Server is Currently Unavailable and corrupt Preferences.xml after power loss

[everell]

Server Version#: 1.41.2.9200
Player Version#: 10.24.0.2257

Hello, I’ve been having a problem connecting to my Plex Server since this morning. At around 2:30 AM I lost power for a few minutes and ever since then, I have had a “ is Currently Unavailable” message in Plex. I’m running the Plex Server on an NVIDIA Shield and I get that message on the Shield and also on the web app and on my Roku.

So far what I have tried is updating the Server Software and Plex app software, changing Allow insecure connections to Always from Never in the Plex app settings on the Shield, and connecting my Shield via ethernet to my router instead of WIFI. On the Plex web page, Authorized Devices is showing my Server as seen last “a day ago”. I’ve also shut down completely and restarted several times. Just now looking at my log files and the “Startup Crash.log” has one line:

Nov 23, 2024 17:14:49: Failed to initialize logging: Error parsing file at “/storage/66AEFE4BAEFE12F3/Android/data/com.plexapp.mediaserver.smb/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml”

Not sure what the file is supposed to look like, but I opened it in Notepad++ and it 9 lines of jibberish. I also have a Preferences.xml.tmp file from 11/19/2024 but it’s 0 bytes.

Any suggestions on recovering my server connection? A couple years ago I was unsuccessful reclaiming my server after reinstalling Plex, so I’m trying to be cautious so that I don’t have to start all over again and loose my library history.

[badelie]

You can just delete the preferences.xml - this will reset the file to its default (it holds all your PMS settings). You will then have to change all the PMS settings in Plex web all when PMS loads.

If PMS still doesn’t load, downgrade to an earlier version, instructions at: Server disconnects - Screen goes black during playback - #3 by badelie

[everell]

Thanks! I deleted my Preferences.xml and also restored a backup of my database from 11/19/2024. After logging out and back in to my the Plex Server on the Shield, I was able to see my libraries again.

Still had to mess around with secure connections setting a bit to access the web app, but now I have access to my libraries and all my history is intact. Thanks!