Botched Update Need Help PLEASE!

Question

Last week an Auto-Update failed and when I went to restart I got the forever loading screen. So after several minutes I started up in single user mode and I received the infamous:
Load of /sbin/launchd failed, errno 88
I have found discussions on the matter on random internet boards and blogs pretaining to ealier versions but nothing here yet. I'm not too Terminal "Bash" Savy but here was my attempt.
I downloaded what I thought would be the latest update that was botched onto a Flash Drive MacOSXUpdCombo10.4.11Intel.dmg. The goal of course was to install manually as other Mac owners had been successful with this approach. I did have a problem with identifying my Hard Drive. I would get the message: "/Volumes/Macintosh HD does not exist." I tried several approaches including /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/.
I also noticed when I ran System Profiler that *My Disk Utility is 10.5.8 Last modified 8/20/06*... Again, I'm no expert but it is my understanding that 10.5.8 is Leopard, right? So... how is that possible? And what should be my course of action from here?

Answer 1

01. You have posted your 'Tiger' problem to an AppleScript programmers' discussion group. The appropriate group would be the 'Tiger' discussion group.
02. An experienced Macintosh user knows not to use the 'auto-install' feature (particularly with respect to a Security or System Update); but, to download the update(s), and manually install it / them. With respect to a System Update - download and install only the 'Combo Update' ('Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)' in your situation), with one exception - when updating to 'Mac OS X 10.x.1', where there will be no 'Combo Update' equivalent.
03. '... what should be my course of action from here?' - ...
If you have data to be backed up - you will need another Mac, a Firewire cable, and to follow these 'Firewire Target mode' instructions; then copy your data to the other Mac.
Whether you follow the above step (if needed to back up data) or not, boot from the provided install disc and perform an 'Erase and Install' installation. Once completed, obtain (that is - down first) the needed / preferred updates - and then install them. A suggestion - if 'QuickTime' and 'iTunes' are among the updates - install 'QuickTime' first, then 'iTunes'.
Finally, return the backed up data to your Mac.
Note: You can use the 'Apple, Software Update...' menu item, to launch 'Software Update' to obtain a list of Apple's suggested updates. From here you download the suggested / preferred updates via the applications 'Update, Download Only' menu item. The downloaded file(s) will be saved to the '/Library/Packages/' folder.
If among the list you see only 'Mac OS X 10.4.11 Update (Intel)' - remove its check mark, so as not to have it downloaded. Instead, click here - to view the web page from which 'Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)' can be downloaded from.
Recent 'Software Update' observation:
When performing the suggested 'Software Update' steps above, with a PowerPC G4 dual 500 MHz PowerMac - running MacOS X 10.4.11, the application listed 'Java 1.3.1 and 1.4.2 Release 2', 'iTunes Phone Driver', 'iPhoto Update', 'QuickTime', and 'Compatibility Update for QuickTime' as the needed updates. I choose to download, not auto install, the updates. The result was four (4) of the '.pkg' files saved to the Mac's '/Library/Packages/' folder, with an alert box stating 'Some of the checked updates couldn't be downloaded. The digital signature for this package is incorrect. The package may have been tampered with or corrupted since being signed by "Apple"' - with respect to the 'QuickTime' update.
Wow, Apple's 'Software Update' application checked my system installation, talked home, suggested a list, and then reported a failure! Go figure. One could only imagine what may have happened - if the updates were allowed to be auto installed.
P.S. After the first four (4) updates were successfully downloaded, I attempted to download only the 'QuickTime' update. It too was then successfully downloaded. Rhetorical questions: Should I then trust the 'QuickTime' download?, or any of the downloads recommended by 'Software Update'?
Final note: Typically, one does not have to download (and install) the latest updates, at the time of release, or at any time; unless an application or an update requires the installation of another update - prior to its installation and usage.