This is a guide on how to install leopard onto a single layer DVD.  I’d recommend this if you don’t have a dual layer burner of if you are too cheap to get DVDs for it.  It’s not too hard, I’ll try to make it that much easier.  But you will need a lot of free hard drive space to do this most likely almost 20 GB.  Feel free to use an external hard drive.

Note:  I used build 9a499.  If you have 9a527 the system folder will be hidden.  To find it show hidden files by opening Applications>Utilities>Terminal and type defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE & killall Finder then hit return.  To rehide the files again type defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE & killall Finder and hit return again.

Burning the single layer disk:

1.  Get leopard, whichever way you may.

2.  Open Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility. You will see a screen as shown above.

3.  Drag the dmg into the side window, it will stay there.

4.  Hit the New Image button up at the top of the disk utility window.

5. Save it as an 8.0 GB sparseimage named whatever you want, in this tut it will be called leopard.

6.  You will see this while it is being created.  It wont take long.

7.  The sparseimage may mount, if it doesn’t then double click on it’s icon on the desktop.  It will appear in the sidebar along with the mounted image.

8.  Click the restore tab.  For the source drop the original dmg that you had before.  For the destination drop the leopard disk image, not the file called leopard.sparceimage.  Then hit restore, this will take a long time, often upwards of ten minuets.

9.  When it is done all the files will be copied into the sparseimage.  Now you will need to delete some.  First off is Xcode Tools in the root of the diskimage.  Then in System>Installation>Packages remove CannonPrinterDrivers.pkg, EpsonPrinterDrivers.pkg, HewlettPackardPrinterDrivers.pkg, LexmartPrinterDrivers.pkg and XeroxPrinterDrivers.pkg.  Then empty the trash!

10.  Ctrl + click on the disk image or simply drag it to trash to eject it.

11.  Open Disk Utility again and hit the new image button again.  At this point you can delete the original dmg if you need more drive space, I’d recommend backing it up.

12.  Make a new DVD sized sparceimage (4.7 GB) named install.

13.  Again, mount the new spaarceimage and click on the restore tab.  Drag the leopard.spaceimage into the source and the mounted install (Mine was renamed boot, I don’t know why.  Just pretend it says install).  Then hit restore.  Again this will take some time, so go get me some food.

14.  Once it is done select it’s icon in the sidebar of Disk Utility then insert a blank single layer DVD into your burner and hit the Burn button.  Now you can go get yourself some food.

Installing Leopard:

1.  It will take a very long time to boot.  Between a half an hour and 45 minuets I’ve found.  This does not mean it didn’t work, it’s just badly made or something.  Then go through the process as you normally would.  When you come to the install screen choose custom.  When the custom window comes up unselect the checked box called printer drivers, otherwise you will get an error.  Then it should install fine.

2.  If you need the printer drivers simply mount the original dmg and open them from System>Installation>Packages.

Enjoy leopard, I hope this tut was simple.  Now I’m going to eat some pancakes.