Will upgrading from Mac OSX Tiger to Leopard delete or format my harddrive?

Hi. I had a computer that I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7. It formatted my harddrive. Will upgrading Mac OS do the same? Is it NECESSARY to back files up, either from an external hardrive or something? Cause the problem is I dont have an external HD.

Btw, I have an imac G5 thats 1.5GB RAM, 1.9GHz PowerPC G5. It should be able to run leopard fine, correct? not snow leopard btw.

Thanks

Welcome to Mac Forums
It will be fine running Leopard.
As for saving your files, you will need to do an archive and install.... see Installing Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
I still recommend getting an external HD, as they are that cheap now, and if anything goes wrong, you will be kicking yourself.
In any case, no computer user should be without an external HD for backups.
If you need help with backup solutions, or have any other questions, please post back!

6string said:

In any case, no computer user should be without an external HD for backups.

Click to expand...

Crossing my fingers here. I've had my Mini for going on 2-1/2 years with no external HD for backups. (I use a flash drive to copy files to.) I had my G3 for nine years with no external HD for backups. (I used a Zip drive and Retrospect Express for backups.) Only one problem: my fingers are tired!

Is it necessary to backup before updating the OS? No, it's not. It is advisable, because you never know when something could go wrong.

toMACsh said:

Crossing my fingers here. I've had my Mini for going on 2-1/2 years with no external HD for backups. (I use a flash drive to copy files to.) I had my G# for nine years with no external HD for backups. (I used a Zip drive and Retrospect Express for backups.) Only one problem: my fingers are tired!

Is it necessary to backup before updating the OS? No, it's not. It is advisable, because you never know when something could go wrong.

Click to expand...

LOL ...toMACsh, someone's been a lucky man, and I have my fingers crossed for you too brother.
Don't worry, I won't start grilling you on time machine and clones, but just know, I really want to

pacers31 said:

Hi. I had a computer that I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7. It formatted my harddrive.

Click to expand...

No. Installing Leopard will not automatically format your hard drive.

- Nick

To the original poster:

It is not necessary to back up your files when you upgrading from an older to a newer version os OS X. It just over writes your old system with the new system and the rest of your hard drive is for the msot part untouched.

But in saying that having a backup though not needed is a nice piece of mind a lot of people would like to have. And there are a few options when you upgrade to Leopard.

Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5: About installation options
And this article from Apple explains them very well. I would suggest you read this article from Apple very carefully.

G#

6string said:

LOL ...toMACsh,

Click to expand...

Yeah, I didn't release the shift key. Fixed it.

Thanks for the bad rep point for disagreeing with my post ********!
Here was your message if you forgot what you wrote!

"A straight upgrade is possible. No archive+install is necessary"

Certainly not necessary, and I should have worded it "I would advise" rather than "You will need to".... but I did provide the link that explained all the solutions (worded correctly)!!!
Archive an install is the safest option if you don't have a backup on an external HD, which the OP didn't!

Oh, by the way, you forgot to sign your name when giving me the bad rep points

6string said:

Thanks for the bad rep point for disagreeing with my post ********!
...
Oh, by the way, you forgot to sign your name when giving me the bad rep points

Click to expand...

Hmm. And no post by whomever to "clarify" the issue. There's a word for that.

Edit:
It's all good toMACsh
Also, the bad rep I got wasn't from who I thought it was, and I got a PM about it from the person who did give it to me.
Ahhhh, that's better