so I have just started to install plex server on unraid. Copied and installed the plex installer pkg and now the flash is empty from file explorer.

 

what the hell is going on?

Not clear what you mean. Do you mean if you go to \\tower\flash in Windows Explorer there are no files or folders?

 

Is the flash share configured to be exported in the webGUI?

 

I mean installed the plex package and that went swimmingly. Then I went back to the \\tower\flash and there is nothing there. I still have the webgui and the shares but nothing on the flash at all.

so i have powered down the unraid, pulled the usb and stuck it in the back of the laptop. everything is there but windows reported a problem with the drive.

 

is my usb dying?

how did you install plex, and what do you mean flash is blank, if it was blank Unraid would not boot

 

I download PMS from the Plex website, copied it to boot/extra, installed the package using  installpkg /boot/extra/PlexMediaServer-*-unRAID.txz. The server was still online at this point.

 

Then I went to copy the plex updater from my desktop to /boot/config/plugins but when I went to \\tower\flash there was nothing there just an empty drive.

 

I shut the sever down via the webgui, pulled the usb and stuck it in my laptop. Windows said there is a problem with your drive do you want to scan. I clicked no and went to the usb via windows explorer and every thing is present.

 

BUT the server won't boot. 

Oh in that case your USB got hosed, it happen to me once, lost my unraid stuff had to start from scratch.

 

Maybe you can retry windows repairing the drive.

Plug the flash drive back into your Windows PC and run a checkdisk.

i hope you mean you just lost your unraid config and not your data? i have just spent a lot of time and money recovering from a significant data loss and cant do it again.

 

what do i have to do if my drive is knackered? just get a new flash and install? what do i do about the licencing?

 

 

Yes i meant only the flash drive not drive data, I believe if you email Tom he will give you a new key

Are you sure the flash drive itself is bad?  If all else fails, copy your key off the flash drive, format the flash drive and install unRaid again from scratch on the flash, then copy your key back over.

That's exactly what I did. It seems like all is well now. Going to get me a new usb to be safe.

That's exactly what I did. It seems like all is well now. Going to get me a new usb to be safe.

 

Just FYI if you use a new flash drive you will need a new key. The license is tied to the flash GUID.

That's exactly what I did. It seems like all is well now. Going to get me a new usb to be safe.

 

Just FYI if you use a new flash drive you will need a new key. The license is tied to the flash GUID.

 

YEP

That's exactly what I did. It seems like all is well now. Going to get me a new usb to be safe.

 

Just FYI if you use a new flash drive you will need a new key. The license is tied to the flash GUID.

Which is why Limetech offers a discount on a second key license, so you can have a backup.

That's exactly what I did. It seems like all is well now. Going to get me a new usb to be safe.

 

Just FYI if you use a new flash drive you will need a new key. The license is tied to the flash GUID.

Which is why Limetech offers a discount on a second key license, so you can have a backup.

 

While this a great valid point, For me spending extra money on a key that i will not use seem waste full. example i buy adobe and my drive croaks i don't have to pay the whole license again because of hardware failure. Just my feeling, I also always tell people to buy new rather same something they've had sitting around for a long time.

In most cases if your flash drive dies, Tom will provide a replacement license for the new flash. Obviously you will have downtime until you get the new key. Having a backup key is prudent if you don't want or can't afford downtime.

Very very true. I now im going to get burn for this but in my setup being down for a few days or weeks is not bad and my backups live on a freeNAS box.

 

For the OP Mr. Dirty makes a great point and you should look into that option.

For the record I don't have a spare key, I was just pointing out the reasons why one would consider having one. Being a home user, if my server was down for a few days it's no big deal. If I were using unRaid for work, or in a business, I'd certainly have a backup key.

this is true,

Note that a 2nd key is only $30 extra.    Not sure how long after you bought the original one Tom will still sell you a 2nd one for that ... but when I bought mine many years ago I decided a few months later a spare would be a good idea, and a quick e-mail exchange with Tom confirmed I could still buy the 2nd one for the difference.

 

You can also buy the spare "un-assigned" ... i.e. he'll note that he owes you one, and you can at any time provide the GUID for the new flash drive you want to use.

 

Even for a home user, $30 is a pretty nominal fee.

 

A spare key is also useful for trying new things -- you can leave your main key unaltered, and then try an upgrade; a new add-in; etc. ... and if anything goes awry you simply reboot with the original key