problems loading mint 14 xfce on thinkpad t60

[joincoolkidclub]

I have spent hours and hours trying to figure this out myself, so if I am missing something simple- please forgive me.

I am trying to load Mint 14 (XFCE) on a 2007 ThinkPad T60. I just installed a new SSD after the old hard drive crashed.

I mistakenly put the file on a CD not realizing the file was over 700 MB. However, the computer gives me the initial 'Linux Mint' page before shooting an error message.

I have since tried burning the OS on two different DVDs using two different ISO sources using my wife's Mac. The ThinkPad doesn't recognize these discs.

I also moved the ATA into 'compatibility mode' but this did nothing.

Now the computer won't even recognize plop on a CD to try booting from a pen-drive.

Any ideas?

Admin note: Duplicate thread - see: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=108448