Server Version#:1.41.3.9314
Most of the times when Plex Media server updates due to me clicking “Update tonight” on whatever client (Apple TV, Google TV, Roku, etc…), the Plex Media Server.exe file dissapears.
I checked Event viewer and 1/2/2025 2:04:32 AM from PlexInstaller states:
Starting to install Plex Media Server.
Version: 1.41.3.9314
Setup location: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\PlexMediaServerUpdate.exe
Install folder: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server
Original logfile: C:\Windows\TEMP\Setup Log 2025-01-02 #001.txt
Final logfile: C:\Windows\TEMP\Plex Media Server_x64_2025_01_02__02_04_32.log
Auto-update
Update
Previously installed version: 1.41.1.9057
The next line in event viewer at 2:04:41 AM states
Installing Plex Media Server (1.41.3.9314) was aborted!
Restart is required!
Then on 1/4/2025 at 2:30:15 AM from nssm, a wrapper I use to start Plex as a service says:
Service Plex received SHUTDOWN control, which will be handled.
Then right after:
Killing process C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe because service Plex is stopping.
Then at 2:31:53 AM nssm states:
Service Plex received START control, which will be handled.
Then one second after nssm states:
Failed to start service Plex. Program C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe couldn’t be launched. CreateProcess() failed: The system cannot find the file specified.
Sure enough all the Plex files are there EXCEPT the exe. Where can I just get the EXE? It’s not in the recycle bin.
This is just a stock Windows 11 23H2 22635.4660 machine with Windows Defender. Nothing in Windows Defender logs about quarantining any threats for this. There are no other third party security software that would interfere with the filesystem. This has been happening for over a year.
The last few lines of the setup log file:
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Moving used file to void: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\cacert.pem
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Void file name: C:\Windows\TEMP\is-HINO6.tmp_inno_tmp_inno_40.tmp
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Error during MoveFileExW: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 – File entry –
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Dest filename: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\cacert.pem
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Time stamp of our file: 2024-12-16 14:58:12.000
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Dest file exists.
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Time stamp of existing file: 2024-09-27 16:33:16.000
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 Installing the file.
2025-01-02 02:04:37.741 DeleteFile: The existing file appears to be in use (32). Retrying.
2025-01-02 02:04:38.761 DeleteFile: The existing file appears to be in use (32). Retrying.
2025-01-02 02:04:39.767 DeleteFile: The existing file appears to be in use (32). Retrying.
2025-01-02 02:04:40.772 DeleteFile: The existing file appears to be in use (32). Retrying.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.777 Defaulting to Abort for suppressed message box (Abort/Retry/Ignore):
C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\cacert.pem
An error occurred while trying to replace the existing file:
DeleteFile failed; code 32.
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.777 User canceled the installation process.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.777 Rolling back changes.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.777 Starting the uninstallation process.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.777 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\tag.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.780 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\swscale-6.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.780 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\swresample-4.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.780 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\sqlite3_plex.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.780 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\soci_sqlite3.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.780 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\soci_core.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.780 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\python27.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.784 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\PlexScriptHost.exe
2025-01-02 02:04:41.784 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Tuner Service.exe
2025-01-02 02:04:41.784 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\pion.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\opencv_imgproc455.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\opencv_imgcodecs455.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\opencv_core455.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\nghttp2.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\miniupnpc.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libwinpthread-1.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libunwind.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libssl-3-x64.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.793 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libiconv-2.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libcurl.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libcrypto-3-x64.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\libc++.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\icuuc69.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\icuin69.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\icudt69.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\hdhomerun.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\fmt.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_timer.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_thread.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_locale.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_json.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_iostreams.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_filesystem.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\boost_chrono.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\avutil-57.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\avformat-59.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deleting file: C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\avcodec-59.dll
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Uninstallation process succeeded.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Deinitializing Setup.
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Restart is required!
2025-01-02 02:04:41.809 Saving logfile to “C:\Windows\TEMP\Plex Media Server_x64_2025_01_02__02_04_32.log”…
If you use nssm, you cannot use the integrated updater in Plex.
You will have to trigger the download from inside Plex, then wait a while.
Then shut down the nssm Plex service.
then uninstall Plex Server (make sure NOT to use any “uninstaller” or “registry cleaner” tools!)
Now enter your plex data folder, subfolder Updates and execute the latest installer. Decline the offer to automatically start it.
remove it from autostart as well (I use autoruns.exe as it’s the fastest)
Now you can start the nssm service again.
Additional remarks:
Ensure that you use the version of nssm in 64bit, because Plex Server is now in 64 bit as well.
Yes I like it to run as a service because of the random windows updates that reboot the tower in the middle of the night. If I’m not around to “log in” after a reboot, plex never starts. I stumbled on this way to overcome that.
