Sounds like the hard drive is not connected right.
If it were, you'd get something along the lines of "Unable to load OS" or whatever message the motherboard says.
Make sure his hard drive is on the primary IDE channel and set to master (or single, if the drive has that setting). Disconnect all other IDE devices until you get it to boot, then add them one by one since you're having problems.
Or get a geek friend a 6 pack of beer and pizza and it will be up and running in no time.
-Phil