One box - some recordings with different encryption key

[steve2525]

Complete brain failure with my parents HDR-T2, installed custom software all working ok with flatten and auto-unprotect some other packages installed. Then approx three weeks ago mistakenly changed encryption key to all zeros - thought at the time all the recordings had been un-encrypted. Today (aged) parents pointed out some recordings would play. Penny dropped that it was an decryption problem so i have changed the box back to its default encryption key. My parents are reasonably happy that they can now watch old (200+) recordings (going back over two years) but of course they cant play stuff recorded in the last three weeks. What's the safest way to decrypt the older recordings that used the box default Key? Not essential but is there any way to then change the box back to all zeros to decrypt the less important recordings from the past three weeks or shall I just delete them?

 

[MymsMan]

The decryption key can easily be changed on the settings page (under advanced settings)
Set it to zeroes and queue the newest recordings for decryption, when they are done
change the key to default and queue the older recordings for decryption or turn recursive auto-decryption on

While doing large batches turn off the creation of backup copies (auto processing settings) to avoid filling the disk

 

[Black Hole]

Then approx three weeks ago mistakenly changed encryption key to all zeros - thought at the time all the recordings had been un-encrypted.

Not sure why you would have done that. All-zeros is not a null key - recordings are still encrypted, but with the all-zeros key. Changing the key in custom firmware is available for specialised uses, and if that is not temporary you have to make sure all existing recordings are decrypted first.

For unsophisticated users, there is no need to routinely decrypt (in fact, it is better not to because there are slight consequences). I used to advise it was necessary to preserve recordings on disk if the unit failed, but that is now no longer relevant because we can decrypt off-the-box if required.

For information: auto-unprotect does not decrypt, it removes the flag protecting Hi-Def recordings from being decrypted. To ensure everything current and future is decrypted, as well as installing auto-unprotect you need to go to WebIF >> Browse Media Files, then click OPT+ next to "My Video" in the breadcrumb trail and click "Recursive Auto-decrypt". Full details here: Decryption Guide (click).

 

[steve2525]

Thanks all, will engage brain next time

 

[/df]

In case this happens again or to anyone else, IIRC software-based decryption ("Directly without hardware acceleration") using stripts tries both the current and the default key, so should be able to decrypt recordings made before changing the key.

 

[steve2525]

Thanks, very usefull