Two possible issues, new XVR's will have 2 BNC inputs on an AD chip. The two inputs must have the same format camera on them or you will see invalid camera format on the live view. Or it could be the video signal from the camera is not 1V ptp and recorder will not detect poor signalling from the...
There are different chipset variations, your suppliers should be able to tell you the generation. There is no S5 for TiOC, S4 is the current. The S4 has the new white background web server, thats the easiest way to tell. All other TiOC models use HX5XXX-VOLT chipset and have the older grey...
Dahua are planning on making the function better I have been told by their reps. Also wont just be on 5 series and above. Plan is to go to 3 series too. Expect it to get better over the next year.
Be careful updating that recorder to later versions of firmware, I have observed many get bricked. Update in stages and do not apply the latest straight out
Format the HDD is the only way out of that dude. You cannot update it from V1 to V8 in one go. There are sequential updates. Check out software.dahuasecurity.com, has upgrrade guides showing what steps you need to take. As for obtaining all of the files, you might need to ask the original...