Windows Explorer not displaying.Har files

[djandy]

Hi,

First time post here so I'm really hoping you can help me out.

I have a DVR for CCTV which places recordings of its video files on my PC over my local network. It puts them in a .HAR filetype which it seems that windows will not acknowledge exists.

From the software on the DVR I can see files in the folder but when I open the same folder directly in windows it tells me that it's empty.

I've no idea what to do so would welcome any help.

Thanks
Andy

 

[Pete66]

If you're reading that correctly, that file type is so obscure that even FILExt - The File Extension Source and File extension HAR - How to open .har files -- two pretty comprehensive sources of information -- don't know about it as other than "primarily associated with 'e-Sword' by Rick Meyers. e-Sword is an effective way to study the Bible."

You'll have to ask the manufacturer of the DVR/CCTV system.

 

[Kari]

Hi Andy, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Can you see the files if you go to that folder in Command Prompt and give the attrib command?

 

[djandy]

Hi - thanks for the welcome.

I've tried the attrib command and it says file not found so even that's not helping!

 

[Kari]

When the attrib command is given in a folder without any parameters it lists the full content showing set attributes for each file and folder. IF it shows no content the folder is as far as I know empty.

Please right click the folder in question in Windows Explorer, select Properties, make a screenshot of Properties windowd and post it here.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9717-screenshot-paint.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Kari

 

[djandy]

Screenshot of the properties as requested.

I've also put a side by side of the folder viewed through the DVR's download tool which shows a file in there.

 

[Kari]

Does the Public desktop have the CCTV folder (C:\Users\Public\Desktop)?

 

[djandy]

Nope.

The CCTV folder is in C:\Users\Andy\Desktop

 

[Kari]

I asked other members to take a look of this, I really do not have any ideas. Very strange issue indeed.

 

[djandy]

Thanks a lot.

Any suggestions gratefully received! It's got me stumped.

 

[Kari]

A respected senior geek here suggested that you should check the security settings of that folder, and grant yourself full permissions. See the tutorial here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/122666-permissions-allow-deny-users-groups.html

 

[Pete66]

As I suggested a while ago, you really need to speak with the manufacturer of the CCTV system -- or at least identify it so someone could do a little research. In the meantime, you might be interested in the following discussion about the unreadability of files produced by CCTV security systems --> CCTV file formats - CCTV Forum

 

[UsernameIssues]

Screenshot of the properties as requested.

I've also put a side by side of the folder viewed through the DVR's download tool which shows a file in there.

I concur with contacting the manufacturer...
...while we await a reply from them:

I have questions about your screenshot:
1) Where both windows open at the same time? I wondered if your request for the files created a catalog file shown in the "Save As" dialog box. I found some websites talking about HAR files as H.264 video files and other websites talking about them as text JSON files.

2) That looks like an IE "Save As" dialog box with XP style shortcuts. Are you using a W7 stock Windows (file) explorer?


That "Save As" dialog box is usually nothing more than a different looking Windows (file) Explorer.

Maybe you can...
...right click on the column headers
...select More from the context menu
...place a check by Attributes from the Choose Details window
...scroll down and place a check by Owner from that same window
Then resize the columns and the window itself to show all of the columns in your next screenshot.

You can also try (from within the "Save As" dialog box)...
...right-clicking on the file of interest
...selecting Copy from the context menu
(leave the "Save As" dialog box open)
...right-click on an empty place on your desktop
...select Paste from the context menu

If need be, we can walk you thru using Process Monitor to watch what is being written to that cctv folder (filter results for path contains cctv).

 

[Pauly]

I have had similar issues in the past, i install cctv systems and we had some recordings on a DVR from NHS (hospital) premises that was required for evidence by police and the DVD drive on the machine was broken so swapped out HDDs and put it in a PC but never got it to work in the end police forensics took the HDD of me and retrieved it themselves then gave the drive back but they also needed the original DVR to get it to work

Please post back your findings especially if you do get it to work

I figured my problem was the fact the recordings were never intended to go through as PC but dealt with by the DVR onboard hardware/codecs so never spent much time on it