I changed my hard drive and when i turn on my laptop i just get a question marked folder.

how do i fix this? how do i get my new harddrive to work with my computer so i can install the operating system? ive changed my harddrive from a 2009 macbook, and had no problems. it would load up and take me to a menu in which i would have to format the harddrive to work with the operating system and such. this time when i start up the computer with the new harddrive i just get the blue/grey screen and an opaque folder icon with a question mark on it. i assume that means it cant find the drive, but how do i fix this? ive checked to make sure that the sata connection is in poperly and that the harddrive is properly secured in its place.
i have a 2nd gen macbook pro 15"
thanks for the help

heres what i did:
i replaced the harddrive
turned my mac on - got the image
turned it off
turned it back on and inserted the snow leopard disk - got the same image
turned it off and back on but kept getting the same image.
when i did it for my 2009 white macbook i did it with the snow leopard disk.
i also tried to eject the disk but it wouldnt eject it. im currently on vacation and am nowhere near a macstore, so i cannot go to a genius bar. im also not the most computer savvy guy, but i know how to get my way around. anything else i can tell you to provide you with information on what ive done so far?

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