Updating to Leopard

I would back up first. When you install Leopard, you can get the option to upload all the backup files to the laptop during the installation process.

 

Use super duper or CarbonCopy Cloner to make a back up. And then when you are setting up Leopard you can restore from that backup.

 

there are three options when installing.

1. Update. this is the default option and will just update or create the new files necessary to install Leopard and will not touch your settings and files.
2. Archive and Install. this puts your system into an old system folder in Macintosh HD and then installs a new OS. there is an option to import your settings and files. you can then fish out anything that was missed when importing in the old system folder.
3. 3. Erase and install. just as it says… erases the whole hard drive and installs Leopard. this is where a backup is useful, you can either manually copy over your files and settings or use Migration Assistant which is similar to the import option in Archive and Install.

i do option 3 for a new OS as i like to keep things fresh. option 1 and 2 are fine but any software problems are kept.