I am currently running PMS on a Windows 10 computer. I am going to install another drive to run Ubuntu 18.10 on and eventually move over and dump Windows. What kinds of headaches am I in for given my libraries are on the same computer on separate drives?
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Can you get an external drive to move files off of windows and import I to ubutu?
You might be able to access your files on the windows drive from within Linux if you know what you are doing… But an external drive might make the move easier.
No I don’t have any external drives. But I do have 4 internal drives. I am aware that the file structures are different, and hope that things could be recognized without too much moving around. I do realize that it is unlikely.
My current make up is 2 ssd’s and 2 HDD’s. One SSD contains windows 250gb, another (60GB) has little files that can be moved to cloud. The HDD’s are 2 and 4 TB’s. The 2 contains TV shows while the 4 is movies both about 3/4’s full.
I plan on installing an M.2 drive to put Linux on. Unfortunately there isn’t a way for the 2 OS’s to recognize the files in the same location.? or is there
Yes they can both read the files from the same location BUT they will be saving the paths differently.
IF you are currently using HW Transcoding you will want to test this with Linux to make sure you still have this if needed.
If you don’t know Linux well, you may want to reconsider the switch. I’d only install apps on an OS I feel comfortable working on and understand well.
Just curious but why the switch?
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I noticed a few years back that MS decided to start adding features to Win 10 to compete or integrate with mobile tech. A lot of people noticed power drop offs in Jan-Feb 16 after an update. I had to build a new computer and found out it was an intentional move by MS. On a Ryzen board with Sata III SSD’s file transfer rates were only 15-25 mbps on the same drive, SSD to HDD were 20-30 mbps,. And MS called that normal.
The CPU would never get used more than 25%, because I use so few programs. It is like MS has allocated % of resources for things I may never use, thus never using the full potential of the machine.
It feels like buying a corvette and having a governor on it set to 35 mph. Not to mention the updates from MS could crash the system anytime, so why not be ready.
You’re blaming MS for putting out a fix for a CPU issue? You realize this wasn’t a MS issue but the CPU manufactures?
The same thing happened again earlier this year https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/3/16844630/intel-processor-security-flaw-bug-kernel-windows-linux
Lunix also had to be patched just like Windows did. The performance hit was bigger on Linux then it was on MS platforms.
If you are seeing these kinds of transfer rates presently you have something set wrong as windows will move data as fast as the hardware allows when dealing with disks or SATA buses.
MS remote connected and changed a few things, but they came to that conclusion that it was max file transfer rates. Multiple transfers or single they were all the same.
It is either a AMD chipset issue or a MS issue. All new hardware. Chipset is up to date. ???
I’m assuming we are talking about the transfer speed of the drives at this point?
That is NOT normal. You should easily be able to saturate a 1Gb NIC transferring files over a network. Faster inside the computer.
Couple quick questions for you.
What is your SSD to SSD copy bitrate?
What is the HDD to HDD copy bitrate?
May I be of assistance here?
Probably. 
He’s got a problem and want to switch from Windows to Linux thinking this will solve his current problem. However there isn’t enough info yet available to know what the problem is. For all we know he could have a failing hard drive that is giving him bad through put.
Obviously there is nothing wrong with the switch per say, but it would be good to know if the switch in OSes will solve his problem.
Anything you can think of Chuck to weigh in on?
If you have any specific tests to run let me know and I’ll run then in the morning
First, Please suppress any blaming and pointing until the problem is diagnosed? This might not be anyone’s “fault”.
Second: Basic integrity test of the computer itself.
- Memtest (memtest86+ on bootable USB) – This is a formality and need not be done first
- READ test on all media. (S.M.A.R.T - short and extended test)
- Provide the the SMART test results for review please
This will tell us the general state of the machine.
Third, we will inspect the external devices and networking layer but first things first.
After using CrystalDiskInfo I got these results.Drive results.txt (29.4 KB)
So things have improved since that update. transfer times according to Windows is around 170mbps. With the bad drive it drops to 50-60 mbps.
I may be still a little bitter after the Spectre patch(I think that was the name). I am also a little skittish after hearing about the issues reported with the last update.
Thanks for the results.
I will now detail each drive
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SPCC SSD
You’ve had this a while - 36806 hours. Check the Specs but 26TB written should be well within the TBW value. Earlier SSDs were only good for 50TB, then 100, then 200, now we are routine at 300TB and 600TB. -
OCZ-AGILITY3
Looking very good. It has much lower usage. -
WDC WD20EADS-00S2B0
C5 196 147 __0 0000000005B6 Current Pending Sector Count
C1 __1 __1 __0 00000011612D Load/Unload Cycle Count
C6 200 196 __0 000000000010 Uncorrectable Sector Count
This drive is failing / approaching death and data loss. They have always been problematic. They are also as slow as molasses. It has two problems:
Uncorrected sector errors
This drive currently has 1462 (0x5B6) sectors PENDING corrective action. This is not good at all. The drive has extras built in when it’s made. The firmware silently switches to new sectors as sectors become defective. By the time we see sector errors, ALL the spares have been used. This drive is now at the point where the backlog is almost a full track worth.
Head Load/Unload Count
The head Load/Unload count is WAY beyond the design limit of 300,000 (decimal). It’s current value is 1,138,989. This tells me the heads load, do a little activity, then retract (to sleep) approximately once a minute or less. Early production of this drive had firmware which behaved this way. WD had a patch “WDIDL3” (WD Idle 3) to work around it by turning off the head retract when idle feature.
- WD40EZRZ-00GXCB0
There are zero issues with this drive. Comparing the stats to the EADS above,
C5 200 200 __0 000000000000 Current Pending Sector Count
C1 189 189 __0 0000000082D6 Load/Unload Cycle Count
C6 200 200 __0 000000000000 Uncorrectable Sector Count
Given that this drive already has 32000+ Load/Unload cycles on it, you might want to look into that WD-IDLE3 setting. It is the Sleep (-s) setting. Disable it or set it to 30 minutes. Let the OS handle the sleep. The drive shouldn’t be running off by itself autonomously
With the drives now detailed,
Please let me know where the data is being copied from and to.
If this is indeed all within the same computer, Linux will be able to read the Windows partitions and write to the Linux drive at full drive speed
The typical WD Black drive will sustain 120 MB/sec writing. More recent models will do 150 MB/sec.
If you are trying to copy your Plex metadata, there is an easy way and a hard way. If you are getting absolutely miserable performance, I bet you’re doing it the hard way.
I will say it this way. “Copy is NOT your friend here”
I can give you the commands or detail the procedure. How skilled are you with Linux ?
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I just started to dive in on Linux. I started with Ubuntu 16.04 realizing that it would take a few good months to learn. Then I recently installed 18.10 and noticed it’s much easier for someone in my position to convert to a new way of doing things. That was the reason for the idea to dual boot the computer. Giving me time to learn while still having access to the Plex for other family members. I didn’t want to do the VM because after everything was set I didn’t want to do it again or going through a lengthy conversion from VM to boot install. This would give me a good few months to become proficient with Linux.
But now, I have to deal with replacing the bad drive. I was going to put Ubuntu on a M.2. drive as the second boot, but now I have to rethink the situation.
I need to get a larger SSD to take the heavy load that has contributed to the drive failure, and replace the HDD.
The question now is it worth the time to switch to Ubuntu?
I’d concentrate first on replacing the drive and moving all the content over to a new drive first before doing anything else.
Get that under your belt, then continue the journey if you want to Linux.
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Since there are differences in the OS’s I may be thinking this wrong< but I have 2 drives coming. After cloning Windows to the new m.2 drive and moving media from bad drive to new HDD.
The questions then become:
- Can I run both OS’s on the same drive but different partitions?
- With the different file structures of the Os’s, and media on different drives than the OS’s, can they both read the media in the same place or do their need to be different copies and drives?
- Since only one oS can run at a time can I use the same PMS account info in each environment?
Answers: 
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Yes you can but this is an advanced configuration step. You have to keep Windows from using the entire drive (it loves to take it all). You must partition the drive first
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Media files are media files. Linux can read Windows partitions but Windows can’t read Linux.
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Having a PMS in each OS serves little, if no, purpose. You can only have one operating at any one time unless you plan to name them both the same (which is HIGHLY dangerous to do)
To show you how partitioning works:
[chuck@lizum ~.204]$ sudo parted /dev/sda
GNU Parted 3.2
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) p
Model: ATA Samsung SSD 850 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 525MB 524MB primary ntfs boot
2 525MB 501GB 500GB primary ntfs
3 501GB 502GB 551MB primary xfs
4 502GB 1000GB 499GB extended
5 502GB 639GB 137GB logical xfs
6 639GB 656GB 17.2GB logical linux-swap(v1)
7 656GB 1000GB 344GB logical xfs
(parted)
I installed the new drive to transfer files from failing drive and windows wouldn’t boot. I tried repairing, reinstalled backup image, and other things. Eventually just let it try and boot, it took over 30 minutes. It’s some stupid security thing I think.
Moving files tonight and will have to install another new drive tomorrow (the m.2). Which is making me think to do a install from the backup. Then reformat current boot drive, and finish moving things around and change any settings due to new drive paths.
And this is why I am considering the switch. Just don’t want to jump right in.
At what point in time do I need to do this with the m.2 drive being installed tomorrow?
You need to partition the drive after it is installed but before anything is copied or installed on to the drive… Dual booting is definitely advanced configuration, do your homework!!! Do a search on dual booting both OS versions you are planning to use… I do know usually one has to be installed before the other or else it won’t work but can’t remember which is supposed to be the first OS installed…
