Plex server will not launch after Installation

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#:1.31.1.2262

Environment: Windows 10, 10.0.19041, Proc: Intel i9 9900K, RAM: 64GB DDR4

Can anyone help.
I have been running Plex Server for Windows for a number of years and not had any significant problems.

Today I had a system crash (first time >6 months) and after restarting the server, Plex would not launch. There is no Plex Icon in the System tray. The only error that is reported is
image

There is nothing in plex.log and nothing in Event Viewer for System or application logs.

I performed a rebuild of the database ( com.plexapp.plugins.library.db) using SQLite3
(Repair a Corrupt Database | Plex Support), still would not launch.

Then I decided that I would reinstall Plex and then rebuild the database.

  1. Run the Windows Uninstaller
  2. Deleted the Program Files and the AppData directories for Plex.
  3. Rebooted System
  4. Downloaded and Installed Plex Server v1.31.2262
  5. Rebooted System
  6. Tried to Launch Plex - Failed to launch with same dialogue box just stating ‘ERROR’

I then decided to install an older version of Plex so repeated steps 1 to 6 with versions 1.23.0.4497 and 1.21.3.43014. In all cases Plex fails to launch with this ‘ERROR’ Dialogue box (as above).

It seems as though the Plex App is being blocked and so never attempts to launch (no log entries).

  • Run Kaspersky AV and Threat Analysis in case of compromise, nothing found.
  • Tried pausing the Kaspersky Anti-Virus then launching Plex - this made no difference.
  • Checked that there are rules allowing Plex to run within Windows Firewall. - these exist and are enabled.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? Any help would be appreciated.

2

Mind sharing some more details?
Side note… version 1.31.1 is the “Plex for Windows” app – that’s a player, not the server.

3

Tom, thanks for your quick reply, what additional information is needed.

4

At this time, I have a fresh install of Plex Server that will not launch, there are no logs being generated. I am going to try a quick reboot and see if any logs entries get created.

5

Rebooted no logs, in fact there is no Plex directory in %APPDATA%

Plex-1
Plex-1738×284 47.8 KB

Plex-2
Plex-2954×524 125 KB

Plex-3
Plex-3791×632 119 KB

Plex-4
Plex-4816×612 41.5 KB

This shows that Plex Server is installed and I have run as administrator in my attempts to launch it.
Shows the version of Plex Server
Shows that there is no Plex folder created under APPDATA\Local or APPDATA\Roaming

6

As for the data directory… please check for the Plex Media Server folder in C:\Users\IanM\AppData\Local (not Roaming).

If it’s not even getting to produce that folder (incl. some basic logs), your next step should be doing a full uninstall incl. all related settings (incl. Registry) to rule out there’s something stuck

7

Tom80H, thanks for the info. Can you point me to the Registry settings that need to be removed for a clean uninstall (is there an article etc.).

8

check out the support article I posted above (Uninstall Plex Media Server)

9

Thanks tom80H, removing the registry entry has resolved the problem. Your a star, thanks again.