# Getting metadata off old hard drive

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/getting-metadata-off-old-hard-drive/705525>\
**Category:** Metadata & Adding Files\
**Tags:** server-linux\
**Created:** [March 29, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/getting-metadata-off-old-hard-drive/705525 "2021-03-29T22:08:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phoebus01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de0a6/32.png) [@Phoebus01](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Phoebus01)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/getting-metadata-off-old-hard-drive/705525/1 "2021-03-29T22:08:55Z")

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I had a previous PMS running on Ubuntu 20.04 and I had a Workouts library with custom metadata.

Since migrating to a new system I have the videos but not the metadata. What’s the best way to get it - I have the former hard drive Plex was installed on. I had a look at the folders in the Plex Media Server directory but it wasn’t clear how to find the workout library metadata. Is there a way to determine which folder and how to extract it?

Alternatively could I extract the data by running PMS? Ubuntu no longer boots on it for some reason despite using repair tools (one reason for the switch to Unraid). Is there a way I could boot Plex from an Ubuntu USB stick and run a metadata backup plugin if I can’t extract it from the folder?

Server Version#: February 2021  
Player Version#:

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**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/getting-metadata-off-old-hard-drive/705525/2 "2021-03-29T22:14:40Z")

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Inside those folders you’ll only find the artwork associated to those files. The metadata itself is stored in the database of your old Plex Media Server.

The common approach for migrating your metadata would be to copy the server data directory over into your new setup – however this only makes sense when you’re setting up your new server, not after you started using it productively (e.g. after changing metadata, libraries, adding media etc.)

> **[Move an Install to Another System | Plex Support](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/)**
>
> It is possible to move a Plex Media Server installation from one computer/system to another in most cases. It won’t...

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**Author:** ![Phoebus01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de0a6/32.png) [@Phoebus01](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Phoebus01)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2021, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/getting-metadata-off-old-hard-drive/705525/3 "2021-03-30T07:14:59Z")

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Thanks I followed that guide when setting up but the metadata (posters but also descriptions) did not follow over.

There is a plugin for downloading custom metadata so if I could get the old server running that may work I suppose. It is the descriptions more than the posters I am after.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 7:15am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/getting-metadata-off-old-hard-drive/705525/4 "2021-06-28T07:15:07Z")

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