Possible Bug - Plex Deleting Library Files vs DVR Recordings (Feature Request?)

General Discussions Plex Features
1

Hello, I noticed something strange with Plex and it may just be because of the way I am running my setup. I am still trying to confirm this is what happened but I think it is.

I have all my shows recording and going to a separate folder but added as a sub folder in my TV Show library. I have the recordings set to only keep 5 episodes. My intent was to record the files, then post process them my self and move them into my normal TV library. I set it up this way to hopefully use the plex processing and then after I checked the files move them over with the rest of my files I want to keep. The only issue with this with Plex deleting files is I don’t watch every show, but I keep every episode just in case for people I share with.

I was keeping them in the same library section so I didn’t have to create a new section and share it to users. This way the files would be with the rest of the episodes in the sections and users wouldn’t have to go searching. I wanted to keep it at 5 unwatched recorded episodes just in case I was lazy and didn’t post process. It appears this setting also applies to your files in the section and has deleted about 600GB of archived TV Shows. My question is, is this the expected behavior? I am still trying to confirm that this is what happened, but it is only on shows that I had setup on Plex DVR that have recorded this week. For the time being I set all the shows to keep all recordings.

Is this the expected behavior and is the best method to avoid this just to create a separate library just for dvr TV Shows? I know this could just be something I caused with the way I setup Plex, but just wanted to post just in case. Would it also be possible for plex to add a trash folder (like temporary directory in settings) it moves files into when it deletes them instead of just purging? That way if something like this happens to people they can go and recover their library. I have backups of my stuff and am copying them over, just if there was a folder move instead of a purge restoring would be a lot easier.

2

I had this same issue with an earlier build of Plex DVR. I have turned off deleting watched episodes after I have watched them because of this “feature.” It would really be helpful if Plex would only delete recordings it made through the DVR and not all episodes that have been marked “Watched” in the same series.

I typically purchase TV seasons once they are released and have been recording the new seasons as they air. I don’t necessarily want to keep the recorded episodes until the season comes out on disc. For me, the expected behavior was to only have recordings of a series deleted and not ALL watched episodes. If the latter is the expected behavior, it should be explained when deciding to choose the Delete Episodes After Watching option.

3

Same issue. Occurs even when you delete the show from the DVR.

4

Hello,

I think this should be filed as a bug. I have plex DVR set to record a show from a local OTA to a \Recordings folder. I then download a better quality for archive or whatever reason to \TV Shows folder. I have the plex DVR to delete the recording after watching. It deletes both copies of the file. One from \Recordings and one from \TV shows.

My opinion is that this should not happen and it should only delete the recorded version from the \Recordings folder.

Plex can you please incorporate this into a future plex release?

5

Bump. This is happening to me too. Was there ever a bug filed for this?

6

I’m seeing this issue as well. Lost a bunch of files from a library other than where my DVR records file. Plex please fix this. There are various other mentions of this in the forum and no movement.