Recovery Console on Windows XP Disk

On a Vostro 1320, the computer came up with an error message that the hal.dll file was missing or corrupted. It would no longer boot up. After several chats with Dell and searching online for a possible solution, nothing worked. The disk that came with the computer that had the recovery console kept asking for and administrator password. It would not accept "enter" and no password was ever set up. Dell said the only solution was to re-install Windows. This computer is only 1 month old and we are reinstalling windows already. To avoid future problems on my other laptop (same model, 2 months old) I tried running the recovery console and it also said the password was invalid. No administrator password was ever set up on either laptop so "enter" should have been the appropriate response. Again, Dell said that this second laptop would need a new install also. I find it hard to believe that if I encounter any problem that I would have to reinstall windows on a perfectly good laptop. I have seen this same problem all over the place and the only answer I see is "hit enter". That does not work. Does anyone have any ideas?