OS installation stuck!

[tadler]

hello
i have a new X60S. i'm trying to install a fresh XP SP2. as discussed here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=3827

1. i made a bootable cd as instructed here: http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_Install/

2. disabled the hidden partition, deleted and merged with C

3. booted up from the installation CD which worked well and loaded installation files. i approved formatting C using NTFS file system.

4. when this prcess is finished, this message appears:

setup cannot access the CD containing the windows XP installation files.
to retry, press enter. if you are not successful after several tries, quit setup.
then, to restart setup, copy the windows xp installation files to your hard disk.
to quit setup, press F3.

i retried a few times, in vane. when i restart without the CD, this message appears:

NTLDR is missing. press ctrl+alt+del to restart.

5. booted again with CD, formatted C in NTFS quick. in the end of process i have the same message.

6. i'm stuck the Hard Disk is empty and i cant boot from the CD!

i read a little about the NTLDR issues, but the suggestions can't be applied in my case.

any help would be highly appreciated!
thanks.

[tomh009]

What type of CD-ROM drive are you using? USB? UltraBay? Something else?

[tadler]

i use X6 ultrabase with IBM DVD multi... it works well all the time.

[tadler]

to confuse things more:
i tried now to install another Win XP, from a friend's disc, SP1, it worked without problems.
so the problem is probably not in the CD rom, but in the CD i created. i followed the instructions exactly.
i can't use my friend's windows, so i HAVE to find a solution.
what to do??? please help...

[Stargate199]

Call Lenovo and ask for a recovery disk. They should supply you with one after asking what model you have. I hear that you can get these disks easily. They should be updated through service pack 2. One they arrive, pop them in and run the XP install.

[tadler]

thanks stargate, but wouldn't it bring back the "factory" situation with the hidden partition and all the other stuff? isn't there really a way to just clean-install windows without all the other stuff and the hidden partition?