COVA System Recovery Guide

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Affected Roles: Administrator

Last Edit: December 29, 2025

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System Recovery

On the rare occasion that a COVA recorder experiences firmware corruption, system failure, or becomes otherwise inoperable, you can attempt to apply recovery firmware to the recorder as a final step in the troubleshooting process.

Be aware that this recovery process will perform a factory reset on the COVA recorder including recording configurations, system settings, and operating firmware. Loss of previously recorded video can be expected.

This article will outline how to prepare and deploy a USB recovery for a COVA series recorder.

NOTE: A USB (FAT32 format) is needed to set up and deploy recovery firmware to a COVA recorder.

IMPORTANT: The COVA recorder must be removed from the myDW Organization before using the system recovery. If it is not detached from the Organization beforehand, the unit will become locked to the Organization and unable to be registered to a new myDW Organization.

Supported/Affected Devices:

COVA Recorder Series
- DWC-COVA16xT
- DWC-COVA8xT
- DWC-COVA4xT

COVA Recovery Setup

Part 1: Preparing the USB Recovery

To upload recovery firmware to a COVA recorder, a USB recovery device must be prepared with special firmware.

To prepare a USB recovery:

Download the recovery firmware file that matches your COVA model.
- COVA Recovery Firmware (4-CH & 8-CH) – https://digital-watchdog.com/admin/assets/_downloads/COVA4_8_Recovery(1.4.8.82046).zip
- COVA Recovery Firmware (16-CH) – https://digital-watchdog.com/admin/assets/_downloads/COVA16_Recovery(1.4.8.82046).zip

Extract the firmware recovery file and copy it to a USB drive (FAT32).

DO NOT place the recovery firmware file into any folders. It is important that the recovery firmware file is placed directly into the USB drive’s root directory.

After saving a copy of the recovery firmware to the USB drive, eject the USB drive from the computer.

Part 2: Deploying the USB Recovery

When uploading recovery firmware to a COVA recorder, all actions must be performed directly at the recording hardware.

Shut OFF the COVA recorder through the recorder’s GUI.

If the COVA recorder has stalled or is otherwise unresponsive, remove power from the recorder via the power switch or power cable in the back of the COVA.
Insert the USB recovery drive to a vacant USB port on the COVA.

With the USB drive connected, Power ON the COVA recorder and allow the system to run the recovery process.
The COVA recorder will automatically reboot after the firmware recovery process is completed.

Remove the USB drive from the COVA recorder and complete the initial setup using the system’s Quick Setup Wizard.
After removing the USB recovery drive from the recorder, update the COVA to the latest release version and continue normal operation.

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For More Information or Technical Support

DW Technical Support: https://www.digital-watchdog.com/contact-tech-support/

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