Hi,

I do have another newer Dell machine and also found the XP Pro SP3 install CD for that machine too.
That cd can be used assuming it's real install cd and not just for recovering.

1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.

See if that lets you access command prompt of recovery console. If yes, try these commands here to check requested things.