[SOLVED] Any way to turn my old PC into a NAS?

[The_Camilian]

I currently have 2 PCs, one that is my main PC and the other is an old and very slow one that i put all my external hard drives into so I didnt have to worry swapping hard drives to see what is on each of them. The issue im having is i have to transfer files onto a Portable hard drive to then transfer it to the other PC which is working fine just slow. I tried setting up file sharing between them but it doesnt really work the way i want it to. I was wondering if im just being an idiot or if there is another way?

 

[COLGeek]

FreeNAS will turn a PC into a NAS. Are both of these systems connected to the same network?

 

[USAFRet]

An old PC can certainly serve as a shared file storage location.
That's what I used to do before I got an actual NAS box.

What issues were you having trying to share a folder? How is all this connected?

 

[The_Camilian]

FreeNAS will turn a PC into a NAS. Are both of these systems connected to the same network?

Yeah they are on the same network, both plugged into the same router.

 

[The_Camilian]

An old PC can certainly serve as a shared file storage location.
That's what I used to do before I got an actual NAS box.

What issues were you having trying to share a folder? How is all this connected?

The issue im having is that i have to transfer the files to "Public folder" then go to the old PC and transfer it from "Public folder" to the actual folder i want it in.

 

[USAFRet]

Ah no....you can share (almost) ANY folder.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4092694/windows-10-file-sharing-over-a-network

 

[The_Camilian]

Ah no....you can share (almost) ANY folder.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4092694/windows-10-file-sharing-over-a-network

One of the PCs is Windows 7 does that make a difference?

 

[USAFRet]

One of the PCs is Windows 7 does that make a difference?

Not an issue.

The specific file/folder sharing procedures may be a bit different. Same concept though.

Which is the Win 7, the potential NAS box?

 

[USAFRet]

For Win 7 sharing:

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Networking - dummies

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www.dummies.com

https://www.home-network-help.com/file-sharing-in-windows-7.html

 

[The_Camilian]

Not an issue.

The specific file/folder sharing procedures may be a bit different. Same concept though.

Which is the Win 7, the potential NAS box?

Windows 7 in my main PC, Windows 10 is the NAS box. Its just the having to transfer it twice thats bugging me because its no quicker that using my external hard drive. I was hoping to be able to just transfer it from my downloads folder on my main PC to the folder I want it to be in.

 

[USAFRet]

Sure.

The above links describe how to share (make public) a folder.
Then, on your desktop system, you should see that folde in File Explorer - Networks.
Right click on that folder, and map a drive letter.

This make easy copy/paste.
Or even changing your default browser download location to that shared folder in the other PC.

 

[The_Camilian]

Sure.

The above links describe how to share (make public) a folder.
Then, on your desktop system, you should see that folde in File Explorer - Networks.
Right click on that folder, and map a drive letter.

This make easy copy/paste.
Or even changing your default browser download location to that shared folder in the other PC.

Ok thank you i will try that in the morning.

 

[The_Camilian]

Thanks all for the help .