I think Plex is too complicated for me

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Plex makes me feel so stupid despite having a master’s degree… although they give those out to anyone these days. I never spent time learning computers, specifically networking etc… and now I am paying for it!

I somehow got Plex to work back in 2016 on an old Asus Laptop, named Gregs Asus Laptop. Friends and family used it and was able to remote access at work on the computer. I have always had my files (99% movies) on an external HD. Fast forward to today and my Asus laptop does not load up, it’s officially dead.

I have a few extra laptops lying around and I want to use a Lenovo Ryzen laptop to host the files. Tried following a youtube video and screwed it up. Didn’t understand this page: Move an Install to Another System | Plex Support

So I figured I could just create a new account and link the external HD to the new account with proper HD movie locations. Can’t figure that out.

So I am thinking Plex is just either more complicated than it was or I’m dumber than I was, or likely both. Either way, if you have any easy to follow recommendations I’d happily follow them. I’m not sure if there is customer support for any of this, I kept getting redirected to this.

At this rate I will just play them from my laptop to my TV via HDMI. Much easier… :wink:

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Follow these support pages will be a good place to start.

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That has the one that I tried to follow but didn’t understand. Like I said, if its that complicated, I think its not for me.

Appreciate it

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Actually I found this https://plex.tv/users/delete at the site you linked. I think I’ll just delete my account and try all over from scratch. It’s not like I am going to lose any of my movies.

Thanks for the advice

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There is no need to delete your Plex account. Doing so does not help with setting up a new Plex server.

Also, if you delete your account, you cannot use the same e-mail address to sign up for a new account for 30 days.

The Plex Quick Start Guide can help with setting up your new Plex server:
Plex Documentation → Quick-Start & Step by Step Guides for Plex Media Server

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PC Windows 10 up to date. I had Plex in the past and it worked pretty well so I downloaded the app and the server. When I started the server I got a setup screen that said the setup was finished. Never got the chance to do the wizard. The app indicated there was no server and I should download one. Did this several times and could never get the wizard, so could never do the setup. I tried versions 1.23.2.4692 and 1.23.4709-ebb5fe9f3. I read some forum and seems others are having the same problem. Am I doing something stupid or is there a problen. Is there a stable version I could download and if so where can I get it. Thanks for the help

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This is what I fear when my windows desktop that is on 24/7 and only used for Plex (approaching 7 years old) dies and I have to move plex to another server. LOL . I just KNOW I’ll screw something up because this does NOT look easy to me

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You want to perform this procedure: Why am I locked out of Server Settings and how do I get in? | Plex Support
While you’re at it, remove the DWORD AcceptedEULA as well.

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The most important thing is to have a backup of both your plex data folder and the registry branch.

The data folder must be copied while the server is not running, or you’ll end up with a damaged database!

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Thanks for the advice Otto but after reading about modifying the registry is above my pay grade. I had rather install an older known version or wait for the newest to be fixed. Using Plex is probably a bit too difficult for a lot of us.

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Unless you have 50TB of media - you could have simply built a New Plexiverse from the ground up by this time.

Get this:

When your stuff is named correctly - Building a Plexiverse is… Easy.

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Easy??? I have never found anything in Plex (or even Emby) easy. Simple, sometimes but Plex+easy, for large libraries, is at best an oxymoron.

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The building is easy.

The work-arounds after the building - may not be, but that’s a never-ending process of some peaks - with a lot of valleys.

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I think that if I do ever have to change servers, I’m going to delete server, log out of everything on devices, download new server, use different email and just go from there.

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That would make it way more complicated than it has to be.

Problems are caused by not completely removing the existing version. Registry settings and all.

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So what would you do if one day you wake up, and the computer that your server is on is completely dead?

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Take out the hard drive and see if it still works in a different computer. If it does – Bingo!
You then have everything you need to restore your server.

(If you had several hard drives, it might be hard to remember/find out which hard drive had which drive letter assigned. But that is solvable too. And with a bit of foresight, you can put a small .txt into the root folder of each drive detailing this.)

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I’d cry a little.
Have the funeral.
Build a new box.
with the old HDDs.
Download Plex.
Sign in.
Start Adding Folders.

Yea, I’d check to see if that HDD that has the database on it works, if so aim Plex at it and make sure all the old drives have the same old letters, but if not, the sooner I get started the sooner it’ll be over.

I’m a 3 time looser on Plexiverse Explosions.
Ain’t nuthin’ but a thing…

1 Like
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I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand what your asking, or trying to achieve.

Plex is not complicated at all if you take your time and give it a chance.

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Ok so I want to make sure I understand you all correctly.

You all read that my old laptop server is dead, right? And that all my media is located on an external HD. I thought that would make this easier, but it sounds like there are some necessary commands or registry actions that need to be done to the original laptop server HD, despite none of the media being located there… Am I understanding you all correctly?

If so, it seems like you are saying my options are primarily restricted to the extraction of the internal HD from my dead laptop… to do these registry commands… or whatever.

Although I wouldn’t call that “easy”, I have taken out internal HDs before and connected them externally with a USB adapter… Which I still have, and can easily do of necessary.

So just to be clear, are those of you who are familiar with this process recommending against deleting my account, and rather recommending to remove my old laptop internal HD and following the transferring PLEX server instructions?.. and this would be easier than deleting my original account and starting another one with an alternate email, and just pointing the new account to my external HD that I used with my last account?

I’m willing to give it a try, as long as I understand it correctly.