AV-760M: No HDD and Power On/Off Problem

[odd ballz 0]

Hi, I'm a noob and I'm pulling my hair out over this problem.

 

I purchased a AV-760M (presume it's a AVTECH 760?)... the front says "4CH MPEG-4 DVR", and made in Taiwan. I purchase it new, and without hard drive. Model is #3 without USB or CD/DVD writer. It is a network DVR.

 

I have a new Western Digital (WD1600JBRTL / 160 GB WD Caviar SE EIDE Hard Drive). It was not formatted. I read I needed to format it to FAT32, so I used "fat32format.exe -c128 " . I verified the drive integrity using "chkdsk". When this drive is connected to my PC, it reads and writes reliably. So, I set the jumper to MASTER; and install it in DVR with power cable and ribbon cable attached. I secure the screws. I turn on my camera feed #1, and then power up the DVR. I press Power, and it beeps loudly for about 5-10 secs... and then it reports back "No HDD" in red letters on my screen. The Menu does not report HDD Info. I see a blinking red light labeled LED1 on the circuit board closets to the HDD.

 

Also, when I try to Power off the unit, and press Power. Nothing happens. And now, when I plug in the power cord, the DVR instantly turns on with no button usage. Is this normal?

 

What have I done wrong? And how do I fix the HDD and Power button? I can view the video nicely on both monitor and PC. My friend has the "exact" and I mean the "exact" same problem but with a different IDE drive.

 

Please help.

 

Cheers, Odd Ballz

 

[Kiwi 0]

Everything is normal except the HD not working. When you attempt to power off there should be a message on the screen asking for the password.

 

The beeps are normal, if not annoying.

 

It goes without saying - try another HD, make sure the connector is not upside down (just in case it's not keyed) and the power connector is working.

[odd ballz 0]

Everything is normal except the HD not working. When you attempt to power off there should be a message on the screen asking for the password.

 

The beeps are normal, if not annoying.

 

It goes without saying - try another HD, make sure the connector is not upside down (just in case it's not keyed) and the power connector is working.

 

I have not changed any passwords. Would it be: 0000 (zeros), or "admin"?

Edited July 12, 2008 by Guest

[Kiwi 0]

On the front panel it's 0000

 

The manual will tell you, but I think it's either the "up" button or the enter button, keep forgetting as mine has been running non-stop for months.

 

On the network, the default pw is admin

[odd ballz 0]

On the front panel it's 0000

 

The manual will tell you, but I think it's either the "up" button or the enter button, keep forgetting as mine has been running non-stop for months.

 

On the network, the default pw is admin

 

Hi Kiwi,

 

Thanks. I held the Power button for 5 secs, and then on my monitor it asks for a Password. Of the 4 units, it displays only 1 unit at a time. Since it showed "0", I just hit enter... and kept hitting enter until all 4 digits were done. Next message was Shutting down... please wait. And yes, it went back to the shipping status with a red led on front for power.

 

Thanks much, still struggling with my other problem: No HDD.

 

Cheers, Odd Ballz

[davec 0]

The DRV formats the HD. Try pushing "menu" arrow to "advanced" push enter arrow to "system" push enter arrow to "clear hdd" and push enter. The format is not fat32 for the HD. You won't be able to access it if connected to a PC. Good Luck

 

Davec

[odd ballz 0]

The DRV formats the HD. Try pushing "menu" arrow to "advanced" push enter arrow to "system" push enter arrow to "clear hdd" and push enter. The format is not fat32 for the HD. You won't be able to access it if connected to a PC. Good Luck

 

Davec

 

Hi Davec, I tried your recommendation. And the system reports No HDD, and an OK button. I guess my #1 challenge is for the HD to be recognized. Does it matter that I formatted it with fat32format? and I set clusters to -c128 (64k bytes)?

 

Thanks, Odd Ballz

[davec 0]

I don't believe it will matter that you formatted it. You might try fdisking it and remove the partition, but don't think that is needed. Double check all your connections and make sure they are all plugged in correctly. Make sure pin 1 goes to pin 1. Do you have another ribbon cable you can try?

Good luck, Davec

[scorpion 0]

Cut, and Paste

 

http://scorpiontheater.com/Documents/CP 501_502_Manual.pdf

[odd ballz 0]

Hi scopion,

 

Thanks. Here's my concern with this unit. 1. I know of 2 units suffering exactly, and I do mean exactly the same problem. So I am ruling out that they are bad units... they could be... but are the odds really that good that they are. I can replace the IDE cables, and the power supply can be measured with a multimeter, the P/S connector is molded, and the HDD does spin up. 2. From the forum, it seems many people are just "plug and playing" IDE drives with success... if true, could I get some Make and Models of those using with AV760? I want to learn as a noob, but why recreate the wheel? If you don't mind sharing, I really want to know. 3. I've been building computers for about 15 years. I look at these units as portable, yet proprietary video recorders (without the full functioning computer), and if so, then am I only limited by this "darn" firmware... what's up with updates... the box claims it can handle over 500GB, but if so, then the firmware would have been updated?

 

Can I hear from you experts and novices, and what IDE drives you are using? The vendor is closed till tomorrow, but I'd really love to start playing with this unit. Next step, is to get this on the net/email/ftp/alerts.

 

Please help.

Odd Ballz

 

P.S. Here's what I'm going to do for testing: try the current IDE HDD as SLAVE; next, replace IDE cable: repeat, and then MASTER and cable select; measure voltage out of P/S connector; and finally try another IDE HDD.

[joefranjoe 0]

Sound like I've got the same make of unit, with "4CH MPEG-4 DVR" on the front pannel. I've got the same problem. However managed to sort out the "NO HDD" problem. I am using a 500 GB Westerndigital drive. When the jumper is set to master on the HDD I have the problem, however when I move the jumper to CS, the dvr works OK with the HDD.

 

Still I have problem with the power off. I don't have a moitor connected. I connect via LAN using a PC.

 

Also does anybody know how to connect remotely using a mobile phone and know which software I need.

 

Thanks Joe.

[odd ballz 0]

Sound like I've got the same make of unit, with "4CH MPEG-4 DVR" on the front pannel. I've got the same problem. However managed to sort out the "NO HDD" problem. I am using a 500 GB Westerndigital drive. When the jumper is set to master on the HDD I have the problem, however when I move the jumper to CS, the dvr works OK with the HDD.

 

Still I have problem with the power off. I don't have a moitor connected. I connect via LAN using a PC.

 

Also does anybody know how to connect remotely using a mobile phone and know which software I need.

 

Thanks Joe.

 

Ok Joe, you've helped me out. I'll answer your on/off question next, and yes it is confirmed. Update: I've got the HDD working! Hurrah for the ideas that got me to Step 2... yes, Step 2... I have so much more to learn. I am using a 200GB IDE Seagate, STM3200820A... and yes, it recognizes it. Now, I'm going to listen to Joe and switch to CS and see if that resolves the Western Digital problem. I did change the IDE ribbon cable with another one, but seriously, I doubt that was the problem.

 

As for formatting, I used Windows XP and an IDE-USB adaptor for "initializing" it with Disk Management. I did NOT use Windows to format. I followed the steps until it asked me to format, and I said "no". I went to dos prompt using the "cmd" command, and ran "fat32format :"... no special clusters or anything... keep it simple son (KiSS) method usually works when you are in an unknown state.

 

And that was it.

 

Joe, did you enter your password when you try to shut down the unit? You must have a video (whether console, or internet). I use firefox or internet explorer. I type "192.168.1.10" and log in to my unit. I see everything my console sees live. I hold the Power button for 5 secs until I see a prompt on my monitor asking for Password. Since I left it default, it is 0000. So I hit the "enter" button on the firefox window (not physical keyboard), and after 4 hits, I get a "power down... please wait" message. Does that work?

 

Thanks to all,

Odd Ballz

[odd ballz 0]

Sound like I've got the same make of unit, with "4CH MPEG-4 DVR" on the front pannel. I've got the same problem. However managed to sort out the "NO HDD" problem. I am using a 500 GB Westerndigital drive. When the jumper is set to master on the HDD I have the problem, however when I move the jumper to CS, the dvr works OK with the HDD.

 

Joe, I probably would not have pursued going to test with SLAVE or CS cable select since I confirmed my DVR worked with Seagate, but since you gave me the idea... I did it anyway. Would you believe it WORKED!!! I'm really excited about this. Oh, when I formatted it with Clear HDD on the DVR... like others have confirmed before, it no longer is recognizable on the PC as anything immediately useful. It does register as UNKNOWN disk drive with Computer Management/Disk Management in Windows XP... so salvaging a drive later for PC use can happen.

 

Thanks Joe!

[joefranjoe 0]

Odd Ballz, sorted the Power Off problem. My PC and DVR are not in the same room, so I never saw the password thing pop up on the screen. Thanks.

[odd ballz 0]

Odd Ballz, sorted the Power Off problem. My PC and DVR are not in the same room, so I never saw the password thing pop up on the screen. Thanks.

 

Joe, if logic applies... the security feature is intentional. Why would you want a criminal to just "shut down" your recorder... ok, that doesn't make sense... because odds are they are going to unplug it, or as a criminal, steal your unit. But what happens if your kids get to the box, and try to shut it off... oops... it doesn't work... and of course, if they physically unplug it, then someone is going to get a bottom beating.

 

So it auto recovers, and yes, I guess it would. I've been abusing my unit, by shutting it hard off with the physical plug... and it seems to keep alive. Now, that I've got the HDD recognized, there is no need for that thanks to you and others.

 

Good luck,

Odd Ballz

[odd ballz 0]

New Update: Well, as I experiment as a noob, I've validated that Seagate drives when the jumper is set to CS (cable select) will work. Western Digital requires CS. Hitachi = I don't know?; Maxtor = I don't know?; Others...

 

I would presume Cable Select IS the way to go, and the AV-760M does label it as MASTER-HDD-1.

 

If you are having problems when you upgrade your HDD, then may I suggest you try CS first... before trying anything else. I would imagine it will be the same on all DVR units. I also see that newer 16MB cache drives also work. When I get a chance, I'll do another test, and publish my results. If someone has successfully done this with the AV760, then we want to hear about it! Also, if anyone has used a SATA-IDE adaptor to get SATA drives working, then that is news we want to hear.

 

 

Odd Ballz

[junglejim42 0]

On the front panel it's 0000

 

The manual will tell you, but I think it's either the "up" button or the enter button, keep forgetting as mine has been running non-stop for months.

 

On the network, the default pw is admin

on my 760, 0000 is the guest access and 2222 is for admin access when using the controls on the DVR.

[odd ballz 0]

On the front panel it's 0000

 

The manual will tell you, but I think it's either the "up" button or the enter button, keep forgetting as mine has been running non-stop for months.

 

On the network, the default pw is admin

on my 760, 0000 is the guest access and 2222 is for admin access when using the controls on the DVR.

 

Thanks! I use 0000 on the Video E server app... and admin when using my browser... so 2222 on the front panel DVR display? That's good to know. I'll have to try it out and report back.

 

Thanks again, Odd Ballz