10.5.8. upgrade won't complete install. Pls help!

[Loopagator]

Dear Mac Forum folk,

This is my first post. Thanks for reading!

I thought I'd help my Dad out by upgrading his MacBook Pro from 10.5.1 to 10.5.8.

I downloaded using software update
I acknowledged the restart request
After a quick 'reboot' of sorts I have a blue screen with 'Installing 1 Item', a 1cm pulsing bar, and 'configuring installation underneath. This has persisted for 4 hours.

A mac friend recommended letting it run all night, but it keeps going to sleep. I am waking it every ten minutes.

I was thinking of forcing shutdown and rebooting in Target from my powerbook, repairing permissions, and reinstalling the upgrade from a disk image instead. I need to get into the drive to quickly backup the home folder, although I did backup a few documents that I think were important before all this.

Any other suggestions? Should I keep waiting?

Thanks,
Loop

 

[Gregg2]

corrupt com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist file?

Or, try downloading from a web site. Make sure you get a combo updater that will make that jump.