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Installing Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard

Author: Walter Galan
Time required: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Easy

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At the time of writing this guide, OS X 10.5 Leopard was the current release by Apple. The newest OS by Apple is OS X 10.7 Lion. The installation procedure should be relatively the same as previous versions, although, you will need to first create a Lion Recovery Disk using this tool provided by Apple.

Install Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard on a new hard drive.

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Mac OS X v10.5 Install Disk

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Edit Step 1 — v10.5 Leopard ¶

Depending on the situation, there are two different methods to install Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard on your hard drive:
- Method 1: Install the operating system and software from scratch. If this is your goal, continue on to step two.
- Method 2: Clone your existing hard drive. If this is your goal, skip to step 19.

Edit Step 2 ¶

Method 1: Fresh Install
Insert a Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard installation disc into your optical drive.
Hold down the “option” key and restart the computer to bring up the boot option menu.
To begin the installation, click the install disc icon on the boot option menu.

Edit Step 3 ¶

When prompted, select your language and click the arrow button to continue.

Edit Step 4 ¶

After the installer loads, you will be greeted by a welcome window.
Select “Disk Utility” from the Utilities drop down menu.

Edit Step 5 ¶

Select your new hard drive from the left column in Disk Utility.
The correct partition type needs to be set for your hard drive.
- If it's a brand-new hard drive, it may have no partition listed.
- For an Intel-based machine, you should have "GUID Partition Table" listed.
- For a Power-PC-based machine, you should have "Apple Partition Map" listed.
If the incorrect partition type is listed, proceed to the next step to delete and re-create the partition. If not, proceed to step 8.
Warning: Deleting the partition will erase the entire contents of the partition.

Edit Step 6 ¶

The following two steps are only necessary if your drive's partition is set incorrectly. Erasing a partition will permanently erase all information stored inside.
Select the partition on the drive and click the "-" button.
When prompted, click the "Remove" button to remove the drive's existing partitions.
Once the partitions have been removed, click the "Options..." button.

Edit Step 7 ¶

Select the partition scheme required for your machine:
- Select "GUID Partition Table" for Intel-based machines.
- Select "Apple Partition Map" for PowerPC-based machines.
Click "Ok."
Press the "+" button to add a new partition.
Press the "Apply" button.

Edit Step 8 ¶

Click on the “Erase” tab.
Choose the Volume format (we recommend “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”).

Edit Step 9 ¶

Type in a name for the drive. Apple names their drives "Macintosh HD" from the factory.
Click “Erase.”

Edit Step 10 ¶

A warning window will pop up and ask if you wish to continue with the erasing process.
Click "Erase" on the warning window that has popped up.

Edit Step 11 ¶

After erasing is done, quit Disk Utility.

Edit Step 12 ¶

After quitting Disk Utility, proceed with the installation by clicking the "Continue" button.
A window will open and ask if you agree to the Software License Agreement.
Agree to the Software License Agreement by clicking the "Agree" button.

Edit Step 13 ¶

Make sure the correct hard drive is selected as the installation destination.
Click "Continue" to proceed with the installation.

Edit Step 14 ¶

We are now ready to install Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard on the hard drive. Before proceeding to the next step, make sure that all of the installation settings are correct.
Click "Install" to commence the installation.

Edit Step 15 ¶

The installer will check the source DVD disk before starting the installation process.
During this step, you will see a "Skip" button in the Installer window. Do not click the Skip button if you haven't used your install disc before (or recently).

Edit Step 16 ¶

Leopard will now install onto the hard drive.
The installation process can range anywhere from a half hour to an hour.

Edit Step 17 ¶

If you are installing Leopard from a retail disk, please skip this step.
If you are installing an OEM version of Leopard, you need to install the iLife applications and other software from the Applications Install Disc.

Edit Step 18 ¶

The installation was successful. Click "Restart" to reboot the computer.
At this point you are finished with the Mac OS X install.

Edit Step 19 ¶

Method 2: Cloning the existing hard drive.
The following instructions assume you will be using an external USB/FireWire enclosure for a laptop hard drive and SuperDuper! cloning software. If you’re using a different setup, your installation process may be somewhat different.
Install your new hard drive in the external USB/FireWire enclosure.
Connect the USB/FireWire enclosure to your Mac.

Edit Step 20 ¶

Under the "Go" pulldown menu, select "Utilities."
Open "Disk Utility" from the "Utilities" window.

Edit Step 21 ¶

Select your new hard drive from the left column in Disk Utility.
The correct partition type needs to be set for your new hard drive.
- If it's a brand-new hard drive, it may have no partition listed.
- For an Intel-based machine, you should have "GUID Partition Table" listed.
- For a Power-PC-based machine, you should have "Apple Partition Map" listed.
If the incorrect partition type is listed, proceed to the next step to delete and re-create the partition. If not, proceed to step 24.
Warning: Deleting the partition will erase the entire contents of the partition. Make sure you have selected the new hard drive!

Edit Step 22 ¶

The following two steps are only necessary if your drive's partition is set incorrectly. Erasing a partition will permanently erase all information stored inside.
Select the partition on the drive and click the "-" button.
When prompted, click the "Remove" button to remove the drive's existing partitions.
Once the partitions have been removed, click the "Options..." button.

Edit Step 23 ¶

Select the partition scheme required for your machine:
- Select "GUID Partition Table" for Intel-based machines.
- Select "Apple Partition Map" for PowerPC-based machines.
Click "Ok."
Press the "+" button to add a new partition.
Press the "Apply" button.

Edit Step 24 ¶

Click the “Erase” tab.
Choose the Volume format (we recommend “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”)
Type in a name for the drive.

Edit Step 25 ¶

There may be an option to "Install Mac OS 9 Drivers" under the Erase panel. We do not recommend installing these drivers unless the disk will be used in any environment other than Mac OS X.
Uncheck the "Install Mac OS 9 Disk Drivers" box.
Click “Erase.”

Edit Step 26 ¶

A warning window will pop up and ask if you wish to continue with the erasing process.
Click "Erase" on the warning window that has popped up.
When you are asked if you want to use the new drive to backup data with time machine, click "Cancel."
After the drive has been erased, quit Disk Utility.
The new hard drive should now appear on your computer’s desktop.

Edit Step 27 ¶

Download and install SuperDuper!
Open SuperDuper!.

Edit Step 28 ¶

Select your current hard drive in the dropdown menu labeled “Copy.”
Select your new hard drive in the dropdown menu labeled “to.”
Select “Backup – all files” in the dropdown menu labeled “using.”

Edit Step 29 ¶

Click “Copy Now.”
If prompted, provide your password.
Click "Ok."

Edit Step 30 ¶

Wait for the drive to copy (this could take several hours if you have a lot on your hard drive).
When prompted for registration by SuperDuper!, either choose "Register" to purchase the software or "Later" to register later.

Edit Step 31 ¶

After the copy is complete, click "Ok" and quit SuperDuper!.
At this point, your new hard drive should be loaded with your existing software and ready to install; however, we recommend testing the software installation.

Edit Step 32 ¶

Hold down the “option” key and restart the computer to bring up the boot option menu.

Edit Step 33 ¶

Select your new hard drive from the boot option menu.
Wait for the computer to boot up and verify that you are actually booting up off the new drive. If you are in fact booting off the new drive, its icon will appear beneath the internal drive's icon on the desktop.
Your new hard drive is now ready to be installed in your computer.
Remove your new hard drive from the external enclosure and install it in your computer. Installation instructions are available for a variety of Macs.

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