Plex Media Server will not scan libraries on manual command or after I add a new file

Plex Media Server
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Server Version#: 1.40.3.8555
Player Version#: [Plex Web]

Plex Media Server on a TerraMaster F5-221 will not scan any of its libraries when changed. It’s as if it’s insisting there’s been no change, when there has. All my other Plex Media Server implementations will scan automatically upon any change, as expected.

I recently reinitalized my TerraMaster F5-221 while trying to work a problem with the device constantly shutting down. After a live session with TerraMaster’s technical crew, we diagnosed a faulty power adapter. I replaced that with a generic adapter of suitable connector dimensions and output voltage and current. The adapter “fit” and turned the device on long enough for me to reinitialize - and I found Plex Media Server installed and ready to re-enable.

However, it refuses to scan any libraries and won’t tell me why. Plex Media Server performs all other server functions - it serves up all my movies, shows, music, and other videos, and tracks the watch progress on anything I started watching 16 weeks ago or more recently. But it won’t add new titles.

The reinitialization might have removed a require “Plex Media Server” user. The only users I have on the device are myself as superuser, plus a “guest” account. Do I have to re-create a user? If so, how? Can you specify user name, group and permissions? Or must I uninstall and then reinstall Plex Media Server? (I recently updated the PMS program without removing the previous installation, but the problem was present before then as well.)

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The easiest way to fix user accounts is to just re-install plex, it will recreate if needed (or at least it should) and you will not loose any data.

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Happily I discovered one thing I hadn’t done: change permissions of the “Media User Group” from “Deny” to “Read/Write.” Now I can play any title, and also directly command a scan. I still don’t seem to have a functioning automatic scan - that is, scanning a library after I drop a new title into the folder.

But I’m busy making an emergency backup - that is, copying all my media to wherever I can find enough space on other servers in my network - and planning a clean TerraMaster Operating System upgrade, with repartitioning and reformatting. (They insisted on enlarging the operating-system partition.) That will require a fresh, clean install of Plex anyway, and I’m going to do that in a few days, so I’m not in any hurry to restore this function.