Migration from docker on rpi4 to windows 11

[vdb86 4]

Tldr

Changed machine, paths have changed (due to Linux mounts for docker).

Used libreelec and docker. 

Now Win 11 and normal installation. 

Would like to keep the watched status.

 

Hi everyone,

I've bought a mini pc with Intel n250 which is going to replace my rpi 4.

Rpi 4 is running libreelec and emby server in a docker.

I initially instaled Linux Mint on the mini pc, but had various issues with drivers as the hardware is new.

While running Linux Mint, I just copied the data folder used by rpi 4 and ran the docker, everything worked fine and emby server was running in minutes.

Since I couldn't get hardware transcoding to work due to the issues with drivers, I finally gave up and installed Windows 11.

I installed Emby and while the server was off, replaced the files with the ones I had from the docker Emby server.

Everything seemed great, until I remembered that the paths are now different.

I tried removing the old path in the library and adding a new one, but emby doesn't allow me to do that.

For removing the old one it gives me some sql error (I'll write it when I wake up).

For adding a new one it tells me it doesn't have access to that path, which makes no sense. (I'll write the correct error tomorrow).

I don't mind redoing my libraries from scratch, but I need to preserve the watched status - which I know doesn't get saved in the nfo file unfortunately.

So how do I go about this?

Using trakt is not an option as it has missed things in the past.

Any other ideas?

 

Thank you upfront.

[vdb86 4]

When trying to remove old path, thus is the error I get:
Exception of type 'SQLitePCL.pretty.SQLiteException' was thrown.

 

And this is the error when I try to add a new folder:
There was an error adding the media path. Please ensure the path is valid and the Emby Server process has access to that location.

This makes no sense as Emby has access to the path and sees subfolders.

[vdb86 4]

If I try to remove a library through UI I get this error:
Exception of type 'SQLitePCL.pretty.SQLiteException' was thrown.

[vdb86 4]

This is my log:

embyserver.txt

[Lessaj 467]

You can use the Backup and Restore plugin to extract user data to get the watch history back, you just have to create the users first so it has users to map the data to.

[vdb86 4]

Thank you@Lessaj for your response.

While reading through the forum I understood that since the library path has changed the user data (watched status) wouldn't work and that I actually need to manually edit the database and edit the paths.

So you believe restoring user data after fresh installation would work?

[vdb86 4]

It would be extremely useful if I could just change the old path through the UI...

@Luke

Edited April 10, 2025 by vdb86

[Lessaj 467]

The watched status is based on the provider IDs, so for items that you have metadata for (movies, TV shows) it will carry over, but anything where the metadata may have changed such as home videos, that would be lost.

[vdb86 4]

OK, so what would be the procedure?

Start fresh, scan everything from scratch and then restore the user data?

Since I have metadata and images next to media files, how would I speed up the scanning process?

[Lessaj 467]

Start from scratch, create your users, use the plugin to extract user data, create your libraries. As long as you've set your library up similarly it should be fairly quick to rescan all the items, additional time may be needed if using intro skip + video previews as well, moreso around intro skip if video previews are also stored next to the media since I think intro skip is still stored within the metadata folder otherwise certainly the preview thumbnails is the slowest part.

[vdb86 4]

I can confirm this working, thank you @Lessaj!

It's a very time consuming process, it makes no sense that we need to do this just to change paths.

This should be possible through UI, where you just change the path and save it, Emby should be able to do the rest easily.