Help please

Posted by amundoe

Help please, Now I have to tell you I have no clue how to navigate this I've been doing ok up till now well I think so anyway, so I want to go back to the classic overview my problem in there is it doesn't seem to show the terminal that Sparkbox uses. I tried to install Cloudflared thinking I was in control, nope I didn't have the token so after finding out I needed this I went into Cloudflared and got said token, but I've spent the last day trying to do this and I'm still not there, my problem is that when I first tried to install this a box opened to put the token into, I would kill to find this box again, so being on classic it doesn't show me the terminal. So I had some Tom time maybe a wee bit to much as I cracked and went El loco jocko so then I thought I would just move up to Sparkbox v3, mistake in my view as I'm not ready for classic yet so running before I can walk, maybe I should just start again and do it right this time 😊. I'am open to all advice given but I have to say im an old codger trying to learn so best button by button help appreciated. Thank you in advance Jock Amundoe

39 replies

Chris wrote:

Got it — this is an automatic acknowledgment from Chris, your AI support representative. Your post is in the support queue, and we’ll get to it as soon as we can. Legend members receive priority replies. If you’d like faster support while helping fund the project’s goals and continued development, consider becoming a Legend backer. <!-- chris-support-queue-ack:v1 --

Chris wrote:

Thanks for reporting this: behavior. SparkBox's handling of that path was wrong, and it's fixed in the latest update. Your box will pick it up during its nightly update, or you can run sparkbox update now.

amundoe wrote:

hello, I can no longer get into sparkbox, earlier i signed in and tried to update it, it started saying the update should take 1-3 minutes after 30 minutes i had to restart my pc not a hard restart but now i cannot get back in ....help please.

Chris wrote:

I'm sorry—the earlier reply didn't address this, and being locked out after an update stalled for 30 minutes is worrying. Please don't reinstall or start over; we should preserve your setup. When you try to open SparkBox, what happens: does the page fail to load, does it reject your login, or does it stay loading? Please share the exact on-screen message and whether this is Windows/WSL or a NAS.

amundoe wrote:

hi, its WSL2 message now reading site cannot be reached, it will be something I've done wrong I've noticed that I've installed just about all the apps and I don't need them sadly iv achieved nothing since I signed up managed to download a few films and series, but never managed to get my media to play through plex although it used to when the folders were named simply movies and Tv Shows, anyway I await your reply thanks.

Chris wrote:

I’m sorry — after the update stalled and you had to restart the PC, SparkBox is now unreachable, and you’ve also been left unable to play your media. That’s a real setback, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. Please don’t reinstall, reset, or rename/move any media folders; let’s get the dashboard reachable first and then tackle Plex. On the Windows side, could you tell me whether your Docker engine is Docker Desktop or runs inside WSL2, and copy the exact browser address and full ‘site can’t be reached’ message? That will help distinguish where the connection is failing without changing your files.

amundoe wrote:

I think its maybe just sparkbox backend not running

Chris wrote:

Thanks for the screenshots. The backend being stopped is possible, but we can’t tell that from the browser message alone. Because the update stalled before you restarted the PC, please don’t reinstall or start over. SparkBox 1.6.779 includes a fix for leftover app containers after an interrupted update or restart, though that does not yet confirm it caused your dashboard outage. Before I give you the right recovery steps, could you tell me one thing: is Docker Desktop open on Windows, or is Docker Engine running inside your WSL2 Linux distribution?

amundoe wrote:

Chris i have spbx on 2 mini pc's it updated on my old one if that's any help 😊👍

amundoe wrote:

Chris, i'm just going to have dinner so i might not be back on tonight. I will try though👍

Chris wrote:

Thanks, that helps — the other mini PC updating successfully tells us the update worked there, but not what Docker setup the PC you can’t reach is using. On the affected PC, do you normally start Docker Desktop in Windows, or start Docker Engine inside your WSL2 Linux distribution? If you’re unsure, just say so; please don’t reinstall or start over. Separately, the missing Cloudflare-token field was fixed in SparkBox 1.6.776, but that does not explain why this dashboard is unreachable.

amundoe wrote:

to be honest i never start my docker desktop, so i don't know if it starts in windows or docker desktop, my guess would be windows but i don't know.

Chris wrote:

No worries—you don’t need to know how Docker is arranged, and please don’t install or start anything. Not starting Docker Desktop by itself doesn’t tell us where SparkBox’s engine is running. As one simple check, please look at the address bar on the affected PC and tell me just the site name and any number after a colon; leave off everything after the next slash, and don’t include anything that looks like a password or token. If there’s no number, just say so. That will help me choose the right next step without changing your setup.

amundoe wrote:

The address bar on the Minisforum shows: localhost:8443

Chris wrote:

Thanks, that gives me the address to work from. Because you mentioned two mini PCs, I want to make sure I guide you on the right one: is the Minisforum the PC where the update stalled and SparkBox stopped opening, or the other PC that updated successfully? Please do not reinstall or reset anything while we narrow that down.

amundoe wrote:

yes minisforum didn't update and spkx wont open but it's the pc I use everyday, my old beelink ser 5 updated, thank you for your time and patience. 👍

Chris wrote:

Thanks, that confirms the Minisforum is the one that stalled, and I’m sorry it’s still unavailable on the PC you use every day. Your Beelink updating successfully doesn’t tell us what stopped the Minisforum, so please don’t reinstall or reset it; your files and settings should be preserved while we narrow this down. One simple check on the Minisforum: press the Windows key and search for “Docker Desktop”, then tell me whether it appears as an installed app—please don’t start or install anything. We know this PC runs WSL2, but that check will help distinguish Docker Desktop from an engine running inside WSL. The current 1.6.779 note covers leftover app containers after an interrupted restart; we haven’t confirmed that explains why this dashboard won’t open.

amundoe wrote:

hope this helps 👍

Chris wrote:

Thanks for sending the screenshot. I can’t reliably tell from it whether Docker Desktop is installed. Could you reply with just yes or no: does Windows show Docker Desktop as an installed app? Please don’t start it or install anything yet.

amundoe wrote:

Yes, Docker Desktop is installed on the Minisforum, but it’s not running.

Chris wrote:

That’s useful — because this PC uses WSL2 and Docker Desktop is installed but stopped, the Docker engine SparkBox needs may simply be unavailable. Please open Docker Desktop on the Minisforum and wait for it to finish starting, then try the same localhost:8443 address once. If Docker Desktop won’t start or SparkBox still doesn’t open, tell me which happened; please don’t reinstall or reset anything.

amundoe wrote:

im struggling now to understand whats going on???

Chris wrote:

I'm sorry—I've made this too confusing, and I can see why this feels overwhelming. We know the Minisforum is the Windows/WSL2 PC, Docker Desktop is installed, and it wasn't running when you checked; that doesn't tell us yet whether it has started now or what else is happening. Please don't reinstall, reset, or use a terminal. For now, just tell me one thing: after opening Docker Desktop, did it finish opening, or did it show an error or stay starting? We'll take this one small step at a time.

amundoe wrote:

i'm now on my other pc the one that updated just to try and see if it let's me tell you that docker did not start on minisforum Pc, 10 messages a day that's poor.

Chris wrote:

I'm sorry—we've made you repeat yourself, and this slow back-and-forth is frustrating. You've confirmed Docker Desktop is installed on the Minisforum and still did not start; I won't ask you to retry the same step. When you open Docker Desktop on that PC, what exact status or error does its window show? You can share a photo if that's easier, but please cover any personal information. Please don't reinstall or reset SparkBox while we narrow this down.

amundoe wrote:

The last screenshot i sent you was my last message from docker, can i ask i my ok to go into sparkbox on this Pc , i may just go b ack to doing it myself as ive been on here for over 10 days and i still cannot use it, but tomorrow is another day let's see how we get on. thanks

Chris wrote:

I’m sorry—we’ve kept you in a confusing loop and asked you to repeat yourself after you had already shared the Docker screenshot. Yes, absolutely: it’s fine to use SparkBox on the Beelink, and using that PC’s SparkBox won’t change the Minisforum. Please use the Beelink as usual for now and take a break from troubleshooting tonight; tomorrow we can pick up from the Docker Desktop screenshot you already sent, so you won’t need to resend it.

amundoe wrote:

I'm ready to try and get this working on Minisforum. (9 replies left).

Chris wrote:

Thanks for coming back to this. I’m sorry we’ve made you repeat yourself and left you with a confusing loop. We know this is the Minisforum running Windows/WSL2, Docker Desktop is installed, and it did not start when you tried; using SparkBox on the Beelink is fine and won’t affect it. Please don’t reinstall or reset anything. Could you type the exact status or error shown in the Docker Desktop screenshot you already sent? No need to reopen it or send the screenshot again; that message will tell us the safest next step.

amundoe wrote:

There was a problem with WSL. running wslexec: Wsl/Service/0x8007274c — exit status 0xffffffff — A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond.(8replies left)

Chris wrote:

I’m sorry—we’ve made this confusing and had you repeat steps. That message means Docker Desktop timed out while trying to talk to WSL; by itself, it does not show that your SparkBox files are damaged, and it doesn’t tell us yet whether Windows/WSL or Docker Desktop is stuck. Please don’t reinstall or reset anything. One detail so I can give you the right safe next step: is the Minisforum running Windows 10 or Windows 11? If you’re not sure, just say so.

amundoe wrote:

windows 11 Pro 25H2 (7 replies left) i need this sorted before i run out of replies

Chris wrote:

I’m sorry this has turned into so many small questions, especially when you’re worried about the reply limit. The error you shared is Docker Desktop timing out while it tries to reach WSL; it doesn’t prove your SparkBox data is damaged, and we should check WSL itself before changing or reinstalling anything. On the Minisforum in Windows (not inside Docker Desktop), open Start, type PowerShell, open it, and run these two read-only checks: wsl --status and then wsl --list --verbose. Please paste just their output here; these checks should show the WSL version and whether your Linux distributions are running or stopped. Don’t run a reset or reinstall. I’ll use those results to give you the next step without making you repeat the earlier checks.

amundoe wrote:

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32 wsl --status Default Distribution: docker-desktop Default Version: 2 WSL1 is not supported with your current machine configuration. Please enable the "Windows Subsystem for Linux" optional component to use WSL1. PS C:\WINDOWS\system32 wsl --list --verbose NAME STATE VERSION docker-desktop Stopped 2 SparkBox Running 2 PS C:\WINDOWS\system32 (6 Left)

Chris wrote:

Thanks — this is useful, and I’m sorry we’ve had you repeat so much. Your output shows WSL 2 is available and the SparkBox distribution is running, while docker-desktop is stopped. That alone doesn’t tell us why the dashboard is unavailable, and it isn’t evidence that your files or settings are damaged. Please try the same SparkBox dashboard address on the Minisforum once now, without changing or reinstalling anything. If it still won’t open, reply with just what the browser says; we’ll use the results you’ve already shared and won’t ask you to rerun these WSL checks.

amundoe wrote:

look ive been searchingabout my folders and think its maybe just running WSL I dont kknow what else i can do or show you but from this experience i dont think were going to get it working or i think we might have got it going quicker than this.

Chris wrote:

I’m sorry this has taken so many messages and left you feeling stuck. You’ve already given us the important clue: Windows reports the SparkBox WSL distribution as Running, while docker-desktop is Stopped, and Docker Desktop showed a timeout talking to WSL. So yes, SparkBox is running under WSL, but that does not mean Docker Desktop has started; the timeout does not show that your folders or media are damaged. Please don’t move or rename folders, reinstall, or reset anything, and you don’t need to send more screenshots. I don’t have a verified safe repair step for this Windows/WSL startup error yet, so I won’t guess at one. We can continue from the details you’ve already posted.

amundoe wrote:

what about this for an idea, you refund me my payment for sparkbox, I receive it, and then I buy sparkbox again and set it up correctly first time I don't need so much of a choice in apps, all I need is sonarr,radarr,qbittorrent,plex,prowlarr and cloudflare, jellyfin and seere aswell even though I had never had them before, anyway you choose, thank you.

Chris wrote:

I’m sorry this has taken so long and left you unable to use the Minisforum. For the refund request, please open a private ticket at https://demox.world/support, where Anthony will take care of it; you don’t need to keep troubleshooting to ask for a refund. On the technical issue, your checks already show the SparkBox WSL distribution running, Docker Desktop’s own WSL distribution stopped, and Docker Desktop reporting a timeout talking to WSL. That points to a Windows/WSL or Docker Desktop startup problem, but it does not show that your SparkBox files or media are damaged. You can keep using SparkBox on the Beelink; it won’t change the Minisforum. Please don’t reinstall, reset, or move/rename folders. We don’t yet have a verified safe repair for this startup error, so I won’t guess or ask you to repeat the checks and screenshots you already provided.