Restarting windows resets PMS 1.14.1.5488 application data path to c:\users\TEMP

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Starting from version 1.14.1.5488, Plex Media Server resets the local application data path to C:\Users\TEMP\AppData\Local. This makes Plex think its being run for the first time. This just started happening a couple of days ago. For the last year I was using AlwaysUp program to start the Plex as a service and thought may be that is the issue but after disabling it and starting/running Plex the normal way but the issue is still the same.

  1. After Windows 10 restarts the application path is reset to C:\Users\TEMP\AppData\Local
  2. On the server, Plex does not start automatically. “Start media server on login” is checked before the reboot. I start PMS manually by clicking on it - a message displays “updating libraries” and then PMS starts.
  3. When I attempt to log in, it walks me through the new setup (as if plex is being run for the first time).
  4. I log in and change the application path to my user C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local. I restart PMS and everything is good.
  5. I restart PMS again (not the windows server but just closing it from task bar) and still everything is good.
  6. I restart Windows and I am back to step 1

Under C:\Users, there is a folder for MyUser and a TEMP where the Plex is pointing to. There is no real user TEMP. Google tells me when a user context doesn’t exist for an application, the TEMP is used internally.

I uninstalled PMS, restarted windows, installed PMS again and the issue is the same.

Logs attached Plex Media Server Logs_2019-02-16_21-30-39.zip (1.2 MB)

Any ideas how I can fix this?

2

After that, you will need to delete the registry key LocalAppDataPath
Full key here
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Plex, Inc.\Plex Media Server\LocalAppDataPath
You should be able to keep all the other key values but if you want to completely uninstall then delete the entire key and sub-keys HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Plex, Inc.\

Though… I would start with just LocalAppDataPath .
Then re-install PMS.

3

I think I figured it out. I was downloading the installation file for Plex using chrome and noticed it went to TEMP\Downloads instead of MyUser\Downloads… WHAT??. After some googling it seems like because may be the server lost power, windows profile was corrupted and it created a new profile/registry key pointing to C:\Users\TEMP so all the programs including Plex were thinking that TEMP is the home directory. I used this link https://appuals.com/temporary-profile-issues-in-windows-10/ , Method 2, to reset the registry key and all is back to normal now. Some scary stuff!

4

Man, I swear I will go to Linux before Windows 10.
EDIT: No. I lied. I will never go Windows 10, lol!!!

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