CCTV data recovery on your average hard drive system.

[The Hypno-Toad]

I didn’t do this, honest guv!

We have what I would call a standard CCTV system at work for the size of our premises (8 cameras.). We need to recover some footage from just over a month ago for a legal matter and this would appear to have been erased as someone didn’t back up the footage within the monthly time limit before it is deleted off the hard drive.

Would there be any chance of any recovery if we get someone professional to have a look or would it be a waste of time. I can get the name of the system in the morning if that helps?

[Harpoon]

Have you stopped recording which is probably making the recovery harder?

I'd speak to somebody like Ontrack and get a quote:

https://www.ontrack.com/en-gb/data-recovery/cctv

[The Hypno-Toad]

I ll ask the boss for permission to go in and turn the system off. Thanks for your help. :thumbup :

[NoBrakesWC]

A Digital Forensic company would be able to help as they have specialist software's that they use which could locate the footage if it's still on there somewhere.

[Road2Ruin]

I don't see why not, as long ad it hasn't been overwritten by newer data.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Thanks for your advice so far guys.

Having looked through the owners manual it mentions a Database rebuild? Would it effect the system in any other way if we did this?

Sorry to appear an utter idiot but none of this know much about this system and the only person who did has left. Doh!

[simon_harris]

if this is really important to you then get a professional in to sort it. anything you do could well reduce your chances of getting the data back (if it is still there by this time)

[Matty_]

Road2Ruin said:

I don't see why not, as long ad it hasn't been overwritten by newer data.

This is key. The longer its been deleted, and the longer its running, the more chance it will be overwritten. At the same time, careful you don't leave yourself liable by turning it off and leaving it off for a period while recovery is happening (this can take a while, depending on recovery).

I've deleted my other answer and edited this - if this is mission critical, I'd be very inclined to speak to a specialist before doing anything other than turning if off.. Even if you do consult with a recovery company, you'll still need someone to strip the system of the drives and rebuild it again, then configure a proper retention/backup of the system so it doesn't happen again.

For recovery recommendations, I have absolutely no affililiation with these guys, but we've used them twice and the second time, performed absolute miracles getting 95% of core data for a customer that could have potentially sunk their business:
https://www.lazarusdatarecovery.com/

Very, very reasonably prices too.

Edited by Matty_ on Tuesday 12th May 13:30

[The Hypno-Toad]

Matty_ said:

This is key. The longer its been deleted, and the longer its running, the more chance it will be overwritten. At the same time, careful you don't leave yourself liable by turning it off and leaving it off for a period while recovery is happening (this can take a while, depending on recovery).

I've deleted my other answer and edited this - if this is mission critical, I'd be very inclined to speak to a specialist before doing anything other than turning if off.. Even if you do consult with a recovery company, you'll still need someone to strip the system of the drives and rebuild it again, then configure a proper retention/backup of the system so it doesn't happen again.

For recovery recommendations, I have absolutely no affililiation with these guys, but we've used them twice and the second time, performed absolute miracles getting 95% of core data for a customer that could have potentially sunk their business:
https://www.lazarusdatarecovery.com/

Very, very reasonably prices too.

Edited by Matty_ on Tuesday 12th May 13:30

thanks Matty_, wise words and I have sent that link to the boss, I will report on what happens.