# Unable to reload plex server on windows 7

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Tags:** server-windows\
**Created:** [October 16, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089 "2021-10-16T16:55:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nexum7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e68b1a/32.png) [@Nexum7](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Nexum7)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089/1 "2021-10-16T16:55:13Z")

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hard drive crashed a some months ago. To this day, I am unable to reload plex media server for windows 7 and the error says that " ‘plexmediaserver’ is not a valid short file name." Please help. I’ve tried fully unistalling, including the instructions on the website before reloading it.

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**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089/2 "2021-10-16T17:12:05Z")

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Where exactly do you get that error – not sure if this is an error when downloading the installer, an error during installation or when you run the app?!?  
Are you sure you want to run your server on Windows 7? That’s quite a gamble w/ regards to security given MS is providing no more patches or security fixes.

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**Author:** ![Nexum7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e68b1a/32.png) [@Nexum7](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Nexum7)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089/3 "2021-10-16T21:06:46Z")

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It’s an error while installing and it happens right near the end of installation. When my harddrive crashed, the computer came with windows 7, free upgrade to windows 10, but windows 10 was only on that original harddrive. The backup discs were all just for windows 7.

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**Author:** ![TMC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tmc/32/264845_2.png) [@TMC](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TMC)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 11:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089/4 "2021-10-16T23:18:36Z")

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If you previously upgraded the computer to Win 10 you can download the Win 10 ISO and install it via DVD or USB boot… Microsoft will automatically recognize the machine and activate the license.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/unable-to-reload-plex-server-on-windows-7/751089/5 "2022-01-14T23:19:36Z")

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