Welcome to Microsoft's Windows XP Home Install step by step emulation. This will give you an idea on how to do this when and if the time arises for you to either reinstall the operating system, install for the first time or upgrade your present operating system. This install guide is fully graphical and will take you through each step of the installation. 

What you will require to do this walkthrough is 

1. A Windows XP Home CD

2. A Computer with CD-ROM access

To start this Windows install. First check that the first boot device in your system BIOS is set to the  CD-ROM Drive.

( To find out how to access the BIOS please refer to your motherboard manual or the manufacturer of your Laptop. (The system bios can usually be entered on boot, usually by pressing the F1, F2, F8, F10 or DEL key. Make sure you save the settings before exiting))

If you are unsure or don't want to enter the BIOS then just test the computer by putting the CD-ROM in the drive and reboot your computer. This is the recommended way to install windows.

Also if you have difficulty getting Windows to boot of the CD then check out CD-Rom Support Guide, Change CD-Rom in Bios and  Boot Disks to get bootable floppy disks to install Windows from.