Backing up my Media Server Database

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#: 1.20.1.3252

It looks like I’m going to have to reinstall Windows 10 (64 bit) due to system issues. I have a large library of movies, TV shows and music, and I want to avoid having to rescan my entire library. I read the articles and I’ve backed up the Plex Media Server Registration entries. The instructions also said I would need to back up the Plex Media Server folder. I started copying the entire folder to an external drive. The folder was HUGE, with over half a million file entries. I canceled the copy when the size had reached 30GB’s.

Is it necessary to back up the ENTIRE Plex Media Server folder, or can I selectively pick which folders from within? I thought I might be able to copy ONLY the folder that contained the databases. I’m attaching a JPEG of the main folder and the folder that contains the databases.

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2

At a minimum you need to copy “media”, “metadata”, and “plug-in support”. Those will be a large chunk of that 30 GB.

3

Thanks. I’m copying everything except for the Cache folder. It had almost 17GB in it… so that’ll save quite a bit of time. It’s only copying about 20GB now.

4

You might want to look at PSA: Script to back up and restore Plex app data on a Windows system

If you want to gift yourself the luxury of a separate drive for the Plex metadata, you could perform [HowTo] An extended guide on how to move the Plex data folder on Windows
and backup the registry again.
after reinstalling Windows, make sure the plex data drive has the same drive letter as before.
Then install Plex server,
close it
import the registry backup
reboot