# PLEASE HELP! Transcoder error, nothing plays, or help downgrading? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [December 23, 2022, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864 "2022-12-23T02:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rckymtn64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@rckymtn64](https://forums.plex.tv/u/rckymtn64)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 2:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864/1 "2022-12-23T02:04:42Z")
Server Version#: 4.87.2 Player Version#: [Plex Media Server Logs\_2022-12-16\_20-28-21.zip](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/c7UszAMqqKxIbtXbADTcSnYaixO.zip) (3.0 MB) Started getting the error “ **Playback Error - Conversion failed. The transcoder failed to start up.** ” when trying to play on my computer (Windows 11 Pro, v 22H2, OS Build 22621.963) where my Plex is installed. Others unable to watch on remote devices. Happens with new and older video files that have played fine before, and that I can play just fine on the computer with VLC Media Player. Everything seemed fine until a week or so ago when it all started. Doesn’t happen with every file, but seems to be getting worse. Logs are attached. Could this be from a recent update? Timing is close. If due to the update, how can I downgrade to an older version of Plex without having to rebuild my libraries again? Where can I find an older version to install? Looking for any advice on how to fix this so my family and I can watch again. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864/2 "2022-12-23T21:17:38Z")
Looks like you have Plex installed in a custom directory and the program is unable to find/access the transcoder executable. Does this file exist? D:\Programs\Plex\Plex Transcoder.exe ---
**Author:** ![rckymtn64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@rckymtn64](https://forums.plex.tv/u/rckymtn64)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864/3 "2022-12-23T21:34:30Z")
No, it doesn’t. I’ve always installed Plex on a different drive than C:. I don’t understand how it could’ve been working just fine for the last 10+ months since I installed (new build) and suddenly it doesn’t. Very strange. Can I just uninstall and reinstall to fix it? And if so, will I have to rebuild/reset all my libraries? Thanks for any help you can suggest. ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864/4 "2022-12-23T21:57:20Z")
> [@rckymtn64](#): > > Can I just uninstall and reinstall to fix it? That should work. You could also try a repair. Just re-run the installer for the same version you have now. Double check this file exists afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![rckymtn64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@rckymtn64](https://forums.plex.tv/u/rckymtn64)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864/5 "2022-12-24T01:55:22Z")
Much thanks!!! Reinstalling it fixed it without any issues. Still don’t understand how the transcoder file disappeared. Also noticed when I reinstalled that I was running the 32 bit version, not the 64 bit, so fixed that as well. All libraries intact and everything back to normal now. Again, MUCH, MUCH THANKS!!! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/please-help-transcoder-error-nothing-plays-or-help-downgrading/823864/6 "2023-03-24T01:56:16Z")
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