Playback Error No compatible streams are currently available, when run as a server

[aarbee 6]

Hello,

 

Ik did install Emby somewhere this week on Windows 11. And that went very well.
Runs ok, even on an N150 NUC.

Then I had decided to run it as a service.
And I used nssm 2.24 for that purpose.

After a stop and start of the nuc (not restart) Emby seemed to work, as it started up on another pc, showing all the movies and series in it. Even the one I had seen where marked correctly.
But as soon as I clicked on the play button I got this error: Playback Error No compatible streams are currently available.

In short I suspected the service and uninstalled it.
Stopped and started the machine and all was fine again.

Eventhough the little nuc only uses 5-6 watts (cost: € 10,.00 per year on unneeded electricity [This amount is not the world though.]) while on idle, I would like to switch of the machine and auto start it on certain times. In order to have Emby function again on auto I would like to have the service running.

I had used this instructionpage: Running as Windows Service | Emby Documentation

 

A tip helping me around would be appreciated.

 

aaRBee.

[Luke 42078]

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[aarbee 6]

Ok,
I have found the logfile, I think.
But as the situation is solved, I cannot make a scteenshot.
And it was written in Dutch.

 

Thanks ahead,

RobB

embyserver-63877659522.txt

[Luke 42078]

hi, looks like you've somehow managed to get multiple instances of the server running, probably due to the windows service. You probably have both the windows service and the application running at the same time, and this can cause problems. You may want to disable the windows service until you find the source of this.

Please let us know if this helps. Thanks.

[aarbee 6]

What did I do:
I went into Windows taskmanager. And switched off under Starting apps: Embyserver.
I looked in the system tray and stopped Emby there.

Rebooted the computer.
Installed Emby as a service.

Rebooted again, but did not login.
And was confronted with the error again.

I did check the taskmanager and nothing is running.

I have attached a new logfile too.

 

Thanks ahead,

 

RobB

embyserver-63877812993.txt

[GrimReaper 4740]

It would appear you have some permission issues and/or your storage getting disconnected. 

Quote

2025-03-17 12:50:44.662 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Crimi - Thriller because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:50:46.780 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Familie Films because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:50:48.918 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Familie Series because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:50:51.041 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Miniscule because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:50:53.165 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Muziek because the path is currently not available

2025-03-17 12:50:55.297 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Oorlog Series because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:50:56.409 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Oorlogsfilm because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:50:58.548 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Science Fiction Overig because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:51:00.683 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\SF Babylon 5 because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:51:02.802 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\SF StarGate because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:51:04.934 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\SF_Star_Trek because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:51:06.049 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Tekenfilm because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:51:07.178 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Western because the path is currently not available
2025-03-17 12:51:08.298 Info LibraryMonitor: Skipping realtime monitor for \\Neptunes\Media\Film\Western Series because the path is currently not available

Quote

12:54:25.161 \\Neptunes\Media\Film\SF_Star_Trek\Star_Trek_7 Voyager\Season 2\Star Trek Voyager- S02E03 - Projections.mp4: Permission denied
12:54:25.163 EXIT

 

[aarbee 6]

Thanks for you comment.

Ok. I read that too. But just erased the service again. rebooted the computer, started Emby by hand. And I can play that same file S2E3.
Does the permission change for a service then?
Because on the computer itself I work with a admin account, and on my laptop I start the movie with a specific "play" account in emby.

[GrimReaper 4740]

29 minutes ago, aarbee said:

Does the permission change for a service then?

If that is remote storage, default service account will likely not have access to any remote file systems - create a dedicated service account for that (and give permissions).

[aarbee 6]

Thank you for looking into this.

The storage is on a NAS, and it has completely different account to access the folder on that NAS.
The NAS ha a few account.
NasAdmin1
NasUser1
MediaUser1 fo accessing the mediafolder on the NAS via //nasname/sharename

On the mediaserver I have all running on MediaAdmin1
And I play the videos on a client with MediaPlayUser1.

And that all works if not being used as Emby as a Service.

 

Does that mean I have to fill in a user here? Or select: Allow service to interact with the desktop.

[Luke 42078]

5 hours ago, aarbee said:

Thank you for looking into this.

The storage is on a NAS, and it has completely different account to access the folder on that NAS.
The NAS ha a few account.
NasAdmin1
NasUser1
MediaUser1 fo accessing the mediafolder on the NAS via //nasname/sharename

On the mediaserver I have all running on MediaAdmin1
And I play the videos on a client with MediaPlayUser1.

And that all works if not being used as Emby as a Service.

 

Does that mean I have to fill in a user here? Or select: Allow service to interact with the desktop.

Hi, the answer to this is specific to your own network environment, but yes you might have to configure credentials that are capable of accessing the network share.

[aarbee 6]

But if I am logged in to that pc (via rdp) I have access to the //path and through a driveletter.
So perhaps, because I logged in to the pc, through the admin1.local and connecting to the nas via sharename.nas/shareuser.nas, which works when regular logged in, but has different behaviour under service?

 

Which user must I fill out then? The shareuser.nas or the admin.local? Because in principal, I do "not know" who the viewer is. Can be any friend, family.

[Luke 42078]

25 minutes ago, aarbee said:

But if I am logged in to that pc (via rdp) I have access to the //path and through a driveletter.
So perhaps, because I logged in to the pc, through the admin1.local and connecting to the nas via sharename.nas/shareuser.nas, which works when regular logged in, but has different behaviour under service?

 

Which user must I fill out then? The shareuser.nas or the admin.local? Because in principal, I do "not know" who the viewer is. Can be any friend, family.

Right but you logging into the PC is not the same as how the windows service will execute. Note that in the screenshot it says "local system account". This is not the same thing as your windows account.

[aarbee 6]

I am logging in with the only admin I have on that pc. I guess that must be the local system account. But I will create a new service, and fill in that admin account on "this" account.

RobB

[Luke 42078]

17 minutes ago, aarbee said:

I am logging in with the only admin I have on that pc. I guess that must be the local system account. But I will create a new service, and fill in that admin account on "this" account.

RobB

Hi, no, as I just mentioned, it is not the same as your windows account:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/510170/the-difference-between-the-local-system-account-and-the-network-service-acco

[aarbee 6]

Solved.
I used the local admin in the nssm tool.

thanks for helping me.

RobB

[aarbee 6]

The problem is back more or the less.
Yesterday I did enter the local admin, rebooted the computer, and all worked. Could play movies etc.
So I added a shutdown in the taskplanner.
Computer went out, started up a few hours later and the problem was back. However, if I login via RDP to the computer, it functions.
So somehow it has to do with the network connection.

Emby is using an UNC path to the qnap nas share.
Is it so that the UNC path/link is not online after a reboot? 
Or has it todo with the user that connects to it.

Let's say I have 3 account.
LocalAdmin for the pc.
NASAdmin for the nas.
Shareuser for the specific share.

Emby is working with the LocalAdmin. And the UNC connection with the NasShare is made via the ShareUser. And the Shareuser is in name 100% different from the LocalAdmin.
Is that maybe the error/issue? Because I can create another shareuser that is in name equal to the LocalAdmin.

I can solve the issue by connecting to the pc, via RDP.
Ot should I use a driveletter instead?

Many thanks ahead.
RobB

[Luke 42078]

2 minutes ago, aarbee said:

The problem is back more or the less.
Yesterday I did enter the local admin, rebooted the computer, and all worked. Could play movies etc.
So I added a shutdown in the taskplanner.
Computer went out, started up a few hours later and the problem was back. However, if I login via RDP to the computer, it functions.
So somehow it has to do with the network connection.

Emby is using an UNC path to the qnap nas share.
Is it so that the UNC path/link is not online after a reboot? 
Or has it todo with the user that connects to it.

Let's say I have 3 account.
LocalAdmin for the pc.
NASAdmin for the nas.
Shareuser for the specific share.

Emby is working with the LocalAdmin. And the UNC connection with the NasShare is made via the ShareUser. And the Shareuser is in name 100% different from the LocalAdmin.
Is that maybe the error/issue? Because I can create another shareuser that is in name equal to the LocalAdmin.

I can solve the issue by connecting to the pc, via RDP.
Ot should I use a driveletter instead?

Many thanks ahead.
RobB

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[aarbee 6]

Ok, attached the logfile again.
Thanks Luke.

embyserver.txt

[Neminem 1519]

Try setting the service start to Delayed, that way your file mounts have time to get online, before Emby starts. 

[aarbee 6]

I can do that.
I would think, that if the PC switches on at 14:00 and I try to play the movie at 17:00 it would be time enough. But I understand what you say. Suppose the service started before the network connection, it hangs behind.

RobB

[Neminem 1519]

Yes that's my theory and it will never work until service restart.

[aarbee 6]

I can only delay the startup. Lets hope that is enough time then.

[Carlo 4561]

All your NSSM pics show use of the local system account.
You want to create an account on the computer that has access to all your content and use this account to run your Emby Server service.

Carlo

[aarbee 6]

The delayed Service loading did the trick.
Thanks @Neminem

Afterwards it is logical, but I did not think of it. You did.

I will test a few days with auto shutdown and auto start and report then back.
I am happy.

 

RobB