Optiplex GX520 Re-install Windows XP

Hi Keithr77,

Without the Certifícate Of Authentication (COA) label from Microsoft, installing the operating system would be illegal. The only option is to contact Microsoft and purchase a volume license for all the 12 systems.

2.8GHz Dual Pentium Pro is not a GX520.

Thanks for speedy replies! Sorry, my mistake. Win XP reports Dual Pentium D CPU 2.80GHz. Not yet contacted microsoft for COA stickers, but does anyone have any idea which would be the most cost effective solution as I have seen Win XP SP3 install disks with COA on the net for around £15 each and wondered if that might be cheaper. Cost is very much of concern here.

I have seen the Dell reinstall CD described here:

http://www.linxdown.se/277242-windows-xp-pro-dell-oem-sp3-2010-original.html

I got the impression from this that it would cost me nothing to set up these machines. Can anyone advise me on this?

I am trying to help a local school set up some Dell Optiplex GX520 computers. They have about 12 of them which have had their operating system deleted. They have no licence code sticker on them. Also they have no CD drive. The processor is 2.8GHz Dual Pentium Pro with 512MB RAM. BIOS version A08, 40Gig HDD. My question is, can I legally use a Dell Reinstallation CD (XP Professional SP3) to set these PC's up . I should say that I have managed to get one set up ok using a USB CD drive, to prove the hardware is ok, and I assume the others are the same, though I have not yet seen them.

Edit:

Why is it such a big deal finding the Windows COA? It should be right on the PC itself.

Anyway, Windows XP is no longer supported effective April 2014.

In addition, 512MB RAM isn't really effective for running XP. I have my sister's old laptop with 512MB RAM and the hard drive is constantly actively.

Depending on what these PC will be used for, installing Ubuntu Linux is your best answer.

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS is free and would work on these.

It is not legal to sell XP and a coa without a computer so the £15 variety is likely Counterfeit.

520's will boot and install from a usb stick onto a hard drive. 512 megs is a bit too small to be running live in ram.

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/DVDs/ubuntu/12.04.3/release/

I have seen the Dell reinstall CD described here: http://www.linxdown.se/277242-windows-xp-pro-dell-oem-sp3-2010-original.html I got the impression from this that it would cost me nothing to set up these machines. Can anyone advise me on this?

This disc is if you already have a XP COA which you obviously don't; they used to be included with Dell PCs