Trying to re-install Windows XP on laptop and running into problems.

The laptop is a Dell D620 without a working DVD drive. I should mention that it works fine now, but I want to format it and install Windows XP just to clean it up. So, I Google searched methods for installing XP via flash drive, but none of those have worked. When I boot from flash drive, I am met with a black screen and a blinking hyphen. Is there another way to do it? I have this idea that I can boot from an Ubuntu partition, format the current XP partition, and then install from Ubuntu, but I don't have a clue if that will actually work.

Thanks guys!

Oh, and I couldn't figure out how to system reset. I don't think this has a partition for it. And my system restores don't go back very far.