[geezfools]

Okay, so a year or two ago my mom was looking to get a new computer, her 10 year old dell desktop died and she was digging my mac, so I talked her into a mini 10v. She loved it, even though she only uses it for email, itunes and some web surfing. Anyways, year or more goes by and while spending some time at my sisters house, they decide to follow the prompts when the update window comes up. So, she updates her 10.5 system and obviously doesn't run NBI or anything.
I've done some searching, but I've been out of the "scene" for so long that most of it doesn't make sense anymore. What are my options at this point. Ideally I'd like to save all her photos and music that are still on the mini, but she did say as long as it's working again, she'd be happy. Are there any ways to upgrade to 10.6 without losing everything. Or do I put a 10.5 install on a USB stick, attempt to boot from that in safe mode and run NBI? As of this point, apple logo pops up and then throws a KP. If I hold shift, it will let me type stuff in, but no matter what I've tried, throws the KP.

In the meantime, I'll get my USB stick loaded with 10.5 since that seems like the logical step

Okay, loaded 10.5 on the USB stick, was able to boot form that, only to find out she was on snow leopard, no idea why I thought she was on 10.5. Okay, so I can boot from the USB, now what. Is there anyway to boot from that to get access to the 10v HD and run NBI? I just found my 10.6 disc and will be making a USB stick of that right now as well, which is okay since I was planning on redoing my 10v as well...