How to Turn Your Old PC into a Free NAS with TrueNAS: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever dreamed of having your own Network Attached Storage (NAS) system without breaking the bank, you’re in the right place. NAS devices are fantastic for managing work files in small businesses or running a home server for personal use. However, the price tag—often close to $1,000—can feel daunting. What if I told you there’s a way to enjoy all the benefits of a NAS for free, using nothing more than an idle PC or laptop you already have lying around? In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to transform that dusty old computer into a powerful NAS using TrueNAS, a free, open-source software that rivals commercial options like Synology. Whether you’re a beginner or a tech enthusiast, I’ve made this as easy as possible to follow. Let’s dive in!

What is TrueNAS, and Why Should You Care?

TrueNAS is an open-source NAS operating system that lets you turn any compatible hardware into a fully functional storage server. Unlike pricey commercial NAS systems, TrueNAS is free to download and use, offering features like file sharing, media streaming, and even personal cloud storage. Imagine running your own FTP server to access files remotely, setting up Plex to stream movies and music, or installing Nextcloud for a Google Drive-like experience—all from your home setup. For developers, TrueNAS supports Docker, allowing you to host web servers or run Python and JavaScript-based projects directly on your NAS.

The best part? You don’t need to splurge on new hardware. If you’ve got an old PC or laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and 20GB of storage, you’re good to go. In this tutorial, I’ll show you two methods to install TrueNAS: one using a virtual machine (perfect for testing) and another as your PC’s primary OS (ideal for maximum performance). Ready to get started? Let’s make your old PC work harder than ever.

What You’ll Need Before You Begin

Before we jump into the installation, let’s cover the basics. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Hardware: A PC or laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and 20GB of storage. For the virtual machine method, 16GB of RAM is recommended to run both Windows and TrueNAS smoothly. I personally recommend a mini PC like the Beelink N100—its single-core performance makes it a great budget-friendly option for NAS builds. (Check out my previous review of the N100 for more details!)
• Software: The TrueNAS Scale ISO file, downloadable for free from the official TrueNAS website.
• Optional: An 8GB USB drive (for the direct installation method, which we’ll cover in a future post).

Got everything? Great. Let’s explore the two installation methods.

Method 1: Installing TrueNAS on a Virtual Machine with Hyper-V

This method is perfect if you want to keep using Windows on your PC while testing TrueNAS. We’ll use Hyper-V, a built-in virtualization tool in Windows 11, to run TrueNAS as a virtual machine. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Enable Hyper-V on Windows 11

Hyper-V lets you run multiple operating systems on the same machine by creating virtual environments. To enable it:

1. Open the Start menu and search for “Turn Windows features on or off.”
2. In the window that appears, scroll down to “Hyper-V,” check the box, and click “OK.”
3. Your PC may restart to apply the changes. Once it’s back up, search for “Hyper-V Manager” in the Start menu to confirm it’s ready.

Step 2: Download the TrueNAS ISO

Head over to truenas.com, click on “TrueNAS Scale,” and select the “Community Edition.” Download the latest version (e.g., TrueNAS Scale 24.1.1). Save it to an easy-to-find location, like your C: drive.

Step 3: Set Up a Virtual Switch

In Hyper-V Manager:

1. Click “Virtual Switch Manager” on the right-hand side.
2. Choose “New virtual network switch,” select “External,” and click “Create Virtual Switch.”
3. Under “External network,” pick your wired Ethernet adapter (e.g., Realtek)—avoid Wi-Fi for stability. Name it something like “NAS_Switch” and hit “Apply.”

Step 4: Create a Virtual Machine

1. In Hyper-V Manager, click “New” > “Virtual Machine.”
2. Name it “TrueNAS” and choose a save location (e.g., C:\Hyper-V).
3. Select “Generation 2” for better performance, then allocate at least 8GB of RAM (uncheck “Enable Dynamic Memory”).
4. For networking, select the virtual switch you just created.
5. Create a virtual hard disk with at least 20GB of space.
6. Under “Installation Options,” choose “Install an operating system from a bootable CD/DVD-ROM” and select the TrueNAS ISO you downloaded.

Step 5: Finalize Settings and Install

1. Before starting, go to the VM’s “Settings,” click “Security,” and uncheck “Enable Secure Boot.”
2. Hit “Start” to boot the VM. You’ll see the TrueNAS installation screen—press Enter to begin.
3. Select your 20GB virtual disk (press Space to highlight it), then proceed with the installation.
4. Once it’s done, remove the ISO (via Settings > SCSI Controller > DVD Drive > Eject) and reboot the VM.

Step 6: Access TrueNAS

After rebooting, TrueNAS will display a web interface URL (e.g., http://192.168.x.x). Open it in your browser, choose “Admin User,” set a password, and log in. Congrats—you’ve got a working NAS on a virtual machine!

Method 2: Installing TrueNAS Directly on Your PC (Preview)

If you’re ready to dedicate your PC to TrueNAS for top performance, you can install it as the primary OS. This wipes your existing system (like Windows), so back up anything important first. You’ll need an 8GB USB drive to create a bootable installer. Since this process is a bit longer, I’ll cover it in detail in my next post—stay tuned! For now, know that it involves downloading the TrueNAS ISO, flashing it to a USB with a tool like Rufus, and booting your PC from that drive.

Why TrueNAS is a Game-Changer

Once TrueNAS is up and running, the possibilities are endless. Here are some ideas to get you excited:

• File Sharing: Set up an FTP server to access files from anywhere.
• Media Streaming: Install Plex to stream your movie and music collection to any device.
• Personal Cloud: Use Nextcloud for a private alternative to Google Drive or Dropbox.
• Development: Run Docker containers for web servers or coding projects.

I’ll dive deeper into these features in future posts, so if you’re interested in building your own NAS, hit that “Like” button and subscribe for more!

Tips for Success

• Hardware: More RAM (16GB+) and a multi-core CPU will improve performance, especially for multiple users or heavy tasks.
• Storage: Add extra hard drives to your setup for redundancy (TrueNAS supports RAID-like configurations).
• Network: Use a wired connection for stability—Wi-Fi can be flaky for NAS use.

Final Thoughts

Turning an old PC into a NAS with TrueNAS is a budget-friendly way to unlock powerful storage and server capabilities. Whether you’re testing it in a virtual machine or going all-in with a direct install, this guide has you covered. If you found this helpful, let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear about your setup! And don’t forget to check back for my next post, where I’ll walk you through the USB installation method step-by-step.

Happy building, and see you in the next one!