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 to your site, if the updates would disrupt normal site operation or if normal site operation would disrupt the update process. Examples could include upgrading Drupal or modules, importing or exporting content, modifying a theme, modifying content types, and making site backups.', array('!update-php' => l('update.php', 'update.php'))) . '</p>';
       }
     case 'admin/config/system/actions':
     case 'admin/config/system/actions/manage':