No. It is a legitimate hardware identifier. However, some malware modifies USB descriptors. If the device behaves erratically (opens folders automatically), scan with Windows Defender or Malwarebytes.
When you plug in a device, the operating system reads this combination to load the correct driver. If the VID/PID pair is altered or generic, it can cause connection and performance issues. The hardware ID for this device in Windows is often displayed as USB\VID_1E3D&PID_198A , following the standard format defined by Microsoft.
If your PC has always had a fingerprint reader and you just reinstalled Windows, this ID is your normal hardware – not malware.
If the controller firmware itself has crashed, standard formatting tools will fail. You will need a specialized Chipsbank Mass Production Tool (MPTool) or to reflash the CBM2199 controller chip: Usb Device Id Vid 1e3d Pid 198a
: Assigned to Chipsbank Microelectronics Co., Ltd.
Chipsbank chips rely exclusively on the or Chipsbank APTool suites to rebuild core firmwares.
However, there’s a twist. Because Chipsbank controllers are often used by third-party OEMs, the device’s external branding might say “Kingston,” “PNY,” “Samsung,” or completely unknown Chinese brand. The 198A PID confirms the controller inside, regardless of the sticker on the plastic casing. The hardware ID for this device in Windows
When your operating system sees VID_1E3D&PID_198A , it looks up these numbers to load the correct driver. If the driver is missing, you will see a yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager or an error in system logs.
usb 3-2: New USB device found, idVendor=1e3d, idProduct=198a, bcdDevice= 1.00 usb 3-2: Product: CBM2099 usb 3-2: Manufacturer: Chipsbank
Flash drives based on the VID 1E3D PID 198A configuration generally fail due to software corruptions rather than physical damage. The core symptoms include: If the driver is missing
If your device is not recognized properly by your computer, you might need to manually install a driver. The VID and PID can be used to find compatible drivers.
When a Chipsea MCU (e.g., CSU38F20) is placed into bootloader mode (e.g., by pulling a specific pin low on reset), it enumerates as VID:1E3D PID:198A . In this state:
When the device is present but malfunctioning, Device Manager will show one of these errors.