PMS suddenly stops starting even after reinstall and DMS update to 7.2

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Edit 2: I fixed it. The preferences.xml file was destroyed. I deleted it and now it works again.

Hello community,
I hope you can help me. I have a problem with the Plex Mediaserver. The service keeps stopping and I get the following message in the startup crash log: “Failed to initialize logging: Error parsing file at ‘/var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml’”
I own a Synology NAS with DMS 7.1. and from one day to the next I could no longer access the PMS interface (http://ip:32400/web). I have not changed anything and have tried many things to regain access.
In the end, I installed DMS on 7.2, uninstalled PMS and reinstalled it with the current version (v.1.41.3.9314-a0bfb8370) for my NAS (220+ - i.e. 64bit version).
I have attached the log (all logs as ZIP were too large to upload) and hope someone can help me. I am logged in on the NAS with a user in the admin group and have given the folder “PlexMediaServer” full rights for the system user “PlexMediaServer”.

Edit: I remember that I had a power supply problem yesterday. I don’t know if this is relevant. I also tried to open the XML file in chrome and got the following error:

This page contains the following errors:

error on line 3 at column 1: Specification mandates value for attribute CinemaTrailersT

Plex Media Server.log (2.1 MB)

Bildschirmfoto 2025-01-19 um 21.28.06
Bildschirmfoto 2025-01-19 um 21.28.06951×525 44 KB

Server Version#: v.1.41.3.9314-a0bfb8370

Startup Crash.log (171 Bytes)

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The error you’re showing means the Preferences.xml file got corrupted.

Given you had a power supply problem which caused this corruption,
have you checked the volume? Is DSM reporting any errors which need fixing?

If not then we need to reinitialize Preferences.xml (create a new one)

  1. Stop PMS
  2. Delete Preferences.xml
  3. Open the browser https://app.plex.tv
  4. Settings - Authorized Devices - Server (dropdown)
  5. Delete this Synology server (the ID number is no longer valid)
  6. Control + F5 to reload your browser
  7. Start PMS
  8. It will create a new Preferences.xml file
  9. Now open the server by its lan IP address (http://Lan.IP.of.Syno:32400/web)
  10. You should be able to start setup / claiming again
    – DO NOT create new library sections. You only need confirm what it finds.
  11. Continue through the wizard until you get to the Dashboard
  12. Upon getting there, go back into Settings - Server
  13. Review ALL your preferences. Some will have been lost.

If you have difficulty reclaiming it:

SSH into the Syno and run this (as ‘sudo’)

Lastly, you will need to go back and share the server again with those you previously shared with

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Thank you very much!!

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