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been using plex for many years on windows 7, but haven’t actually used for a while. had to restart my computer and when restarted plex wasn’t running. I started it, icon appeared, but when went to it it disappears. tried repairing it. tried a reg setting that was problem for some people years ago. Some thing about redirecting plex (local data set) but I don’t even have that setting.
Having a similar problem. I just installed Windows 10 and Plex Media Server. Plex worked, got it setup. Updated Windows and now it won’t work Uninstalled and reinstalled, Installs fine, but never runs. Something Microsoft changed in the latest cumulative update?
I have Plex set to run at startup but it never does for some reason. Luckily I have a program that delays startup for programs I choose (some programs need to load up before others) so I added Plex to the list and it starts up fine. Strange though.
I’m running windows 7 so no new updates. I try to manually start it, but icon appears and then disappears. If I click on it quickly, I can open the page app.plex.tv/desktop, I am logged into my account, but not connected to my server. If go to settings, my server there, has checkmark and green secure icon, but when click on it, it says nearby. if click on home, it shows my categories, but when click them it says failed to load this library. but I can navigate to them with windows explorer and open files just fine.
Perhaps Plex media server doesn' t work HELP
And stop using Windows 7! No computer that is connected to the internet should be running that anymore. You can consider it compromised by now.
as mentioned in original post, although maybe not clearly, I am already aware of the issue you directed me to. I already did check with regedit and I have no localappdatapath setting
in that registry location. And I have never moved anything from the default C drive. I checked and everything is where it is supposed to be.
as far as windows 7 use, 3 words-windows media center. last I checked, there aren’t other options that let you watch and record DRM channels. that includes plex dvr and silicon dust’s program. If you are aware of that changing, let me know? I am running a HDHomeRun Prime 3 channel cable card tuner. Even the porting of media center to windows 10 doesn’t work with a cable card tuner.
So as stated I did not have that registry key and everything was in correct place. I had never changed location. Since no one came up with any reason it wasn’t working, I tried creating that key. After doing so and running plex, it seemed to start, but I have no libraries? Any thoughts on why that would happen and is there any way to recover my previous libraries? I found db files and moved the 3 out of the directory. Then I picked one that had a date at end, copied it and pasted it into same location, then changed the name by dropping the date, which I guess makes it the active file used. But that didn’t work.
The thought of going through all that again and my collections and various setting (if those deleted as well) and getting my media matched correctly again
is daunting!
Here is log after I tried using a backup database. I don’t see anything from today, when I finally got it back up running, either before trying the backup database or after?
The issue is that you gave one folder lever too many
This is from your logs:
C:\Users\Bill\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server\Plug-ins
Notice the double appearance of the folder name Plex Media Server?
It means Plex server has created a completely new data folder structure nested inside of your existing data folder. Which explains why it appeared completely devoid of any libraries.
You need to edit the registry key again (while plex server is shut down!)
and remove \Plex Media Server from the end of its content.
thx. Sorry about double posting but figured this was a new problem since plex now running. Anyway, I removed the plex media server from end of registry key, and I am back to plex not running! I did notice that I had 2 entries under the app data/local folder. one was Plex Media Server and the other was PlexMediaServer without spaces. The one with spaces has my saved databases so I think when I created the key, I mistakenly didn’t put spaces? Then when started plex it created a new PlexMediaServer (no spaces) folder in the local folder. I deleted that folder and changed key to Plex Media Server (spaces). plex will start but no databases. It creates a new folder called Plex Media Server within the folder C:\Users\Bill\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server, hence the double Plex Media Server. But like I said, if I remove Plex Media Server from key, plex won’t start? I am sure I could just place my database in the double Plex Media Server folder and it would work, but something doesn’t seem right with the double Plex Media Server
It could be that the access permissions of that old data folder are somehow defective (this can happen if you start Plex server “As Administrator”). You’ll need to reset all permissions of all files, folders and subfolder then. Tip: http://lallouslab.net/2013/08/26/resetting-ntfs-files-permission-in-windows-graphical-utility/
Or that simply the primary database file is defective. You could try replacing that by one of the backup copies. https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/
I have recently tried to run as administrator. That was yesterday I think so that was not the cause of plex not starting that caused this all. I think after I got it running but no database is when I tried to run as admin. I checked that folder (the first plex media server) and don’t see anything unusual with permissions, but I don’t know if anything is supposed to be visible? Bill (my login) has permission for everything in the first plex media server file as well as the plug in support within that folder. What folders do I need to reset permissions? You said all. I hate to mess with things that have nothing to do with plex. I have backed up my backup into a folder on desktop. Can I just uninstall plex, then reinstall?
Unfortunately you can’t determine that just by looking at it. There can be hundred thousands of files and subfolders in there, and those which were created or changed during the time “As Administartor” may have messed up permissions.
Only thing to be sure is to reset them all from the top downwards. That means everything inside the Plex data folder.
You might as well remove that registry key and empty out the default plex data folder location completely. But of course you will lose all your previous libraries and the “played” history etc. pp. for good.
I already save the database folder elsewhere. can’t I just import it back in afterwards? this is really getting complicated. I didn’t make any changes so can’t understand why everything all screwed up in first place. never changed any default locations. Now plex not running again. icon disappears after I attempted to repair plex install and restart. no new folders being created. Ugh!! I tried deleting the key and plex won’t start. so it definitely needs the key eventhough using default location.
I added key back in-starts but no library. I went to brand newly created database folder and deleted everything in it. then I went to my saved database folder, picked one db file with date on it. copied it into the location that plex is using where I just had deleted contents and pasted the dated db file. deleted the date, then restarted and plex won’t start icon disappears. corrupt db file?
I tried that reset permissions. just went to top plex media server file (local\plex media server) and didn’t change any defaults on the reset premissions box. hit go. started plex. no library. deleted the key, plex won’t start. interesting thing is if I click on the icon before it disappearsI can get plex web app to open and it shows my folders. but it says trouble loading library and then if look the icon is gone and I guess server crashed?
repeat that, but use one of the earlier backup files. Rename it to com.plexapp.plugins.library.db as instructed in https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/
I tried them all. only 4 there: 4/2, 4/5, 4/8, 4/11 and one from 12/2014 that has tmp after it. That link is one I used. I did delete the “-2020-04-02” from the end of it which made it com.plexapp.plugins.libraray.db
just tried again. started plex to see if would start. it started. then exited it. deleted the files and added the backup, renamed it. started plex-server won’t start. deleted the files. restarted plex and it starts. That is why I am wondering if corrupt file?
I just was seeing if it would work. But I think that is just temp fix as probably have issue in future with that nested setup?
If you have the issue with every backup, then it is very well possible that they are all damaged.
Then there is unfortunately only one option left: empty out the whole plex data folder and start over.
found this about repairing database. not sure if I can do this though. don’t really understand what to do?
