Swann Security System Not Recording? Here’s How to Fix It
A security system that doesn't record is of little use. If you've discovered that your Swann DVR or NVR has stopped recording footage, it's essential to troubleshoot the issue immediately. Gaps in your video history could mean missing a critical event.
This guide will take you through the most common reasons for a Swann system to fail to record, focusing on hard drive issues and incorrect configuration settings. You will need to be physically at the recorder with a connected monitor and mouse to perform these checks.
## Part 1: Diagnosing Hard Drive (HDD) Issues
The internal hard drive is where all your footage is stored. It is the most common point of failure for recording problems.
### Signs of a Hard Drive Problem
- Constant Beeping: A loud, persistent beeping from the recorder is often a built-in alarm to alert you to a hard drive error.
- On-Screen Error Messages: You may see a pop-up or a persistent message on the screen stating "HDD Error," "No HDD," or "HDD Not Detected."
- "No Record Found": When you try to search for past footage in the playback menu, you get a "No Record Found" message, even for times you know there should be recordings.
- Missing Recording Icon: On the live view, there is usually an icon (like a small green running man for motion, or a film reel for continuous) indicating the recording status for each channel. If this icon is missing, it's not recording.
### How to Fix Hard Drive Problems
- Check the HDD Status in the Menu:
- Log in to your Swann system's main menu.
- Navigate to the Device, Storage, or HDD Management section.
- You should see the internal hard drive listed. Check its status. If it says "Unformatted," "Failed," or is not showing up at all, you have found the problem.
- Format the Hard Drive:
- Formatting the drive erases everything and sets up a new, clean file system. This can resolve many software-based errors.
- In the same HDD menu, select the drive and choose the "Format" or "Initialise" option.
- WARNING: This process is permanent and will delete all previously recorded footage.
- After the format is complete (which may take several minutes), reboot the recorder.
- If Formatting Fails: If the format process fails or the drive still shows an error, it's a strong indication that the hard drive has physically failed and needs to be replaced.
## Part 2: Verifying Recording Settings
If your hard drive status is "Normal" but you're still not getting recordings, the issue lies in your system's configuration.
### Check the Recording Schedule
Your Swann system can be programmed to record in different modes at different times.
- Navigate to the Record or Schedule menu.
- You'll see a grid representing the hours of the day for each day of the week, for each camera.
- Different colours correspond to different recording modes:
- Green (or Blue): Continuous 24/7 recording.
- Yellow: Motion Detection recording.
- Red: Alarm-triggered recording.
- White (or Blank): No recording.
- Ensure the grid is not blank! For testing purposes, set a camera to continuous recording (green/blue) for all hours. If it starts recording, you know the issue was with your schedule.
### Check Motion Detection Settings
If you're relying on motion recording, the settings must be sensitive enough to trigger.
- Go to the Alarm, Motion, or Motion Detect menu.
- Select the camera you want to adjust.
- Enable Motion Detection: Make sure the feature is turned on.
- Adjust Sensitivity: The sensitivity might be set too low. Try increasing it slightly.
- Check the Detection Area: Ensure the grid for the motion detection area covers the parts of the scene where you expect to see movement.
By systematically inspecting the health of your hard drive and meticulously reviewing your recording schedule and motion settings, you can identify and resolve the reason your Swann system has stopped recording.