OSX 10.4.11 update - solution to "grey spinning wheel of death"

Did you try updating your OSX to 10.4.11, and end up with a grey spinning wheel of death when starting up?

After scrounging through discussion forums and putting together some pieces, I've come up with some steps to allow a successful recovery!

Advantages of this solution:

• does not require a reinstall of OSX
• allows you to keep all your data
• doesn't need a second PC.

Prerequisites:

• OSX install disc
• Ethernet/Network cable, to connect directly to your router (which is connected to the net).
  

Steps:

1. Connect laptop directly to router via a network cable.
   This step is needed because the wireless card wont be easily configurable from the Terminal.
   
2. Start, then insert install disk (ignore what you see on the screen, this steps is just to insert the disk).
   
3. Shutdown. (hold power button down)
   
4. Start, then immediately after you hear the 'GONG', press and hold 'C', until the 'spinning grey wheel' appears. (this is to boot from CD/DVD)
   
5. At the language prompt screen, select English (or whichever language you prefer).
   
6. Utilities -> Terminal
   
7. List all volumes on your computer.
   Type: ls -l /Volumes
   Look at the output and figure out which volume you installed OSX on.
   In my case it was "Macintosh HD"
   
8. Go to the volume where OSX is installed.
   Type: cd "/Volumes/where you installed osx"
   In my case: cd "/Volumes/Macintosh HD"
   
9. First, we'll check if the installer is in your Trash (after the failed install). If its not there, we'll have to download it.
   Type: ls -l "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/your user name/.Trash/*10.4.11*.pkg"
   
10. If you find the package listed, move it to the users directory:
    Type: mv "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/your user name/.Trash/name of the package.pkg" "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/"
    In my case: the package was MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.pkg.
    
    Jump to step 14.
    
11. If you dont find the package in .Trash, download it:
    Type: ./usr/bin/curl http://supportdownload.apple.com/download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/Mac_OS_X/downloads/061-4046.20071114.Tgb8h/MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.dmg -o ./Users/MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.dmg
    This will save the update to your disk.
    
12. After downloading the image, you need to mount it.
    Type: ./usr/bin/hdiutil attach ./Users/MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.dmg
    This will mount the image to "/Volumes/Mac OS X 10.4.11 Update (Intel)"
    
13. Then you need to copy the installer out.
    Type: mv "/Volumes/Mac OS X 10.4.11 Update (Intel)/MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.pkg" "/Volumes/where you installed osx/Users"
    In my case: mv "/Volumes/Mac OS X 10.4.11 Update (Intel)/MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.pkg" "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users"
    
14. Now you'll install the package onto the same volume where osx is installed.
    Type: ./usr/sbin/installer -pkg "/Volumes/where you installed osx /MacOSXUpd10.4.11Intel.pkg" -target "/Volumes/where you installed osx"
    In my case: ./usr/sbin/installer -pkg "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/MacOSXUpdate10.4.11Intel.pkg" -target "/Volumes/Macintosh HD"
    
15. Wait until installer tells you "The upgrade was successful".
    
16. Shutdown, reboot, and verify OSX boots.
    
17. Go to "Apple -> About this Mac" to verify that the version is 10.4.11