This model came with XP. Check for a Windows license sticker on the bottom or in the battery compartment to see what OS was originally installed. If you have the 8600's license key and another XP disk with the same version of windows XP, you might be able boot to that and use the license on the computer to install and activate. If you don't have the license, you need to purchase one or ask the seller. The key belongs to the original computer, not the previous owner.

Edit--this is an old laptop. You really shouldn't spend anything on it. If the seller cannot provide the license and disk for windows, return it.

Possible the seller deleted everything before sending it to you ... did he advertise it as a working/installed OS or as simply having a license?

If he didn't wipe it out and it just cannot start up, then you will need a Windows 7 DVD to fix it.  Start with a Startup Repair, by booting to a Windows 7 DVD and selecting Repair Your Computer.

Went straight from a Windows 7 question to this one, and mistakenly assumed Windows 7 and not XP.  

Aside from my mentioning Windows 7 DVD instead of an XP CD, you might be able to repair it in Recovery Console by booting to the Windows XP CD and selecting Repair, but otherwise, I'm with Mary ... approach the seller about it.  Maybe he felt he made it clear it would only include the license and not a working/installed OS, but if not, it should have a working OS.

hello everyone, thank you for the quick replies!!  I should have mentioned more details though.  I bought this from an online seller that did disclose that they had wiped the hard drive and operating system.  it will not allow me to go online and just says error uploading operating system when I turn it on.  none of the buttons actually work.  the only thing I am allowed to do is hit f2 to setup screen and I have gone in there and enabled everything, but nothing seems to be working.

You are still too vague. Is it an Inspiron 8600?

What does the COA on the side of the computer say (Windows Sticker) at the bottom of the (assuming it is an Inspiron 8600) laptop:

• Windows XP Home?

• Windows XP Professional?

• Windows XP Media Centre Edition? (unlikely to be this version of XP)

On another computer download DBAN and burn it to a blank CD using ImgBurn. Insert this device into the laptop and enter the BIOs setup and boot from this device (Hold F12 at the BIOs screen and select boot from CD/DVD respectively). Follow the onscreen instructions to completely eradicate any data on your hard drive. This is to ensure that the hard drive is completely wiped.

You will need the correct "Dell Windows XP Reinstallation Disc" to proceed. You should see if you have any friends with Dell systems with Windows XP (same version as your sticker probably Home). I think you should be able to find someone fairly easy who has one. You may follow the instructions here (on their computer or another working computer) to make a copy of their Dell XP CD. Probably will need to make a CD in your case (not sure if your system can read DVDs). Otherwise you will have to search ebay for Dell XP CD.

Also you should download the system drivers to a USB stick or external hard drive (again from another computer) here. On the Drivers and Downloads Page, input your Dell Service Tag (7 digit code found at the base of your system), this will narrow it down so it is system specific. You only need some of the drivers.

For more details on this and the entire reinstall process I have made a wiki: A Clean Install of Windows XP. In this guide ignore Step 1 and 2. Ignore any mention of Media Direct (this is not a system with Media Direct). After you get Windows XP and all the system drivers installed, install the likes of Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows 7 Firewall Control (XP Version) as mentioned in my other wiki Useful Software for Microsoft Windows.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to do anything with this system without a Windows XP CD ... whether for repair (unlikely to work) or for reinstall.  The only functionality any computer has without an OS on it is F2.

You can usually buy replacement media on eBay for "fairly" cheap, buy a full version with license key, or use this computer for Ubuntu (or similar).