A: Yes. This process is for out-of-warranty or generic drives only.
The process can take a long time (up to 1 hour for a 16GB drive) as it scans every memory cell. Completion Firstchip Fc1179 Firmware
A: You cannot. A firmware update always requires a full erase and low-level format. A: Yes
Use a utility like ChipGenius or Flash Drive Information Extractor before searching for firmware. It must explicitly state "Controller: FirstChip FC1179" and provide a "Flash ID." Firstchip Fc1179 Firmware
Avoid the generic “FC1179 all-in-one” tools unless you know how to edit the database.