Attempting to repurpose an old server as a NAS for Plex
Attempting to repurpose an old server as a NAS for Plex
Hello everyone, I managed to acquire a few outdated servers at my workplace. One is a PowerEdge R210 and the other’s maker is Dedicated Computing, LLC. The problem is these machines are quite old but still functional, and they weren’t cleared before being discarded. I can’t download anything or even update the system—only Windows 7 is running on one of them. Can I completely erase these servers so I regain full control? The original admin is still logged in, and I don’t have their password. Should I install a new operating system, or is there another way I should proceed? Please keep in mind I’m not very comfortable with technical tasks, so clear instructions would be really useful. Let me know if you need more details and I’ll do my best to help. Thank you.
I'm not sure about servers, but when a Windows partition won't start because of a password, encryption, or similar issues, I just boot from a Linux USB stick and delete all partitions. Then you can set up any operating system you prefer. If you can't access the BIOS, clearing the CMOS usually removes any password restrictions. You'll return to the default settings, which shouldn't cause problems since you're doing a fresh installation. Hope this helps!
Yes, it works well as a home NAS. Just be aware of the electricity costs and have space in a basement for storage (they can be quite noisy). Older 6th generation Intel CPUs aren't very power-saving—expect around 100 watts when idle, varying with settings. To make it work again, you can reformat the drive or wipe the existing OS, then install something like Unraid or Trunks. If the BIOS is set, simply disconnect the power and remove the battery from the motherboard to reset it to defaults (check if it's factory-locked).