10.6.8 update combined - problems installing

Question

Hi all,
Currently having huge problems installing this update on my mac, have been trying for a couple of days now to get this machine back up and running again after I was told by the genius bar 2 years ago that after them spending nearly 900 pounds on new parts, that they "had no idea what the problem was, but could be something to do with the logic board". I finally decided to sell it, but as a parts and repair it will get £100 and fully working it could get a bit more, so it's in my interest to get it up and running again.
I am by no means a computer expert, but I know a few things and can normally sort problems out by just simply using search, but alas I have finally been beaten, and have come here to ask for some assistance.
After re-installing my macbook pro 3,1 (mid 2007) with it's original 10.4 tiger software probably 5 times before it worked, then moving on to 10.6 snow leopard which also took a couple of attempts, I am now completely stuck with no way to get this machine up to 10.6.8, so that I can make the jump to mountain lion. The software update program is either an absolute heap of dung, or my computer just won't have any of it. I have tried multiple solutions which I will list below:
Using software update to install the 10.6.8 combined update - Failed
Downloading the 10.6.8 combined update from apple support downloads - Failed
Deleting the library/preferencecom.apple.softwareupdate etc. files - Still software update Failed
Downloading 10.6.1 update and installing - Success after a few attempts
Downloading 10.6.8 combined and trying again - Failed
Downloading 10.6.2 update and installing - Failed
Now this is where I am at. I have downloaded these files both on the macbook pro itself, and on my windows laptop - then transfering them across. I have never been more frustrated at a computer in my entire life, and am about 20 minutes away from throwing this laptop out of the window onto a poor bystander below. If anyone has any solution - (and don't say reformat and reinstall the OS - I've already tried that), then it would be greatly appreciated!
I'll post the console message from my last install of just the 10.6.8 combined upate (without using software update) and if someone on here who can make sense of these messages can see a problem or offer a solution, then that would also be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Console message after attempted install:
06/03/2013 13:53:17        com.apple.ocspd[185]   dyld: shared cached file was build against a different libSystem.dylib, ignoring cache
06/03/2013 13:53:25 Installer[182]      <ZeroSliderSplitView: 0x106dc2c70>: the delegate <TargetSelectPage: 0x106d6d9a0> was sent -splitView:resizeSubviewsWithOldSize: and left the subview frames in an inconsistent state:
06/03/2013 13:53:25 Installer[182]      Split view bounds: {{0, 0}, {402, 104}}
06/03/2013 13:53:25 Installer[182]          Subview frame: {{0, 0}, {0, 32}}
06/03/2013 13:53:25 Installer[182]          Subview frame: {{0, 0}, {402, 104}}
06/03/2013 13:53:25 Installer[182]      The outer edges of the subview frames are supposed to line up with the split view's bounds' edges. NSSplitView is working around the problem, perhaps at the cost of more redrawing. (This message is only logged once per NSSplitView.)
06/03/2013 13:53:27 [0x0-0x17017].com.apple.installer[182]       dyld: shared cached file was build against a different libSystem.dylib, ignoring cache
06/03/2013 13:53:37 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Console"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.NetworkUtility"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.dashboardlauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.frontrowlauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.exposelauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.spaceslauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.appstore"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.backup.launcher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.BluetoothFileExchange"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.PodcastCapture"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.keychainaccess"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.PhotoBooth"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.VoiceOverUtility"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Safari"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Safari"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.remoteinstallmacosx"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:38 com.apple.installd[198]      dyld: shared cached file was build against a different libSystem.dylib, ignoring cache
06/03/2013 13:53:50 com.apple.coreservicesd[50]      dyld: shared cached file was build against a different libSystem.dylib, ignoring cache
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.dashboardlauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.frontrowlauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.exposelauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.spaceslauncher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.appstore"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.backup.launcher"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.BluetoothFileExchange"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.PodcastCapture"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.keychainaccess"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.PhotoBooth"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.VoiceOverUtility"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Safari"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Safari"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.Console"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.remoteinstallmacosx"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      PackageKit: Missing bundle path, skipping: <bundle id="com.apple.NetworkUtility"></bundle>
06/03/2013 13:53:57 Installer[182]      The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.

Answer 1

There really shouldn't be any problem downloading that combo update unless you've got a very slow or flaky connection. And Windows doesn't play as well with Mac files as the Mac does with Windows files; who knows what Windows might have done to the update's file integrity.
You might also try downloading the file using another browser such as Firefox. And when you have the updater, reboot into Safe Mode and then run the updater. That way you can be sure there isn't third party software somehow interfering with the update while it's tinkering with the guts of OS X.