# Need some help **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [May 31, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/need-some-help/719622 "2021-05-31T20:55:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mrclint1967\_outlook\_com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mrclint1967\_outlook\_com](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mrclint1967_outlook_com)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/need-some-help/719622/1 "2021-05-31T20:55:18Z")
Server Version#: Player Version#: I would like to know if I can plug my external hard drive into my router and be able to access my movies’ without my computer being on? Kind of sucks everytime I want to watch a movie i have to turn computer on. thanks in advance. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/need-some-help/719622/2 "2021-05-31T21:39:51Z")
Some routers have a built-in DLNA media server that can create its own index of the media on a connected drive – you might be able to access that from a DLNA client (e.g. VLC or sometimes included in a TV’s default video app) However… that’ll have nothing to do with Plex. For Plex to work, your Plex Media Server needs to be running. Depending on your use case, this could be on your regular desktop/laptop PC, some dedicated mini-PC acting solely as a server or a setup on a sufficiently powerful NAS. Netgear used to have special version of their Nighthawk lineup that could also run a Plex Media Server on that router. [https://support.plex.tv/articles/230934267-netgear-nighthawk-x10-router/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/230934267-netgear-nighthawk-x10-router/) # Keep in mind that PMS running on a router or NAS will come with its own limitations as those devices are usually not powerful enough to handle video transcoding. [https://support.plex.tv/articles/201373823-nas-devices-and-limitations/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201373823-nas-devices-and-limitations/) [https://support.plex.tv/articles/230934267-netgear-nighthawk-x10-router/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/230934267-netgear-nighthawk-x10-router/) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/need-some-help/719622/3 "2021-08-29T21:40:00Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.