I have the server installed on a PC running Windows 8. The drive that the server records to was an external USB drive and it stopped working (disappeared) while I was watching a recorded program. The external drive is seen by disk management but is now listed as Unallocated.
Two questions:
Thanks in advance for any help.
I'm sorry to learn this happened.
To try and recover the drive, you can try right clicking the drive in file explorer. Then select tools and then check. I suspect this will not help as your drive is probably dead.
If you have not been making backups of the channels database and it was stored on that drive which is the default for the recording location, you have lost everything.
You will need a new drive and will have point to it. You may need to reinstall channels. You defiantly will need to re-configure and create new passes.
Not necessarily.
The two database files (recorder.db and settings.db) are in the Channels DVR executables directory.
The only things lost are recordings and any imported media that are on the failed drive.
You can verify this by trying to view the Channels DVR log from the web UI.
That log file is in the same executables directory as the two database files.
On Windows, I think it's C:\ProgramData\ChannelsDVR\data
Just stop Channels DVR, replace the drive and ensure the new drive has the same drive letter as the old one.
You can then start Channels DVR and continue recording.
All your settings, passes, etc. are still there in those two database files.
So they are. Is that documented someplace?
IF that USB drive has a external power brick, try replacing it with a known GOOD one with at least the same ratings as the old one. It might be as simple as that.
If you mean "Fancy Bits LLC OFFICIAL", written by Jon, Aman or Eric, I'm not aware of any.
I'm only aware of these two "OFFICIAL" documentation repositories.
https://getchannels.com/docs/
https://community.getchannels.com/c/knowledge-base/74
Switched out the cable and power brick and it still doesn't work.
Thanks for the help; that worked. The database files were indeed in C:\ProgramData\ChannelsDVR\data.
I changed the letter of my new drive to match the letter of the dead drive and then made a DVR folder in the new drive. Now I can record and I have all my passes and other settings.
Unfortunately I lost 8GB of recordings on the old drive. The drive I was using was an 8GB WD Easystore drive. I wonder why it became Unallocated all of a sudden; SMART looked good on it a few months ago. It was an 6 year old drive but I thought it would last longer or show some signs of breaking.
Tear it down, and remove the internal drive. Try mounting it on a different pc, (JUST the drive itself, nothing from the carrier case) and see if you can get to the rest of the data that way. You might have to buy a Sata adapter to plug it into your pc's USB port.
If you think it's worth $89 you could try using Steve Gibson's SpinRite v6.1 GRC | Hard drive data recovery software
I would test the system you want to use it on before purchasing with his free BootAble utility GRC | SpinRite's Future to make sure it will load and run SpinRite.
He has a good Demo/Walkthrough video on his website https://media.grc.com/video/Walkthrough.mp4
I was blown away when he found during product development of v6.1 that it speeds up used SSD read rates to factory new specs.
That is the best Idea... that has been offered. I always keep a USB 3 to SATA powered Adapter handy for occasions like this
I have these but they are sold out.
Amazon.com: SATA to USB 3.0 Adapter, ABLEWE Hard Drive Adapter Converter Cable with 3 USB 3.0 Ports for External 3.5/2.5 Inch SSD HDD SATA III Hard Drive Disk, Support UASP, Included Power Adapter : Electronics
This USB to SATA works very well:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVRS38G?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_26&th=1
For about the same cost, you can get this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3XNNDVR?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
I just put the enclosure online today so I can't speak for it's reliability though reviews are good. It comes with a USB A to USB C adapter and everything you need. Very easy to work with.