Frequently Asked Question
My VIGI NVR detects a new hard drive but does not record. Does the disk need initialising?
QUICK ANSWER
Check the disk status, recording schedule and channel settings. A genuinely new disk may need initialising, but formatting a disk with existing footage will erase it.
Applies to: TP-Link VIGI NVRs with a supported internal surveillance hard drive.
Work through these checks
- Open the NVR's Storage/HDD management page and record whether the disk is absent, uninitialised, normal, full or in error. Check the exact drive model against the NVR's capacity and compatibility requirements.
- If this is a new, empty drive and the status requires initialisation, confirm the correct disk and follow the NVR's Format/Initialise prompt. Proceed only after accepting that all data on that selected disk will be lost.
- If the disk is normal, check the affected channel's recording schedule, recording mode and camera connection. Event-only schedules need the corresponding event configuration.
- If the disk is full, review overwrite/retention policy. If absent or in error, power down correctly before checking internal cabling, or arrange assessment. Do not format an erroring disk to hide a hardware fault.
Confirm the result
Record a short test, then play it back from the NVR. Live view alone does not prove that footage has been saved.
Before going further: If old footage may be needed, export or preserve it before any formatting, replacement or retention change.
If you need help
Include these details in your ticket: NVR firmware, drive model/capacity, disk status and recording-schedule screenshots.
Updated 261107