How to upgrade 10.4.11 from a 10.5.6 DVD

Question

I've been programming since 1961, but Apple's EZness and lack of documentation is driving me nuts. It's "like insert disc and follow the on-screen instructions." Moreover, most posts assume there is NO 10.5.6 on DVD and so one is using Software Update. Since I bought the 10.5.6 + iWork09 + iLife09 combo box, I've got a DVD.
1) Backup 10.4.11 -- That's EZ.
2) The first DVD to insert and run is the Tiger Install disc or the new 10.5.6 disc?
3) Run Disk Utility to check permissions.
4) What DVD goes in next?
5) I want to do Archive and Install. Is the Archive folder put on your computer's disk or on a FireWire drive? How much space is needed?
6) According to the Apple Docs, the "System" is archived. From a UNIX point of view, that is only OS X system components -- not anything else. According to an Apple Genie, "don't worry, it saves everything and after installing 10.5.6 it will automatically put everything back." Which would seem to require a huge amount of disk space -- which makes me doubt the claim.
All I want to know are the Application and Users folders preserved? What about all the System Library content that relates to applications?

Answer 1

The best way to upgrade from Tiger to Leopard is by Archive and Install. See,
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
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.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) 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, then quit DU and return to the installer.
2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.