Help

With Dells and most other pre-install PCs, you may need to "boot" with
the recovery CD (first CD) and then it should start a process of
coping
the XP onto the hard drive. Please note that this usually "erases"
the
hard drive and places the XP file back to their original versions at
the time the PC left the Dell "factory." All personal data,
additional
software and XP updates will be lost. You would need to re-install
your software(s), do all the addition XP updates and restore your
personal data.

Dell does provide XP installation CD's as an option for $10
when the computer is ordered. They look similar to this,

Dell XP Home CD.
http://client.attenza.com/ektron/del...XP_HOME_CD.gif

If your friend did not order the CD, then there should be a
hidden partition on the hard drive which contains the files
needed to restore the computer to the state it was in when it
left the factory. If this is your only option make sure you
back up any important files since they will be deleted during
the restoration.

Look on the back of your friend's computer for the Service Tag.
Enter the information in the appropriate box on this web site.
Look under the Manual or Troubleshooting and FAQs section for
more information.

Dell Support
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...imension&s=dhs

Here are some other Dell sites you may find helpful.

Dell Community Forum
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums

Dell Chat
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...=19&l=en&s=dhs

In addition to the comments by others, if you have the Dell disk with
the Operating System (usually
an off-red color) you can do either a full installation or a repair
installation. If you don't have
this disk, you can buy it from Dell for a handling and shipping
charge. If you use this disk, you
will not have to "activate" with Microsoft. This disk is very much
like a full-copy Microsoft
Windows Disk except it will only work with the Dell motherboards.
Thanks in advance