OK…some quick information to start because this issue is really, really strange. Have Plex server installed on a Windows 7 machine with an external hard drive. Some MP4 files, mostly MKV files made with MakeMKV. This set up as been working great for over a year. I could stream to Roku’s, Android app, iOS apps, and OSX app…never any issues.
About a week ago, I noticed that my Roku wouldn’t play MKV files…hmmm…web app also won’t play MKV files. iOS app…Android app…no MKV files. The server sees them, the external drive “acts” like it’s playing them, but nothing but background poster and the spinning icon and it will sit there for hours. Everything will play MP4 files just fine like before.
Then, for fun, I tried the one place I hadn’t tried before. I opened up the Plex Mac app on my Macbook. It will play anything! Seriously…MP4 files and MKVs…no problem. So the Plex server does appear to be working…but how could ONLY the Mac app be working.
The Plex web app won’t work on the very computer where the Plex server is installed (local access or through Plex.tv).
I tried to troubleshoot by:
- Downgrading the Plex server…no changes…I’m back to the most recent version.
- FACTORY RESET the Windows 7 laptop. Updated past Service Pack 1, completely free install of Plex…same behavior as above.
The laptop has over 400 gigs of free space (there’s virtually nothing on it). I can’t even really get the Plex web app to fail playing to even post something helpful from the log. All access to the Plex server is via my home network.
Laptop where Plex server is installed is hard wired. Mac (the ONLY place that will play MKVs) is hardwired. iOS and Android devices obviously on wireless, but from the same router.
This has to be the strangest technical issue I’ve ever seen and I have no idea what to do next. I love PLEX and I know it can handle the MKV files so I just can bring myself to convert them to MP4’s just to resolve this.
I’m open to any ideas or thoughts.
