Yes — deleted, overwritten-recently and failed-drive CCTV footage is often recoverable, including proprietary DVR/NVR formats from Hikvision, Dahua and others. But CCTV systems record on a loop and overwrite old footage continuously — so the single most important step is to power the recorder down immediately to preserve what's left. Then bring it to us for a free diagnosis.
Surveillance footage you need — recovered from the recorder.
When something happens on camera — a theft, an accident, a dispute — the footage on your DVR or NVR can be critical. But CCTV recorders don't store video like a normal computer: they use proprietary filesystems and record on a continuous loop, overwriting the oldest footage to make room for the new.
CBL recovers CCTV footage from failed recorder hard drives, deleted or corrupted recordings, and proprietary DVR/NVR formats across all major brands. We rebuild the video from the recorder's disks — including footage from a specific date, time or camera channel.
CCTV overwrites old footage on a loop. Every minute the system stays on, more of your footage is erased. Power it down, remove the hard drive if you can, and contact us urgently.
Why speed matters: the overwrite loop
Unlike deleted files on a computer — which can sit recoverable for a long time — CCTV footage is on a countdown. The recorder is actively overwriting the oldest recordings every second it runs. The sooner the system is powered off and brought to us, the more footage we can recover. If the incident is recent, act immediately.
Brands & formats we recover
Why CCTV footage is lost
Our CCTV recovery process
Free diagnosis (urgent)
Bring in the recorder or its hard drive. We assess the fault and confirm what footage is recoverable — with priority for time-critical incidents.
Image the drive
We clone the surveillance drive first — repairing it in the cleanroom if it has physically failed — so the original is never risked.
Rebuild the proprietary format
We reconstruct the DVR/NVR's proprietary filesystem and reassemble the fragmented H.264/H.265 video streams.
Extract footage
We extract the requested cameras, dates and times as playable video, and provide a list to verify.
Secure return
Footage returned confidentially on fresh media.
The recorder's drive is a hard drive at heart — see hard drive recovery.
Evidence handling & confidentiality
Incident & Legal Cases
We handle footage for insurance claims, disputes and police/court matters with care.
Confidential & PDPA-Aware
Surveillance footage handled confidentially, with NDAs for business clients.
Urgent Turnaround
Priority service for time-sensitive incidents before more footage is lost.
How much does CCTV recovery cost?
| Case type | Examples | Indicative range (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| Logical / deleted footage | Deleted clips, corrupt filesystem, healthy drive | $180 – $650 |
| Failed surveillance drive | Clicking/dead DVR HDD needing cleanroom | $400 – $1,800 |
| NVR RAID / complex | Multi-disk NVR, large arrays | $1,200+ |
Exact fixed price before work begins. Full detail: data recovery cost guide →
CCTV recovery case studies
Representative examples from typical laboratory cases. Anonymised.
Deleted footage of a shop incident
Footage of a theft was deleted from a Hikvision DVR. The owner powered it down quickly; we rebuilt the proprietary format and recovered the relevant clips.
✓ Incident footage recoveredFailed DVR hard drive
A warehouse DVR's WD Purple drive started clicking. We cleanroom-repaired it, imaged the platters and extracted footage from the required date range.
✓ Footage recoveredNVR RAID after power surge
A multi-disk NVR went offline after a power surge. We reconstructed the array and extracted the requested camera channels.
✓ Channels recoveredFree diagnosis & a fixed written quote
Free Diagnosis
We assess your recorder and confirm what's recoverable — no cost.
Fixed Written Quote
A firm price before any work — you approve before we start.
Urgent Handling
Priority service for time-critical incidents.
CCTV recovery FAQ
Can you recover deleted CCTV footage?+
How long before footage is overwritten?+
Can you recover from a failed DVR hard drive?+
Do you recover Hikvision and Dahua formats?+
Can you recover footage from a specific date and camera?+
Can the footage be used for insurance or court?+
How much does CCTV recovery cost?+
If the footage cannot be recovered, is there a charge?+
The bottom line
CCTV footage is recoverable — but it's on a countdown. The moment an incident matters, power the recorder off to stop it overwriting, and bring it to CBL. With proprietary-format expertise, urgent handling, we give your footage its best chance.