Camera Disappeared from BI

[HomeWPoe]

Had a camera (1 of 6) completely disappear from BI a day or so ago. It was like it never existed. The camera was still present in the Windows registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Perspective Software\Blue Iris\Cameras\xxxxxxx). No problems accessing the missing camera via GUI.

I manually added/reloaded all the presets for the missing camera to BI using the same name (didn't have a current BI .reg backup for this camera). Realtime functionality was fine. Unfortunately, I couldn't access any of the prior timeline videos or prior alerts.

After reloading/adding the missing camera I exported its BI .reg file. It was double the size of the other 5 cameras. My guess the missing camera config data got combined with the reloaded/added camera config data. Deleted the camera from BI. Also confirmed the camera was deleted from the Windows registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Perspective Software\Cameras\xxxxxxx). Reloaded/added it a second time (using the same name---still hoping I can gain access to the timeline videos). This time the BI .reg file was the same size as the other 5 cameras. Still no access to prior timeline videos, however.

Any idea what might have caused this camera to completely disappear from BI like this? Anything I can look for in the BI status log file that might give me a clue?

Thanks.

 

[wittaj]

You may have accidently moved it to the desktop. Right click on the picture that is on the desktop, and click "open in desktop frame" in the menu that pops up to remove the check mark.

 

[HomeWPoe]

You may have accidently moved it to the desktop. Right click on the picture that is on the desktop, and click "open in desktop frame" in the menu that pops up to remove the check mark.

Thanks for the reply, @wittaj. Where is "the picture that is on the desktop" located? Within BI? Top right?

If a camera is moved to the desktop, would that remove it from the list of cameras in the BI Status->Cameras ("Status" icon located in the upper left of BI)?

 

[Tinman]

I had something similar happen once, the cam was moved from the group. You might want to look at that maybe. See if the cam is in the "index" folder under Groups in the BI registry.

 

[HomeWPoe]

I had something similar happen once, the cam was moved from the group. You might want to look at that maybe. See if the cam is in the "index" folder under Groups in the BI registry.

@Tinman, thanks. I'm not familiar with the BI group and sub-group function. We only have 6 cams so everything fits fine without any special grouping. If this happens again and the camera is not listed under the BI Groups->Index Windows registry folder, what is the corrective action at that point?

Given a situation where a camera disappears due to a grouping issue, would the camera still be displayed under the list of active cameras shown in BI Status->Cameras? In our case, the camera was not listed here (the other 5 cameras were). I'm assuming, maybe incorrectly, that regardless where the camera is grouped or sub-grouped that it should at least show up as an active camera under BI Status-> Cameras?

Thanks again.

 

[Tinman]

Given a situation where a camera disappears due to a grouping issue, would the camera still be displayed under the list of active cameras shown in BI Status->Cameras? In our case, the camera was not listed here (the other 5 cameras were). I'm assuming, maybe incorrectly, that regardless where the camera is grouped or sub-grouped that it should at least show up as an active camera under BI Status-> Cameras?

I just tested this on my demo. I deleted a camera from the group index folder in the registry (all cameras) and then restarted BI. Bi re-populated the registry key for that cam but the camera was in a different location in the GUI "All cameras" layout. I assume as long as the cam is still listed under "Cameras" folder in registry this is the case. And you are correct, the camera should always show up in the BI status window. So, my thinking on the cam could be in a wrong group or not in your index folder is not your issue. As what could have caused your issue is beyond me other than what wittaj suggested or you accidently deleted the camera. Keep an eye on it