Windows 10: Plex Media Server with Windows 10...Network Path Not Found

I recently found a good deal on a refurb HP Z420 workstation PC running windows 10 pro and decided to pick it up and use it as a dedicated Plex Media Server for my home network. I have it setup and on the network, but I can't seem to be able to share files to it. My main desktop is also running windows 10 pro. I can see it from my other computers but when I try to access it, I'm getting the error Network Path Is Not Found. I've tried sharing with and without the Homegroup. The computer shows up in the homegroup, but again I'm unable to access anything. Under advanced sharing, I have everything clicked to allow access/sharing.

I basically want to run this as a NAS with access to everyone on the network. Any advice is appreciated.





:)

 

PLEX Media Server fails to start after anniversary update - MFPlat.dll not found

tried to installed plex media server but it failed how do it work by window 10 today

 

PLEX Media Server fails to start after anniversary update - MFPlat.dll not found

Prior to installing the Windows 10 Anniversary update today, my Plex Media Server ran fine on Windows 10 PRO N, having once previously installed the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10.

However, post update, Plex no longer starts, citing MFPlat.DLL not installed. So, did Windows 10 anniversary update uninstall this? How do I get the DLL to be installed? I reinstalled the feature pack, but it still isn't working.

I even tried uninstalling the anniversary update, and plex, and reinstalling Plex, but that didn't work either.

Any suggestions on how to get a working MFPlat.DLL

Bruce

 

Try to \\<ipadress> instead of \\PLEX. Have you checked the firewall. You could also download Nmap(zenmap) and do a scan against the unit you want to access. It will show what ports and services that are running on the target machine.

A tip if you want a NAS with Plex and ++ options, check out Freenas (FreeNAS Storage Operating System | Open Source - FreeNAS - Open Source Storage Operating System). Yes im a Linux fan boy too *Tongue

 

I'll give it a shot, thanks. Yeah, I'm leaning towards ditching the windows and running freenas. The machine just came with windows so I thought I'd try that first.

 

Hi there

@ARAMP1

Users need to install PLEX on their client machines -- then when running plex they can logon to your server on the Windows machine with the plexserver name. (Or the server on a Linux NAS box too).

You need to install a PLEX SERVER on at least 1 machine for clients to access as well of course.

Then they can play or whatever

Personally rather than FREENAS why not install plexmediaserver on a LINUX os it's easy and networking always works. I'm using CENTOS 7 but also tested PLEX on Windows as well !! - both work.

To access say from Windows or another machine run PLEX

Here I've got TWO plex servers running - one from windows (Blackdog) and the marked one from Linux (brownbear)

Both are seen by smart TV app

On the windows version I have the same files shared from the Linux NAS by SAMBA, on the Linux version files are accessed directly by the HDD's.

No probs whatsoever --you don't need to connect via \\server or anything. A Web browser works just fine.





Don't bother with PLEX pass or any of the extra paid bits --not necessary.

You need PLEX as client of course on any device you want to receive files from the server --things like amazon fire TV / stick / google chrome stick / smart TV's often have PLEX built in as an app so once you connect them to your LAN they can access the servers from your LAN.

Allow Port 32400 to be open in firewall though otherwise you won't get access to SERVER.

Cheers
jimbo

 

You need to connect to a share I assume \\plex is the server so you should have \\plex\sharename

 

It should be showing up in Devices and Printers if there is no Security software causing issues. The Plex forums are a wealth of information.

Just remember that the rules have to be correct for Plex Media Server for Windows. Also you need to be running Plex Media Player on any devices that you wish to watch or listen to stuff on the Server.

 

I have not had any issues since Synology upgraded to 6.1 RC and running the current Plex DVR server app on it. I did bump the Nas up to 4GB, since it was getting a little loaded down with movies that were 1080p. The Shield is running the latest. I have not been using the HDHomerun Channel, since it slows the stream down from the tuner when I am watching it in Plex.

I have my network set up that the only Firewall is on my Edge Router. The only thing that I have not gotten around fixing is outbound through the U-Verse Gateway, since I do not watch stuff outside the house.

 

Hi there

@Samuria and @ARAMP1

You actually DON'T need to connect to a share if the PLEXMEDIASERVER is running on say a NAS with local HDD's.

If you are running say on a Windows machine with media files stored on a NAS then of course you need to share those files to your Windows system RUNNING THE SERVER - not the machines running the CLIENT (i.e those machines / devices where you want to PLAY the content).

On the CLIENT machines running PLEX will simply pick up the media files from the PLEX SERVER

I'd still run from the NAS - but if you insist on having the PLEX SERVER on the Windows box then do the following assuming your NAS has media files stored on it and you are running the PLEX SERVER on Windowsmachine1

simply do :

1) share media files to Windowsmachine1 (e.g \\NAS\HDD say -- this will be X for example on Windowsmachine1

2) On Plexmediaserver on Windowsmachine1 give it a name (anything will do -- say call it BLACKDOG)

3) add the libraries into the plex server (simply point to the shared drectory you want e.g X*Sad\\NAS\HDD)\Movies

4) refresh libraries

Now on any CLIENT machine (including smart TV's, phones etc) simply start PLEX application (client) and it should find BLACKDOG
choose library and content and play it on target device

Simple !!!!

If you have more than 1 PLEX SERVER then you can choose up to 3 to login to on the client devices. The login is on the top of the screen right hand side on the client device - drop down will indicate server.

Give PLEX SERVERS easy names - I suggest DIFFERENT from Host computers but that's up to you.

For logging in OUTSIDE your LAN you might need PLEX pass etc -- personally I don't bother to use this away from Home.

Note if you are running PLEXMEDIASERVER from a NAS you don't need to share ANYTHING with the client machines --simply run the PLEX Client app (usually built in on smart TV's / fire sticks / google chromecast etc).

Personally I'd use your desktop server as a NAS running something easy like Linux Mint or CENTOS and run PLEXMEDIASERVER on it.

PLEXMEDIASERVER works absolutely fine on any Linux Distro that I've ever used and you don't need to bother to share anything at this stage as the server does it all !!!!.

If you NEED to share other files with Windows then there's SAMBA which is 100% stable and works right out of the box - also Linux reads and writes NTFS files so uploading content is easy enough done manually too -- Linux kernels are all plug'n play so a new external USB device will be recognised and you can copy new media to your HDD('s).

BTW if you ARE running PLEXMEDIASERVER from a Windows Box and the PLEX libraries are on local HDD's then again NOTHING needs to be shared.

The Client machines will be able to play content - and they don't care what box the SERVER is running on or the OS it's using.

In all cases if using firewalls allow PLEX as an application and ensure server ahs the relevant port open. I think it's something like 32400 but you'll see it when you install the server.

Tips on the SERVER side -- if using subtitles change option to transcode : Automatic - otherwise any movie / video with subtitles will transcode - you don't really want unnecessary transcoding even if you have a decently powerful server.

On some client devices (e.g Amazon fire TV) change H264 level to something like 5 (it's in the settings) otherwise a lot of .mkv video will also get transcoded - message H264 level too high !!.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I don't need to share to run plex, I need to share to get all the media off my computers to the dedicated plex machine. I've given up and installed FreeNAS.

 

@ARAMP1

Hi there

Your original post was a bit confusing as you seemed to indicate you had to have shared files to operate the Server,

IMO even though you've chosen FreeNAS (I would have gone for a decent Linux Distro -- but that's your choice) probably the easiest way to get media on to the NAS was to copy media to external USB HDD and then load manually to NAS - however looks like you've got it fixed.

Loading files via NETWORK -especially a few TB via WIFI could take hours so I wouldn't recommend the sharing way at all in any case unless you physically can't get at the NAS or you've connected via LAN cable.

Here I've got 16 TB (7 and 9 TB) of HDD storage -- loading say 8GB of 4K video over a wifi network where maximum network transfer is likely to be around 40 Mib/s (Bits/sec) will take some time -- and if you have a few of these !!!!.







However have you got it all it working now.

Cheers
jimbo

 

You would need to go into the Plex Server and make the settings for the Libraries, so that Plex knows where those files are located at.

If you want to watch the media on other devices, you need the Plex Media Player to allow you to connect to those libraries on Plex Server. Changing to FreeNAS is not going to solve anything. You can also use VLC or other media playing programs to play back videos and music on your server. The Plex forums are a wealth of information and they will back up what I posted.