diff -u b/core/includes/install.core.inc b/core/includes/install.core.inc
--- b/core/includes/install.core.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.core.inc
@@ -1620,7 +1620,7 @@
   global $base_url;
 
   drupal_set_title(st('Drupal already installed'));
-  return st('<ul><li>To start over, you must empty your existing database, delete your active configuration, and copy default.settings.php over settings.php.</li><li>To install to a different database, edit the appropriate <em>settings.php</em> file in the <em>sites</em> folder.</li><li>To locate your active configuration, view the appropriate <em>settings.php</em> file in the <em>sites</em> folder.</em></li></li><li>To upgrade an existing installation, proceed to the <a href="@base-url/core/update.php">update script</a>.</li><li>View your <a href="@base-url">existing site</a>.</li></ul>', array('@base-url' => $base_url));
+  return st('<ul><li>To start over, you must empty your existing database, delete your active configuration, and copy <em>default.settings.php</em> over <em>settings.php</em>.</li><li>To install to a different database, edit the appropriate <em>settings.php</em> file in the <em>sites</em> folder.</li><li>To locate your active configuration, view the appropriate <em>settings.php</em> file in the <em>sites</em> folder.</em></li></li><li>To upgrade an existing installation, proceed to the <a href="@base-url/core/update.php">update script</a>.</li><li>View your <a href="@base-url">existing site</a>.</li></ul>', array('@base-url' => $base_url));
 }
 
 /**