IBM T42P windows xp pro install

[ballestplaya]

The hard drive on my IBM Thinkpad T42P went bad and I never bothered to make restore disk now I'm screwed up big time... I replaced my original 80GB hard drive with a 60GB toshiba hard drive... The bios detects it fine and everything the problem is I'm using a OEM windows xp pro disk to reinstall windows (which shouldnt be a problem) I create the partion and format the drive with no problem but when starts copying the files keeps saying it can find some of the files but I tried 3 different disk one of them is brand new... Also bought a new external usb cd-rom so the drive is not the problem either I removed the hard drive put it on a dell laptop loads windows fine so hard drive is good too... I also bought new memory and thats not it either!!!! Does the stupid thing got some type of protection where I MUST use the IBM recovery disks? Does anybody know where I can download them from? Or even mind uploading them to my server I have a fast server on a 100MBit line I just can't wait takes too long for IBM to send one to me and I'm leaving for college in 2days... Please I need help.

Thanks

[Tsuioku]

Is your ethernet connected?

I recall encountering similar problems in the past when I was installing xp with the laptop connected to the internet.

When I removed it and did another full re-install, everything worked fine.

[claudeo]

If you are installing from a vanilla version of Windows XP you might have to go into the BIOS setup and disable a thing or two that are related to security. Just a wild guess.

[Kyocera]

What do you mean you are using an OEM version of windows? Use a retail version and it should work, or buy the recovery CD's.

[smugiri]

Send me a PM with your address and I will send you a DVD with the recovery images for the price of postage.

It will definitely take more than a couple of days though.

[ballestplaya]

What do you mean you are using an OEM version of windows? Use a retail version and it should work, or buy the recovery CD's.

Yes by OEM I mean the retail version I bought a brand new one and doesn't work... So I guess I need recovery disks...

[GomJabbar]

Before you install Windows from the CD, delete all partitions from the hard drive while it is in the ThinkPad you will be using. Create a new partition while the hard drive is in the same ThinkPad and format it at the beginning of the install process. Also make sure your BIOS Predesktop security is disabled (possibly necessary).

The reason for the above is that you may be running into a drive geometry error if it's partition was created in a computer other than the one you are trying to install Windows on.

EDIT: I just reread your original post, and it appears you already did the above. One other thing that could be causing a problem is if you are using an OEM disk for a different brand of computer such as a DELL or HP. The manufacturers sometimes put checks on their reinstall CD's that prevent them from working in another brand of computer.

[ballestplaya]

Before you install Windows from the CD, delete all partitions from the hard drive while it is in the ThinkPad you will be using. Create a new partition while the hard drive is in the same ThinkPad and format it at the beginning of the install process. Also make sure your BIOS Predesktop security is disabled (possibly necessary).

The reason for the above is that you may be running into a drive geometry error if it's partition was created in a computer other than the one you are trying to install Windows on.

EDIT: I just reread your original post, and it appears you already did the above. One other thing that could be causing a problem is if you are using an OEM disk for a different brand of computer such as a DELL or HP. The manufacturers sometimes put checks on their reinstall CD's that prevent them from working in another brand of computer.

Nah I'm using a brand new OEM disk full version I went to a computer store and purchased it... Someone is going to send me recovery dvd lets see if that works, it has to... This thing is driving me crazy.