Upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard gone awry

Hello, I have a late 2007 MBP and decided to upgrade from Leopard 10.5.8 to Snow Leopard 10.6.8. After reading forum posts and articles I decided to attempt a clean install as opposed to just an upgrade to gain some performance on this old mac until I can afford to replace it. Here's the history of what I did and where I'm at now. Any help would be appreciated as I can't find any forum posts that address this problem directly.
12/26: Created time machine backup on external backup (mirrored raid via FW800 if it makes a difference) while still on Leopard to prepare for clean install of Snow Leopard.
12/28: Did clean install to upgrade to Snow Leopard (booted from disk, erased hd and installed SL). Then, being safety minded, created another time machine backup (a mistake in hindsight)
Restarted under new SL.
Tried to use migration assistant to migrate documents, apps, libraries, etc only to find only my latest backup SL backup is available which obviously doesn't have any of my files. Migration Asst apparently only offers access to the previous 12/26 backup. Crap. At least I have my Time Machine backup.
Go to time machine and try to restore Macintosh HD to state it was in on 12/26. It runs for a couple hours, asks me do I want to copy or replace the user profile (I choose replace) and when finished there's no sign of any change…no docs, no apps, nothing visibly different. I tried again, this time, Time Machine says my hard drive is full and I can't restore! I look at hard drive "get info" and sure enough it says I'm using 280GB out of 293GB. However when I "get info" on the individual Apps, Library, System & Users it only adds up to ~7.5GB of space. So clearly Time Machine has copied massive files (likely twice now) that are somehow invisible to me.
I'm quite frustrated at this point. I realize I took the more complicated path by not just "upgrading" and I made a couple missteps along the way. However, neither Migration Assistant or a Time Machine restore are able to help put my Documents and Apps back and now my hard drive is full. I'm tempted to just erase and reinstall clean SL again and then manually move things from my 12/26 Time Machine backup but I'm concerned about doing this right. Is there a more sensible, possibly less drastic way of untangling this mess? Thanks for any input.

Tell me you can get at the Time Machine data. That will put a smile on my face!
Yes, most importantly, my data is still very safe and I can see the 12/26 time machine data on the external drive, both by browsing to it with the finder and also when I launch Time Machine and browse back in time.
What I was unable to do is:
Migrate the 12/26 data using the "Migration Assistant" app "after" I did a backup of my new Snow Leopard install which I realize was a mistake. Now when I attempt to use the "Migration Assistant" app and point it to the Time Machine volume, all it sees is the useless 12/28 Snow Leopard backup which obviously has none of my data. I can't point Migration Assistant to the 12/26 restore point which has the real data.
Following that I attempted to launch the "Time Machine" app, go back in time to restore to the 12/26 backup. This seemed to fill my internal HDD with (I'm guessing) files and folders that I am unable to see. When I command click to get-info on the internal HDD icon it shows it being full. However browsing through the drive via Finder it seems very empty. Command clicking to get info on the 4 folders in the internal HDD, it shows a total of 7.5GB used. Perhaps my data is there but hidden, however since I tried this twice, there's likely a level of redudancy that's quite a mess now. It seemed simple but Reading the article you sent, it sounds like I should have booted with the Snow Leopard disk and done the
From what I've read, I understand there are three ways to migrate my 12/26 data:
1. Migration Assistant App (because of the above description, I think cannot work anymore)
2. Time Machine App
3. Manually browse and copy necessary files and folders from the external
What I was trying to understand was when you say "transfer," which of these options are you referring to? I'm gathering #2, using the Time Machine app to restore as opposed using Migration Assistant?
By the way, I appreciate your patience and generosity with your time. I will make sure to print and follow the tutorials you sent as well.
- Matt

Similar Messages

I've read similar questions and answers, but I am still terrified to upgrade from leopard to snow leopard. The only reason I want to is because I received an iPad which requires an updated system. I have an external hard drive. I have the disks to upgrade

I've read similar questions and have studied the answers, but I am still terrified to upgrade from leopard to snow leopard on my macbook pro. The only reason for doing it is in order to sync my macbook pro with my iPad. I do have an external drive which automatically backs up every hour. BUT.......I am techno-ignorant as well as techno-paranoid. I have the disks to update to snow leopard but knowing doing so may likely change/alter/lose/obliterate my current set-up, it actually makes me feel sick to think of it.
Years ago when updating via Apple Protection Plan tech support, my screen actually went blank, everything gone! The tech told me not to worry, that "we" would be able to restore things, but several hours later I was still looking at a primitive looking screen that wasn't anything like what I had before. His language was too technical, in that there was an assumption I understood things I had zero understanding of. Example: partition my external drive.
Anyway, living hundreds of miles from an Apple service provider, and no Apple techs in my community, I had to wait for a trip to an Apple Store where one of the wonderful guys at the genius bar spent a ton of time getting things back to normal and actually explaining it enough that I had a vague understanding.
So now I am in the predicament again and won't know what to do after installing the new disks and finding a likely mess or absence of documents etc. on my computer. I don't know how to access the external drive, and even if I did I wouldn't know how to move stuff from that to my computer.
Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm in the same boat as you, I've used Mac's since day one and neglected my Windows education and now it has come to haunt me as I have to learn it like a school kid.
Nearly 99% of all businesses and nearly 95% of everyone use Windows, Steve Jobs declared "The desktop wars are over, Microsoft won" a long time ago.
By 2015 tablets are going to be selling to consumers more than traditional computers, your living proof, you got a iPad.
Apple has already discontinued the Xserver, the Xraid, the MacBooks and the 17" Macbook Pro.
Apple has introduced BootCamp in OS X 10.6 and up, this allows a partition and drivers so one can install Windows on a Mac.
https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
Why do you think they named it "BootCamp"
You can't run a older OS X version longterm like you have with 10.5 anymore, Mac's are being targeted for attacks and older OS X versions are dropped for security updates.
In fact your Mac might still be part of the 750,000 Mac strong Flashback botnet or infected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_BackDoor.Flashback
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/04/how-to-check-forand-get-rid-ofa-mac-flashba ck-infection/
See here, Apple has no security updates for 10.5 users and soon 10.6 is going to be ignored next.
https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1222
1-1.5 years is the OS X upgrade cycle. Change everytime like it or not.
So I'm thinking about your long term future and how you obviously don't like change, need local assistance like it appears you first claimed.
So buy a new Mac and upgrade your OS X version whenever Apple shows it in AppStore.
When your machine can no longer upgrade to the newest OS X version, then you've got about another 2 more years of security updates before you have to buy a new machine or risk running a insecure one.
Learn here how to go about fixing your own machine and creating backups/bootable clones this way your not having to drive several hundred miles for a software or boot drive repair. Simply reverse clone your troubles away.
Most commonly used backup methods
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents
I'm of the maturity and experience that I know a Mac isn't always the best solution for everyone and even Apple doesn't provide the proper hardware, support or features for everyone. Why only store locations in high traffic ritzy areas?
Our SteveJobs fan here is under 18 years old with good eyes, he's not older like we are with bad or failing eyesight.
The new Mac's have hard to see glossy screens and the type/UI can't be scaled up easily to accomadate our older eyes, however a Windows 7 machine does allow up to 150% scale of the UI, type etc., and also there are anti-glare screen PC's and just about no more anti-glare screen Mac's.
I wrote this User tip in case you have trouble seeing the screen, at least you can scale the web browsing up
Web browsing for hard of seeing users
Apple might still be selling the anti-glare 15" non-retina on their online store, it's the "high resolution/anti-glare model"
But I can get a 17" 1080i HD anti-glare Windows 7 laptop at Sager for a lot more performance and screen size for the price than a Mac.
https://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=category_browse&selected_cat=2
Screen size is important as the UI and text can be scaled up for easier reading.
Of course you do now have the option of having Windows pre-installed alongside OS X to begin your transition to the dark side.
Just call and they will accomondate, hold the option/alt key at boot time to swtich operating systems.
http://www.macmall.com/
Windows 7 looks just as good as OS X, the secret is having a good monitor with most PC's come with don't.
Good Luck and I hope I've given you a lot to think about.

What happens to iweb-built site when I upgrade from Leopard (10.5.8) to Snow Leopard (10.6.3), and subsequently upgrade to 10.6.8 or even 10.7? Will fonts stay the same? Will layout change? Or anything else change? Thanks

What happens to iweb-build site when I upgrade from Leopard (10.5.8) to Snow Leopard (10.6.3) and subsequently update that to 10.6.8 or even to 10.7? Evidently iweb has been discontinued. I have version 3.0.3 of iweb now but understand that there's been an update for OS 10.6 so same question goes for this update.
Will fonts change? Will layout change? Will widgets still work? Links? Will Google Analytics PlugIn still work?
(Since MobileMe is disappearing, I now save iweb site to local folder on my computer, then upload it to GoDaddy using Cyberduck. I run Google Analytics plug in on folder before its uploaded.)
My computer, MacBook Pro came with iweb, which has been updated to 3.0.3. Since iweb is discontinued, will upgrade of operating system just ignore iweb so that iweb will run the same as before? Or will it wipe it out? Or change how it currently works (questions above).
Thanks

As you now know iWeb and iDVD have been discontinued by Apple. This is evidenced by the fact that new Macs are shipping with iLife 11 installed but without iWeb and iDVD.
On June 30, 2012 MobileMe will be shutdown. HOWEVER, iWeb will still continue to work but without the following:
Features No Longer Available Once MobileMe is Discontinued:
◼ Password protection
◼ Blog and photo comments
◼ Blog search
◼ Hit counter
◼ MobileMe Gallery
All of these features can be replaced with 3rd party options.
Currently if the site is published directly from iWeb to the 3rd party server the RSS feed and slideshow subscription features will work. However, if the site is first published to a folder on the hard drive and then uploaded to the sever with a 3rd party FTP client those two features will be broken.
There's another problem and that's with iWeb's popup slideshows. Once the MMe servers are no longer online the popup slideshow buttons will not display their images.
Click to view full size
However, Roddy McKay and I have figured out a way to modify existing sites with those slideshows and iWeb itself so that those images will display as expected once MobileMe servers are gone. How to is described in this tutorial: iW14 - Modify iWeb So Popup Slideshows Will Work After MobileMe is Discontinued.
NOTE: the iLife 11 boxed version Is no longer available at the online Apple Store. To get a copy you'll have to try Amazon.com or eBay.com.
This may be of interest to you: Life After MobileMe.
OT

How do I upgrade from Lion to Snow Leopard?

Snow Leopard has this great feature called Expose which is a great improvement on Lion's App Expose (and Mission Control).
Can someone point me to the steps I need to take to upgrade from Lion to Snow Leopard?

Written just for you (ok it's a paste)
Back to Snow Leopard from Lion install method
Read and print out these instructions, your computer is going to be offline and you wil be cutoff from help until your machine is restored.
Clear the Desktop, Downloads and Trash of anything you wish to keep by placing their files in the respective Documents, Music, Pictures, Movie folders.
Disconnect other drives except the backup drive as to avoid any mistake.
Backup ALL your Users folders (Documents, Pictures, Movies, Music etc) manually (drag and drop methods) to a (not TimeMachine) external powered drive (HFS+ journaled formatted in Disk Utility) and disconnect, your going to be wiping the entire disk of ALL DATA. (warning, everything will be gone and not recovered, OS, programs, files, Windows etc all gone.)
Note: You might want to hold c and boot off the 10.6 installer disk and use Disk Utility to format the new blank external drive instead of using OS X Lion that's hosed. Then reboot into Lion and copy files, be safer that way perhaps.
Here we go!
Hold c and boot off the 10.6 installer disk that comes with your computer and second screen in just STOP there, don't install OS X yet.
Look at the Utilities Menu for Disk Utility.
On the left is the name of your hard drive maker, click it and Erase (format HFS+ Journaled), give it the same drive name as before, and click Erase...
(note: if you want to "scrub" the drive of old files that haven't been overwritten yet, then use the Security Option > Zero Erase, takes a lot longer)
This should wipe the drive of ALL partitions (GUID, OS X and 10.7 Recovery, Windows if present)
When it's done, quit and install OS X 10.6. Then install all your programs from fresh sources and validate/update.
When you setup a first account, use the same user name as before, this way you can simply drag and drop the content of your previous Users folders from the external drive right back into the new Users folders and everything should work peachy. Links in iTunes to music, playlists and iPhoto links especially.
Update OS X to 10.6.8 using the Combo Update for best results.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399
(Note: If your original machine had 10.5 and you want the free iLife that comes with the disks with the computer, then you'll have to install 10.5 first using the same c boot/erase/format methods as above, then update to 10.6 via the disk, then Combo Update 10.6.8)
Final step optional but highly recommended.
A lot of people use a Carbon Copy Clone of their boot drive to a new HFS+Journaled external drive (used only for this purpose) as a "hold the option key" bootable backup in case something goes wrong with their boot drive or need to restore to a previous OS X version.. (in addition to TimeMachine drive for more immediate backups.)
It's not advised to have a Bootable Clone and a TimeMachine partition on the same external drive, as two drives gives hardware protection in case one fails.

Help! I recently upgraded from Leopard (10.5.8) to Snow Leopard (10.6.8) and now my iTunes won't open!

So I upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard. And at first, never received the option to like, carry stuff over from a back up. So I went to the Apple Store and they fixed that, and it looked like everything was fine and dandy and my content was there. I get home, and try to open iTunes and now am receiving this message: The file “iTunes Library.itl” cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?
I click yes, but there are no updates/downloads of iTunes available, so nothing happens, it just says no updates at this time. I am very nervous about losing my library as I've collected a lot of songs and meticulously organized them over the past five years. How can I get iTunes to open? And without doing anything to lose my library? Please help, I'm super stressed and freaking out.

Download iTunes from Apple's web site and install it. Don't use Software Update.

I have a hdd from late 2009 that I upgraded from leopard to snow leopard to lion to mountain lion. I want to upgrade the hdd to ssd. Do I need to buy a new copy of mountain lion to install on the ssd? If not, then what is the procedure to transfer?

I have a hdd from a late 2009 mbp. I upgraded from leopard to snow leopard to lion to mountain lion. Now I want to upgrade to a ssd. Do I need to purchase a new copy of mountain lion to go on my new ssd? If I don't, then what is the procedure to transfer mountain lion with my 4 user accounts onto the new ssd from the hdd?
I'm confused on if I can use the recovery hd on a thumb drive to install mountain lion on my ssd. Will it be pheasible with so many OS X upgrades? And then how do I get my user accounts onto the ssd from the hdd. Do I use migration assistant? Do I need to make a time machine backup first? Should I use something called Carbon Clone or something like that?
Thanks for reading

If you have a cable that connects and external HDD to the MBP, it will do. If it is something like this, an enclosure will not be needed for the swap:
An enclosure allows you to use your old HDD for storage or backup purposes. The cable will not.
Here are instructions as to how the swap can be performed using DISK UTITY. Substitute You cable for the enclosure in same:
INSTALLING A NEW HDD IN A MBP
1. Make certain that you have backed up all of your important data.
2. You will need a HDD enclosure. One with a USB connection will do. A 9 pin Firewire is better.
3. Install your new drive in the enclosure and connect it to your MBP.
4. Open DISK UTILITY>ERASE. From the left hand column drag the new drive into the 'Name' field. Make sure that the format is 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. Click on the 'Erase' button.
5. Click on the 'Restore' button (on top). Drag the old drive into the 'Source' field and the new drive into the 'Destination' field. Click on the 'Restore' button on the bottom right hand corner.
Depending upon the amount of data you are transferring, this may take a couple hours or more. A Firewire will speed up the transfer. This will result in both drives having identical information on them.
6. After the data transfer has completed, you may swap the drives. Start the MBP and you have finished the installation. The initial boot may take a bit longer than you are accustomed to, but that is normal.
7. When you are satisfied that the new hard drive if functioning properly, you can erase the old drive and use it for any needs that you may have.
If there is any confusion on your part, post back.
Ciao.

Upgraded from TIGER to SNOW LEOPARD

Hello,
How can I uprade from TIGER to SNOW LEOPARD? Do I simply use the upgrade snow leopard to do so? Will that create any instability or issues?
thank you very much.
Alex

Yes, you can upgrade from Tiger to Snow by purchasing the SL DVD. Doing so would only create stability problems if you already have problems, so you should be sure you have a clean system before upgrading. See the following:
System Upgrade and Installation Procedure
Basic Caveats
1. Disconnect all peripherals except the original mouse and keyboard.
2. Quit all applications if this is not an installation from an Installer DVD.
3. The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation you may have to erase the hard drive and reinstall from scratch.
4. Once the installation begins do not use the computer in any way except to reply to dialog prompts or to restart when the installation is completed. This is especially critical during the installation stage known as "Optimizing the System."
System Update Procedure
A. Repair hard drive and permissions.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger or Leopard.) After DU loads select your OS X volume from the list on the left, click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.1 for Leopard) and/or TechTool Pro (4.6.2 for Leopard) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X. Note that Disk Warrior will not work on Intel Macs.
B. Clone your existing system to an external Firewire drive.
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the startup or source volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4. Drag the startup or source volume to the Source entry field.
5. Select the backup or destination volume from the leftside list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Check the box to Erase Destination. Skip this step if you've already formatted the drive.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
C. Decide upon an installation option (This does not apply to Snow Leopard.)
You have three upgrade options. If you use the Upgrade installation option be sure you have repaired the hard drive and permissions first and made your backup. If you choose the Archive and Install option then you only need to repair the hard drive.
Neither of the above options will erase the disk. Some of your software may not work with a new system. You will need to upgrade those programs. It would be best to do the upgrades to your software before upgrading to the new system version.
Personally, I would erase the hard drive and do a fresh install of Snow Leopard then use Migration Assistant to migrate your old Home folder from the backup. This may take some extra time but is less likely to have problems that may be the result of an upgrade installation.

Want to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard

I spent over an hour through the apple store web site and cant find a way to upgrade directly from Mac OS 10.4 Tiger to the latest Snow Leopard version.
The Apple web site gives only one purchase possibility : to upgrade from Leopard 10.5 to Snow Leopard 10.6. But how to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard ?

Francois Dormoy wrote:
I spent over an hour through the apple store web site and cant find a way to upgrade directly from Mac OS 10.4 Tiger to the latest Snow Leopard version.
The Apple web site gives only one purchase possibility : to upgrade from Leopard 10.5 to Snow Leopard 10.6. But how to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard ?
this has been oft asked and answered. you can buy a Macbox set which will give you snow leopard, ilife and and iwork. or you can buy a $29 standalong snow leoaprd dvd although there is a big disagreement on the board whether using it to go from tiger to snow leopard directly violates ULA (I think it does). but the actual disk is the same as in the macbox set and either one will upgrade you to SL.

I recently upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard and I noticed that I have more capacity available on the Macintosh HD. I checked my files and applications and they are still on my computer. Can capacity on the HD change after an OS upgrade?

I recently upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard on my MacBook and I noticed that I have more capacity on the Macintosh HD than before the upgrade. I checked my files and applications and they are still on my computer and nothing appears to be missing. Before the upgrade I had around 111 GB capacity with around 10.50 GB available on the Mac HD but now after the upgrade I have 119 GB capacity and 20.92 GB available. Can capacity on the HD change after an OS upgrade?

No, but the upgrade removed unneeded PowerPC code and changed the way free space is determined.
(72071)

HT1338 i upgraded from leopard to snow leopard ( i know i am really behind) but now iTunes won't recognize my iPhone. and the updates keep crashing when they are trying to install...help!

I upgraded from leopard to snow leopard. now iTunes won't recognize my iphone, and the upgrading the software keeps crashing.. help!!

Mountain Lion is OS X 10.8
10.6 was called Snow Leopard.
To use iTunes 10.7 the following is required:
Macintosh System Requirements
Mac computer with an Intel Core processor and 512MB of RAM
OS X version 10.6.8 or later
Safari 4.0.3 or later
400MB of available disk space
Broadband Internet connection to use the iTunes Store
Do you use iTunes Match?
That way all of your songs would be matched with the master song on the iTunes servers independently of iTunes on your Mac or PC...
Look here for further information: http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

I am upgrading from Tiger to Snow Leopard. I keep getting an error when I try to load the Mac Os x update combined. It says that it was corrupted during download. Have try loading from Apple website V10.6.7 upgrade combined but it still won't do it?

I have an Intel Desktop iMac and I am upgrading from Tiger to Snow Leopard. I keep getting an error when it tries to load the Mac OS X update combined. It says that it was corrupted during download. Have try loading from Apple website Mac OS X V10.6.7 upgrade combined but it still won't do it? Any other suggestions. The printer is not working either - I am not sure if they are connected. Everything else is fine.

Please excuse, but I have to ask an obvious question: Did you already update using the Snow Leopard Retail install DVD? (You must do this first; 10.6.7 is just an update if you already have 10.6.) Are you, then, trying to update from whatever version was on the install DVD to 10.6.7?
Otherwise, I'd keep trying. The 10.6.7 Combo is a huge update.

I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard. When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed. Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Mach

I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard. When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed. Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Machine)?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2986

Stuck upon upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard on MacBook pro

Hey Guys,
I'm experiencing some software issues upon upgrading, anyways I bought a Mac OSX snow leopard disk from the apple store today and wanted to upgrade from leopard, so i made a purchase. I read all of the instructions and inserted the disk, after a few minutes into the installation process, it prompted to restart and continue installation after restart. Once the macbook restarted, it booted up showing only the apple logo. I gave it a couple of minutes (20-30 minutes), yet same thing. Nothing appeared other than the gray apple logo and white background, no spiral w.e thats usually under the logo when installing or something. I've attempted it twice already but still no sign, i get the same results. Restarted my computer, took out the disk and booted back up, then retried the process once again, do any of you guys know a solution? Anyways i'm running on a MacBook pro i5, last years model.

Upgrading will not solve software issues. Fix the software issues first by isolating their cause. Is your data backed up?

Upgrading from Leopard 10.5.8 to Snow Leopard 10.6 without CD

i wannt to upgrade from leopard 10.5.8 to snow leopard 10.6 but when i install from the snow leopard cd the installation stucks after a few minutes an all i see is a grey display witht the apple boot logo, how can i now upgrade to OS X Snow Leopard?

Ok... I was just making sure you had the correct disc.
Better boot from your original Mac install disc and run Disk Utility. The startup disk may need repairing before you can upgrade to Snow Leopard.
Insert your install disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu and launch Disk Utility.
(In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first from the installer menu)
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your startup disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility window open, look at the bottom of the window. Where you see Capacity and Available. Make sure there is always 15% free space.

Problems upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard

Hopefully I'm in the right place. This is my first Apple and my first problem. Recently upgrade from Leopard to SL and have had problems ever since. Mail, TM, Safari, etc. I have searched for explanations, but unfortunately can't find answers I understand. I have MS and my cognitive functions aren't what they use to be. I have seen suggestions about clean installs, restoring from TM, cloning HD then re-installing, etc... I would love to stay with SL but need it to work, so would a clean install do the trick? If so, how do I do a "clean install"? Should I just go back to Leopard and what would be the best way? I backed up with TM before I upgraded. I have had my MBP since fall of 2007 and it was starting to slow down before the upgrade so I wouldn't mind the clean install of either OSX. Any help would be appreciated.

since you backed up before you upgraded you can safely do the following.
boot from the snow leopard DVD.
start Disk Utility from the Utilities menu and erase the main hard drive.
Quit disk utility and proceed with the install of Snow leopard. that's what many people call a "clean install".
once the install is finished and you restart the computer you'll get to Setup Assistant. it will give you an option to migrate your data from a TM backup. you can choose to do so although it's possible that this will reintroduce the problems you are having now. another option is to skip the migration at this point (you can do it later) and set up the computer.
now you can restore your data from the TM backup. you can use Migration Assistant (it's in /Applications/Utilities) or you can restore things by hand if using Migration assistant reintroduces the problems you are having now. you can do something in between too. you can use Migration Assistant to migrate just your user data but now system files or Applications and reinstall the applications by hand.

Upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard gone awry

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