I have a Dell Optiplex GX150. It is currently running Windows XP but came with 2000. My question is... Which OS do you think I should use on it?

Specs are...

Intel P3 @ 1.0GHz
256 MB of Ram
20 GB Hard Drive
and Intel graphics I think...

The RAM is the biggest constraint in this setup. XP doesn't do the best on only 256MB of RAM, Windows 2000 will do better. But if you could get it up to 512MB then XP would be fine.

I think I have a few sticks around, maybe another 256mb to put in it. I really want to have Windows 2000 on it, but one little problem. The Windows serial sticker on it says Windows 2000 Pro 1-2 CPU. What does this mean? Can I use the number for a Win 2000 Service Pack 4 CD?

Windows XP should be fine, as well as Windows Server 2003, since they and Windows 2000 are the same operating system, Windows NT 5, and the actual functional difference between these individual versions of Windows NT 5 is not enough of a difference for there to be any significant difference regarding the appropriate RAM, unless the software of which you happen to be using with these versions demands more RAM, though that has nothing to do with the actual system requirements for the operating system itself.

All it means is that it is a license to run a system with up to 2 processors.


Sure, it's NT5, but this is like saying Windows 8 is exactly the same under the hood as Windows Vista. There's a reason why there are subversions. While the NT5.* family is very close together, the code between them is quite different apparently.

One other question. Just out of history, I thought you could sit a computer on its side? I have it sitting where the cd drive is sitting the correct way. When I put a cd in there, it wont read it and it makes thin lines on the outside part where no data is?

The optical drive is more than likely one of those crappy Samsung drives. I would try and swap it for a different drive since the Samsung ones are just junk.

Actually not, but I figured it out. Using my shirt when cleaning the laser works. Just needed to be scratched a little more CD working fine. If I ever get my room cleaned up and painted, I will post some pics of my crazy computer collection. In the whole house is a total of 3 working desktops + a iMac that needs a new lcd. Also 4 laptops, one needs a new hdd I think.

Hey, if you ever decide to repair that laptop, I've got a spare laptop drive I'll be willing to sell. Also, with regards to the Dell...I used to have the same model (or family, anyway), and it ran noticeably better on Windows 2000.

You will get waaay better performance if you switch back to Windows 2000. It's gonna be hard for that PC to tun XP with those specs. (No offense)

Tbh I would use 2000, or even ME. Only use ME if you like it though, which I do. Between XP and 2000, I would go for 2000, as 256mb RAM isn't enough for XP to run decently. Put 512 in there and XP would be great, considering the processor is a P3.

Indeed I didn't think about upgrading the ram, but if it can then go for it.

While I would certainly recommend at least 512 MB of RAM (if possible), both, Windows 2000 and Windows XP should run fine on 256 MB of RAM. Remember that this isn't Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 - Windows 2000 and Windows XP's system requirements are nowhere near those of the more recent versions of Windows.

I have even successfully run Windows Vista, Windows 7, and the many of the Windows 8 builds on only 512 MB of RAM, even though Microsoft recommends 1 GB of RAM, so if it was me, I would test out various different versions of Windows, and go with the one that ran the best (both in speed and stability) on that system.

If what you want is to run a more recent version of Windows (such as the upcoming Windows 8, for example), though, then (unless you want to modify the Windows Setup itself, which is also possible yet not recommended) you're obviously going to need to upgrade to at least 512 MB of RAM, and preferably 1 GB of RAM or more, because the more recent versions of Windows actually do need quite a lot of RAM, unlike the earlier versions.

Instead of Windows, why not try Linux on it like Xubuntu or Damn Small Linux.

He'd probably need a distro that targets legacy hardware. Xubuntu isn't likely to run well, just as newer distros like Windows 7/8 probably wouldn't run that well on the outdated hardware.

Then DSL would be for his computer, there is a lot of distros around the net.

I wouldn't even use WinME even if I liked it. If he wants to actually USE it and not make it bug out every second then 2000 is the choice.