Plex server random crashes

Server Version#: 1.25.8.5663
Player Version#: Roku and Plex HTPC both current beta
Windows 10

Have had Plex server crash several times over the past few weeks. The last two times were during the watching of a show, one on the Roku the 2nd time whilst using Plex HTPC on the same PC as the server. I have also found the server crashed overnight at some point whilst not in use.

I don’t think it’s to do with the recent ucrtbase.dll issues as could see nothing about that in windows event viewer.
The plex crash logs were empty when I took a look but I was able to get the latest server logs, can anyone take a look and give me a clue at what might be happening?
Thanks in advance!
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-04-06_22-09-24.zip (6.6 MB)

Edited by sa2000 as version quoted was 1.25.9.5721 when logs show it was 1.25.8

I’m experiencing the same issue. I installed the latest version, 1.25.9.5721 when it became available. However this did not fix my issue. It always crashes when one of the Commercial Skipper.exe task ends. I will get the server logs for @sa2000 after the next crash. I’ve been watching other threads, and discovered I was following one for Synology installations. Actually, I found the logs after reading the thread on how to obtain them. This may not be what you need though as I saw something in a thread about getting a crash dump. I will have to do the reg edit thing to make that happen though. Let me know if that is needed.

Plex Media Server Logs_2022-04-07_01-23-22.zip (6.0 MB)

1 Like

I am also experiencing random crashes the last couple of weeks. It happens basically once a day, and since I share it with friends and family I constantly get contacted that it’s stopped working.

I’m having the same issue. My Plex Server randomly crashes. Never while actually streaming anything.
I’ve attached the Windows Error as well as the plex server logs.
Any help is appreciated.
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-04-07_10-52-45.zip (2.5 MB)
Plex_Crash_4-7-22_1033.zip (1.2 KB)

Thanks for the logs - I found some uploaded crash reports but they were for earlier crashes than what shows in the logs - I would like to have a matching set (logs + dump)

The crash reports get copied to %TEMP% after attempting to upload them regardless of the outcome
Could you have a look in the %TEMP% directory for the windows user account Plex Media Server runs under - i am assuming it will be
C:\Users\BOX4 Media Centre\AppData\Local\Temp

These are examples of recent dump files that would have got created and copied to Temp after

File Timestamps would be close to these
27d2e702-5cc1-4991-bff6-ea17637a3d91 at around Apr 03, 2022 22:03:05
be79bcd5-bd15-4633-b981-505139a0cf62 at around Apr 02, 2022 22:03:04

The one that I need to match the logs should have got created near this time:
Apr 06, 2022 21:03:04
and the filename would have been of similar syntax to the ones I am showing for the 3rd April and 2nd April

Could you also check if you a dmp file in this folder
C:\Users\BOX4 Media Centre\AppData\Local\CrashDumps

If you are unable to find the 6th April crash dump file, could you make the registry changed outlined here: Crash Logs: Plex Media Server | Plex Support and create the “CrashDumps” folder if not present in the %localappdata% path for the user account Plex Media Server runs under and on next crash get me the logs and zip of the dmp file that you should find in the “CrashDumps” folder - please send that dmp by private message - if too big for PM upload somewhere and send me link

If you don’t find the 6th April crash report - then lets wait for crash on version 1.25.9.5721 and with the registry edit done to get windows to capture the dump

I found some uploaded crash reports from your server for 1.25.9 and I will refer these to the development team - but the ones I found do not match the timestamps in the logs provided

Could you look in the %TEMP% directory for file with name

b8ef9498-218a-46d9-a0c1-648f41b55349
It should have got created around this time Apr 06, 2022 21:31:35

The Temp directory we copy crash reports to should be this one
C:\Users\darren\AppData\Local\Temp

If you find it please zip and send it to by Private Message

If you do not find it, please do the registry edit and make sure this directory is created
C:\Users\darren\AppData\Local\CrashDumps
and we wait for next crash to get the logs and matching dump file

My PMS servers have been crashing for at least six months now… Not daily just randomly.
I have the setting to send crash reports checked. and debug enabled on all servers.
Some times it’s not crashed but frozen. and I have to crash it with the task manager.
Note when frozen it not using any CPU, memory usage seems correct and it runs again after restart. Not one of the system OS have crashed it’s just PMS.

@sa2000
Would like to see some notification that a crash dump has been received at Plex since I have that option checked. So I know that I should make a post or not.

The only Plex Media Server crash I see in the logs is from PMS version 1.25.9.5673-bf5697c5d that happened at Apr 07, 2022 04:23:18 and it looks like the crash that was fixed in Plex Media Server 1.25.9.5721-965587f64 which you started to run on from Apr 07, 2022 10:51:57

1 Like

At this point we need to look into crashes on version 1.25.9.5721-965587f64 and later -

The crash reporting does not always succeed and even when it logs that it was successful.
At this time I cannot find any uploaded crash reports for your plex account

It may be worthwhile doing the regedit to make windows manage the crashes and produce a dump file for your servers

See my earlier posts above about that

If you do get a crash please upload the zipped logs and zip the windows created .dmp file and upload somewhere (dropbox/google drive etc) and send me PM with link) and you can upload the logs zip here

@sa2000
This is what is in the windows temp file on one server;

image

do you want these or should I delete them…

Another thing with the new version I cannot Play a show it says that an error has occurred. seems like it trying to load the sows information.

I do not need these - they are msi logs from the last few installs / updates

Please raise a separate forum topic with debug logs / screenshots . info on what app being used for playback

thanks

@sa2000 I haven’t had a crash in over 24 hours now. As I have a lot of recordings scheduled, it was happening a lot before the update. Being retired, I have time to monitor the server during the day. I will do as you ask if I do experience another crash. I’ve had 1 crash after the update, but nothing since.

Have found a few potential dump files from the temp folder and attached here.
There was nothing relevant in the CrashDumps folder.

Thanks for looking into this!
Steve
dump files.zip (6.8 MB)

Well, that’s what I get for being positive. I just crashed again. This is the downloaded logs. I didn’t find anything in the crash dumps folder.

Downloaded Logs:
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-04-08_07-38-46.zip (5.9 MB)

Plex Crash Uploader contents:
Plex Crash Uploader.zip (540 Bytes)

Would you be so kind as to provide me the link to the article on how to set up the registry?

Miy Server keeps crashing after watching one episode, then have to stop and start server to watch the next one, when I goto the PLEX Server via the browser (on the server machine) i get a 503 error

Bah, I accidentally deleted the post with this file in it. @sa2000 Here it is again.
b8ef9498-218a-46d9-a0c1-648f41b55349.zip (94.5 KB)
Also, I found the link to the process to edit the registry for crash dumps. Next time I deal with a crash I will try to include all the files in that post.

Just curious, is there an x64 version of the server. The web site doesn’t give me an option and when I get the download, it’s the x86 version.

No, on Windows is still x86, only.
There was an accidently x64 release on April 1.

Ok. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t running a less powerful one than I should be.

I’m also having random PMS crashes on Windows 10 starting with 1.25.9.5673, which continues even under 1.25.9.5721. The crash happens about once every other day. All “Crash Reports” folders were empty under every build… not sure if I need to activate some settings to trigger crash logs. Also not sure if it’s a coincidence, it seems that the crash tends to happen after DVR recording some evening news at 9pm which has commercial skip activated.