DS-7608NI-I2/8P old firmware update - bricked?

[VimFuego]

Hi Everyone, what a great forum to stumble across for Hikvision advice.

My NVR was running ancient firmware (V3.3.9 build 170105) so I decided to go down the update path and getting it as up to date as possible even though it is EOL now. I followed the upgrade path version guide I found on here (posted by Dan) and it went bad at the first stage!

The first update I tried was - V3.4.100 build 180626, downloaded from the Hikvision EU Download portal (also linked to from this forum).
Not being a massive version jump I thought it would be fine.

The file uploaded to the NVR from my local PC no problem, no warnings, it looked like it was installing it (just monitoring via the WebGUI) and then it got stuck on 'rebooting' and has not come back online. I power cycled the NVR after about 30 mins, now it just 'beeps' when turning on, the power light and network activity LED's are on but I still cannot see it when I go to its IP address.

I am in Australia and unfortunately the place I purchased this from a long time ago has gone out of business so I'm alone on this now.
The Hikvision AU website only had V4.60.005_231219 which I thought would have been too big of a jump from where I was at which is why I got the EU firmware instead.

Any advice would be much appreciated on how I can get this thing back operational.

Thanks.
Ross

 

[Dan]

Hi @VimFuego

I think the EU firmware was probably the problem.

Hikvision does have region-specific firmware so the EU firmware is only supported on NVRs that were sold in the UK/EU market.

You were right not to update to the latest firmware that was on the Hikvision AU website, but it should be possible to find older firmware versions for the AU region (maybe by contacting Hikvision AU and/or by speaking to a Hikvision AU reseller/installer).

Unfortunately, it does look like you might have bricked the NVR beyond recovery because if you cannot get the NVR to be visible in SADP you will struggle to downgrade/upgrade firmware or reset the NVR.

Have you tried connecting a direct HDMI monitor to the NVR to see if you can access the NVR that way?

 

[trempa92]

Unfortunately, it does look like you might have bricked the NVR beyond recovery because if you cannot get the NVR to be visible in SADP you will struggle to downgrade/upgrade firmware or reset the NVR.

@VimFuego - it is still recoverable using Serial connection and TFTP server. You may stop boot with serial connection and flash firmware that is correct using TFTP.

It is option for someone that is willing/got basic knowledge.

 

[VimFuego]

Hi Dan, thanks for the response.

Between me posting my message and your reply I did indeed hook it up to a monitor via HDMI and it is actually booting up (no brick thankfully).
I can also see it using SADP, so this is a good sign but it is just not visible on my network at the reserved IP address it normally has.
SADP shows DHCP is still active on the device but the IP address is showing as 192.0.0.64 (it should be within 192.168.0.xx if the router was assigning it an IP)

The other odd thing is whenever I am wanting to change anything using SADP it is asking me for the admin password (which has not changed since I set it years ago), however it says it is wrong. So it appears it has taken the firmware update ok but something is perhaps messed up with the config, I'm not real sure.

 

[bm_99]

maybe try password resetting with a xml file from Hik in Australia?

 

[VimFuego]

maybe try password resetting with a xml file from Hik in Australia?

Thanks, I did that .xml export option so I guess that is a path I should try as well.

 

[VimFuego]

Hi All, so the end result is I got onto an Aussie distributor for these and I have no choice but to send it back to Hikvision AU for them to recover it with local firmware. I am dumbfounded that they allow firmware that will brick a device just because it is from a different region to even happen! Where's the checks pre installation?
Thanks to everyone that responded, hard (and costly) lesson learnt.

 

[ogradyr]

Hi, I read with interest your issues as i have the same model. I stumbled upon this forum and decided to sign up. Have you seen my thread here - Firmware - Hikvision DS-7608NI-E2 / 8P NVR firmware update?
I was able to update the firmware successfully.
I contacted Aus support who were no help whatsoever. When I quoted the serial number, I was told it was a Chinese unit (region) and that they did not support it.
I tried a tool called 'HiToolsDelivery' which apparently replaces SADP. It searches using the serial number and suggests a firmware version and the rest is history with help from Dan the moderator. Refer to link above.
You haven't mentioned if your unit is back. It would be interesting to know what they did to fix your problem. Particularly if your model/serial number combination was not Aus region specific in the first place.

 

[VimFuego]

You haven't mentioned if your unit is back. It would be interesting to know what they did to fix your problem. Particularly if your model/serial number combination was not Aus region specific in the first place.

Sorry for the delay, I have been away overseas for a bit.
I did get the unit back, I sent it to the company that I purchased it from (it was an Aus unit), they then sent it to Hikvision AU who recovered the unit with the last V3 build firmware my NVR would take (that was my request not to have a V4 firmware build). It was all handled very quick, I also Emailed Hikvision Australia stating how appalling their firmware control is and also criticising that for the Australian models they only have the latest firmware build available for download, which is how I found myself in the mess I did. They acknowledged my critisisms but at the same time nothing has been fixed on the Australian website and as I type this only the latest build of V4 firmware is available. They obviously have all the AU specific builds there but they won't give anyone access.

Anyway my lesson is learnt, everything is working just fine now (including remote monitoring on the phone app), therefore I will never attempt to update the firmware again.