Index: modules/system/system.admin.inc
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/system/system.admin.inc,v
retrieving revision 1.248
diff -u -r1.248 system.admin.inc
--- modules/system/system.admin.inc	9 Jan 2010 23:03:21 -0000	1.248
+++ modules/system/system.admin.inc	11 Jan 2010 19:15:05 -0000
@@ -2144,13 +2144,12 @@
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Put site into maintenance mode'),
     '#default_value' => 0,
-    '#description' => t('When enabled, only users with the "Access site in maintenance mode" <a href="@permissions-url">permission</a> are able to access your site to perform maintenance; all other visitors see the maintenance mode message configured below. Authorized users can log in directly via the <a href="@user-login">user login</a> page.', array('@permissions-url' => url('admin/config/people/permissions'), '@user-login' => url('user'))),
+    '#description' => t('Visitors will only see the maintenance mode message. Only users with the "Access site in maintenance mode" <a href="@permissions-url">permission</a> will be able to access the site. Authorized users can log in directly via the <a href="@user-login">user login</a> page.', array('@permissions-url' => url('admin/config/people/permissions'), '@user-login' => url('user'))),
   );
   $form['maintenance_mode_message'] = array(
     '#type' => 'textarea',
-    '#title' => t('Maintenance mode message'),
+    '#title' => t('Message to display when in maintenance mode'),
     '#default_value' => t('@site is currently under maintenance. We should be back shortly. Thank you for your patience.', array('@site' => variable_get('site_name', 'Drupal'))),
-    '#description' => t('Message to show visitors when the site is in maintenance mode.')
   );
 
   return system_settings_form($form, TRUE);
Index: modules/system/system.module
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/system/system.module,v
retrieving revision 1.873
diff -u -r1.873 system.module
--- modules/system/system.module	10 Jan 2010 00:09:37 -0000	1.873
+++ modules/system/system.module	11 Jan 2010 19:15:05 -0000
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
     case 'admin/config/development/maintenance':
       global $user;
       if ($user->uid == 1) {
-        return '<p>' . t('If you are upgrading to a newer version of Drupal or upgrading contributed modules or themes, you may need to run the <a href="@update-php">update script</a>.', array('@update-php' => $base_url . '/update.php')) . '</p>';
+        return '<p>' . t('Use maintenance mode when making major updates, particularly if the updates could disrupt visitors or the update process. Examples include upgrading, importing or exporting content, modifying a theme, modifying content types, and making backups.', array('!update-php' => l('update.php', 'update.php'))) . '</p>';
       }
     case 'admin/config/system/actions':
     case 'admin/config/system/actions/manage':