Solved installing Windows using the key that's on the PC case?

[HAVOC]

I just got a free computer (getting another tomorrow). Nothing special, just some SFF Dell PC's. The HDD's were removed. Can I install Windows on a new hard drive using the key that's on the case? The computer I have now had Windows XP Professional installed (32bit, I think).

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm depends on what Windows the code is for Havoc you only need the official ISO from Microsoft to install in that case. So for example you have a sticker that is Home Premium then if the board is original it should activate ok because that sticker code will be tied to that board.
See the link for the ISO in this Clean Install Windows 7 < go to the Heres how section download the ISO and make a bootable disk or stick from it.

 

[AddRAM]

I just got a free computer (getting another tomorrow). Nothing special, just some SFF Dell PC's. The HDD's were removed. Can I install Windows on a new hard drive using the key that's on the case? The computer I have now had Windows XP Professional installed (32bit, I think).

Of course you can, but if the COA is for XP then it`s worthless

 

[HAVOC]

Hmm depends on what Windows the code is for Havoc you only need the official ISO from Microsoft to install in that case. So for example you have a sticker that is Home Premium then if the board is original it should activate ok because that sticker code will be tied to that board.
See the link for the ISO in this Clean Install Windows 7 < go to the Heres how section download the ISO and make a bootable disk or stick from it.

Like I said, the only thing that was removed was the HDD. Everything else is original. I know XP is no longer supported, just wanted to see what my options are.

 

[HAVOC]

Checked specs the other computer and it probably has XP also.
The first computer is a Dell Optiplex 755 SFF and the second one is a Dell Dimension Optiplex 320.

Pulled the side off the 755 and it's pretty dusty, I might bring it to work and blow it out before working on it.

So, what are my options? Windows XP (eBay), Windows 7, Windows 10 or maybe a Linux box?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If you can find x-p media it might activate
Linux for sure it is the only freebie

 

[Megahertz07]

I would install Linux. It's safe, fast and free.
I use Lubuntu. GUI is similar to Windows. lubuntu | lightweight, fast, easier
People at the forum like Zorin Zorin OS - Your Computer. Better. others like Mint Main Page - Linux Mint

 

[dg1261]

Checked specs the other computer and it probably has XP also.
The first computer is a Dell Optiplex 755 SFF and the second one is a Dell Dimension Optiplex 320.

Pulled the side off the 755 and it's pretty dusty, I might bring it to work and blow it out before working on it.

So, what are my options? Windows XP (eBay), Windows 7, Windows 10 or maybe a Linux box?

Per crucial.com the 320 supports a maximum of 4GB ram while the 755 will go to 8GB. That means there's little point installing a 64-bit OS on the 320, though the 755 ought to make a decent secondary machine.

Per support.dell.com the latest OS supported was Vista 32/64 on both models. That means both machines will have a SLIC 2.0 BIOS and will not accept a Dell OEM version of Win7 (at least, not without a BIOS hack). You can install a regular retail version (if you can find one), but that would entail extra cost and I'm not sure the cost would be justifiable. You might also have driver issues and the existing video chips probably won't support Aero, so you may need to invest in new video cards.

I'm not sure if Win10 would work because of the age of the machines and possible driver issues. Around a year ago I tried to install Win10 on an old Optiplex, and it errored out because the CPU was too old and lacked PAE/NX/SSE or something like that, IIRC.

With the SLIC 2.0 BIOSes, XP and Vista will definitely work, and if you have Dell OEM media they'll install pre-activated without needing the key from the COA sticker. I have plenty of old copies of XP Home and one copy of Pro that you can have for the cost of cross country shipping, if you really wanted to try that.

But at this date I'm not sure I'd waste my time with XP, and *certain* I wouldn't waste my time with Vista. If it were me, I'd install some flavor of linux.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Checked specs the other computer and it probably has XP also.
The first computer is a Dell Optiplex 755 SFF and the second one is a Dell Dimension Optiplex 320.

Pulled the side off the 755 and it's pretty dusty, I might bring it to work and blow it out before working on it.

So, what are my options? Windows XP (eBay), Windows 7, Windows 10 or maybe a Linux box?

Mate there is no way known to man I would buy a copy of Windows from EBay - you need to go to a reputable site and get an OEM from there. Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit-Newegg.com would be ok.

Having said that I find Ubuntu and Zorin the latter especially really good the only thing I don't like about them is the way you need to navigate sometimes using the "command line" to do so. I could be doing things wrong but that is what I find it does.

Now while I am thinking of it those Linux OS's are really good for recovering data from old drives if you need too and the drive can have any OS on them Windows, Linux of any flavour etc etc

 

[HAVOC]

I'm in the BIOS of the 755 now.
It has a Core 2 Duo, 2.33GHz, it says yes for hyper threading.
The BIOS version is A08, (might need to update that).
A whopping 2GB of memory.
It had an ATI PCI-E video card at one point (according to Dell) but it's been removed.
It has VT capabilities.

 

[HAVOC]

Mate there is no way known to man I would buy a copy of Windows from EBay - you need to go to a reputable site and get an OEM from there. Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit-Newegg.com would be ok.

Having said that I find Ubuntu and Zorin the latter especially really good the only thing I don't like about them is the way you need to navigate sometimes using the "command line" to do so. I could be doing things wrong but that is what I find it does.

Now while I am thinking of it those Linux OS's are really good for recovering data from old drives if you need too and the drive can have any OS on them Windows, Linux of any flavour etc etc

I bought Windows 98SE and Windows XP Home Edition on eBay, waiting for them to show up in the mail. I always buy Windows 7 and Windows 10 from either Newegg.com or Microcenter. 98SE and XP look to be genuine and full retail versions, not the OEM stuff with Dell or HP on the packaging.

 

[HAVOC]

Why did I get these two computers? For one, they were free. I'm also learning more about computers and if I break something I won't feel as bad as if it happened to my gaming monster that I built.

I need to buy HDD's and memory. 2GB is too little, I'm thinking install the max each system will hold. For HDD's, I've been looking at the WD blue drives. 500GB should be good but it looks like the 1TB drives are cheaper ??

I have a spare SSD that I can use for now, install a distro of Linux, and mess around with that.

I blew out both computers at work but they still need to be cleaned. None of the computers at work are ever cleaned. Is it like that at every business?

 

[HAVOC]

The 320 has an Intel Pentium 4 3.20GHz with 1GB of memory.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm mate now just what is that CPU and RAM? I am guessing it is DDR2 but the summary page of Speccy will show what it is.

Oops didn't catch the last two posts anyway it would be good to kw what the mobos are because you are doing exactly what I used to do when I first started seriously fixing up computers

 

[HAVOC]

Both machines have DDR2. I still need to clean them and see what else might be missing. The 320 has a loose ribbon cable (I'm thinking floppy, haven't looked at the manual yet). I still need to see what memory and hard drive I want to install into these computers.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep you need to get the specs on those boards my friend I use HW Info to get really detailed stuff on machines HWiNFO - Download a lot of the other members don't like his program but I have yet to find it no good - if you are going to try it make sure of the correct bit - 64 or 32 version.
You just need to close the three samll windows that open at the start of the program.

I have attached some pics to show you what it looks like.

 

[AddRAM]

I like fixing up old boxes too, they all manage to run W7 fine, I only use them to browse now and again.

Here`s some DDR2

 

[HAVOC]

I've used hwinfo and speccy before but I can't do anything at the moment because the HDD's were removed prior to me receiving the computers (I got the CPU and memory info from the BIOS).
I've been looking around inside of the 320 and I found 4 bad caps. There might be more but I need to remove the board to have a good look. Now that I've seen those I'm going to look at the 755 closer. I'll probably solder new caps and replace the CR 2032 battery while I'm in there.

 

[AddRAM]

Are they leaking ? That happens to a lot of older Dell`s

 

[HAVOC]

Looks like they just started leaking. The board around the caps is fine. I found a pack of 10 for $14.99 on amazon.

I wonder if my local Radio Shack has them.

edit: bought a pack of ten on amazon (1800 micro farad, 6.3 volts)