How do you install the OS on a new hard-drive?

[transmogrify]

I have a Thinkpad T400 and I just received a new HDD today. I would like to reinstall windows and I have created 3 DVD's with the Create Product Recovery Media software. However, when the first disk loads up it asks me to insert the OS reinstall disk. It seems that none of the 3 DVD's I burned can be used for this. Am I doing something wrong? How can I install the OS that my Thinkpad came with onto this new HDD that I just purchased?

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

which OS did you get with your T400? also did you note down which name is assigned to these recovery media? i.e. disk 1 = start rescue recovery, disk 2 = Operating System product recovery, etc.

[transmogrify]

The laptop came with Vista Business Edition. There was no Operating System disk that it allowed me to burn when I created the recovery media. I placed my new hdd into the laptop and could not get past the OS install since it did not recognize any of the dvds I burned as the OS recovery.

[Maliha Community Moderator]

I think perhaps you mistakenly created recovery media instead of recovery discs, only the latter puts your system to factory settings (including Win and all drivers etc.):- http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/migr-68317.html

[fomiga]

I ran into exactly the same problem. I can't get past the first Start Recovery Disk. That one went without a problem. Then,when asked for the 'set of Operating Recovery Disks", I inserted the Product Recovery Disk 1 that I downloaded and it replies 'wrong disk'. I tried the Product Recovery Disk 2 and got the same reply.

Any ideas? Thanks

[Maliha Community Moderator]

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fomiga wrote:

I ran into exactly the same problem. I can't get past the first Start Recovery Disk. That one went without a problem. Then,when asked for the 'set of Operating Recovery Disks", I inserted the Product Recovery Disk 1 that I downloaded and it replies 'wrong disk'. I tried the Product Recovery Disk 2 and got the same reply.

Any ideas? Thanks

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Hi and welcome to the forum fomiga!

How did you download the disc? Elaborate, please!