Showing posts with label eSATA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eSATA. Show all posts

Saturday, September 8, 2018

CCTV HDD Bad Sector Repair Steps

CCTV HDD Bad Sector Repair Steps

If you are a Electronic Security Technician you must know how to repair DVR / NVR HDD Bad Sector.
Some Common surveillance Hard Drive Problems.

Three Methods:Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8
Bad sectors are sections of your computer’s hard drive that have been damaged, and have lost the ability to save and store your data. If your computer makes grinding noises when using the hard drive, that’s a good sign that your hard drive has bad sectors. When you repair a bad sector, your computer will replace the bad sectors with good sectors and ignore the bad sectors. The methods for repairing bad sectors are different, depending on what version of Windows you’re using. (This is all falls under common hard drive problems )

The larger your hard drive, the more sectors there are to check, and the longer this process will take. Start this process when you won’t need your computer for a while, such as overnight.

Windows XP
Close all of your open programs and files. Windows XP can’t scan or fix a bad sector if that sector is being used by an open program or file.

Windows XP uses a system utility called Chkdsk to scan for and fix bad sectors.
Open My Computer. Double-click My Computer to open it.
Choose a hard drive to check for bad sectors. In the Explorer window, in the sidebar, right-click the hard drive you’d like to check for bad sectors, and then click Properties.

The C: drive is often the hard drive.
In the Properties window, click the Tools tab.
In the Error-checking section, click Check Now.
Choose the Check Disk options you’d like to use. In the Check Disk dialog box, you can have Check Disk fix file system errors it finds and recover bad sectors.
If you’d only like to scan for and fix bad hard drive sectors, make sure that Automatically fix file system errors is unchecked.
Click Start. Windows will start checking your hard drive for bad sectors and will fix any that it finds.
If you have any open files or programs at this point, you’ll get an error message asking if you’d like to schedule the disk check when you restart your computer. If you click Yes, it will restart your computer and perform the disk check.
Review the Chkdsk report. When it’s done.
(This is all falls under common hard drive problems )

2 of 3: Windows 7
Close all of your open programs and files. Windows 7 can’t scan or fix a bad sector if that sector is being used by an open program or file.
Open Computer. Click Start, and then click Computer.
Choose a hard drive to check for bad sectors. Right-click the hard drive you want to scan, and then click Properties.
In the Properties window, click the Tools tab.
In the Error-checking section, click Check now.
Check the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
You can also check the Automatically fix file system errors to check the hard drive for software-based errors.
Place a check mark within the box next to “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.”
Click Start. Windows will start checking your hard drive for bad sectors and will fix any that it finds.
Don’t use your computer while Windows attempts to fix errors.

If you have any open files or programs at this point, you’ll get an error message asking if you’d like to schedule the disk check when you restart your computer. If you click Yes, it will restart your computer and perform the disk check.
Review the check disk report. Click the See details down arrow to see more details about your report.
(This is all falls under common hard drive problems)

Method 3 of 3: Windows 8
Move the mouse cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer, and then click Search.
If you’re using the touch interface, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then touch Search.
For these steps to work, you will probably need an admin account and password.
In the Search field, type This PC, and then click or touch This PC.
Right-click the drive you want to repair, and then click Properties.
If you’re using touch, press and hold the drive you want to repair, and then touch Properties.
Select the Tools tab.
Under Error checking, click or touch Check.
You may be asked for an admin password. Enter your admin password. If you don’t have one, contact the person who has the admin account.
Review the scan results. The error checking scan will tell you either that there are errors or there aren’t errors. You can still repair the drive, even if there are no errors, but you don’t need to.
Click Scan and repair drive.
Choose when to repair the file system. In the Restart your computer to repair file system errors dialog box, click Schedule on next restart to repair your hard drive the next time you start the computer. Click Restart to repair the hard drive now.
Wait for Windows to scan and repair the hard drive sectors. Do not try to use your computer or interrupt the sector scan while it’s happening.


Surveillance is one of the segments where most of the time normal hard drives being used. However there are surveillance drives available with a little price difference, but performance is far better. On the other hand, surveillance HDDs are built to record data 24×7 from multiple camera streams or channels.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Embedded Network Video Recorders (NVRs) over Windows-based NVRs Comparison

Embedded Network Video Recorders (NVRs) over Windows-based NVRs Comparison
Video surveillance users who opt for an NVR using an embedded, dedicated Linux operating system within a self-contained unit will benefit from performance which is superior to that offered by a Windows-based NVR in terms of ease of use, system stability and decoding capability.

Embedded NVRs are distinguished from WINDOWS-based NVRs primarily on how they operate and the features they provide. The stand-alone NVR comes in a single, compact enclosure. By contrast, a WINDOWS-based NVR is a peripheral addition to a system involving a CPU, keyboard and monitor. In confined locations, an embedded unit performs a similar if not wider range of functions while occupying less space. Embedded NVRs have overcome their perceived shortcomings in terms of storage capacity and types of storage medium through use of devices including IP-SAN, eSATA, NAS (network-attached storage) and Fire wire.  Furthermore, embedded NVRs can support interfaces to other surveillance devices which can be conveniently integrated with alarm systems and access control systems as well as PTZ remote control systems.

Functions common to the two approaches
Some common functions between the two video recording solutions in the surveillance market, it will be useful to list the core functions that are common to both approaches. These include: recording; archiving; display; playback; search on parameters such as date, timeline and event; camera management; triggered recording on prescribed events and export to removable media. NVRs are also usually expected to be able to handle VoIP packets. Once digitalized video has been streamed, end-users expect to be able to treat it like any other network data, viewing it locally, on LANs and remotely from web browsers. They also expect to be able to exercise PTZ control over cameras remotely, configure settings and even perform upgrades remotely.

Storage
Although NVRs have ample internal recording and storing space, the PC-based systems offer as much as seven times more storage, when compared to an NVR. This advantage is, however, addressed by NVRs, through the provision for external storage options (USB storage devices, eSATA devices, Firewire storage devices, NAS appliances, etc.)

Reliability
The precise architecture of the embedded NVR units makes them less prone to crash. However, the WINDOWS methodology for NVRs is certainly 'open' in terms of the addition of external storage, installation of software etc. The controls are embedded into the NVR; they are an integral part of the panel rather than an adjunct, and the activity of operators can therefore be more easily restricted to legitimate usage.

Stability
Unlike a WINDOWS-based unit which is likely to run a range of Windows™ applications, an embedded NVR benefits from the stability that comes with Linux code which is optimized to run only applications relevant to the surveillance tasks required. An embedded operating system contains only the software components necessary for the specific functions of the NVR, and the unit will be supplied with optimum configurations straight from the factory after rigorous testing.

Scalability
An NVR is designed to offer optimal performance for a set number of cameras, and is normally less scalable than a WINDOWS -based system. This makes the unit suitable for smaller systems where the number of cameras stays within the limits of an NVR’s designed capacity.

Boot Time
The NVR runs an embedded operating system as compared to a WINDOWS -based system, which needs to run an application under the Windows OS before it begins recording. This means that the NVR will start faster as compared to the WINDOWS -based system; which will take longer to load.

Complex decoding
Embedded NVRs consistently outperform WINDOWS-based solutions in their ability not only to perform complex decoding but also to give the user reliable video playback and preview. Currently, certain NVRs are among the few units which can perform both local decoding and playback, with decoding of up to 16 channels at 1080p being achievable. The processing demands made on a WINDOWS-based solution to achieve comparable performance are far higher than those required of an embedded device, and necessitate powerful, expensive CPUs.

Power consumption and manufacturing carbon footprint
Embedded technologies are helping the surveillance industry to go green in marked contrast with the WINDOWS approach. The power consumption of an embedded NVR is approximately 70W which is less than an incandescent light bulb. By contrast, the likely power consumption of a WINDOWS capable of running an NVR is approximately 200 watts and together with a large enterprise-grade monitor, the total figure will be about 300 watts. For any end-user mindful of their carbon footprint, these figures alone must do much to settle the debate.

Ease of Use
Embedded NVRs can have operating panels based on the very best intuitive design principles. LED signals, digital inputs and outputs, push buttons and dials can all be arranged in an ergonomic way. Sensible layout in a panel approach rather than a screen-based GUI can replicate the ease of use found in a WINDOWS but without the vulnerabilities described above.

ONVIF
Linux based Network Video Recorder for multi-brand and ONVIF compliant multi-megapixel IP cameras and basic automation.