Thanks for the additional info.

Since we didn't have your Mac's model info previously...you could have had a:

- G4, G5, or Intel cpu computer
- laptop, desktop, iMac, or Mac mini style computer
- and your computer could have been brand new...or as much as 8 years old..since 10.5 Leopard will install on as old as an 8 year old computer

That's why it's so important to include your computers model info...especially when we are talking hardware related issues.

As far as your issue...it seems very strange to me that your wife's hard drive & optical drive are "busted" at the same time...unless the optical drive was bad before the hard drive crashed. Which in that case the optical drive should have been fixed previously.

Obviously replacing the superdrive in a laptop or an iMac is more difficult than it is in a desktop. If doing this is something you would rather not do...you could consider purchasing an external optical drive.

This external optical drive doesn't have to be capable of writing CD's/DVD's...since you only need it to be able to read a 10.5 Leopard install disk. So you may be able to save a few bucks with a "read-only" external optical drive.

Here would be an example of a lower cost option...that does happen to have "burning" capabilities:

OWC MercuryValue FireWire/USB2 SuperDriv... (OWCVLFW2SD22X) at OWC

Good luck,

- Nick