Accessing recorded video stored on HiLook NVR-104MH-C/4P NVR HDD?

[JayJay]

Hi all,

My apologies if this subject has been covered but I have had no joy in finding a solution.
I am using a 'HiLook By Hikvision NVR-104MH-C/4P' NVR to capture video from 4 cameras and store on the internal HDD. The device works as should with no issues capturing to the HDD. The HDD was unused prior to installation, and I left the NVR to format it under its default settings. All worked as should. For my application it is grossly impractical to use the NVR as a playback tool as the files will be processed by data analysis software (the nvr/cameras are being used for a fish laboratory experiment).

When the HDD was full, I removed the HDD and replaced it with another to continue recording. The intention was then to access the HDD from my PC, and transfer the stored files to box for use later and allow me to recycle the drive as the next fills for continued recording.
However, windows does not recognise any partition as existing on the HDD, and therefore does not allow me to access any files stored within. The HDD does not show within windows explorer but I have at least been able determine that windows identifies the drive as 'being plugged in' by opening the drive in device manager. Beyond this, I have no access to the contents of the drive.

I am looking for any advice how I can 'recover' the content stored on this drive and what would be the correct method of accessing the drive beyond the NVR.

Many thanks.

 

[Dan]

Hi @JayJay

We have never attempted to export footage from a Hikvision or HiLook NVR by actually removing the HDD, but based on what you are describing we would assume that due to the encryption and compression of the Hikvision files you will not be able to extract the files when the HDD is directly connected to a Windows PC. I believe the only way to export footage from the HDD is to leave it in the NVR and to either download it from the browser interface or if you have a direct monitor connected to the NVR you can connect a USB HDD to the NVR export footage to that.

As I say we have never attempted this scale of export so would not know if there may be other ways around this, maybe someone else here at the forum has done it can provide some tips or confirm what I have already said.

 

[JayJay]

Thank you for your response.

Yes I had assumed it was due to some type of encryption and naivety on my end. I guess my main uncertainty was why the NVR had created no readable partition. My basic understanding there is that without a file tree of some sorts, windows just reads the HDD as empty/not formatted (requiring a fresh format to function again). Problem being, I'm not sure this can be created in retrospect, so I suspect my data is lost.

I do have a monitor connected directly and have tried using an external HDD in the NVR's front USB port, but could not get the NVR to transfer any files to it. Similarly tried a smaller USB flash drive and had no luck.

I think moving forward my next question would be whether there is such a device that will allow me to record directly to an external HDD that can be removed freely and data transferred to a pc. The problem being that the laboratories I work in do not have network access, so local storage that I can access later without the NVR is required. Additionally, the recorded images need to be processed by a separate piece of software. Surely I can't be the only user who requires this type of functionality?

 

[Dan]

What you are trying to do is not really what NVRs are designed for and you would probably be better off with a NAS (Network Attached Storage) from a brand like Synology as they offer models with easily removable drives and as they are designed for multi-purpose use you can easily partition the storage. The only issue with this solution is you will need a local network that can be accessed at the location of the NAS because you cannot connect a direct monitor to a NAS, this may be your biggest sticking point because most NVRs are not designed for mass data export/transfer and most NAS devices are web/browser-based and do not support a direct VGA/HDMI monitor.

 

[JayJay]

Yes I think my understanding here is far too limited.

Would this require internet connectivity whatsoever, or can it all be done with offline networking? Would I simply link my existing NVR to a NAS system via network cable, using this as storage and then later access the NAS locally with a laptop and network cable to transfer the stored files freely?

The end goal I am trying to achieve is

6 PoE cameras recording 24/7 for 36 days (~5tb data) to a physical HDD (or NAS as suggested) that I can access and transfer files freely.

 

[Dan]

It is possible to backup recordings to a NAS but this can only be done over the network and can't be done via a direct connection. What I was actually suggesting was to use a NAS device instead of an NVR, but as explained above the majority of NAS devices can only be accessed by connecting them to a local network and logging in from a browser. If you have no local network at all there is not much I can recommend as we exclusively work with network products that are rarely designed to function fully offline and allow mass data export/removal.

 

[JayJay]

Thank you for your time with this. Sorry these questions are off-topic now.

Does the entire industry rely on the user only ever wanting to play back the footage within the NVR? I'm really surprised as it seems very impractical for a lot of applications.

What happens if someone needs a weeks worth of security footage from a location without internet access. Do they need to work within the NVR workspace to review it? What if the footage needs to be distributed on physical media to multiple persons (e.g., a HDD). This must've been a 'thing' before internet connectivity was the norm.

Sorry for the questions, I am just very confused by this. It seems so straightforward to just record 4 cameras for a month and at the end of it have a HDD full of video files I can browse within a regular pc environment (e.,g windows) but I can not find a solution.

 

[Phil]

Most people will only ever need minutes of evidence, which can easily be downloaded to a USB stick.

Occasionally, the Police will want to secure all that is available e.g. if there has been a very serious crime in an area - they can then take the recording appliance or entire hard drive. They have very specialist equipment for all devices, all formats, all CODECs.

We occasionally come across applications where CCTV seems at first to be the logical choice, but when you think through the whole process it actually isn't for some point of detail. Sometimes, a webcam, GoPro, or camcorder can be a better match for the requirement.

 

[JayJay]

Yes, this is exactly what has led me to this problem. We use other video hardware (sonar) that records continuously for months and you are left with a HDD full of video files to do as you please with. Hence my thoughts that this would operate similarly, just with the addition of more cameras. We have also used DVR equipment from TimeSpace that records input from upto 16 cameras as files accessible on a HDD. Except, it's older tech (analogue cameras), and has it's own propriety file format that can only be read by their software. If you want to export the videos in a format readable by anything else, it has to be done file by file which incurs a huge processing time, and one that currently has no automated support.

Because we need a system that records high quality video from multiple cameras 24/7 and stores them locally it seemed logical that an using PoE cameras and an NVR with an internal HDD would do just that, but as per my posts, no.

We have considered webcams, and gopros (or other action cams) but there appears to be no native support for this kind of recording either. Again, all circles lead back to CCTV. The CCTV solution covers everything we need, except accessing the files. Honestly, it was my last consideration that the files would not be usable outside of the NVR - it seemed like a no-brainer. I can't help but wonder how anyone achieves this result without having to continuously switch internal camera storage and so forth, which really is not an option for our application.

Thank you for your help. I've got more googling to do.

 

[Phil]

Perhaps have a chat with Veracity about their Coldstore solutions which use a unique file system:
Compact Surveillance Storage System for IP video

 

[JayJay]

That's a good suggestion.

I've just come across open-source software 'iSpy' which appears to essentially be a free NVR software with unlimited camera licences. It will record multiple IP cameras and output to a file directory of your pleasing.

Could this be as simple as connecting my IP cameras to a PoE switch, connecting the switch to a laptop via it's UpLink port and operating this way?

 

[Phil]

Yes, you can certainly record on a PC or a laptop using CCTV software.
Best to check/test that it then allows you to do the subsequent video handling that you want to do.

 

[JayJay]

Big palm-forehead moments here... why didn't I do this in the first place? Hah...
Yes, will get a PoE switch and begin testing.

Thanks for your help!