Trouble migrating Plex to new volume on same NAS

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Server Version#:1.30.2.6563-3d4dc0cce
Player Version#:Web

I’d really appreciate any advice on my issue. Basically I Had to reformat my NAS and make a new volume. Before doing so I copied my entire PLEX MEDIA SERVER folder from my Synology DS920+ to another drive as per the documentation.

When I got the new volume created, I installed the latest version of Plex manually, then copied over all my old files from the App Data folder mentioned above.

It won’t pull up any of my old media without adding it manually.
I typed in a new server name to try adding my media again and it worked, but stupidly used the same server name as my last install thinking that would help.

Now I have a new set of Movies and TV Shows folders, and while I can’t even see the old folders on Plex web, I can in my iPhone app.

Should I un-install the current PMS and retry again?
I’d just like to have everything back how it was and have the people I’ve shared with ready to rock again.

Thanks

EDIT:
Signing in and out again removed the old sources from my app, but any custom posters are gone, as are any obscure things I had to name myself.
Should I just re-install PMS on the NAS from scratch? And is there a correct order of install foe this? I did what the documents on Plex website said but it’s not working

2

I will presume DSM recreated PlexMediaServer/AppData for you and began to populate it.

I think you then put your “Plex Media Server” over the empty one it had created during installation.

If this is true.

  1. Stop PMS
  2. Create the scheduled task I show below
  3. Run the task and wait for it to email you the results. (it might take time)

I looked at Plex.tv

  1. Your previous installation used 1.27.2
  2. You installed 1.30.2
  3. Both hosts have the same friendly name but different IDs
  4. The old server is the one you have all the sharing added to.

IF (BIG IF) the Preferences.xml file you are copying back is the same as the old server then we can pull things back.

If you want,

  1. You stop PMS
  2. I will remove the new server from Plex.tv (created a few hours ago)
  3. We then fix the permissions on the files in PlexMediaServer
  4. Start it up.

If it comes back, all is good.
If not, we’ll delete the older server from 1.27.2
you’ll unfortunately need to share the server again (Everyone will still be in your account so it’s easier this time)

Task Scheduler – Fix the PlexMediaServer shared folder.

3

Thanks so much for your response! I am running the script now.
The way I did it (according to the documents I was reading) was install the new PMS, THEN I over-wrote the app data with the old server I had backed up.

I would love to just get rid of the new server completely and stick with my old one even if it means sharing again. Ideally my custom cover art and people’s watch history is there but that’s not a huge deal. Just a wish list.

The scheduler came back with
Task Scheduler has completed a scheduled task.

Task: Fix PlexMediaServer owner
Start time: Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:36:23 GMT
Stop time: Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:39:34 GMT
Current status: 0 (Normal)
Standard output/error:

Thanks again, I’ve been a long time user with a lifetime pass and love what you’re doing

4

@MartyBot

Start it up.

Open it by using the Syno IP address only (no quickconnect or FQDN).

Let’s see how it behaves.

5

Should I fully disable Quickconnect before restarting?

6

It does not matter if QuickConnect is enabled or not.

Just don’t use it to connect to Plex.

Use the IP address of the NAS.

For example, if the IP address is 10.1.2.3, use http://10.1.2.3:32400/web.

7

Ok I reconnected after following your instructions, but the new server is still coming up.
Did you say you had deleted it? Or can I do that on my end?

8

If it’s still coming up as the new server then the old IDs are gone (Preferences.xml was damaged somehow)

  1. You should still have all your libraries as they were
  2. All you should need redo is sharing to those users as you did before.
    (they are still listed in your account and attached to the other server)

If you’re comfortable with editing stuff, we can TRY to recover the ID code.
No guarantee but might just work.

9

Is it possible for you to delete the newer server? I still have a backup from before that new server was created.

10

I can delete whichever you want.

I am curious about how you ‘copied’ the Plex Media Server folder (made the backup)

Did you use Windows or did you make a HyperBackup of it on the Syno?

11

I compressed the PMS folder within the Synology DSM, then copied it to an external drive attached to my Mac Studio.

When I was ready to copy it over to the Synology again these were my steps:
1)Manually install the newest version of PSM on my Synology (And stopped it from running)
2)Uncompress the zip on my external drive using MacOS
3)Overwrote the app data in synology PSM folder by copying directly from the external drive to the PSM folder on synology.
4)Run PSM

12

OK… then there is hope.

Are you up for a quick teamviewer session to try patching your preferences.xml ?

13

Sure, let me know when works for you!
I had to step out but back for the night.

14

if tonight works, give me a few and I can help.

It’s fairly quick to swap ID’s and see if we can pull it all back down from plex.tv

15

Ok sure, I’m here!

16

cool.

You have teamviewer installed ? (Free one)

17

no but I can do it right now.

18

Jump to your PM and install the free teamviewer

19

ok im there

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