or a cable. But when something goes wrong, Windows often throws up an error referencing cryptic codes like . If you have landed on this page, you are likely staring at a Device Manager error, a driver installation failure, or a piece of hardware that your PC refuses to recognize.
How do I check the PID and VID of my USB device? - Knowledge Center
Many users encounter this ID when their USB drive becomes "Write Protected," "Unrecognized," or shows "No Media" in Windows. 1. Device Not Recognized
Usually, no. The "No Media" error is a logical failure at the controller level. While the data physically remains on the NAND chip, consumer-grade software cannot bypass a dead or corrupted controller. Professional data recovery services that perform chip-off recovery might be able to help, but this will cost significantly more than a new drive. If your flash drive is suddenly displaying this
Generally operates on the USB 2.0 protocol at High Speed. Power Consumption: Typically draws around 100mA . Driver & Troubleshooting
If the drive is "Write Protected" or shows "No Media," you may need a proprietary Chipsbank production tool (often called or APTool ).
If you want the device working within the next 10 minutes, follow this flowchart.
Why does this happen? There are two primary culprits, both stemming from the low-budget nature of these products: