Can a virus stop recovery disks

Hello,
i need some help i got a dell mini 9 and it needs the system restore disks running through it as it says their is a problem you must install recovery disks so i gave it to a friend of a friend as my new laptop hasnt got a dvd drive so he reckons that the virus on the computer is stopping the operating disks from being installed so he says it needs a new hard drive but the guy wants me to sell it to him so im just wondering as i dont totally trust what hes saying %100 you cant get in to the computer at all to do it from windows so just wondering if im totally off the mark thinking when you install the recovery disks it wipes the whole of the memory including viruses as this is what its for any help will be greatly appreciated thanx its windows xp by the way