Windows PMS crashing several times daily for about 6 weeks now

Plex Media Server
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1

Server Version#: 1.25.2.5319
Player Version#: Multiple client platforms(NVidia, Apple TV, Roku) + PlexWeb
Plex Media Server Logs_2021-12-29_22-21-36.zip (5.1 MB)

Hey guys, just like the topic says. I have tried downgrading, upgrading to betas, not using PlexWeb, uninstalling PIA VPN, not having qbittorrent running in the background (and I do use a SOCKS5 proxy on that), getting rid of added plugins, upgraded to Windows 11, database optimized and bundles cleaned, etc. Nothing I’ve done has worked and Plex crashes several times a day…sometimes even within a few minutes of me restarting. I do stream out to several family members but even when I’ve noticed nobody has been streaming, it’ll still crash sometimes if it’s only me watching.

It will also crash in such a way that usually the PMS icon in the right corner of the windows taskbar still looks like it’s up and running but I won’t be able to navigate to items on PlexWeb or have any clients connect…requiring me to close it down manually and restart it.

2

I had the same problem, and recently there have been quite a few posts on similar issue.
In my case, rolling back to 1.24.5.5173 saved my ass.

1 Like
3

I’m almost positive I went back through that version. I think I even got back down to the 1.23s…! Still no luck. I feel like it would be fine for a day or two and then starting crashing a bunch again. Do you have any extra agents/plugins? The only weird one I have is the youtube agent which was not functional with PMS a few versions ago, like around that 1.24-ish… But that seems to have worked itself out now.

4

I have Webtools and Sub-ZeroSubtitles but I don’t they have anything to do with the crashing.

I unchecked “IPv6 support” under "Settings/Network“ while I was still on 1.25 as suggested in on post but had no luck. After rolling back to 1.24 I never changed this back. Now I am all good without crashing.
Other than that nothing has changed.

5

Interesting…I’ve apparently had that unchecked this whole time but what I did change was secured connections to “preferred” as it was set to " required". Who knows, haha.

*Edit, of course it still crashed while I was asleep last night

6

So looking in my Windows Event viewer, there are two Plex related errors that seems to be popping up a ton:

  1. PMS crashing ucrtbase.dll (of the visual C++ library)
  2. Plex transcoder.exe crashing hevc_decoder.dll (or possibly vice versa?)
7

So 3 days ago, when I last posted, I also noticed a ton of Bonjour (the apple service) crashes. Like, a TON. So I uninstalled that and PMS has been up and running ever since. Fingers crossed…if it makes it to a full week, I’ll consider this fixed.

Not even joking, PMS crashed almost immediately after I posted this and has crashed several times since…back to square one.

8

Frequent crashing problem still exists in updated 1.25.3.5385. Have restarted 5 or 6 times tonight.
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-01-05_23-13-17.zip (5.2 MB)

9

I can’t even tell you guys how many times I restarted last night…guessing about 12-15. I was doing the repair option, rebooting, killing in task manager when I can’t close down the tray, etc.
One thing that made it temporarily stop crashing was killing the v3.5 pythonw.exe. The way I have this all setup is that I have an RSS feed dumped into my torrent client but after it downloads, I have a python script that runs Filebot to match and bump it over to a different directory. (So not only do I have that always running, I have jdownloader with flexget running in the background all the time too…if all the Plex crashing gets too unmanageable, usually closing both jdownloader and my torrent client helps out. But it absolutely did not last night.) At any rate, I redirected that python script to run with python v3.8 and it’s been stable so far. Just super weird that I haven’t changed anything in my normally stable configuration for the last 4-5 years and the crashing over the last 2+ months has been non-stop.

10

Fresh round of crashes with the new 1.25.3.5409. Anyone? Bueller?
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-01-13_20-02-23.zip (5.5 MB)

11

Ive also had 3 crashes since the update. I rolled back because it appears everyone is having issues with the newest update. They seem pretty overwhelmed. Id roll back to a stable version and give it some time for Plex to sort thru the issue.

12

Well misery does love company, haha. I cannot even remember the last one I could call stable. which leads me to believe it’s either a local database error or intermittent hardware failure or something…absolutely been driving me nuts for 2 months now. I have uninstalled half my windows programs that could conflict and I’m running pretty bare bones. I’ve killed all the windows scheduled tasks too. And every time I think I’ve got it figured out for a few days, there will be a series of like 8-15 crashes. It’s bonkers

13

Synology DS620slim, v1.25.3.5409 had crashed/ stopped this morning. That has never happened before, I’ve always been running latest server version for like 1.5 years straight.

14

Hmmmm.

And fresh round of crashes with logs on 1.25.3.5409
CRNA Binder-20210824T190114Z-001.zip (4.7 MB)

15

I don’t see it mentioned but I assume the people affected have tried turning off hardware decoding/encoding in the server settings to see if that’s the issue?

16

I definitely remember trying that at some point BUT…it feels like it’s been several versions since then. I appreciate the suggestion and just disabled it again now. Fingers crossed.

17

I’m here for the party. Constant crashes. Plex should have at least 20 crash reports from me alone.

I have been able to reproduce the issues consistently using two different end users, both on iOS. Auto Adjust Quality seems to be the culprit in my testing.

Windows 10 Pro, 21H2, 19044.1466
Plex 1.25.3.5409
i7-8700
iGPU driver 30.0.101.1191

Appears to go wrong in a similar fashion each time.

Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.507 [0664] WARN - [Transcode] Codecs: avcodec_open2 returned -542398533 for encoder 'hevc_mf'
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.507 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: testing hevc (decoder) with hwdevice nvdec
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.507 [0664] VERBOSE - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Rescanning for external libs: '\\\\?\\C\:\\Users\\Admin\\AppData\\Local\\Plex\ Media\ Server\\Codecs\\fb9eae3-4185-windows-x86\\'
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.508 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: testing API nvdec
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.509 [0664] ERROR - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Cannot load nvcuda.dll
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.509 [0664] ERROR - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Could not dynamically load CUDA
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.509 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: opening hw device failed - probably not supported by this system, error: Unknown error occurred
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.509 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Could not create hardware context for hevc
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.509 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: testing hevc (decoder) with hwdevice dxva2
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.509 [0664] VERBOSE - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Rescanning for external libs: '\\\\?\\C\:\\Users\\Admin\\AppData\\Local\\Plex\ Media\ Server\\Codecs\\fb9eae3-4185-windows-x86\\'
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.510 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: testing API dxva2
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] VERBOSE - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Using D3D9Ex device.
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: Testing with profile 'Main 10'
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - nal_unit_type: 32(VPS), nuh_layer_id: 0, temporal_id: 0
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - nal_unit_type: 33(SPS), nuh_layer_id: 0, temporal_id: 0
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - nal_unit_type: 34(PPS), nuh_layer_id: 0, temporal_id: 0
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - nal_unit_type: 20(IDR_N_LP), nuh_layer_id: 0, temporal_id: 0
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Decoding VPS
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Main 10 profile bitstream
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Decoding SPS
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Main 10 profile bitstream
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Decoding VUI
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Decoding PPS
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Format dxva2_vld chosen by get_format().
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.551 [0664] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Format dxva2_vld requires hwaccel initialisation.
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.554 [1488] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:59221 (Loopback)] POST /video/:/transcode/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/168f2b8c-b1ac-4120-b29f-ba0caa007934/manifest (27 live) Signed-in / Accept => */* / Connection => close / Host => 127.0.0.1:32400 / Icy-MetaData => 1 / Transfer-Encoding => chunked / User-Agent => Lavf/58.65.101 / X-Plex-Http-Pipeline => infinite
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.554 [1488] DEBUG - [Transcode] Transcoder segment range: 3538 - 3729 (3729)
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.555 [8536] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:59221] 200 POST /video/:/transcode/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/168f2b8c-b1ac-4120-b29f-ba0caa007934/manifest (27 live) 0ms 166 bytes
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1092] DEBUG - [Transcode/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D] Returning segment 3729 from session
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1092] VERBOSE - [IDLE] Adding (0->1) work item http_download - /video/:/transcode/universal/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/base/03729.ts
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1092] VERBOSE - [IDLE] * http_download - /video/:/transcode/universal/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/base/03729.ts - 1 active item(s)
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1092] VERBOSE - [IDLE] * transcoder - 6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D - 1 active item(s)
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1092] DEBUG - Content-Length of R:\Transcode\Sessions\plex-transcode-6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D-168f2b8c-b1ac-4120-b29f-ba0caa007934\media-03729.ts is 848031 (of total: 848031).
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1488] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:59222 (Loopback)] POST /video/:/transcode/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/168f2b8c-b1ac-4120-b29f-ba0caa007934/manifest (26 live) Signed-in / Accept => */* / Connection => close / Host => 127.0.0.1:32400 / Icy-MetaData => 1 / Transfer-Encoding => chunked / User-Agent => Lavf/58.65.101 / X-Plex-Http-Pipeline => infinite
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.570 [1488] DEBUG - [Transcode] Transcoder segment range: 3538 - 3730 (3729)
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.571 [8508] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:59222] 200 POST /video/:/transcode/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/168f2b8c-b1ac-4120-b29f-ba0caa007934/manifest (26 live) 0ms 166 bytes
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.696 [5532] DEBUG - Request: [xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:49433 (Subnet)] GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/base/03730.ts (25 live) TLS Signed-in / Accept => */* / Connection => keep-alive / Host => xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.plex.direct:32400 / Icy-MetaData => 1 / User-Agent => libmpv
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.696 [5532] DEBUG - [Transcode/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D] Asked for segment 3730 from session.
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.697 [8592] DEBUG - [JobRunner] Job running: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\CrashUploader.exe" "--directory=C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Plex Media Server\Crash Reports\1.25.3.5409-f11334058" --version=1.25.3.5409-f11334058 --platform=Windows "--platformVersion=10.0 (Build 19044)" --serverUuid=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --userId=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --sentryUrl=https://sentry.io/api/1233455/minidump --sentryKey=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --vendor=Microsoft --model=x64 --device=PC --allowRetries=0
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.697 [8508] DEBUG - Completed: [xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:49434] 200 GET /video/:/transcode/universal/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/base/03729.ts (25 live) TLS 238ms 848031 bytes (pipelined: 96)
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.697 [8508] VERBOSE - [IDLE] Removing (1->0) work item http_download - /video/:/transcode/universal/session/6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D/base/03729.ts
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.697 [8508] VERBOSE - [IDLE] * transcoder - 6CF8BFCB-BE71-4E86-A503-9E3105DE5B6D - 1 active item(s)
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.697 [8508] DEBUG - Removed transcode data consumer, active count 280 => 280
Jan 17, 2022 08:39:20.699 [8592] DEBUG - [JobRunner] Jobs: Starting child process with pid 8968
19

As an update, after having my iOS users disable “Auto Adjust Quality”, I’ve had the longest period of stability in weeks. It has been almost 24 hours without a crash. :laughing:

20

Yeah! I always have my friends/family uncheck that but I could see how that would definitely be a problem…especially if that’s a default they forget about when they log in with a new device. There was something someone recommended on reddit to have plextranscoder.exe run in compatibility mode for windows 8 so I’m giving that a shot as of this morning. And another thread recommended deleting the sync directory and letting Plex recreate it. We’ll see…fingers crossed. (for like the thirtieth time!)

21

I’m going to give it a full week but one of these two solutions may have worked as I haven’t had a crash yet in 3 days since these were implemented. Again, fingers crossed