1999 Ford Taurus Car Alarm

Okay, Silly but complicated question for me. I bought my Taurus about a year ago and when I bought the car it game with a keyless entry remote, but the remote has never worked, I've read in articles that most cars actually equipped have an anti theft light that lights up on the instrument panel, but mine does not. I've had friends who are more mechanically inclined play around such as resetting it by slidiing it in and out of the ignition to try and reset it, as well as thruogh the drive side door, but to no luck, What my question is, could it be a bad remote? How can I tell if I actually have the system in my car, and what can I do to activate it if I do.