Live TV HD Appears Pixelated Part II: x86-Only

[Mike-E]

Server Version#: Version 1.32.5.7349
Player Version#: NA
Tuner Make/Model: WinTV-quadHD
Guide/Lineup name: Any
Using XMLTV?: Yes
Channel number/Name: Any HD Channels

I am encountering the issue discussed here:

Live TV HD Appears Pixelated

Server Version#: Player Version#: web + roku Tuner Make/Model: WinTV-quadHD Guide/Lineup name: Any Using XMLTV?: Yes Channel number/Name: Any HD Channels We are noticing pixelation with live tv streams with live channels. Notice the lines on the field especially: [image] This seems to be a recent thing and hasn’t been noticed until recent football games. Interestingly enough it appears more apparent with still images/graphics as seen here: [image] Note that we have everything on “Or…

It was reported fixed here:

Vertical lines/shadow lines in Live TV or DVR Recordings

Thank you for pointing that out @thechad6, and for your patience here. This prompted me to re-read this thread. I had a question earlier about whether this was in public or not, but never heard back from anyone, so I was left to assume this was still an issue that was originally found in beta and had made its way to RTM. I made the jump into 1.31.3 just now and can happily state that it no longer seems to occur on our server. So this appears fixed for us, too. Onto the next…

But it turns out that this was because I installed x64 Plex. Unfortunately because of this, I ran into this issue:

Plex No Longer Upgrades

Server Version#: 1.31 Player Version#:NA After upgrading 1.31, when I see that a server update is available, I attempt to install it, but the screen sits at the Retry Connection view and the application never updates. I have to restart the PMS exe and the version is the same as before, with a prompt still to upgrade to the new version.

So I reverted back to x86 and while I can update again, the pixelated Live TV has returned.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance in figuring out how to either get the Live TV streaming as expected in x86 or Plex Server to update as expected in x64.

Thank you for any assistance.

[pshanew]

While I have no solution for the native upgrade issue described, I’d suggest moving back to the 64-bit release as it has the potential to be more stable overall. It offers certain other benefits for folks with appropriate hardware (zero-copy support for hardware transcoding and hardware accelerated HDR tone mapping when using Nvidia hardware).

You should be able to work around the upgrade issue by manually downloading the most recent update, stopping Plex (not strictly necessary but recommended), and installing the new release.

I’m curious; in the past, have you moved the location of your Plex data directory via registry changes?

[Mike-E]

Thank you very much for your assistance @pshanew

@pshanew

You should be able to work around the upgrade issue by manually downloading the most recent update, stopping Plex (not strictly necessary but recommended), and installing the new release.

Indeed I am aware of that but that experience is a total hassle from upgrading it from within the web experience, where it’s simply a few clicks.

@pshanew

I’m curious; in the past, have you moved the location of your Plex data directory via registry changes?

I have indeed. Do you think that’s what’s causing the x64 upgrade issue?

[pshanew]

@Mike-E

Indeed I am aware of that but that experience is a total hassle from upgrading it from within the web experience, where it’s simply a few clicks.

Yep, and agreed. Using Linux servers for some Plex stuff I experience that every time an upgrade is released. Ugh.

@Mike-E

I have indeed. Do you think that’s what’s causing the x64 upgrade issue?

I was curious because there’s a part of the Plex data directory move which is sometimes missed. Specifically the part which is mentioned in the first addendum here:

[HowTo] An extended guide on how to move the Plex data folder on Windows

By default, Plex server stores all its own data on the system drive, in the AppData path of the Windows user. You might want to change that location, if your system drive is a small SSD or you are simply having capacity issues. Moving Plex data to a dedicated drive also makes it easier to retain your Plex server data when changing machines or re-installing Windows from scratch. For larger servers/collections, I recommend a dedicated, internal SSD drive. Exit/End/Quit/Close plex, using the t…

Just wondering if the old update service path was updated. Likely it was since you were able to update successfully before moving to 64-bit, but it’s something to check. Maybe.

[Mike-E]

@pshanew

I was curious because there’s a part of the Plex data directory move which is sometimes missed. Specifically the part which is mentioned in the first addendum here:

Oh my goodness I bet you that was it! Thank you very much for that pointer, I will try that tomorrow morning when the lines are clear again and see if I can get back to 64x again w/ the updater working as expected. Currently I have 3 Rokus streaming different College Football games with a new network setup via Plex Live TV. They have been working for hours without a drop and it is GLORIOUS!

I will update here with findings.

[pshanew]

Good luck!

[Mike-E]

So I got everything configured and am now waiting on a new version/update from Plex. Seems like these used to happen every other day but have gotten slower recently.

[Mike-E]

Bummer, the new update this morning didn’t take.

One thing I am noticing however is that the Setup process says 32-bit and my install is 64-bit now. I did install 32-bit originally and wonder if it’s somehow attempting to install 32-bit on a 64-bit install, leading to the error.

[Mike-E]

I’d like to page @OttoKerner here to see if there’s any further suggestions to be had with this scenario. I am wondering if there is another RegEdit entry to consider which we didn’t really talk about in the first attempt at this. And since they are they author of the great guide above, I am hoping some other suggestion can be had here.

[pshanew]

Not a bad idea, maybe they’ll have some further ideas.

For what it’s worth, I just performed an upgrade to 1.32.5.7516 myself (via the Plex web client) and can confirm that the 32-bit setup program is expected.

It might be getting to the point where a backup + clean install is worth considering…

[OttoKerner]

Try this:

• Stop/quit/end Plex Server with the tray icon
• deinstall Plex Server using the regular ‘Apps’ control panel of Windows
  (do not use 3rd party ‘Uninstaller’ software like Revo etc.
  do not use “Registry Cleaner/optimizer” software like CCleaner et al.
  Failure to heed this warning may result in losing your Plex data.)
• for safety, reboot Windows
• download the installation exe of the 64bit version and install it

Are you using a method to start Plex server which is non-default?

Have you ever installed the PMS as a Windows service helper?

[Mike-E]

@pshanew

It might be getting to the point where a backup + clean install is worth considering…

Can you explain more about what this would entail?

@OttoKerner

Try this:

Thank you for the suggestions. I believe we tried this already with our previous thread. What was overlooked, however, is the RegEdit/custom install and wonder if that is something to consider now.

@OttoKerner

Are you using a method to start Plex server which is non-default?

Good question, yes I am with Task Scheduler on machine startup which calls a CMD that in turn executes C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe.

@OttoKerner

Have you ever installed the PMS as a Windows service helper?

I have not. Should I try this?

[OttoKerner]

@Mike-E

Good question, yes I am with Task Scheduler on machine startup which calls a CMD that in turn executes C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe.

Under which Windows user account is this task set to run?

@Mike-E

I have not. Should I try this?

Not yet, although it might be a possible solution.

[Mike-E]

@OttoKerner

Under which Windows user account is this task set to run?

There is only one account on the machine and that is an administrator., set to run if it is logged on or not.

Another thought here: the setup exe is running when upgrading from the web client. Is there a log file somewhere we can check to see if there is an error/warning being output somewhere?

[Mike-E]

OK found a clue, the following is emitted to the System Event Log during an upgrade attempt via web client:

The Plex Update Service service terminated unexpectedly.  It has done this 1 time(s).  The following corrective action will be taken in 10000 milliseconds: Restart the service.

[OttoKerner]

The update service is needed to perform the update.

Cleanly uninstall the 32bit version, followed by a clean install of the 64bit version.

[Mike-E]

@OttoKerner

leanly uninstall the 32bit version, followed by a clean install of the 64bit version.

If you mean using Apps and Features I have done this previously and am in 64-bit now.

@OttoKerner

The update service is needed to perform the update

I understand. Is there a log file somewhere that I can investigate for further clues?

[Mike-E]

@Mike-E

I understand. Is there a log file somewhere that I can investigate for further clues?

I found the logs and found the problem:

"C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Update Service Launcher.exe" "D:\Plex Media Server\Updates\1.32.5.7516-8f4248874\packages\PlexMediaServer-1.32.5.7516-8f4248874-x86_64.exe" D:\ "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe"

The problem is the D:\ argument. If I change this to:

"C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Update Service Launcher.exe" "D:\Plex Media Server\Updates\1.32.5.7516-8f4248874\packages\PlexMediaServer-1.32.5.7516-8f4248874-x86_64.exe" "C:\Program Files\Plex" "C:\Program Files\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe"

It works. So now the question is… where is it pulling that D:\ from?

[OttoKerner]

@Mike-E

It works. So now the question is… where is it pulling that D:\ from?

Did you install PMS on drive D: before at one time in the past?

[Mike-E]

Thank you for your continued assistance @OttoKerner

@OttoKerner

Did you install PMS on drive D: before at one time in the past?

No, but I did follow your wonderful guide to move the data folder to my D:\ drive.

However, when I copied :\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server to D:\ it was x86. Now that I have upgraded to x64 could this be a problem and what we are now running into here?