Booting Windows from the NAS - this is how it works

Many Linux distributions and live CDs, but also the Windows Preinstallation Enviroment (PE) can boot from a NAS. Simply put, your operating system data is stored on the NAS and your computer boots over the network. Of course, this is only worthwhile for a fast network. For this purpose, the computer uses the pre-existing Preboot Execution Environment (PXE).


Windows from the NAS: Step by Step


This technology is dominated by new computers. The technology only works when you are using network cables or power lines. Wireless networks, Bluetooth or other wireless technology are not suitable. In this process, the PC is given an IP address during the startup process and connects to the network.


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This connection is used by the PC for data transfer from the NAS. This is even a boot menu that allows you to boot several systems. To use this feature, your PC must have the ability to start from the network. Therefore, in the BIOS area, look for the options for the network boot or PXE in the area of ​​the boat settings.


Important for the use of PXE is a NAS which supports the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) protocols. This gives the computer an IP address when it is started by the NAS and then the appropriate data to start the operating system. This technology transfers data when you start over the network.


If your NAS does not support the feature, download FreeNAS from the www.freenas.org page as an ISO file. This turns an old PC into a NAS device. Central tool is the free plop boot manager. On the developer's website, you'll find instructions on how to boot your Windows PE from Linux or Windows servers.


Plop boots systems even over a web server. For reasons of space, however, we can not go into detail here. The instructions can be found on the Plop website. Once the boot manager is running, download ISO files over the network. The full version of Windows 7 can not be started on a NAS, but the stripped-down PE version.


To boot Windows PE from the NAS, you must disable the DHCP functionality on your DSL router and enable it on the NAS. However, make sure that two DHCP servers are not available on the network. You must also enable the TFTP feature on the NAS. The corresponding settings can be found in the web interface of your NAS.


If you do not have Windows 7-32-bit (x86) -SP1-DVD, download the ISO file for free: Download Winbuilder (www.winbuilder.net) and unzip the archive after downloading . You do not have to install Winbuilder. After you start, you create a Windows PE environment from a Windows 7 DVD or ISO file that you can boot from the NAS.