# Update refused without uninstall string **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [December 1, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449 "2023-12-01T23:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![prpaul9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@prpaul9](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prpaul9)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/1 "2023-12-01T23:00:01Z")
Server Version#: PlexMediaServer-1.32.7.7621-871adbd44-x86\_64.exe Player Version#: \ I was refused installation to update my Plex Media Server. It says “Previous installer data found without " UninstallString” value. Please Remove Plex Media server manually first." I followed the directions on the website to uninstall Plex Media Server. I have really cleaned it all and I still get the error message. Now I cannot use PMS nor install a new version. What can I do? It has locked me out of installing. I even cleared out my registry spots. I am stumped. ---
**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/2 "2023-12-02T00:44:02Z")
Do you have the installer logs which may still be in the PMS data folder in app data in` Logs\Installer Logs` ---
**Author:** ![prpaul9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@prpaul9](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prpaul9)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/3 "2023-12-02T02:26:00Z")
I do not have those logs. I did a too thorough clean. ---
**Author:** ![prpaul9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@prpaul9](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prpaul9)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/4 "2023-12-02T14:54:37Z")
What might be the name of the files? I have not emptied my Recycle Bin. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/5 "2023-12-02T16:17:38Z")
Maybe try [Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d) to help and remove all traces of the 32 bit version. This should have no influence on your [plex data folder](https://support.plex.tv/articles/202915258-where-is-the-plex-media-server-data-directory-located/), so your libraries will be retained. (unless you are using 3rd-party software like “uninstallers” or “registry optimizers”) ---
**Author:** ![prpaul9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@prpaul9](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prpaul9)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/6 "2023-12-02T17:02:26Z")
No joy by using this program. Tried both the uninstall problem and install problem. ---
**Author:** ![sa2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/sa2000/32/6922_2.png) [@sa2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/sa2000)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 9:58am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/7 "2023-12-04T09:58:48Z")
So you are running now the 32-bit build for version 1.28.2.6151 on windows 11 - which is the version that cannot be uninstalled Was this install in the default location? i.e. `C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server` could you get me a file list of the folder into a text file and zip it and attach e.g. in command window: `dir "c:\program files (x86)\Plex" /S > "%LocalAppData%\PMS_Installed_Files_2023-Dec-04.txt"` and zip the output file `"%LocalAppData%\PMS_Installed_Files_2023-Dec-04.txt"` and attach So at the moment - when you go to “Add or Remove Programs” and search for Plex - you can see the installed 1.28.2.6151 version listed but on selecting the uninstall option - you get an error that `C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\Uninst00.exe` does not exist ? We can try to see if we can uninstall individual packages using the advanced steps at the tail end of this post [[Windows] - Using the Microsoft Windows Troubleshooter FixIt for problems that block installing / removing Plex Media Server - General Discussions / Tips, Tricks & How-Tos - Plex Forum](https://forums.plex.tv/t/windows-using-the-microsoft-windows-troubleshooter-fixit-for-problems-that-block-installing-removing-plex-media-server/370171) Could you get me a list of the installed packages by running this command in an elevated command prompt window - ie cmd with right click “Run As Administrator” `wmic /output:"%localappdata%\wmic_product_list_2023-Dec-04.txt" product get Name, Version, IdentifyingNumber, InstallDate` The output file will be `"%localappdata%\wmic_product_list_2023-Dec-04.txt"` - please zip and attach Could you also search the `%TEMP%` folder for all files with names having prefix `Plex Media Serve` and copy out and zip and also attach ---
**Author:** ![prpaul9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@prpaul9](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prpaul9)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/8 "2023-12-04T13:34:03Z")
I do have have a \program files\*\Plex was fully removed where 32-bit or 64-bit. They are gone. I physically removed them. In Settings Installed apps it shows Plex Media Server 1.28.2.6151 only the option for “Modify” is present, uninstall is not present and has not been. Using the wmic from admin command prompt results in “Invalid file name.” TEMP is empty. Uninst00.exe does not exist in the Recycle Bin. I used the other tricks including adding {9FECFE39-4123-40E7-9BCF-0A0DE93092A7} as the program code. No joy yet. ---
**Author:** ![sa2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/sa2000/32/6922_2.png) [@sa2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/sa2000)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/9 "2023-12-04T14:33:52Z")
> [@prpaul9](#): > > I do have have a \program files\*\Plex was fully removed where 32-bit or 64-bi do you mean you did have a 64-bit build of Plex Media Server installed before and you deleted it ? Please be precise as to what folders/subfolders you had relating to Plex Media Server under ```auto C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) ``` > [@prpaul9](#): > > Using the wmic from admin command prompt results in “Invalid file name.” Can we follow this up please - what filename is invalid - is it the output file I tried it myself on windows 11 and it works So click on search button in task bar and type cmd and then when command promot shows as result, right click and select Run As Adminstrator in the C:\Windows\System32 command window paste in this text exactly `wmic /output:"%localappdata%\wmic_product_list_2023-Dec-04.txt" product get Name, Version, IdentifyingNumber, InstallDate` ---
**Author:** ![prpaul9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d6d6ee/32.png) [@prpaul9](https://forums.plex.tv/u/prpaul9)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/10 "2023-12-04T16:02:46Z")
In looking at Recycle Bin it looks like I had the 32bit build of PMS. It was in C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server [wmic\_product\_list\_2023-Dec-04.txt](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/ehcAnYusClRmfhPxSXLOasIegag.txt) (41.5 KB) I also found PlexMediaServerLogs. I am adding the last and earliest. [Plex Media Server.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/62kGvGhAWvFPJPLpUbZiQ7UOPLD.log) (21.0 KB) [Plex Media Server.4.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/5oiW0q7jY9MN0WENG3VRK3GB5Du.log) (47.5 KB) I hope this might help you. I will not touch the recycle bin’s files. ---
**Author:** ![sa2000](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/sa2000/32/6922_2.png) [@sa2000](https://forums.plex.tv/u/sa2000)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/11 "2023-12-04T17:02:42Z")
So you sometimes install binaries on non default location The Plex Media [Server logs](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) you have attached are actually from a Nano Plex Media Server that is part of the Plex desktop client app - it stores its application data files including Logs below `C:\Users\compa\AppData\Local\Plex\Plex Media Server\` as opposed to the actual Plex Media Server area which would be below `C:\Users\compa\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\` I see you had the Plex Desktop app installed into the `S:` drive and then few minutes later to the `F:\` drive ```auto S:\Program Files\Plex\Plex\Plex.exe F:\Program Files\Plex\Plex\Plex.exe ``` Anyway this is the Plex Desktop app and not the Plex Media Server app Your wmic output does not list any 32-bit msi installs of Plex Media Server - so may be the deletions you did to the registry has resulted in inconsistencies where it still shows up in “Add or Remove Programs” but not in the wmic list > [@prpaul9](#): > > In looking at Recycle Bin it looks like I had the 32bit build of PMS. It was in C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server As a desperate measure, you can try restore `C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server` from the recycle bin and see if you can then remove Plex Media Server through “Add or Remove Programs” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/update-refused-without-uninstall-string/861449/12 "2024-03-03T17:03:19Z")
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