Unplayable MP4 files after upgrade

[barenada]

I upgraded my cameras the other day, and did the hard reset thingy. My problem is that I can't get anything to read the MP4 files. My PC is windows 10. VLC either gives me an error right off the bat, or just sits there not playing anything. My video editor, PowerDirector 15, either gives me an error or crashes as soon as I try to load one of these files. I've tried the different H264 settings on the cameras, and that's how I'm able to get different results.

Perhaps there's a codec I need?

[Melvin]

Hello barenada,

It could be that you are missing the required codec. Can you please try re installing the VLC? Also check the size of the recorded files? Are they in MB's or just KB's?

[ricg]

i think this is the same as my issue except that in my case the reason the mp4 files are unplayable is b/c they have the extension .mp4_file. When i change that to .mp4 the file plays fine.
it seems this is a software bug. i see that the idx and backup files all have _file prepended.

[Techie007]

One of my IP2M-841 cameras was generating empty (0 KB) MP4 files after the firmware update, and it continued doing so until I formatted my SD card. If you find that your saved MP4s are 0 KB, perhaps formatting would help. I just used the [Format] button on the web-UI.

[barenada]

I've pretty much just given up and am waiting for an upgrade to maybe fix it. The files have the proper suffix, and are of the proper size. Some will even edit them. But most of my software, including the ones I actually use, refuse to do anything with these files. So I'm reduced to running them thru Nero before VLC will play them or PowerDirector will edit them.

[alexjez05]

This last firmware has really caused a lot of issues. I'm also having problems with the MP4 files being saved to an in-network NAS. Many .mp4_ files are being saved to the NAS (which has read/write access - no separate setting for modify as another poster suggested on another post) which on windows explorer shows to be 1kb in size (32 bytes through property tab). I have attempted modifying different settings through the Amcrest Web View (and Amcrest Surveillance Pro) and the settings on the NAS with no improvement (NAS logs show no problems). Previously the DAV files were recording properly and could be accessed with the Smart Player. I have no SD card in the camera, but it was not an issue previously either. Is a new firmware update going to be the only solution to this problem? Amcrest really needs to speed it up. As it stands my camera is only good for live view and snap shots.

[cheme88]

I am also having significant issues with the files generated...wrote this to support:

"Hi, I just updated to the latest firmware on my three cams (Amcrest IP2M-841B) and it's the worst video encoding I've ever experienced. I hope the 20160908 firmware was fully QA'd. The resulting MP4s take FOREVER to view/load. Its quite unbearable. Additionally, the MP4s are corrupted!?!? Why? My previous firmware was good with DAV files recorded...DAVs worked great, fast viewing, etc.

WHY this new firmware?!?!"

I truly hope they fix the firmware ASAP.

[alexjez05]

After multiple attempts, and default resets, I finally have the camera recording properly to my NAS device. Some of the resets had caused other problems, but the camera seems to be stable at the moment. The .mp4 files are being saved through FTP, and able to be accessed through the windows explorer and other remote methods. After all the multiple attempts, I do not know what finally got everything working. I believe it had to be a firmware glitch that finally got corrected after all the resets. I don't think I'm going to touch another firmware update until it looks like all the bugs are worked out. Good luck to everyone else.