An old Windows 10 PC need not be a landfill-bound paperweight — with a little patience and the right software, a retired desktop can become a useful Network Attached Storage box, a low-cost multiplayer game server, or the backbone of a compact home lab for self-hosting and experimentation. The...
My GMKTEC M7 Pro mini pc consistently shows an empty network folder. Occasionally on a boot it will populate but then contents disappear. Internet access is OK, occasionally takes two or three tries to connect to a site. I recently set up a NAS on a Beelink Me Mini running Truenas Community...
auto mount
beelink mini
dual boot
firewall
home network
linux mint
m7 pro
nas
network discovery
network issues
network sharing
nic drivers
samba
shared folders
smb protocol
truenas
windows 11
windows networking
Windows still ships with a legacy backup utility tucked inside Control Panel — Backup and Restore (Windows 7) — and while it's not glamorous, it can still do meaningful work: granular folder backups, scheduled runs, and full system images for bare‑metal recovery, provided you understand its...
The debate over Windows vs. Linux for your homelab is tired but relevant: for most home lab builders, Linux is the pragmatic default, while Windows remains valuable for specific, compatibility-driven roles. This article synthesizes the common arguments, verifies the major technical claims...
containers
docker
esxi
hyper-v
hypervisor
kubernetes
kvm
labs
licensing
linux
linux server
nas
openmediavault
operating system
proxmox
security
truenas
virtualization
windows
windows server
The short answer is: for most home labs, Linux is the better base, but the full story is more nuanced — Windows still earns a place when you need specific application compatibility, native GPU use for desktop tasks, or a familiar GUI for mixed-use machines. The advice in the popular How‑To Geek...
docker
gpu
headless
home automation
hyper-v
kubernetes
labs
licensing
linux
nas
open source
openmediavault
proxmox
security
server
truenas
unraid
virtualization
windows
windows server
In a year marked by shifting priorities in data privacy and an ever-increasing hunger for seamless, self-managed digital storage, the arrival of the Synology DiskStation DS925+ could not be better timed. This new iteration of Synology's celebrated NAS family claims to blend robust power...
cloud solutions
data management
data security
dsm
home server
hybrid raid
m.2 ssd cache
media server
nas
network storage
online backup
privacy
raid
remote access
small office nas
smart home
storage
storage expansion
streaming
synology
Using since 1986 3.1 onwards and Linux etc, etc. Built them, multi-boot them, server and NAS'd them, fixed them, broke them, smashed them, cursed Microsoft. But.....................................never given up, still learning.
Looking forward to getting answers.
customization
dual boot
hardware issues
learning
linux
microsoft
multi-boot
nas
open source
server
software development
tech community
tech transition
troubleshooting
windows
Venturing into the world of home labs unveils an alluring promise: total control, relentless experimentation, and the satisfaction of running every pivotal service yourself. As enthusiasts rush to consolidate tasks onto fewer machines—especially with power costs rising and hardware prices...
backup
container orchestration
data loss prevention
data resilience
home server
hypervisor
hypervisor risks
labs
nas
openmediavault
proxmox
security
storage
storage reliability
storage segregation
tech tips
truenas
virtualization
vm management
zfs
When it comes to configuring network-attached storage (NAS) for home or small business use, the debate between Server Message Block (SMB) and Network File System (NFS) as file-sharing protocols often becomes a focal point. But what’s sometimes overlooked is the practical reality that using...
data reliability
data security
file sharing
hybrid storage
linux
macos
multidevicesharing
nasnas security
network management
network storage
nfs
prosumer
protocol
small business nas
smart home
smb
virtualization
windows
When examining the evolution of home server solutions for consumers, a fascinating transition emerges between Microsoft's once-hyped Windows Home Server (WHS) and the modern lineup of network-attached storage (NAS) devices typified by brands like Synology. The comparison is more than...
backup
cloud integration
consumer technology
data security
file synchronization
home it
home network
home server
home technology
media server
media sharing
nas
network storage
online backup
privacy
storage expansion
synology
tech industry trends
When it comes to safeguarding critical business data, IT professionals and SMBs alike must navigate a complex landscape rife with both opportunity and risk. Rising cybersecurity threats, legal compliance demands, and the sheer explosion of enterprise data have made robust backup solutions not...
acronis backup
backup
backup and recovery
cybersecurity
data redundancy
data security
disaster recovery
encrypted backups
enterprise backup
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it infrastructure
legacy windows
nasnas backup
offsite backup
remote backup
server backup
smb security
windows server
Connecting to a NAS drive should be a seamless experience for anyone working within a home or small office network, yet recent changes in Windows 11 Pro 24H2 have left many users unable to access shared folders and files. If you have attempted to open your NAS shares from a Windows 11 PC only to...
administrator
file sharing
group policy windows
guest access disabled
nas
network issues
network security
network sharing
office setup
powershell nas
privacy
share permissions
smb protocol
windows 11
windows networking
windows update
Compact, high-capacity storage solutions are redefining how small businesses, creative professionals, and home enthusiasts manage their ever-growing data needs. The TerraMaster F4 SSD, a newly released network-attached storage (NAS) device, encapsulates this shift with its minimalist footprint...
data management
ddr5 memory
expandable ram
fast file transfers
hdmi nas
m.2 ssd enclosure
media center
media server
nasnas storage
network
network storage
rapid data access
small business storage
ssd nas
terramaster f4 ssd
usb 3.0
As the end of Windows 10 support looms on the horizon, millions of users worldwide are facing an increasingly urgent question: what should they do with their trusted, and often still highly functional, PCs once Microsoft officially pulls the plug? The reality is, while official support ends on...
cybersecurity
e-waste
end of support
free operating systems
hardware compatibility
hardware reuse
home technology
linux for beginners
media server
migration
nas
os transition
tech tips
third-party patches
windows 10
windows 11 bypass
windows 11 upgrade
windows alternatives
windows eol
windows security
The Surface NUC1, a compact tablet-PC hybrid from the company X+, has recently garnered attention for its potential as a Roon server and streamer. With a 7-inch 1280 x 1080 IPS touchscreen, Intel Alder Lake N200 CPU (up to 3.7GHz), 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD, it presents a...
alder lake
audio
budget pc
compact tablet
digital audio
dsp
high-resolution touchscreen
mini pc
music library
music server setup
music streaming device
nas
roon server
storage expansion
streaming
surface nuc1
tech review
usb connectivity
windows 11
x+ manufacturer
Microsoft’s campaign to reposition Windows 11 as an indispensable productivity and AI powerhouse has reached another contentious checkpoint this week with the rollout of its long-delayed Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs. But as security and privacy experts continue to dissect Microsoft’s promises...
5g connectivity
ai applications
ai productivity
app sunsets
cloud privacy
computer peripherals
device longevity
ecosystem
hardware innovation
home automation
nas
nest
platform lock-in
privacy
smart home
tech industry trends
windows 11
windows recall
NAS devices used to be the domain of obsessive home tinkerers and IT admins armed with arcane knowledge about jumper pins, network subnets, and the correct way to stack a drive bay without summoning the wrath of the hardware gods. But by 2025, Network-Attached Storage systems have swaggered onto...
If your smart home budget is falling victim to subscription creep, you’re not alone. Each month, another little chunk peels off your hard-earned savings to pay for cloud storage, ad-blockers, media streaming, finance apps, or that “premium” password manager you only seem to use begrudgingly. But...
ad blocker
article saving
cloud storage
diy cloud
docker
finance apps
financial tracking
home automation
home server
nas
network security
open source
password management
privacy
self-hosting
server management
streaming
tech savings
Move over, vanilla search: there’s a new way to dig into your data, and it could just change how you interact with everything you ever uploaded to your trusty NAS. No, really — it’s got AI, acronyms, and a healthy dose of self-confidence. QNAP, perennial NAS innovator and provider of...
ai search
ai storage solutions
business intelligence
cloud ai
context-aware ai
data discovery
data sovereignty
digital transformation
enterprise ai
enterprise security
enterprise storage
face-to-face ai
file format
file management
file search
file summarization
hybrid cloud
knowledge center
knowledge management
large language models
local control
multilingual ai
nasnas search engine
on-prem ai
privacy
productivity
qnap
rag search
search engine
semantic search
smart search
storage
Creative collaboration in the digital age demands rapid access to assets, seamless version control, and robust security—all while accommodating a diverse mix of operating systems and tools. For creative professionals working in environments ranging from graphic design studios to video production...