I have a mac os 10.5.8, i want to upgrade to mac os snow leopard, can i keep all my files (documents, music on itunes) without backing up all the files first on a external device prior to the upgrade?

I have a mac os 10.5.8, i want to upgrade to mac os snow leopard, can i keep all my files (documents, music on itunes) without backing up all the files first on a external device prior to the upgrade?

I strongly advise against upgrading the OS without first making a backup. Were something to go wrong you would lose all your files without the backup. See:
How to Install OS X Updates Successfully
A. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions:
Boot from your current OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 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 (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) 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.
B. Make a Bootable Backup Using Restore Option of Disk Utility:
Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
Select the destination volume from the left side list.
Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
Check the box labeled Erase destination.
Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
C. Important: Please read before installing:
If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it. Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've restarted.
You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update.  While the installation is in progress do not use the computer.
D. To upgrade:
Purchase the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.
Boot From The OS X Installer Disc:
Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
Restart the computer.
Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple logo appears.
Wait for installer to finish loading.
E. If updating:
Download and install update(s) 
Use Software Update, or
Download standalone updater(s).

Similar Messages

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    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?
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    No, that 10.6.3 DVD is system specific to the MacBook Pro.
    You need a Snow Leopard Upgrade > Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.)
    or if a MobileMe users > Apple throws MobileMe users a free version of Snow Leopard

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    Graham Giles wrote:
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    No; but then, I've not had occasion to use TDM. I've been using firerwire drives for over 10 years, both FW400 and FW800, with no issues except a bit of instability using a B&W G3 machine.
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    •  I don't suppose there is anything I can do to 'put back' lost items from a separate Time Machine drive which has an up to date backup on it.
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    On the other hand, if the Time Machine volume is rigidly linked to the now-absent OS on the original drive, there may be no way to effectively access the files in the TM archive.
    I know that using a cloned drive would work well in this instance.
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    Thank You.

    First, install OS X, then install your third-party software.
    How to Install OS X Updates Successfully
    A. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions:
    Boot from your current OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. Then select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. 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 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 (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) 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.
    B. Make a Bootable Backup Using Restore Option of Disk Utility:
      1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
      2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
      3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
      4. Check the box labeled Erase destination.
      5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the
          Destination entry field.
      6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the
          Source entry field.
      7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
    Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal
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    C. Important: Please read before installing:
      1. If you have a FireWire hard drive connected, disconnect it before installing the
          update unless you will boot from this drive and install the update on it.
          Reconnect it and turn it back on after installation is complete and you've
          restarted.
      2. You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system
           software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through
           other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
      3. The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other
          interruption occurs during  installation, use the standalone installer (see below)
          from Apple Downloads to update.  While the installation  is in progress do not use
          the computer.
    D. To upgrade:
    Purchase the Snow Leopard Retail DVD.
    Boot From The OS X Installer Disc:
          1. Insert OS X Installer Disc into the optical drive.
          2. Restart the computer.
          3. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the "C" key.
          4. Release the key when the spinning gear below the dark gray Apple
              logo appears.
          5. Wait for installer to finish loading.
          6. Follow instructions.
    After installing Snow Leopard you should update it by downloading and installing Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

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             See App Compatibility Table — RoaringApps.
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  • Ok I can't seem to get my apps,music, or photos from my iCloud from when I first setup iCloud on a iPhone 4. How do I get my things back from the iCloud and get them to my new device?

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    Use the manual methods.. but it is possible for TM to wipe the old files in trying to fit into the space.
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    iPhone 4S                                    iOS 7.0.x
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    iPhone 5c                                     iOS 7.0.x
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    iPod Touch 2                               iOS 4.2.1
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    iPad 3                                          iOS 7.0.x
    iPad 4                                          iOS 7.0.x
    iPad Mini                                      iOS 7.0.x
    iPad Air                                        iOS 7.0.x
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