Least $ way + keybd/mouse orphaned machine determine +/- use machine &

markg2 · 20 Aug 2020

We ended up w/a Dell Optiplex 3040 Win7 w/no keyboard or mouse.

What is the least $ way to add a keyboard/mouse so I can determine whether or not the machine would be useful to us?

The machine may be of use if...
1. It runs, loads current OS
2. Is reasonably quick
3. The chipset is not unreasonably outdated
4. I can install Win10 (necessary for intended possible use)

FWIW, I have an orphaned, Logitech MK/700-710 wireless keyboard but missing the USB transmitter.

Mark

Try3 · 20 Aug 2020

Mark,

Step 1 is free. Go to the Support Forums - Dell Community and search for something like Dell Optiplex 3040 Windows 10 to find out how other people have got on with it.
- Your experience may not be the same as that of others.
- - I once set up Windows 10 on a very old Dell laptop and it was fine [a bit slower than it had been with WinXP but fine].
- - A couple of other people with the same model did the same and also had satisfactory results.
- - At least one other user found that it was so slow and buggy in Windows 10 that it was completely unusable. This was despite apparently having exactly the same hardware & drivers as the rest of us.

Step 2 is also free. Go to the Dell support page for that model and read the specs [My link is for UK. The Dell webpage should detect your region and offer to redirect you.]. If the specs are not available for download on their own they will be part of the user manual and that will be available.

Step 3 - Keyboard & mouse. The cheapest would almost certainly be a USB keyboard & a USB mouse. If you know somebody who has these already they might well be happy for you to borrow them for an hour or so when it fits in with their schedule. No drivers will be required.

Best of luck,
Denis

Berton · 20 Aug 2020

Step 3 is best done with the Wired USB devices, most reliable and cheapest to obtain.

As for the orphaned keyboard, I'd toss it out. The Wireless USB devices that depend upon a dongle have to have that specific one that came with the devices, coded probably by frequency to each other and can't be easily replaced if at all. I was given a Vizio 24" All-in-One that had the USB dongle but no mouse, I've gotten mice with no dongle that I tossed [probably why they were given to me]. I've seen mention of Unifying USB devices but haven't gotten my hands on such to try yet.

Now if you need a keyboard for an AT-style computer or PS/2?

Try3 · 20 Aug 2020

Berton - If you are interested, the HP 'unifying USB' device is HP Link-5 but it only supports compatible HP devices. I got one by chance but have no other compatible devices to test it with.

I have not seen any LogiTech equivalent.

Denis

bobkn · 20 Aug 2020

Maybe I'm missing the obvious, but can't you ("markg2") borrow a keyboard and mouse from another desktop machine?

Dell offers Window 10 drivers for the Optiplex 3040 (https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...esktop/drivers), so I'd assume that it'll run Win10. On the same page, there's a BIOS update from 2020. One version of the 3040 uses the Intel H100 chipset, which was introduced in 2015. It's not an old PC.

markg2 · 20 Aug 2020

[QUOTE=bobkn;1999703]Maybe I'm missing the obvious, but can't you ("markg2") borrow a keyboard and mouse from another desktop machine?
The obvious is information I withheld. I know where this machine was (wife's non-profit) and how it was used (lightly). So yes, I could borrow inputs and do. But I skipped that step in my mind thinking answers to 1,2 & 3 were high probability good and was unconsciously focused on 4.

And you guys, as usual, provided a thorough answer to 4.

Thanks,

Mark