I went through and told the Plex server to load automatically but it doesn't. Suggestions on what to double check?
Is it just the one user account in Windows?
The option is Auto Start on Login as opposed to Auto Start on Reboot
If it is the one user account then yes it should work. Anything in the Plex Media Server.log file?
What version of PMS?
What version of Windows?
If it is multiple user accounts then of course it would not start until you login to the user account you use for PMS and there are tricks for getting windows to auto login to this account and so start plex media server automatically on boot
Would you think about setting a scheduled tast to run on machine startup to kick off plex server?
Its a clean and simple solution, set it up even if nobody logs on.
Would you think about setting a scheduled tast to run on machine startup to kick off plex server?
Its a clean and simple solution, set it up even if nobody logs on.
Not sure - there are loads of posts regarding asking for Plex to run as Service and there is a request in the PlexPASS Features and Bugs forum that you may have seen. If not you need to look for it and add you Like to the first post there.
I do not know if is possible on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 where there are excellent facilities for scheduling tasks - but you would need to login - so not sure.
I use the auto login trick to a specific user id
Is it just the one user account in Windows? Yes (no login since the machine is only used for Plex)
The option is Auto Start on Login as opposed to Auto Start on Reboot
If it is the one user account then yes it should work. Anything in the Plex Media Server.log file? (Location?)
What version of PMS? 9728
What version of Windows? Win7 64bit
If it is multiple user accounts then of course it would not start until you login to the user account you use for PMS and there are tricks for getting windows to auto login to this account and so start plex media server automatically on boot
I would be fine setting up a scheduled launch. Open to suggestions on how best to do that.
Would you think about setting a scheduled tast to run on machine startup to kick off plex server?
Its a clean and simple solution, set it up even if nobody logs on.
You could schedule a task ... and sa2000 can advise you on that. I suspect there may be something else going on here, but here's another way:
- First, turn off the autostart option in the systemtray icon;
- Next, create a windows shortcut for PMS (C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe);
- Move that shortcut to your startup directory for the user account the computer boots up into (Typically, C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup); and
- Then, reboot the machine and see if it does not autostart that way.
You could schedule a task ... and sa2000 can advise you on that. I suspect there may be something else going on here, but here's another way:
- First, turn off the autostart option in the systemtray icon;
- Next, create a windows shortcut for PMS (C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe); Did it :)
- Move that shortcut to your startup directory for the user account the computer boots up into (Typically, C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup); and :wacko: No Appdata folder under account name. Clicking properties shows read only. I told it to remove read only and it goes through a 2 minute exercise after I give it Admin priviliges and then still shows read. So, I'm trying to get to the startup folder to put the shortcut into...
- Then, reboot the machine and see if it does not autostart that way.
I turned on the see hidden folders and got to the Startup folder. I dropped the shortcut for the plex exe in and rebooted and it did NOT auto launch.
Is it just the one user account in Windows? Yes (no login since the machine is only used for Plex)
The option is Auto Start on Login as opposed to Auto Start on Reboot
If it is the one user account then yes it should work. Anything in the Plex Media Server.log file? (Location?)
What version of PMS? 9728
What version of Windows? Win7 64bit
If it is multiple user accounts then of course it would not start until you login to the user account you use for PMS and there are tricks for getting windows to auto login to this account and so start plex media server automatically on boot
My initial reply was not right. I said the issue only arose with multiple accounts. Of course it also arises if there is a password on the one user account one has.
Until the Plex Media Server application is enhanced to allow it to run as a Windows Service, it is my belief that the way to auto start it is to do the auto login on start and this is the method I followed on Windows 7: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows7/ht/auto-logon-windows-7.htm
Regarding your question re location of the logs, Googling 'plex location of logs on windows' will give you the first hit on Max's post here
PS: once you resolve this issue, strongly recommend upgrading to 0,9.8.4 - so much went in between 0.9.7.28 and this new version. Uninstall current and install new version
Sounds to me like you are not logging in as an administrator -- I would make sure whatever account you boot into has administrative privileges.
I concur with sa2000 on the autologon approach -- that's how I'm doing it, too. :)
Sounds to me like you are not logging in as an administrator -- I would make sure whatever account you boot into has administrative privileges.
I concur with sa2000 on the autologon approach -- that's how I'm doing it, too. :)
Actually my setup now is to have plex run in non-admin user account. The auto login I have is for that plex non admin user account that only has READ Access to my media repository.
I did have to overcome initial issues resulting into 2 instances of plex running - one auto starting in the admin user account I use to install plex and the other instant in the account I run plex in - there are several threads on this subject and it involves a registry change in the install account after every install. Related posts here and here
Actually my setup now is to have plex run in non-admin user account. The auto login I have is for that plex non admin user account that only has READ Access to my media repository.
I did have to overcome initial issues resulting into 2 instances of plex running - one auto starting in the admin user account I use to install plex and the other instant in the account I run plex in - there are several threads on this subject and it involves a registry change in the install account after every install. Related posts here and here
Sorry for the repeated updates.. But just wanted to make sure that others do not think that my setup is the optimum setup for auto start and non admin account use. It is far from ideal. In fact Mediaconoclast is right about needing to boot into an admin account. Because it is necessary for all the automatic software updates to happen. I now need to research possibilities of having two user accounts auto logging in - the admin one and the plex one. Maybe we will get the Plex as Service before that is achieved by me.Sounds to me like you are not logging in as an administrator -- I would make sure whatever account you boot into has administrative privileges.
I concur with sa2000 on the autologon approach -- that's how I'm doing it, too. :)
Why is plex running in non admin account. Well. It is because of my paranoia about the open port to plex from the Internet !!!
I followed the link to auto login (I have only 1 account and it is admin with no PW). I assume I choose auto login for Plex (checked option) unless someone notes otherwise.
I just rebooted and Win7 launched with no login but Plex did not auto start (even though the option was checked)
Hmmm. You might try looking into the event viewer on windows to see what's going on at startup after booting to see what it says...
And I wonder if your other problem is not an indication that something is amiss with the installation -- does PMS have access to all the directories it needs for proper startup, etc.
I followed the link to auto login (I have only 1 account and it is admin with no PW). I assume I choose auto login for Plex (checked option) unless someone notes otherwise.
EDITED: Too early in the morning - did not read every word you said. Sorry. Corrected now.
I am not near a windows 7 machine and don;t fancy trying it out through LogMeIn. My understanding of the sequence is:
The Security Windows Event Log will show logins and results
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Checked the registry and it shows Plex server as set to run at startup but it doesn't show in the icons box on the lower right.
Checked the registry and it shows Plex server as set to run at startup but it doesn't show in the icons box on the lower right.
very weird.
Does the registry key change at all after you tick the Auto Start on Login in the Plex system tray?
Does the registry key change at all after you untick the Auto Start on Login in the Plex system tray?
As suggested by Mediaconoclast have a look at the Windows Event Logs. Right Click My Computer and select Manage.
Have a look at the 3 main event logs: System, Security and Application
May be best now to uninstall PMS and download and install PMS 0.9.8.4 and troubleshoot the problem with this version.
