Missing /var/db files - not enough HD space to reinstall OSX

I'll try and keep this short and sweet:
I was messing around trying to do something foolish and managed to delete /var/db (I'm assuming this is the problem as my macbook fails boot at the apple logo and safe mode fails to recognize them).  After digging around for a while I found this thread:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3807743?start=0&tstart=0
I fiddled around for a while and eventually decided to try use my disks and reinstall leapord but there's a slight problem: I'm 3 GB short of backing everything up and reinstalling (the option to integrate the old and new system was absent, does anyone know why?) and don't want to format my hard drive.
Is it possible to install OSX on a USB hard drive, boot from that and copy the missing files over to my internal hard drive, or otherwise replace them?
If not, is it possible for me to copy everything to USB portable portable hard drive, reinstall OSX and dump them back (or more preferably acquire the /var files from somewhere else) and would I need third party software to do this?
I did not have time machine enabled.
I apologize if this should be a reply to the other topic but I wasn't sure if this being a different operating system/month later warranted a new question.

Is it possible to install OSX on a USB hard drive, boot from that and copy the missing files over to my internal hard drive, or otherwise replace them?
Yes, Macbook can boot OSX from USB Drives.
But clear off at least 15 GB, or OSX may self destruct hen you have less than say 8GB free space
I apologize if this should be a reply to the other topic but I wasn't sure if this being a different operating system/month later warranted a new question.
No, you did great, a new topic if not identical is the way to do it here!

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