“Slow” may refer to very old Pentium 4 cpu in a very old LGA478 socket and old ddr2 memory as well as IDE hdd, but in my experience old pentium 4 cpu (LGA775) in Dimension and 3-4 GB boots up Windows XP fast in a clean install healthy legacy Dell.

Dimension 4500S is from 2002.

If possible not to get a S (slim) Dimension because it uses a proprietary thin psu. get a tower instead that uses ATX psu.

A 2nd option is old Dell Optiplex desktop 755/745 (circa 2006) which can have FDD and USB ports.  Those Optiplex can have core2 duo or quad cpu, also old but faster than pentium.  You could also buy a usb external floppy disk drive as a 3rd option.

The FDD in D4500S is slim too and uses special thin ribbon cable, another reason not to get it b/c it is harder to find replacement.  Standard FDD uses a more common ribbon cable that has a twist.

with old Dell tech try not to go back too far in time to a vintage model, so you could still find a lot of cheap parts sale on line.  That is why I suggested Optiplex 700 series before.  

Thanks for the input - but having just said that I'm not a techie, of course I have no idea what you're talking about in your first post.

Yes, I did have the option of buying an Optiplex 745/780, I think they were.  But unfortunately I had major upheavals in my life with several deaths in the family, and couldn't pursue.  And someone else bought them.

I was told the Dimension should be fine.  You don't think so?  It's really hard to find computers from that brief period here.  I'd far rather buy in person than wrestle with an online purchase, since I'm not a pro.  I've checked Craigslist locally, but the rarely have any Optiplexes with any three-digit model.

If not a hardware handy user you would need a full working pc probably or at least a fully functional pc without OS if you know how to install Windows XP.

i see some one on Facebook marketplace near Phoenix selling dirt cheap old 700 series Optiplex but no FDD.  You could ask seller if they could refurbish a working FDD for you if you have a FB account or can have one set up. Another option is eBay and find a seller close enough to you that local pick up is possible.  Not sure how much your local store sells D4500S.  

this might be what you see in store. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/356183077781

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@redxps630​ 

Hey, wait a second!  What's FDD?  Dare I hope that it stands for Floppy Disk Drive?  I have been asking techs for TWO YEARS if there is an abbreviation that would help me do a search, and they've all said no.  In fact, I asked someone again just last week!

I'm really trying to buy it in person, not via online, and I just found, after all this time, someone via Craigslist in a nearby suburb ... but I'm waiting for a reply.  He's selling a whole bunch, and I think he wants to sell them as a package deal, but I asked if he might sell just one.  This is the first time I've seen something hopeful on Craigslist.

Yes FDD is standard acronym for floppy diskette drive