Aloe not happy

My friend's got an aloe vera, about 10" across. It's not a happy bunny!

Some of the leaves are turning brown, and to me, it feels softer than I think it should (I may be wrong). She's followed the care instructions she could find - decent sun but not too much, watering infrequently. It started out in a sunnier spot than it's in now (indoors on windowsills) and that's where it started going brown so she moved it, but it hasn't helped.

She's not repotted it, it's in about a 4" pot. Any thoughts as to how to help it? Thanks.

 

How much water, how often, does it stand in the water that runs off?

 

The instructions she read said 'water it a lot once then not for ages' so she's done that. When I saw it the soil was bone dry. I've already said to remove it from the decorative pot it was sat in as there was no drainage and no way to see if any water was standing, it's now on a saucer and she won't be leaving it stood in water.

 

They're the death knell for many a good plant I'm afraid.

 

10ins across, in a 4 in pot.
It must be quite top heavy, I get the feeling it might just be too dry?

I hesitate to say that, as more succulents are killed by over watering than under watering, but if its now in a saucer, it should be ok.
With warmer and brighter conditions now a drop more water would not go a miss.

 

I would water mine quite often (daily probably) and it was going brown/squidgy so we stopped watering it as often, I do it once a week now and it seems to have done the trick! All normal again.