Changing drive letters for media

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

I am using server version 1.16.5.1554 and have an external USB drive for my media.

Currently the drive is on letter “H”. However, there are times if I unplug it and put it back in after some other drives have been added, the drive letter might change (not a Plex issue but how Windows is assigning the next possible letter for the drive). Not normally an issue as I can reassign the letters accordingly and get the “H” designation back but it’s a bit of a shuffle.

So my question would be if I wanted to change the drive letter to a larger one permanently to prevent this, say “X” or “P”, so that the next letter assigned to other drives is the lower one and the drive I use for Plex is unaffected do I have to make this change and have Plex re-scan everything (which can take a day or more) or is there a simpler, safer and easier solution?

For example, can I stop Plex, make the drive letter change, run some SQL on the db where this info is kept and then turn Plex back on and it be like nothing happened?

Note: I did see some very old posts that try and answer this but their links are no longer valid

2

Simpler, no.
Safer, yes.

But do a backup copy of the database file and store it in a safe place!

3

See: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201154537-move-media-content-to-a-new-location/

1 Like
4

Cool thanks for both of you replying so quick :slight_smile:

Ironically I recently went through this article about a week or so back (so I do have a relatively recent backup) when I rebuilt my computer. I just didn’t realize that this would also apply for drive letter changes. I assumed that because I was mirroring the same drive as the old machine that it just lined up the drive letter accordingly which is why things didn’t have to go through a full re-scan.

5

Network paths are a great option too.
Plex hasn’t seen a drive letter on my server for several years.
Drive letters shouldn’t change and network paths don’t change.

6

Are there any real differences/pros/cons from using drive letters vs network paths for Plex? Other than being a possibly better solution for my particular situation?

7

Performance-wise I just find them snappier in Windows.
Plex wise a drive letter change will not matter. Point Plex to a shared folder and that shared folder exists regardless of any drive letter change.

8

I will give that a shot…thanks very much :slight_smile:

9

How they work will depend on how you have your Plex libraries set up.

10

My libraries conform to the expected structures outlined by Plex.

I did a quick change from a drive (e.g. H:\media\shows) to a network share (e.g. \network_share\media\shows) and after a very fast scan everything was available.

I am pleasantly surprised that it didn’t take a full re-scan…it was done in say 15-20 seconds for about 225 episodes in that particular directory, all the posters and metadata correct and could be played right away.

@Xhaka, thanks for the suggestion :smiley:

1 Like
11

Glad it Helped.
Personally, I use a pooling software called Stablebit Drivepool.
It simply enables you to never have to worry about adding additional paths to Plex as you add more storage to your system.
EG.
Drives E, F and G are pooled and assigned a drive letter. Let’s call it H.
E, F and G can be hidden But are always individually accessible if the need arises.
The capacity of H can be extended simply by adding a further drive to the Pool and everything in H can now be shared.
eg.
\ServerName\Media\Movies
\ServerName\Media\TV\

Obviously, Drivepool may not be something you currently need, but if you ever get up to 14 drives in your system like me it really makes life much easier. :grinning:

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