Turning old PC into a File Server

You could install some sort of NAS OS, i.e. FreeNAS, and run it as a virtual machine, that way it can run in tandem with your W7. Not a lot of experience on having a file server on Windows 7 though, I've only had to use Ubuntu (which is free, as is FreeNAS, and you could consider either if you're up for it); that's all I can offer.

Look into Plex Media Server.

Plex is, as you said, a media server - not a file server.

The protocol is the same in the backend. With a bit of tinkering, it's possible. I've done it.

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"A bit of tinkering" - that's laughable at best.

Plex is not designed to run as a file server allowing network shares to be spun up and accessed as OP requires, it is designed to stream media. Certain software has certain uses, and Plex does not have the functionality for OPs scenario.

Correct its not designed for it - doesn't mean you can't use it for another purpose.

But it can be spun up on a NAS as a storage device constituting as a 'file server'. Because OP wants a cross platform solution this is one of the options.

A bit of common sense and know how through Google allows you to do it.

Right click the folder or drive > properties > sharing > advanced sharing > check the box > edit the permissions If desired (to set a login when attempting to connector change read/write settings).

It's so easy. No need to play around, it is only for local network access but from what you've said, that's all you want

You can go with the other solutions by different users but this is easy and reliable. No need to mess around.

No hun, that's using the software on the NAS as the fileserver, with Plex being entirely irrelevant to the situation - yes, it's nice to have, but on it's own it cannot solve OPs problem.

You know what, I'm not even gonna argue with someone who has an agenda to nit pick posts. Don't have time for that.

Plex. Is. Not. Software. To. Run. Cross. Platform. Network. Shares.

You know what, I'm not even gonna argue with someone who has an agenda to nit pick posts. Don't have time for that.

I've used plex for videos/music/pictures for my Fire TV but not as a file server... also I had to run it through a software so it wasn't through the native OS which means it isn't much of a file server since you can't access the raw file system... so it's just a media share hub

Exactly! You literally have to feed it the directories you'll be using to store your media. God knows what "tweaking" @Stickman was talking about but it sounds like changing the entire functionality 😂😂