Hikvision whinge

[Roguester]

Hey all,

Just need a bit of advice/help with a situation I'm in and open to any suggestions.
Recently I purchased a property with cameras attached and was left absolutely nil information regarding them besides a card for a security company. I've contacted the company and they are very willing (at a price) to come out and reset the passwords on the cameras. Not happy with this I contacted hikvision here in Australia and provided all information to reset the password for said cameras. Unfortunately hikvision will not provide me with the reset key due to me not being a licensed installer. I've argued the point via email and had little outcome besides more distributors and a try the standard admin/12345 password which was an epic fail. From online reading it seems that software version 5.4.1 requires change to login information (which I'm surprised that they even threw that line at me).

Short of ripping the cameras down throwing them out is there any alternative or method which I can get the required key to reset the login. I've lived on Google/YouTube and tried various methods.

Thanks in advance.

 

[alastairstevenson]

Unfortunately hikvision will not provide me with the reset key due to me not being a licensed installer.

Unfortunately this appears to be fairly typical of Hikvision's attitude to many of their end users, though to be fair they have been taking some stick recently on some security carelessness where they'd issue reset codes without validating the requester.

Just need a bit of advice/help with a situation I'm in and open to any suggestions.

Presumably the cameras are fixed in place, with a bunch of cables where an NVR of some sort used to be?
Do you have the ability to power the cameras (there are likely to be PoE) one-by-one and connect them to your router/LAN?
If so, a suggestion to get some basic facts which might provide a way in:
On a PC, install SADP from here : Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd.
It will find the cameras on the same LAN, independent of what IP address the camera is using.
It will show the status - which if 'Inactive' would be good as it implies the cameras have been reset to defaults and you can set your own password.
If they show as 'Active', a password has been set.

Note down the model number, the firmware version, and the serial number.
Older firmware (earlier than 5.3.0 as far as I recall) will be able to have a password reset done via this method : Hikvision camera admin password reset tool
The DS-2CD2032 bullet models have an external reset button at the back, which if pressed before power-on and kept pressed for around 20 seconds will reset to defaults.
If the cameras are 'English upgradeable' models, with something like AARR in the serial number, ie not CCCH, then a tftp update of the same firmware as currently installed will also reset back to defaults.
A tftp update to newer firmware will also reset back to defaults, though if the cameras are CN region there could be some undesirable consequences, such as CN menus, or being bricked, but these can be dealt with given the desire to do so.

 

[Roguester]

Yeah they are marked as active - there are 2 of them. PoE, able to access the web interface also which just frustrates me more LOL
firmware version is 5.4.1 so that method is out also with the password reset tool.
Model of them are DS-2CD2042WD
I was unable to find anything with the serial numbers regarding the language upgrade though?
Its bad that it is 1am and I got out of bed to have a look, thats how much its getting to me.
I understand the need for security with the company also and offered them a shot of my passport and drivers licence for identification purposes which didn't help.
They just kept dodging the topic pointing me back to the 'installer'' to which i argued they are installed.
I fail to see the point of technical support when they don't seem to provide support besides contacting a distributor! I hardly think they will provide the same information also and just introduces a third party (plus wasted cash).
What is this tftp update you speak of?? LOL

 

[alastairstevenson]

Model of them are DS-2CD2042WD

These have a reset button on the back, this will work for you if they are reasonably accessible and you get someone to do the power cycling.

What is this tftp update you speak of??

The Hikvision tftp updater tool and instructions (but not the right firmware for your cameras) can be found in the second link here : Custom Firmware Downgrader 5.3.0 Chinese to 5.2.5 English
EN/ML firmware for that model is available here : DOWNLOAD PORTAL

 

[Roguester]

Hey thanks!! That worked! Have been able to reset and change passwords!!!!!!
One camera was a bit of a cow and didn't seem to want to get going and operated in so called safe mode. Finally seemed to come around with a bit of retrying.
I try to read a bit before I begin to hassle. Am all very new to this so trying to work it out as I go.
I didn't get any information or instructions when I bought the place so am trying to figure it out as I go with my mate Google lol.

 

[alastairstevenson]

That worked! Have been able to reset and change passwords!!!!!!

Good result - the reset buttons?
You can sleep more soundly now ...