Want to convert an old Windows 7 PC to a storage server.

[The12th Unique]

I have this PC with the specs as; CPU - Intel Q8300, Memory - 4 GB, HDD - Seagate Barracuda 932 GB @7200 Rpm. Also it is running Windows 7. The only ability I need is that I should be able to plug in external drives to the system and have them available across my Mac, PC and iPad/iPhones. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Id install a linux distro, but you can do this with windows aswell. Basically you just need to setup a network share of those external drives and your good to go.

 

 

[The12th Unique]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

Id install a linux distro, but you can do this with windows aswell. Basically you just need to setup a network share of those external drives and your good to go.

 

 

I would appreciate if you could give a detailed answer. I am new to this network storage thing. Although I have liked up on the internet and there are suggestions of installing freeNas

[The12th Unique]

Just now, The12th Unique said:

I would appreciate if you could give a detailed answer. I am new to this network storage thing. Although I have liked up on the internet and there are suggestions of installing freeNas

*looked

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

2 minutes ago, The12th Unique said:

I would appreciate if you could give a detailed answer. I am new to this network storage thing. Although I have liked up on the internet and there are suggestions of installing freeNas

What drive setup do you want to use?

 

Id try to use internal drives if you can, its normally better. You can also get internal drives from most external drives if you take the case off.

 

Normally you install the nas os of your choise(id go unraid if you want to pick random drives and have easy setup) and then make shares that other systems can use.

[The12th Unique]

I currently can't get internal drives. My main idea is for it to act like a hub where I plug in my drives and they are accessible from any computer on the network. 

[The12th Unique]

Just now, The12th Unique said:

I currently can't get internal drives. My main idea is for it to act like a hub where I plug in my drives and they are accessible from any computer on the network. 

Also the files should be accessible on my iPad. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

11 hours ago, The12th Unique said:

I currently can't get internal drives. My main idea is for it to act like a hub where I plug in my drives and they are accessible from any computer on the network. 

You can remove the case from external drives and make then internal drives if you want

 

11 hours ago, The12th Unique said:

Also the files should be accessible on my iPad. 

I think they added cifs support in the files app.

 

What type of files do you want to access on your ipad?

 

Id probably just go unraid still.

[The12th Unique]

If I make the external drives internal is this process reversible later on ? 

Well the files are mostly mp4 ranging from 200 MB to 7 GB. 

[The12th Unique]

Also I don't intend to keep the storage server running 24/7. 

[The12th Unique]

and unraid is paid. I don't want a paid software. 

[tTowntTom]

1 hour ago, The12th Unique said:

If I make the external drives internal is this process reversible later on ? 

Yes, as long as you keep the enclosures and connector hubs there is no reason why you can't reverse this later on.

[The12th Unique]

2 hours ago, tTowntTom said:

Yes, as long as you keep the enclosures and connector hubs there is no reason why you can't reverse this later on.

@tTowntTom what software do you recommend for me based on what I have described here ? 

[tTowntTom]

4 hours ago, The12th Unique said:

@tTowntTom what software do you recommend for me based on what I have described here ? 

I'm running Unraid myself, and I have no experience using anything else.. so I can't really recommend any free options, as you've expressed to be looking for. Should you want to spend a few buck I can recommend Unraid warmly, though  

[The12th Unique]

Alright.