Please help!

What's on the computer? Does it have an operating system?
>-----Original Message-----
>I am brand new to computers , I bought this one second
>hand and all start up discs for win. xp were destroyed
in
>fire . I've tried to get tech support from Gateway , but
>they refused me because It's a second hand comp. I am a
>low income single mother and can't afford all the start
>up diskes right now and believe there has to be other
>options, is there anyone out there willing to help me to
>sort things out a little please contact me and maybe we
>can chat or something . I am on windows messenger too.
> sincerely : lost
>.
>