Vivitar DVR 781HD Troubleshooting

Pressing the power button does not turn camera on.

If your camcorder will not turn on, a good place to start is to make sure the battery is charged. Plug your camcorder charger into an active outlet and plug the USB connector into the camera. If the display does not turn on and no charging lights activate, you will need to replace the battery. Detailed instructions for removing a damaged battery can be found here.

Try to press the power button to turn on camera. If the button has very high resistance to finger pressure or does not click, your power button may not be properly seated in the housing. Try to wiggle the button to release it from its jammed position.

This issue is often the hardest to diagnose and an expensive repair. It is recommended that you first explore other possible causes first before attempting to replace the motherboard. Common symptoms of motherboard failure are the device locking up on startup and the device shutting down before startup is complete. If the camcorder begins to start up and freezes or shuts off, the motherboard is most likely damaged. If the motherboard is the issue, a replacement guide can be found here.

Camera is powered on, but the display is black.

If you are experiencing a blank screen when the camcorder is turned on, the display may not be damaged, but just disconnected. Check your display's connections to ensure that they are not damaged or disconnected.

If your display is cracked, damaged, or will not turn on, you may need to replace it. Follow the replacement guide here for step by step instructions.

Your SD card is not recognized by the camera, and the screen flashes "No SD" when attempting to capture a video or photo.

Check to see if the card is fully inserted into the camcorder's case. If the card sticks out of the case, you may have the card in upside down or backwards. If the orientation of the card is correct, check to make sure nothing is trapped inside the SD card's slot, inhibiting it from insertion.

If the SD port is damaged, the card will not be read. To fix this issue, the SD port must be replaced.

You SD card may not be read because the connection between the SD port and the motherboard is severed. A non-operational motherboard can be replaced using the guide here.

The fixed focus on the camera is misaligned and the focus is either too close or too far away.

A small bead of glue holds the lens at the proper focal length. If this glue breaks, your focus may be out of alignment. Check to see if the glue is still holding the lens, and if it is gone, the focus must be manually adjusted and re-glued.

If the lens is damaged, chipped, or will not adjust, you may need to replace it.

The waterproof case provided with the camera will not close around the camera to create a waterproof apparatus.

Most likely, the reason for this issue is that there is something blocking the case from closing. Make sure the camera is not upside down in the case. Also, ensure that there is nothing else inside the case besides the camera.

If the black clasp on the side of the waterproof case will not close, the case will not seal properly to ensure waterproof conditions. If the plastic clasp is broken, it must be replaced.