Procedure for restoring Plex server to new PC/Windows via backups?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#: to be installed, so, most recent - 1.23.0.4482-62106842a
Player Version#: n/a

Hello,

I would like to restore my PMS database from backups from a Windows installation to a new installation of PMS on the same computer, but it has been reset with a new version of Windows, etc.

I have backups of the database as indicated by:

…though I think I failed to save the Additional Settings from the Windows registry.

I had backed up the PMS backups to a network drive using a backup program.

All the media files are also on the network drive.

So I’m wondering now what my steps might be in recreating my Plex library.

Here’s my guess:

  1. Install PMS: Should I use the same Plex server name? Seems likely, to match with the backed up database, right?

  2. Do not create any libraries, because the to-be-restored database will include those and the pointers to the right directories for the media

3+ From there, follow the procedure as indicated in the “Restoring a Backup” section of Restore a Database Backed Up via 'Scheduled Tasks' | Plex Support

So, my questions are mainly, after installing the PMS to the new Windows:

  1. Do I make sure I name it the same as the previous/backed up server?

  2. Do I refrain from creating any libraries before restoring the backups?

Thanks!

2

Since you did not save the previous registry entries, your server will be treated as new so the name doesn’t matter.

Correct

Do you only have the backups? If yes, then correct, follow that guide. If you have a copy of the original database, just replace the new database with that copy.

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Thanks for the response!

Things look like they’ve worked out!

One question that I have regarding the Plex server name.

I chose to use the same server name, and it does seem to be working.

But my other clients, say, on my Android Plex app and my iPad Plex app, list both this current server, but also, apparently, the old server (of the same name) as being offline (along with all the libraries under the old server).

Is there any way to remove the old server from showing up in the clients?

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From Plex Web go to https://app.plex.tv/desktop/#!/settings/devices. Change the filter to servers and you should see both servers there. Remove the older one. You’ll need to restart the Plex app.

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