HELP! Need to convert .drv file from CCTV footage

[videoquestions]

Hi,

I need to view/convert a .drv file from CCTV footage. The file was pulled about ten years ago. The software it was pulled from is long gone.

MediaInfo says:
AVC: 700MiB
1 video stream: AVC
FileExtension_Invalid: avc h264 264

720*240 (3.000), at 15.000 FPS, AVC (Baseline@L3.1) (1 Ref Frames)

[october262]

Hi,

I need to view/convert a .drv file from CCTV footage. The file was pulled about ten years ago. The software it was pulled from is long gone.

MediaInfo says:
AVC: 700MiB
1 video stream: AVC
FileExtension_Invalid: avc h264 264

720*240 (3.000), at 15.000 FPS, AVC (Baseline@L3.1) (1 Ref Frames)

does the DVR still work or do you just have the HDD ??

[videoquestions]

Thanks so much for responding!

I'm embarrassed that I don't exactly know what that means.

All I have is the drv file and a player.bin file.

[davexnet]

If you add an mp4 extension, does it play?

[videoquestions]

Unfortunately it does not (tried in VLC and Windows Media Player). Actually, it pulls up a few hours of apparent video, but doesn't show anything, and makes some weird noises.

Thanks so much for responding and the thought. I welcome other ideas.

[jagabo]

It appears to be an h.264 elementary stream. All you need to do is add an extension: .264 or .h264. Then all the better player will play it. Try VLC.

Sometimes surveillance systems use a proprietary format though. In which case you'll need to get the manufacturer's software to convert it to something usable.

[videoquestions]

Thanks!

So just add .264 or .h3264 to the end of the file name?

No luck on that. Suspect it could be the proprietary system issue.

[davexnet]

Add the h264 extension and drop it in mkvtoolnix to create an MKV.
If that doesn't play, open it in mediainfo, view>text and post the info here

[Cornucopia]

Alot of the cctv security cam systems were encrypted, for both security and proprietary (greed) reasons. Mediainfo might show it as a valid avc stream yet still nothing would be able to play it. Except the original software.

But, "long gone"? Maybe with research and using ebay or the wayback machine, or social networking, you can retrieve a copy of that software.


Scott

[dellsam34]

Thanks!

So just add .264 or .h3264 to the end of the file name?

No luck on that. Suspect it could be the proprietary system issue.

How are you changing the extension? just by typing it in the file name? Try one of these programs it may work better:
https://download.cnet.com/Extension-Changer/3000-2072_4-10394272.html

[jagabo]

Thanks!

So just add .264 or .h3264 to the end of the file name?

No luck on that. Suspect it could be the proprietary system issue.

How are you changing the extension? just by typing it in the file name? Try one of these programs it may work better:
https://download.cnet.com/Extension-Changer/3000-2072_4-10394272.html

The first thing to do is to turn off Windows Explorer's "Hide extensions of known file types" -- one of the worst defaults in the history of computing. The extension is an important feature of any O/S that uses it to determine what the file type.


[Attachment 61271 - Click to enlarge]

Then you'll be able to see all extensions and change them when necessary.

[dellsam34]

Microsoft hid the file extension feature for a reason, a lot of average users can screw up files by changing it, That's why I suggested that little program so the OP doesn't have to worry about changing Windows defaults.

[aedipuss]

did you try running the player.bin file? in linux that's an executable file type, iirc it used to be in windows also. i know these days it's usually an image file like "cue/bin".

[Cornucopia]

Of course, could check it w/ hex editor to see if it has the usual filetype signatures.

Scott