Gateway Parts

Will this work for an upgrade on Dell Computer?

Here is the information I have, I have another computer witch is a Dell, it's not really that old it was made in 2003, But the warranty is up for it though of course, Dell Optiplex 620 series, it had Windows XP Professional in it already so it's built for windows xp, The thing is I bought this computer from a guy at the flea market, witch fixes, and re builds computer and adds parts to them etc. and it was running slow so i re formatted the C: drive, and I think the person that had it before him did not clear out stuff, but I did not get a disc with it when he gave me the computer tower, So Basically I only had an windows 98se disc laying around so it needed an a operating system on the computer for now, so basically I just reinstalled that on the tower for now, but i have so much freaking free space from then before, so the computer is compatible with xp because that was the system that is built for it, and also it has the tags on the computer saying windows xp professional, but since I don't have the disc. I bought it off of a dell websites the windows xp upgrade for people that have windows 95 or 98se, or older or people without windows, and that was a $121.95 i know expensive, XD It says it needs Intel Pentium - 233 MHz I checked the Dell MHz and it has 533 MHZ so will the windows Home Edition upgrade run smoothly and faster then what the professional one did, and with all the junk off of it? I can't keep windows 98se on there because the internet I have DSL don't run or support that on the other computer.

Public Comments

1. Windows XP professional adds a little more conifguration options and doesn't have any excess programs really running in explorer so you probably won't even notice a difference. But since you re-formatted you might have got a couple of registry issues fixed and viruses, spyware, malware, etc... off as well.. You will probably notice a pretty decent difference in speed due to a clean registry and clean configuration, no telling what that person did!
2. OK, first you should know it doesn't matter who made the computer, what you need to know is; the Operating System, System Board, Hard drive space, Memory space. Reformatting the C drive might have given you a little more space, but that is not your problem. What you can do is this: go into "My Computer" (you can find this three ways, easiest is on the desk top, if not there, Settings, Control Panel, System, and Finally the General Tab (This is where all the information you need will be) write everything down. The System board number is the real long number located under Register to. This number can be researched on line (ask for help). Unless you have the computer manual (then you will have all your information). What your trying to find out is what is compatible with the system board, What Operating Systems you can upgrade to. Also how much more memory it can handle, and how big of a hard drive it can handle. The three things that has to be compatible with the system board is; Power Supply, CPU and Memory. Know matter what any one tech tells you get a second opinion, and shop around. The Intel Pentium- 233 MHz is your Memory, you should be able to ask an PC shop including Best Buy and maybe Staples for Memory, I would recommend going to smaller shops because they are more inclined to meet your needs to win you over as a customer, and are likely to give you a fair estimate. There are a lot of good repair tech out there who can help you with your needs, don't let the Commercialised Chains tell you what you want or need, or that you have to buy- Anything. and also, the difference between DSL and Dial up, is only geographical. That has nothing to do with your Operating System. Yes dial up can be slower, but that is not neccessarily a problem, unless you have a need for speed.