Temporary Files created on Server

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Server Version#:
Player Version#:

I am running the latest version of PMS and am using Plexamp to stream music. However in the folder view I am getting an ever increasing number of temporary files appearing. for example MSI547C1.tmp. When I look for these on the drive where all my music is stored I can’t see them so I can’t delete them. They are becoming a real pain. Does anyone know how I can get rid of them without deleting all my music files and recreating them ( which I have already done once)

2

Have you edited the advanced preference to move
the plex data folder
and/or
the transcoder temp folder

to the same place where you store your media files?
If so, revert the change.

3

I had moved the transcoder temp file to the place where my media files are stored but only because these annoying temp files were already appearing and I was trying to resolve that. I’ve moved the transcoder temp file to another drive now but all those MSI temp files are still there. I only see them in the folder view, but that is the view I use most of the time, as I sort my artists by folder. I could sort by artist but if any of the tags are not quite right (or empty) I miss stuff.

4

Please

  1. activate debug logging (not ‘verbose’!)
  2. quit Plex Server
  3. wait 1 minute
  4. start Plex Server
  5. wait 5 minutes (but please don’t do anything with Plex)
  6. fetch log files and attach them here
5

Apologies for delay in reply. I was able to remove the temp files by rescanning the library and so far they haven’t come back. I’ll keep an eye on it and if when/they do I’ll post the log files as suggested. Thank you for your support on this.

6

Hello again, as expected the temp files have started to reappear so here is a copy of the logs as requested. Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciatedPlex Media Server Logs_2021-03-04_14-07-41.zip (3.4 MB)

7

I don’t see anything in the logs which would point to Plex being the cause of these tmp files.

Which kind of drives are K. and J: ?

What other types of media software or media players do you have installed?
(Either on the same machine or in your local network)

Are you download / torrenting / recording directly into one of the folders which have been included in a Plex library?

Can you go and determine what appears within the input field “Transcoder temporary directory” under
Settings - Server - Transcoder - ‘Show Advanced’

I can see a library scan being initiated because a file appears in the root folder of your J: drive

Mar 03, 2021 10:02:16.431 [11828] INFO - Library section 1 (Music) will be updated because of a change in "J:\System Volume Information\LightningSand.CFD"
Mar 03, 2021 10:02:41.761 [8596] DEBUG - Library Updater: Requested that section 1 be updated, force=0, deep=0, subdir=J:\MSI146b0.tmp iTunes=0

That’s why it is best practice to always point Plex to a subfolder, and not to a “naked” drive letter.
The tmp file can be caused by almost anything.

You shouldn’t let Plex scan folders which don’t contain media:

Mar 03, 2021 10:02:42.775 [12148] DEBUG - Scanner: Processing directory J:\WD Junk\WD Smartware Pro Free Trial (parent: yes)
8

Hello again.

Drive K is a portable hard drive connected to my computer via usb and this contains all my video files which I stream to my Android TV box. This drive is in my plex library. Drive J is another portable USB drive permanently connected to my computer containing all my music files. which I stream to my Cambridge 851n media streamer or my android phone.

I have VLC player installed on the machine and I have an Android TV box on the network with the Plex app installed along with an number of other media players on that TV box. I have plexamp on my phone, and I have the Cambridge 851n hardware media streamer which uses the Plex media server and is accessed using Cambridge’s proprietry android app called Streamium.

I do not download or torrent directly into either of these 2 drives. The files are downloaded elsewhere and then moved into J or K

“Can you go and determine what appears within the input field “Transcoder temporary directory” under
Settings - Server - Transcoder - ‘Show Advanced’”

I made a change following your recommendation not to have the temp file on the same directory as the media files right at the beginning of this thread so it is now:

H:/Temp/temp

I will now ensure the libraries are changed to point at a directory within J and K rather than the root of the drives and I’ll rescan (which will get rid of the temp files) and I’ll let you know if they reappear in a few days.

Thanks again for your support

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