I was given a lap top with no os. It has no cd drive. Is there anyway that I can load a os onto the system?
At the moment the system is searching for an os but crashes when it can't find one.
Can anyone help please?

Are you comfortable with installing Ubuntu?
USB Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon install | USB Pen Drive Linux (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/09/28/usb-ubuntu-710-gutsy-gibbon-install/)

Edit to add: looks like you'll need to borrow a computer with a CDRW drive to get the proper files unto your USB drive.

I also found this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick