I’ve seen this issue discussed before, but topic comments are closed to replies.
All is well when playing content on the server (laptop with i7-3520M), and when streaming from the internal 225GB SSD via wifi.
I recently added my portable drive ( Seagate Backup Plus 1.5TB via USB 2) to my Plex library to stream my archives to my TV, via a Roku Ultra. I can view the content on the laptop, but streaming generates an UNAVAILABLE notice.
I’m aware that USB 2 can be a limitation. No option for USB 3.
Is there a configuration issue I need to change? Hardware just not suitable?
Since this is a USB drive, do you keep it plugged in all of the time or unplug when not in use? Does the drive letter for this USB stay the same (did you assign it a drive letter)? If the drive letter changes, that could be an issue.
As long as all of the content has been setup properly via plex - libraries added and scanned…etc. it should work.
The USB drive is plugged in at all times. The drive letter remains the same. I suspect I’ve missed a step somewhere, but I’ve pointed to the portable drive, when I added it to my content library, in the same way as the internal drive. Are these drives always on? Is there a way to configure them to have content available at all times. I notice that the drive power light is off until I open the drive from the laptop, and it turns on.
Of note, is that all the titles appear, including Metadata, exactly like the media from that internal drive, with one exception. An orange colored box appears containing the word “unavailable” . When I attempt to run a video, it displays “Playback Error Please check that this file exists and the necessary drive is mounted.” I’m attempting to upload pictures of those screens.
After such an occurence, trigger a ‘Scan library files’. When it is finished, does the movie play?
This could be the source of the issue. ‘Portable’ drives do aggressively spin down their platters, to 1. save energy and 2. reduce the likelyhood of a head crash, if the drive gets pushed around.
Unfortunately, they do this independently from the ‘Energy’ settings, you may have defined in the operating system.
I tried the “Scan”, with no success. Then, I discovered that at the bottom of the opening page of Plex, the specific folder on the drive, which I’ve named Archive, is displayed! It isn’t seen unless I scroll past all the choices.
I’ve been trying to access the movies through my main “Movies” folder.
When I open that Archive, the films play normally. At first I pushed options and opened Archive, and they played, but that extra step doesn’t seem to be necessary.
Thanks for sending me on a lookout for options and solutions. Now I’ll have to explain to my 2 “shares”, how they can view my collection. Shouldn’t be too complicated. I don’t know what screens they see. Are they similar to mine?
It means you created a separate library in Plex, instead of adding the additional folder/drive to the existing library.
You can still do that and get rid of the additional library.
